A GRIP ON SPORTS • Did the M’s lose last night? They did. Well, I figured. When I hit the sack they had already left the population of Kirkland stranded in scoring position. Read on.

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• There is really no good measure of “clutch’ in baseball. Certain guys seem have unlocked the secret, sure, driving in the key run at key times, but to a stat that perfectly quantifies it is hard to come by. If you could, I don’t believe you would find any 2015 Seattle Mariners high on the list. Oh sure, if there was a list rating the guys who created opportunities, there might be M’s there. In the first inning last night – I was awake for that – the M’s got their first two guys on. Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager awaited, the heart of the order. Strikeout, strikeout, ground ball. The first of about 13 wasted chances. To paraphrase the great (not late, as I had earlier) Yogi Berra, it’s getting late early in the season for the M’s. The Red Sox come to town tonight to start a four-game series and the M’s are three games under .500. It’s time to get switch from an automatic transmission – you know, no clutch – to a manual in the old S.S. Mariner.

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• WSU: Not a lot from Pullman but a couple of things to pass along anyway. One of them concerns the possibility of an early signing period in football. What do you think of that? ... The Power 5 conferences, including the Pac-12, lost a lot of football talent.

• Gonzaga: The Bulldogs lost a heartbreaker of a baseball game, 2-1, in Eugene last night. ... Mitchell Gunsolus came back for his senior year at Gonzaga, hoping to do something special. It hasn’t happened. Jacob Thorpe has more in his college baseball notebook.

• EWU: What is going on in Cheney? The women’s basketball team lost a handful of players from last season. Tom Clouse has the story. ... Jake Rodgers has been preparing a long time for his chance with the Atlanta Falcons.

• Shock: The team’s newest quarterback is a student of the game. Jim Meehan has that and more in his weekly notebook.

• Preps: What a busy week. Let’s start in Idaho where there are a lot of state tournaments, including track. Greg Lee has an advance of the championships. ... Greg also advances the state baseball tournaments. ... Chris Derrick tells us Coeur d’Alene wants to send its longtime softball coach out in style. The Viks got a tough draw, though. ... In Washington, CV had to go 11 innings to get past Mead 16-15, in District 8 4A softball play. Chris sat through it all and has this story. ... The District track meets begin tomorrow. Greg has an advance.

• Seahawks: The Seahawks’ draft – especially Frank Clark – has given the team options for next season. ... Now it’s up to the guys with the whistles to get them ready. ... Not sure if you will be sad to hear this, but Bill Leavy is retiring. If you don’t recognize the name, it won’t matter to you. ... Larry Stone thinks the Tom Brady decision is more important for Roger Goodell’s legacy than Brady’s. Maybe, but it was still the right decision.

• Mariners: Part of the reason the M’s struggled with runners in scoring position last night: James Shields. The San Diego starter buckled down when needed in the 4-2 victory. ... The bullpen gave up the two runs that were the difference, though a struggling Danny Farquhar didn’t have anything to do with it. He needs to figure it out. ... Is anyone hotter than Nelson Cruz? Nope.

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• Just got done checking the predicted high temps for the next few days. Let’s see, 70, 72, 68 (boo), 71, 74, 77, 75, 78, 78, 77. Sounds just about perfect. Until later ...

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