SEATTLE – The Seattle Mariners were expected to be playoff contenders at the start of the season. They open the second half seven games under .500. Short of a huge turnaround after the All-Star break, the Mariners will join the ranks of past Seattle teams that flopped when expected to be in the postseason picture.

SEATTLE – Sick of the mistakes, the effort and the inability to string together victories, Lloyd McClendon will have a new approach and message for the Mariners when the second-half of the season begins. It might be the only way to salvage a season that so far is one of the biggest disappointments in baseball.

SEATTLE – Well, now, how might an in-form Hisashi Iwakuma affect the chances for the Mariners to mount a charge after the All-Star break? That’s worth pondering today after Iwakuma weathered a shaky first inning Saturday night before settling into dominant form in a 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels at Safeco Field.

SEATTLE – Less than a year after hitting a new low in a career that has yet to match projections, Jesus Montero was back in the Seattle Mariners’ clubhouse on Thursday thankful and appreciative of getting another opportunity in the majors. “It means a lot. It means hard work pays off,” Montero said. “It’s been really good. It’s been awesome. My wife and my family is really happy to be here, with all the work we did together.”

SEATTLE – Hey, Ned: Were you watching what took place Thursday night when the Seattle Mariners pulled away late for a 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels? Felix Hernandez put on a de facto audition for a second straight All-Star start by pitching seven shutout innings against the Angels, who had won nine of their previous 10 games.