We've now officially seen as many tarps on the field as we have Mariners victories this season. Today's game has been called off with rain, rain and more rain in the forecast. Hey, the good news? Hopefully, I'll make my flight to San Francisco by early evening. No, that does not cheer you or the team up. What a tough early season weather-wise. Down to the clubhouse now. Talk to you soon.

They're talking about hail the size of golf balls moving in. Yikes! Time to write tomorrow's stories and get the heck out of Dodge. An early dinner in San Francisco sounds like a great plan. The players, by the way, agree with that, but are none-too-thrilled about a sixth cancellation already.

"You maybe get six rainouts in a year and we've already had six,'' quipped Jose Vidro. "It rains a lot in Seattle. Maybe the clouds are just following us around.''

Vidro worries about the impact that all of the team's lost off-days because of re-scheduling will eventually carry. This game will be made up as part of a doubleheader the next time these clubs play in late July. It should be a nice, cool 110 degrees in the shade around here by then.

It's not like geography has anything to do with these cancellations. No matter where they play, as Vidro mentioned, the storms seem to follow.

"You know it's bad when you get rained out in Texas and you almost get rained out in L.A.,'' reliever Chris Reitsma said. "You can't really prepare for it.''

Reitsma is one of those looking forward to an unexpected dinner in San Francisco tonight.

"If you're handed lemons,'' he said, "you might as well make lemonade.''

Jarrod Washburn gets the start tomorrow night in Oakland, with the rotation again being pushed back a day. Washburn played a little catch here today and is taking an optimistic outlook on things.

"This is way better than getting two or three innings in and having it banged,'' he said. "This way, you don't lose a start.''

That's it from here. The Mariners are scampering off for their private jet. I'm going to write and head over to the airport in an attempt at an earlier flight. Those radio beeping sounds (from the emergency broadcast system) keep going off on the pressbox radio telling us of bigger and bigger sized hail every few moments. Not to mention tornado warnings.

By the way, "Lance'' in the comments thread, you are right. They did change this park's name back to "The Ballpark" this season. Took me forever to remember the name Ameriquest Field. Now, I've got to go back to the old thing. Drives me nuts, but thanks for the reminder. And yes, to answer one reader who asked about it, it was the P-I crediting our blog in today's editions.

My take on this rainout? Bad break for the Mariners. The Rangers have been the only team they can beat of late and the odds of sweeping a doubleheader are never great.