Many of you have commented on how flat the Mariners looked out there tonight. Well, they didn't just look it. They felt it. Willie Bloomquist, he of inside-the-park-home run fame, summed it all up rather eloquently.

"We were a little flat,'' Bloomquist said. "I think the road's catching up to us. Hopefully, we can win at least one of the next two games to salvage something on this trip. It's been a good trip for us but hopefully we can...finish it on a strong note.''

Mariners manager Mike Hargrove is making some unique lineup changes for tomorrow night's game. They haven't been announced yet, but he told Jose Lopez after the game that he'd be playing third base tomorrow. And guess who starts at second? Try Jose Vidro.

"Hey, there's a rookie playing second tomorrow,'' Lopez kidded after the game, pointing Vidro's way.

Hey, players need a rest. Others just aren't getting it done. It's mid-June. About time for Richie Sexson to get over the .200 mark, don't you think? Someone asked me why the Mariners and Hargrove cling so desperately to Sexson in the middle of the order.

I compared it to an elevator. You press the button and sometimes two or three minutes go by with no sign of the car arriving. But you stay there. You don't go for the stairs and start climbing. Why? Because you know that the minute you give up on the elevator, the car arrives and the door opens (and closes again before you can sprint back down the flight of stairs to catch it).

Sexson is like the elevator everyone keeps expecting to show up any day now. You look at his second-half numbers and you just can't bring yourself to give up on playing him every day. You keep waiting for that 35-homer pace to kick in. For the slugging percentage to soar. And there's that gnawing feeling that if you pull away from him, give up too soon, you're going to miss the lift he could bring any moment.

It's a tough situation.

The good news tonight? Well, the Angels were beaten by their crosstown rivals. Ervin Santana lost on the road again. Say, if the games are played in Los Angeles, only in Chavez Ravine instead of Orange County, does that really count as the road? Uh, yes. It does.

The bad news? Say hello to your third-place Mariners. Yes, the Oakland A's finally caught and passed Seattle. But it took them all the way until June 15 to do it. And it's only by one game. How many of you could have predicted that back on April 2? Remember back when Felix Hernandez outdueled Dan Haren? Yes, it really does seem like such a long time ago. No, this is not the same Hernandez we're seeing.

So, should this be all doom and gloom? I don't know. The M's did stay five back of the Angels, about where they've been the past month. They didn't lose ground in that race and that is really what a team has to stay focused on before worrying about becoming the best second-place (wild card) finisher.

But as Bloomquist said, the Mariners are wearing down after this grueling stretch of games with only one off day. They'll get another on Monday.

That won't fix Hernandez. I've seen a lot of online debate about whether this is a command issue or an issue about pitch selection. Both sides have a lot of merit and I'm fascinated by the detail to which those arguing the pitch selection theory can tell you exactly how many of what type of pitch he threw in making their case.

All I can tell you is, Hernandez feels it's a command issue. He said tonight that he doesn't have the consistency he needs when it comes to throwing pitches where he wants them to go. There has been a lot of debate amongst the people on this site about him throwing too many early fastballs, especially four-seamers.

Hernandez told us tonight that his two-seam fastball is not what it once was early in the season, before his injury.

"My two-seamer was working better than now,'' he said. "Now, I haven't got nothing.''

I asked Hernandez whether his bullpen sessions between starts were any better where his two-seamer is concerned.

"I still don't have it in the bullpen either,'' he said.

So, let's recap. Hernandez's two seamer has deserted him. His game plan when he takes the mound, everything preached to him from spring training onward, involves establishing his fastball and working off that. His two-seamer doesn't work for him. So, what type of fastball is he going to rely on? Why, his four-seamer, of course. Explains why he's thrown so many of them early on. If you know your two-seamer is terrible, you're going to go with the other fastball in your arsenal. Seems pretty clear.

The strategy hasn't worked all that well of late. But what is Hernandez to do? Does he abandon everything he's been building his game around? Or does he keep sticking to the plan, hoping his command comes around and he can consistently get hitters out?

