M’s should give us an enjoyable, and wild, ride this summer
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Hold on to you M's cap, folks, this could be fun. And stressful. Read on.
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• I almost quit on them yesterday, I truly did. Admit it, so did you. After a bunt, an error, a seeing-eye ground ball and a driven-into-the-ground high-hop single cascaded into a seven-run third inning, you were ready to quit on the M's too, weren't you? But, like me, you stuck it out. Oh sure, you didn't spend the entire afternoon in front of the TV. No, four hours of a beautiful Sunday couldn't be wasted like that. But you checked in when you got the chance, right? And the M's kept chipping away. Even when the Rangers put their 10th run on the board, you didn't quit, did you? You thought about it, thought about saying "I'm outa here," and begin checking the Seahawks' news. But 10 games into what is supposed to be a special season at Safeco, you just couldn't, could you? So even as the Rangers went to their closer, Neftali Feliz, in the eighth, a guy the Mariners have never, ever, scored a run on, you didn't give up. On the game or the season. Though you were sorely tempted to do both. But there is one reason you didn't, I'm sure. Nelson Cruz. He's something the M's haven't had in a while, a true cleanup hitter who can take the ball out of Safeco to any part of the spacious ballpark. He did it in the bottom of the third, right after the Rangers had taken a 7-2 lead. Cruz's three-run home run gave us all hope. Then, after striking out three consecutive times (hey, he's a power hitter; he's entitled), he came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, the scored tied at 10 and two outs. Boomstick baby – or whatever it is Dave Sims yells. Well, it was a game-winning single, but that's enough of a boom when your record is under .500. The 11-10 comeback victory might just be what the M's need to jumpstart the season, though a few quality starts from guys not named Felix Hernandez would be better. James Paxton couldn't put one together yesterday, though he was undone by bad luck and poor defense – we're looking at you Willie Bloomquist – as much as anything. But the bullpen was solid and the offense was more than that. Explosive might be a better word. Game-saving is the best term, at least on this day. So whether you watched them live, on TV, listened to the radio or just checked the play-by-play on your phone (circumstances dictated the latter for me at least later in the game), the M's kept your interest Sunday, didn't they? They should all summer, though it would do wonders for my blood pressure if they would do it just by winning 10-2 or 9-4 each day. Now that would make it a season to remember.
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• WSU: Jacob Thorpe has a morning post with a few links today but tomorrow, that's the big day. He'll be holding a live chat. ... Utah received some really good news today as it relates to their basketball prospects next season. ... Klay Thompson's Golden State Warriors are in the NBA playoffs and they need the former WSU star to step up.
• EWU: The Eagles not only have lost a few players from last year's Big Sky championship basketball team, now they will be looking for a new assistant. Alex Tribble is reportedly headed to St. Martins to be come the head coach.
• Whitworth: The Pirates won their final regular season baseball game.
• Chiefs: That's it. Washington's last remaining WHL team is out of the playoffs. Portland eliminated Everett last night 3-2.
• Seahawks: The draft is just around the corner. That means the mock drafts will come fast and furious and the Seahawks' needs will start to gain more of the spotlight.
• Mariners: How did the M's rally yesterday? They were patient at the plate, which helped them earn six walks in the final two innings. And the bullpen was able to keep them in the game. But most of all it was having Nelson Cruz in the lineup. His bat was the biggest difference. Though others chipped in as well.
• Sounders: The sports are different, as is the interest, but Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins are about as exciting an offensive pair Seattle has seen since Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. At least that's what this story says. ... Lamar Neagle has now joined the scoring party.
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• If you ever watched the TV series "Cheers," you know that every time Norm Peterson entered the bar, the whole place would greet him with a hearty "NORM ... Norman" (the last word added while Diane Chambers was still working there). So one of my favorite scenes ever in the show occurred when the gang was out on the road and they decided to stop at another tavern for a hearty beverage. Norm entered first and as he passed through the door, you heard a Cheers-like "NORM" from the bar patrons. Sam Malone looked perplexed but Cliff Clavin set him straight. "He's got a life you know Sammy." Always made me laugh. Which is long way of saying I am headed down to Pullman today for Pac-12 golf tournament's media day. Instead of participating as a member of the Spokesman-Review's entourage, however, I'll be there with my buddies at 700 ESPN, Dennis Patchin, Rick Lukens and Keith Osso, who will hold their show from there starting at 3. You can listen here if you like, though I won't be joining them for that part of the day. I've got a life you know. Until later ...
