M’s have figured out a new way to lose each night

A GRIP ON SPORTS • I think I’ll wander up to the kitchen and get a cup of coffee. I’ll probably go about the same speed Robinson Cano did last night when he wandered off third base and killed a rally. In other words, about the same speed as the M’s have started the season. Read on.

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• Slow starts are one thing. Getting swept in Los Angeles is another. Especially when you lose each of the three games in a demoralizing fashion. There was a blown lead, another blown lead and then, last night, no lead and a couple of blown plays at third base. It started in the fifth inning. Trailing 5-1 – Taijuan Walker had a tendency to attack the middle of the plate, belt high and that doesn’t work – third base coach Rich Donnelly decided to send Mike Zunino home from second on Justin Ruggiano’s single to center. Did I mention the M’s were down four runs? Or that it was Zunino, the catcher, running? Or that Zunino hesitated before taking off? Or that there was only one out? It may come as no surprise to you Zunino was thrown out easily and a scoring chance was squandered. But that wasn’t the most embarrassing thing that happened at third last night. No, that honor goes to Robinson Cano, though you can give Donnelly another assist. See, in the sixth, with the M’s rallying – maybe they could turn the table on the Dodgers in this one? – Cano decided the bases were loaded with one out. Only they weren’t. He was on third, Nelson Cruz was on second and first base was empty. When Logan Morrison walked – alright, bases loaded with one out – Cano began to saunter toward home. Oops. Yasmani Grandal, the Dodger catcher, couldn’t believe his luck, but he began to run toward Cano, who turned back and did his best Jackie Robinson imitation trying to get back. But even Jackie wouldn’t have been fast enough this time and the rally was toast. Now the M’s get a day off. They need it. After nine games with three playoff contenders, they are 3-6 and in last place in the American League West. Not good. But the next 16 games come against Texas, Houston and Minnesota, teams no one will confuse with playoff participants. The chance to right the ship is in front of them. All they have to do is wander down the line and grab it.

• By the way, Donnelly gets an assist on Cano’s stroll because he is right there and the two of them should be talking throughout Morrison’s at-bat. The fact it wasn’t a force at home and Cano didn’t have to go on a ground ball – or a walk for goodness’ sake – should have come up a couple times.

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• WSU: Basketball took center stage yesterday, as coach Ernie Kent signed two more players to letters of intent on the first day of the spring signing period. Jacob Thorpe was all over the news, with a blog post yesterday, a story in today’s paper and his morning post . … Back to football, though questions remain for the folks at ESPN.com’s Pac-12 blog, there is hope for the Cougars’ defense.

• Gonzaga: The Zags are losing a few key seniors off last year’s team, but they’ve signed just one recruit thus far. And Jesse Wade, a guard from Utah, will not be with the team next season as he begins his LDS mission soon. … Think Gonzaga has been trying to get to the Final Four for a long time? Not as long as BYU .

• EWU: The Eagles added four players on signing day but lost another starter. Jim Allen has a story about the new guys coming in as well as another one on the upcoming transfer of Ognjen Miljkovic.

• Idaho: Sean Kramer has a spring football practice report from yesterday on the blog.

• Preps: One thing about spring. Like a track meet, there is something always going on. Yesterday, for example, there was a soccer match between Mt. Spokane and Central Valley, won by the Bears 5-1. Jim Allen has the story . … Greg Lee has a track and field feature as well as the area leaders plus chips in with a preview story of the Jack Blair girls’ all-star basketball game.

• Seahawks: Kind of a quiet day with the Hawks, with the team officially announcing the re-signing of receiver Ricardo Lockette and general manager John Schneider admitting he doesn’t know how Russell Wilson would be able to pull off a Bo Jackson.

• Mariners: When you aren’t winning, and you were expected to win, everything comes under more intense scrutiny. It’s a given. Fernando Rodney’s troubles , Zunino’s 13 strike outs in his first 26 at-bats, Walker’s poor first two starts . Being a favorite has its downside too. … Rodney isn’t going anywhere according to manager Lloyd McClendon . … Zunino had a better game last night in the 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers .

• Sounders: Seattle-area native Jordan Morris , who will probably be a Sounder some day, scored the first goal of the night for the U.S. in a 2-0 friendly win over Mexico.

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• Only two more days to catch me on the radio – this week. I’m back with Dennis Patchin and Rick Lukens on 700 ESPN this afternoon from 3 to 6 p.m., though I will be leaving a bit early. You can listen here if you want . Until then …