I'm not trying to oversimplify this, just spell out the problem in language everyone can understand. It should also be mentioned that Hernandez, while giving up a season-high 12 hits tonight, did go six innings and notch six strikeouts. He only allowed four runs. It wasn't a disaster of an outing.

And he is only 21. No, he is not an "ace" yet. Not by a longshot. He is a kid with one 12-win season behind him and a whole lot of potential. The potential do do what he did in early April on a consistent basis throughtout future seasons. Just not right now. But at 21, he is going six innings per start and battling to keep his team in the game. I'm not buying the team Kool-Aid here, just stating the facts.

I was fortunate to see Roy Halladay through his entire stage of development in Toronto. At age 21, Halladay got his first taste of the majors as a September call-up in 1998. He was one out away from a no-hitter in only his second start. Do you know how many years it took Halladay after that to establish himself as an "ace"? Three more years. Four seasons. Halladay spent 1999 and 2000 learning the ropes, just like Hernandez now, only not as successfully. By 2001, his game had fallen apart and he had to reinvent his game and psyche at Class A ball. It wasn't until 2002 that Halladay became a 19-game winner.

In 2003, he won 22 games and the Cy Young Award.

In other words, give Hernandez a break. Please. He is not this team's savior in 2007 and should never have been viewed that way. The fact that he was a 12-game winner at age 20 is something to be celebrated. That he is already about two years ahead of Halladay in his development is also something that truly excites me. At age 21, even Halladay could seem immature. Didn't rob banks or anything, just goofed around at times, was a little insecure. He was 21. Just like Hernandez.

But by age 25, Halladay had the maturity of a 40-year-old. If Hernandez wants to reach Halladay's level, he'll also have to work a whole lot harder physically than he currently does. Yes, he's working out. But he's not in Halladay's league in that category. It will come, if he wants it. But it takes time. It's easy to talk about the sacrifice it takes to win. But until you see Halladay waking up at 4:30 a.m. in spring training to work out before the workouts, you can't compare Hernandez to him. Hernandez is only 21. Keep saying it and hope one of the older pitchers steps up while this "kid" tries to regain his command and his confidence.

A third straight loss taken here by the Mariners, this one 5-1 to the Houston Astros. Another six-inning outing from a starter, with a lot of hits scattered by Felix Hernandez until that two-run homer by Mike Lamb. I agree with some of you that an 0-2 pitch from Hernandez has no business being that high up in the zone. Or that far into the strike zone. Hernandez threw 74 of his 99 pitches for strikes and that type of ratio isn't always a good thing. Not when the opposition has 12 hits off you -- Hernandez's season-high against.

He fooled some of the hitters, notching six strikeouts. But not all of them, obviously.

Bottom line? When a team's only offense off Wandy Rodriguez is an inside-the-park solo homer, that team is destined to lose. Only seven runs scored by the M's in their last three games. The offense is taking a breather after that torrid pace and the starting pitching, while adequate at times, has not been enough to compensate. This trip is now 5-3 and the M's have to hope the Angels lose later. I'm off to the clubhouse.

INSIDE THE PARK FOR BLOOMQUIST

Well, I'd barely gotten those previous words out when Felix Hernandez breezed through a 10-pitch inning and Willie Bloomquist got Seattle on the board with an inside-the-park home run. That's the first of those for the M's since Adrian Beltre hit one at home last June 23. It's the 22nd such homer in club history, but only the sixth on the road. Also only the second such homer in the history of Minute Maid Park. A little surprising, given that rather-odd grassy berm out in center field that contributed to Bloomquist's feat. Anyhow, it's just a 2-1 game now and Hernandez looks to have at least another inning left in him. We'll see.

