There are a few ‘must-wins’ out there this weekend
A GRIP ON SPORTS
The weekend ahead? Let's pretend we're ESPN and have to label it, as the self-proclaimed world-wide leader is wont to do with everything. We'll call it "Must-Win Weekend," and admit we have no future in marketing. Read on.
• The first team facing a must-win scenario is the Seattle Mariners. Oakland comes to town for an actual pennant-race-affecting three-game series, something we haven't seen around here in mid-September since I was fit enough to actually play baseball. Tonight's game, matching rookie James Paxton (pictured) with Jason Hammel, one the veteran starters the A's picked up at the deadline, should set the tone for the three-game set. If Paxton does what he's been doing lately – dominate – and the M's offense gets untracked – how many times have we written that this season? – it bodes well. But it's more than that. A win pulls the M's within a half-game of Oakland in the wild-card chase and the throats begin to narrow throughout the A's clubhouse. But if the A's find a way to win, then the lead is 2 1/2 games and Oakland is assured of leaving Seattle with a lead. Playing the final two games of the series is a lot easier with that knowledge. So let's just make this wildly out-there prediction: If the M's win tonight, they'll end up in the playoffs; if they lose, they won't. I don't care about the other 16 games. So, if I'm right, then tonight is the definition of must-win game.
• Another team facing a must-win is Washington State. Saturday's face-off with Portland State, a perennial mid-level Big Sky team, seems like it should be an overwhelming victory. And that's why the Cougars have to win. They were expected to win their first two non-conference games. They didn't. Those results have made the road to a bowl game somewhat akin to going up Stevens Pass towing a Boston Whaler. But if they somehow lose to the Vikings, a team that lost by two touchdowns to Oregon State, barely got past Western Oregon and is beset by intra-department squabbling – by the way, if you are going to read one story today, read this John Canzano piece on the dysfunctional PSU athletic department – then forget about bowl games and begin worrying about the season as a whole. A loss here and it could spiral into 3-9 or 2-10 territory. Yuck.
• The Sounders don't face a must-win situation, but the team that heads into CenturyLink tonight does. Real Salt Lake wants to win the Supporters' Shield, the trophy that goes to the MLS team with the best regular season record. All the good teams are vying for it, including the Sounders. But RSL is five points back of Seattle going into tonight's matchup. If Seattle wins and has an eight-point edge with six matches left, RSL is toast. That's why it's a must win for the visitors.
• Finally, there's tonight's "no-win." It's for everyone who is trying to get to either the Sounders match, which should draw 30,000 to 40,000 folks, and the M's game, which, hopefully, will do the same. The baseball game starts at 7:10, the soccer match at 7:30. Good luck if you are going. Get downtown early – wait, that means fighting the Friday rush hour traffic – and hope. Or park in Bellevue and take a cab. At least then you can rest.
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• WSU: No rest in Pullman this week. Not for the football team or for Jacob Thorpe. The latter was watching the Thursday night practice yesterday and filed this report. Jacob also has a story in today's paper on Portland State's bid to finally defeat a Pac-12 school. ... Due to computer glitches, we were unable to pass along Jacob's conference picks yesterday. ... No problems today so we can link his usual morning post. ... The Beavers are looking for former WSU player Rahmel Dockery to contribute more. ... There is a Washington State question here.
• EWU: The Eagles are off this week, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the conference is. ... Sacramento State is hosting coach Jody Sears' former team. By that I mean his most-recent former team, Weber State. ... Montana expects to have its hands full with a South Dakota running back.
• Idaho: Quarterback Matt Linehan has a pretty decent lineage. Pretty decent. John Blanchette goes into it in detail in this feature.
• Chiefs: Though Spokane lost its only home exhibition game of the preseason, the 2-1 overtime defeat to the Tri-City Americans didn't seem to bother coach Don Nachbaur too much. Chris Derrick has the story.
• Preps: The high school football weekend kicked off with Lakeside's 30-20 victory over Rogers (pictured). Greg Lee was at Albi Stadium and has this game story. ... As we mentioned above, a computer problem yesterday made it impossible for us to link some stories, including most of the prep items. Greg had a column on the passing of an era in Idaho, a feature on a couple of the area's (and the nation's) best cross country runners and a preview of the cross country season. ... Greg and Sam Adams made their weekly six pack of picks.
• Seahawks: We mentioned yesterday Russell Wilson's history with the Chargers, this Sunday's opponent, and that was a point of emphasis during Wilson's media availability yesterday at Hawks camp. ... As we get closer to game day, it's always nice to learn more about different players. Today we can offer features on Justin Britt and Bobby Wagner. ... Earl Thomas isn't pleased to no longer be returning punts. ... The defensive line rotation is still a work in progress. ... There is little to report in the way of injuries. ... Finally, we have these thoughts from Gregg Bell on the Ray Rice situation and we thought we would pass along this column as well. John Blanchette wrote about it in Thursday's paper but we couldn't link it. We do now.
• Mariners: The M's are chasing a postseason spot. But the three games with Houston, which kicked off a crucial homestand, didn't draw enough combined to fill up Safeco. Why is that? Ryan Divish asked. ... The postseason schedule is out. And the M's are touting some of their players for awards. ... The end is near. Will the M's race to the finish line or stumble toward it?
• Sounders: You may think you know a lot about DeAndre Yedlin (pictured with his mom). After all, he's been in the news often since the World Cup. But there is a lot more to know about the Sounders' young star. A lot more. And this interesting feature shares most of it. ... Tonight's match might not be a "must-win" for Seattle but the Sounders know what's at stake. And that makes it fun.
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• Tonight I will watch the M's. Tomorrow I will watch the Cougars in person. Sunday I will watch the Hawks. Life is good, isn't it? Until later ...