The tone needs to be changed

MARINERS

Though I don’t have much time here, and the links are going to be extremely limited, I can’t move on without making a few comments about the heart of the M’s order.

In any baseball lineup the No. 3 and 4 hitters set a tone. Right now, the M’s cleanup hitter is setting the most negative tone possible.

Richie Sexson is hitting .162. He stranded five men Friday while striking out three times. He was booed. He needs to be moved, if not to the bench at least down the order (see the post from Thursday).

The tone he is setting is one of failure. And it is spreading.

Here are the game stories from Friday’s 8-1 loss to San Diego from the Times , the News Tribune , the P-I and the Herald . Also, here is the San Diego Union-Tribune story. The M’s Horacio Ramirez goes against future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux tonight (7:05; KSKN-22; 920-AM).

Two thoughts: Sexson shouldn’t be booed. He knows he’s not hitting (read his comments in the game stories) and he’s trying to work his way out of it. Booing should be reserved for lack of effort, and that isn’t the case here. Also, Ben Broussard (who relates his woes in left field the other night here ) should be given the opportunity at first against righthanders for a while.

We don’t have a question of the day … oh yes we do:

• What should be done with Sexson? Should he be given a day off or two, then moved into the seven hole? Or should he be left alone to swing his way out of this slump?