Grip on Sports: With football season so close, some M’s fans decide to jump ship
A GRIP ON SPORTS • As the Mariners slowly sink in the American League wild-card race, we thought it would be a good day to talk about shifting gears. Though we’re not talking auto racing. Read on.
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• The Mariners were one-hit last night in Baltimore. Only Kyle Seager’s bunt-against-the-shift single in the fourth inning kept them from the ignominy of being this year’s second team to be no-hit.
Great.
Worse still, just about every team the M’s are vying with for the second wild-card spot won Tuesday night.
Minnesota, which holds the spot and is 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the overall wild-card race, defeated Chicago. The Angels routed Oakland. Baltimore, well you know what Baltimore did. Kansas City actually scored and defeated Tampa. The Rangers traveled to Tampa and defeated Houston.
In other words, it was a very bad, awful, terrible Tuesday for the Mariners.
And that caused many a fan to jump ship.
I can’t tell you how many of them broadcast their abandonment on social media, because I’m not about to spend my time searching around for every cannonball off a sinking boat. But there were enough in my timeline to give me a sense of “c’est la vie.”
The main theme: This summer was fun but football season is starting. Thanks for the memories.
And don’t forget to turn out the lights when the season is over.
• Rick Lukens and I disagreed about the M’s the last time I was on the radio.
They were about to embark on their crucial 12-game road trip and were playing pretty well.
Rick, ever the Mariner optimist, felt it would carry over and they would have a good trip. A winning trip.
Me, ever the Mariner realist, didn’t see it that way. I figured they would have a winning streak on the trip to tease us, but would have a losing streak as well and ultimately finish 6-6. A .500 team with a .500 trip.
So I guess I’m rooting for the M’s today. They have to win to finish the trip 6-6. Otherwise they head home to battle the American League West in September two games under .500 and facing a tough climb to make the postseason. Or to just keep their fans interested.
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WSU: The Cougars are just a few days away from the first of many night games this season. Montana State comes to town for the opener. But everyone in Pullman is thinking of other things as well, as Theo Lawson writes in his Pac-12 notebook for the week. … Theo also has his Pac-12 power rankings and will have a live chat today at 10 a.m. … Luke Falk is part of an exclusive group. … Elsewhere in the conference, how many schools will earn a bowl trip? … Washington will be without a suspended Azeem Victor this week, so others will have to pick up the pace. … Once an underdog, always an underdog. That seems to be the attitude of Oregon and Justin Herbert. … Oregon State needs to sharpen its edges. … Colorado and Colorado State will be playing in front of a huge crowd this weekend. … Utah hopes to have its best defensive back this week. … USC is using a converted quarterback at wide receiver. … UCLA and Texas A&M have quite a history for only playing recently. … Arizona State knows it needs to run the ball effectively. … Yes, it’s football season. Except in Arizona it’s always basketball season, especially when Lute Olson’s name comes up.
Gonzaga: Jud Heathcote’s death this week touched the Gonzaga basketball program deeply – Jud has been a fixture in the stands at McCarthey over the years as well as being one of Mark Few’s mentors – and Jim Meehan delved into that today. … His death also touched John Blanchette as well, and John has a touching column with which to say goodbye.
EWU: Aaron Best is in as head coach, Beau Baldwin is out. And the way the Eagles play may be different as well. Jim Allen lets us know Best wants Eastern to be more physical this season. … Former EWU quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell is playing in Canada but his heart is in Katy, Texas, right now. Jim has that story as well. … Around the Big Sky, North Dakota hopes to pin a loss on Utah. … Games vs. FBS schools are important – and not just financially – for Big Sky schools. Southern Utah has one against Oregon. … So does Montana State, which faces Dylan Hanser and Washington State. … Montana is playing Valparaiso for the first time. … Idaho State will debut more than just a new coach this weekend.
Idaho: Austin Rehkow was a star the past four years, even though he wasn’t quarterback or the great running back or the shutdown corner. He was the Vandals’ kicker and punter and, most importantly, All-American. Peter Harriman talked with Rehkow, recently cut by the Buffalo Bills, when he visited practice.
Indians: Four games to go and Spokane is still tied for the top spot in the North Division second-half standings. The Indians stayed there with a 6-4 win over Salem-Keizer. … In other NWL games, Tri-City kept pace with Spokane by getting past host Hillsboro. Everett also won, defeating Eugene.
Preps: It begins. We have roundups of games in volleyball and girls soccer. It doesn’t end until next Memorial Day.
Mariners: If the M’s are going to make a push in the final month, the offense has to become more consistent. The last two days have proven that. … Though it’s still a ways away, some minor leaguer are looking toward the Fall League.
Seahawks: If you need any more proof the fourth preseason game isn’t important to the Hawk starters, look at the defensive line. … The NFL changed the way roster cuts are made so there are more players available for this weekend. … The final game is important to those on the bubble of making the team, however. … Earl Thomas isn’t one of those. … Does the treatment everyone seems to be receiving actually work?
Sounders: The saga of Joevin Jones tells you something about soccer in America.
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• Today’s the day. My annual physical. I have been diligently working to … no, not get healthier. Are you kidding? I’ve spent hours getting my excuses in order. They are all ready. We’ll let you know if they fly. Until later …