LOTS OF HITS, FEW RUNS

Here's the deal. It's 2-0 for the Astros as we start the fifth inning. But the Mariners are very fortunate to only be down by that many runs. Houston is outhitting Seattle 8-2. Felix Hernandez has given up the eight hits plus one walk in four innings. But these Astros look very much like the team I watched play in the 2005 World Series the last time I was at this ballpark. In that series, a 4-0 sweep for the White Sox, the two games in Houston saw the Astros frustrate their fans to no end by continuously putting runners on base and not bringing them home. I mean, Games 3 and 4 seemed to take four hours each (maybe they were that long, I don't remember). If you're going to lose, do it quickly. Don't torment and tease the fans.

Anyway, I bring it up because these Astros (nowhere near as good) seem to need a half-dozen hits to generate one run. In fact, it seems like every NL team the M's have played on this road trip has the exact same problems. Nine baserunners in four innings against Hernandez and you come away with two runs? Hernandez and company should take that and run away from here laughing their heads off.

Only problem? Uh, the M's can't seem to get a hit. I know they have two. Not sure how that was done because the top of the fifth just ended before I could finish typing this. A 1-2-3 inning. Not good. If Hernandez holds these guys to two, or even three runs or less, the Mariners have to be able to win the game. We'll see what happens. This is a big inning for Hernandez. He faces the heart of the order and that 29-pitch fourth inning shot his count up to 71. Has to make a stand here and position himself to go at least six innings.

HERNANDEZ HIT EARLY

Felix Hernandez is getting hit hard here and is very fortunate to only be trailing by a 1-0 score as we enter the third inning. Hernandez gave up two singles and a double in the first inning, yet somehow got out of it with no runs allowed. It helped that Henter Pence swung into a first-pitch double play and that Lance Berkman got thrown out at home by Ichiro, moments after the latter had failed to squeeze his double to center.

But the second inning began with a single by Mark Loretta and a one out double to left center by Mike Lamb to bring a run home. So Hernandez gave up hits to four of the first five batters he faced and five of the first seven. But he did strike out the side in that second inning to keep Lamb at second. So far, all three of Hernandez's strikeouts have been called. Looks like he has the umpire in his corner because a couple of those strikeout pitches were a little on the dubious side. If Hernandez needed an inning or two to warm up, there's worse that could have happened to him.

After all, he has given up five hits already -- two of them doubles -- but only trails by the one run. His pitch count is also only at 27. Considering all the baserunners allowed, that's about as good as it gets. A lot of baseball to be played.

Been busy running around the ballpark, working the phones too. Here's some news that you haven't heard elsewhere yet:

Julio Mateo had his day in court in New York. Looks like he'll have another on Sept. 4 as the case was put off until then. Mateo's activities today involved signing an order of protection in front of a judge, in which he agreed to continue staying away from his wife, Aurea. Remember, she was assaulted at the team's hotel back on May 5. At the time, she obtained a temporary protective order preventing him from contacting her. Mateo still faces third-degree assault charges in the case and a spokesman for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office told me this afternoon that nothing has changed on that front.

So, it raises the question of what the Mariners are supposed to do with Mateo.

The team had been waiting to see what would happen at today's court date. Since essentially nothing happened, other than Mateo being told to have no contact with his wife, the team is no more enlightened about what's coming down the pipe legally than it was six weeks ago. The season will almost be over by the time Mateo has another court date.

Mariners GM Bill Bavasi was aware of what unfolded in court today, but wouldn't say what his next move would be.

"I'm not going to discuss any of it,'' he said. "I haven't even discussed it with him. I'm not going to discuss it with anyone else."

Remember though, that the Mariners players have been discussing it amongst themselves behind closed doors. Some are in favor of Mateo returning, others are not.

In the meantime, the team has activated Ryan Feieranbend in order to use him in long relief. One of you asked me why they didn't just bring Feierabend up right away instead of Jake Woods. I asked Mike Hargrove that question and the answer was that Woods had the fresher of the two arms when the team needed him to pitch the middle game of the series in Chicago.

