Grip on Sports: If you know how the M’s second half will go, please share
A GRIP ON SPORTS • A nice, sunny and warm weekend beckons. So does the Mariners’ second half of the season. One is guaranteed to have some fun. Read on.
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• The M’s second half can go one of three ways. And only one of them is enjoyable.
They can continue the way they have, winning, losing, losing again, and slowly sink out of contention. They can endure another long losing streak and drop out of sight quickly. Or they can begin to play better baseball, winning two of every three games and chew up ground down the stretch.
There probably isn’t a Mariner fan in the world that isn’t rooting for door No. 3.
But is it likely?
The first scenario seems the most obvious, as, 90 games into a season, the character of a team has been revealed. This one is, as Jerry Dipoto put it this week, too flawed to not be successful without hitting on all cylinders.
So much has to go right for them to achieve the third option listed above, it seems tough to imagine it happening.
Then again, so much would have to go wrong that the second option seems a bit far-fetched too.
Maybe we’ll see a bit of one and three, keeping the interest alive until football season. That’s about all we can ask for these days, right?
• The Seattle Times put together a list of the top 40 Mariners over the club’s 40 years.
Today, the newspaper listed the Top 10. At the top of the pyramid is Ken Griffey Jr., which is impossible to argue with. Edgar Martinez and Ichiro Suzuki are two and three, respectively. Those choices are also nearly impossible to deny. But after that, arguments can erupt.
I value the catching position so much, I would put Dan Wilson, the only really solid two-way catcher the Mariners ever had, in the top five along with Felix Hernandez.
Randy Johnson? Alex Rodriguez? Sorry, they lose points in my eyes for the way they departed.
That’s just me, of course. You may have a differing view. That’s great. As is the list the Times put together. Such things are always fun.
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WSU: Summer is a crucial time in recruiting and the Cougar football team seems to be doing well. The Times’ Stefanie Loh has a story on another player commitment. … Washington State and Idaho linemen were among those on the award watch lists. … Around the Pac-12, an Oregon State player is on a watch list as well.
Gonzaga: Kevin Pangos was one of the better guards the Zags ever had. But his skills haven’t translated to the NBA just yet. He’s taking another shot this summer, playing for Washington’s team in the Las Vegas league. … BYU is in a bit of a rebuild mode, mainly because center Erik Mika took off early for the pros. And the decision seems to be the wrong one thus far.
Indians: Vancouver jumped out early, Spokane rallied but the Canadians held on, 6-4, last night in Vancouver. Johnathan Curley has the game story. … Around the Northwest League, Eugene gave away a game to Hillsboro, Boise’s bad first inning doomed the Hawks and Everett came this close to no-hitting Tri-City.
Mariners: It’s funny, but the second half outlook brings with it a bunch of divergent viewpoints. But everyone agrees, for the M’s to be in contention, they have to make changes. They may be chemical or may involve pitching, but changes are needed. They will be made. With Dipoto around, there always will be changes made. … A former Ferris High pitcher, and Mariner farmhand, Andrew Kittredge (pictured), pitched in the Triple-A All-Star Game this week and did well. Dave Nichols has all the particulars in this story.
Seahawks: Richard Sherman is right. If the NFL players want to get the same type of contracts major league and NBA players receive, they will have to strike.
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• One last reminder. We won’t be here tomorrow morning. Taking a personal day. See you on Sunday …