Grip on Sports: In a season of up and downs, there are still some fun times to be found

A GRIP ON SPORTS • While searching for rollercoaster videos to celebrate the Mariners’ 2017 season, we came across yesterday’s top highlight: Adrian Beltre’s ejection. Read on.

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• You probably saw it. It was all over SportsCenter and social media.

Beltre was taking his swings before his at-bat. Like a lot of guys, he wasn’t taking them in the rubber on-deck circle.

Umpire Gerry Davis wandered down from his spot at first-base and got Beltre’s attention. He pointed out, visually at least, Beltre is supposed to be in the circle provided for such things.

Beltre went over, grabbed the mat, and pulled it to near where he had been standing before. Boom. Davis ejected Beltre.

Watch the video. It will make you laugh, especially when you realize it occurred late in a game that ended up 22-10. Not what you would call a nail-biter.

• The Pac-12 media days began in Hollywood yesterday – Washington State’s Mike Leach’s turn before the media occurs this morning – and it was highlighted by commissioner Larry Scott’s address.

The big news? In some non-conference games, the halftime will be 15 minutes, not 20.

That’s the big plan to get fans home a bit earlier from those 7:30 p.m. games.

Well, it’s a start. But it certainly isn’t going to help the conference close the financial gap it is suffering vis-à-vis the SEC, Big Ten and ACC.

If the way they are getting to the 15-minute halftime includes dumping the run-off-the-field-while-saying-nothing interviews with coaches, then it at least will improve the broadcasts.

• Was anyone out there surprised the Mariners didn’t find a way to get to Chris Sale yesterday and move back above .500? Me neither. That’s the type of season it’s been for more than 100 games, so why would we expect anything different now?

The M’s are a break-even team. And the only way they can break that pattern is with a major addition. But the farm system may not have enough to entice a major addition through a trade.

It’s been this way for so long, it seems we may all go to our graves wondering when this year will be the year.

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WSU: Media days always bring story after story about the schools around the Pac-12. Nothing different this year. The Times’ Stefanie Loh has a couple of Washington State pieces to whet your appetite for Leach’s appearance, including one about the offense and another about numbers. … Elsewhere around the conference, Oregon State and Arizona State are already practicing, so we’ll lead with stories from their training camps. … Washington was the star attraction on this special day for one of the Husky players. Coach Chris Peterson, the pride of Yuba City, is always trying to downplay their substantial chances. … Arizona has a couple of returning quarterbacks, but it is a newcomer that is intriguing. … California has an entirely new coaching staff – but the same players. … Colorado was the surprise team last year. How about this one? … UCLA has the same coach but another new offensive coordinator working with a disappointing offensive line. That’s not a plus. … We shared the media poll results yesterday so the only question is, can anyone unseat USC? … Oregon State is looking to run up the North standings. So is Oregon. … Utah made a business decision. … Finally, there were press box discussions about this last season, wondering when it was going to happen.

EWU: Jim Allen was at the best university in the world yesterday to talk with former Eastern wide receiver Cooper Kupp. The Rams’ third-round pick is making a splash in L.A. already. … The Eagles have another addition to their coaching staff.

Indians: Everett had a six-game winning streak heading into Wednesday night’s game at Avista Stadium. The streak is over, courtesy of Spokane’s 5-2 victory. Whitney Ogden has the story. … Elsewhere in the Northwest League, Hillsboro won at Boise and Salem-Keizer won down I-5 at Eugene.

Mariners: Chris Sale isn’t the guy you want to see on the bump when you are trying to build momentum. The Boston left-hander struck out 11 and shut out the M’s for seven innings in the 4-0 decision. Meanwhile, Andrew Moore continues to suffer from longballitis, giving up a couple more home runs.

Seahawks: Single-game tickets will go on sale Monday. … There is one rookie who has a shot at starting. … Richard Sherman’s response to a tumultuous offseason will be interesting.

Sounders: The United States won the Gold Cup championship with a 2-1 win over Jamaica. And it was a Sounder, Jordan Morris, who scored the deciding goal in the final couple minutes. … Sigi Schmid is back in the MLS.

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• I wonder what the over/under is for Leach’s time spent on non-football questions? It has to be 60 percent or more. Until later …