As for Adrian Beltre, don't expect to see him hit or field on this road trip. Beltre played catch today, only he didn't catch the ball. Had a designated catcher beside him while he did the throwing. Tells you what you need to know about the state of his thumb.

Hargrove said Beltre is slowly improving. But if he isn't ready by next Tuesday -- after the team's off-day -- expect him to go on the DL. That's me talking, not Hargrove.

By the way, for those of you who asked, the team will be sticking with its regular rotation after the off-day. In other words, no, Jeff Weaver's next start will not be skipped.

Tonight's lineups:

HOUSTON

2B Craig Biggio
CF Hunter Pence
1B Lance Berkman
LF Carlos Lee
SS Mark Loretta
RF Luke Scott
3B Mike Lamb
C Brad Ausmus
LHP Wandy Rodriguez

SEATTLE

CF Ichiro
2B Jose Lopez
RF Jose Guillen
LF Raul Ibanez
1B Richie Sexson
C Kenji Johjima
SS Yuniesky Betancourt
3B Willie Bloomquist
RHP Felix Hernandez

One good thing about cheering for the Mariners these days is that most of you don't have to cheer for the Houston Astros. Although, of course, they did go to the World Series two seasons ago. Yes, it really wasn't all that long ago the Astros were a good team. Now, they are a very bad team that just got worse. Bad enough the Astros have dropped 20 of 27. But they just lost arguably their top defensive player to a broken leg.

Bad as this 2005 finalist has become, the local baseball columnist doesn't think manager Phil Garner deserves to lose his job. The same columnist, though, offers no love for Seattle's own Mike Hargrove in this piece from a few days back.

"Should he be fired? Absolutely not,'' he writes of Garner. "He's a competent big league manager. He's not Bobby Cox, but he's not Mike Hargrove, either."

Ouch!

Anyway, I guess the point of that whole exercise is to show that beauty is still in the eye of the beholder and that hot seats do tend to cool and then heat up again. What happens to Hargrove if, say, the Mariners take two of three here to go eight games above .500, but then see the bullpen crash and burn by the all-star break? What happens if, with all this trade talk I'm seeing on the site, the team falls eight back of the Angels? And five back of the Tigers, Indians or A's by then? Are they buyers or sellers? Are they buyers in a wild-card race with three or four teams in front of them?

What happens to Hargrove if they become sellers? After all, he is extended for next season already (yes, that deal we talked about last month was actually done). Should the Mariners just keep him on board for one more year? With a .500 record? How many wins would it take? 82? 85? 90?

If a guy like Phil Garner, team dropping like a piano off the Chase building (that's here in downtown Houston), can keep his job, should Hargrove? Just curious about your take given the team's more recent success. Has that success frozen the hot seat over, or just cooled it down a little? Remember, if you say stuff now, you have to stick with it later on. Well, actually, you don't have to do anything. I just thought I'd say it.

Anyway, there's a thunderstorm going on here. Good thing the Astros play indoors. Hey, I saw "Kyle" from the blog down at Wrigley Field yesterday. It was good to meet one of the site's more frequent contributors. Nice to see fans travelling such a long way to cheer on their team. If any of you are here in Houston, drop me a line.

NOTE ON HARGROVE EXTENSION: Someone asked about it in the previous post. We wrote back in April that the rumor was that Hargrove had quietly been given an extra year on his contract, but that it would not preclude the team from firing him. Why would the team do this? Well, it's since been explained to me by an insider, who confirmed the extension, that since bench coach John McLaren got a two-year deal, it would be awkward to have his "boss" go into the season with only one year left. Sounds right to me.

NOTE ON POSTING: One more thing. A lot of you have had problems posting on the site this past month and written in to ask whether you did something wrong. If this happens, chances are you haven't done anything at all. Our system was not designed to handle the sheer volume of people contributing to it and clicking in to read the posts daily. We are getting new equipment, but for now, if this happens, let me know and we'll get you reinstated (unless you've actually been up to something no good and that's why you were banned. We know the difference on this end).