Culture of mediocrity:

The M's come back to tie the game in the sixth on a two-run jack by (surprise!), Jose Vidro. There was a look of relief on Felix's face, because he wouldn't be saddled with the loss.

Don't hang this loss on Willie:

There was nobody out. The M's managed to get baserunners on first and second, but couldn't generate one more run when they had the pitcher on the ropes. That seems to be the story of the season––a pathetic inability to generate runs when it counts. Story of the game––that half inning. It wasn't hard to sense that the M's would be through scoring. One more run that half inning and Felix would have come away the game winner. It would be nice if more players than Felix and Morrow played with a winning resolve.

Pathetic indeed.

You know the irony here is that if Willie makes the catch and we get out of the inning (although that would only have been the second out IIRC), there would probably be a better chance of Willie moving to the pitcher's spot at some point in the game than us actually scoring a winning run. At least with his gaffe we didn't have to bring Burke in to pitch the final inning because our offense couldn't generate another run. Willie simply signed the DNR on this game instead of just leaving it on life support until it expired on its own.

M's are under the curse of the "rally" fries and mike blowers.

If you want the Mariners to win, both the "rally" fries and mike blowers must go. Yet theMariners will re-sign blowers and his stupid rally fries next year too.

If you think this is a joke - wait until next year and don't whine when the M's continue to lose. You have a choice - wins or "rally" fries / big mouth blowers. The M's chose the "rally" fries / blowers this year - and will apparently make the same stupid decision next year.

I paid big money for seats only to get behind a poster begging for "rally" fries - yet the M's never even offered to reimburse me for the tickets - so now as long as the "rally" fries exist, so does the curse

why does anyone go to a game?? lol

JJ looking healthy again is about the only positive from this homestand; this gives the team lots of options but I think they will give Morrow a shot at being in the rotation next spring - esp. if they get Fields signed and he can pitch some relief late this season. What to do about Joh is a big concern given his contract situation. I think after spending next season as backup to either Clement or maybe Adam Moore, that Joh may request that his contract for 2010-11 be sold to a Japanese team with the M's having to pay about 1/2 his salary. I don't think pitchers like to throw to Joh and he's not helping himself by not learning to do little things such as bunting, situational hitting, blocking the plate, and working the umpire.

send Johjima to the Yanks

We suck. Can football come any sooner?!?!?

Winners find ways to win games. Losers find ways to lose them.

No point in blaming Bloomquist, there were opportunities to work around his error and to score so it didn't matter anyway. The Mariners seem capable of neither. There are always key moments when winners step up. The Mariners never do. This game was like so many others this season, the Mariners just kinda plodded along until the Red Sox decided the game. Even in games the Mariners have won, it has often been the other team making the decisive play.

I agree that the lack of offense spiked this game, and not WFB's play. But nevertheless, kudos to WFB for coming right out and admitting it, in the plainest terms possible. None of this weasel-like, sort of half-alluding language we've gotten from other guys in the past. I only wish his honesty and integrity were matched by some offense.

Really, how much more can we lay waste to these guys.? Its just not there year.

RE: Anonymous, 8:12 PM, Jul 23, 2008

Is Blowers such a bad color man that he gets dogged down because of the rally fry gimmick? Outside of being a little played out, rally fries don't bother me one bit.

I'll come out and say it. I am a Mike Blowers fan. Maybe its just who he replaced that has me on his bandwagon. Compared to Dave Henderson and Dave Valle, Blowers sounds like a freaking genius. The guy knows his baseball and doesn't try to announce the game like he is talking to a group of 10 year olds (Valle) and he doesn't sit there and try to toot his own horn talking about how great a player he was (Henderson). Those two guys would have me shaking my head at least a half-dozen times a game. I can honestly say I hated listening to Valle's dumbed-down game calling and Henderson's incessant ramblings.

Blowers is well spoken and calls games like he sees them. I enjoy listening to the guy.

Praise to Willie for standing up for the gaffe. We have knocked the absentees all season long, so we ought to acknowledge the guy who does stand up and take the heat...no excuses asked.

To paraphrase James Carville, "It's the offense, stupid."

It is actually nice to see Vidro having a last hurrah, albeit too little, too late. I am surprised to be willing to say that, but heck...faint praise is all that's left.

Willie I forgive you, Putz welcome back. If JJ is ready to close again I'm 100% behind putting Morrow in the rotation. With Fields/Green setting JJ up next year - Jimenez and Lowe as bridge men and Morrow, RRW, Bedard, Felix in the rotation next year there might be a light at the end of the tunnel to this team's pitching

I agree with scottM and Wolfie... even if Willie makes that catch, we'd still end up losing. Our offense is as unclutch as they get. There's not a single hitter, including Ichiro, who has either a knack for clutch hitting or has both contact and power.

The last time I remember us having either of those? Edgar Martinez, 2004. This team is missing a big and/or clutch bat.

That's why I'm thinking the M's need to draft the next Evan Longoria/Josh Hamiltion (without the drugs) instead of Strasburg, possibly the next Lincecum or something.

Edgar Martinez fell off a cliff in 2004. You're probably thinking of Edgar Martinez 2003.

Re: Anonymous

There isn't a team in baseball with our record that draws as well as we do. The M's have done a pretty good job to get people to come to the park. The rally fries are a gimmick ( it draws in fans), other ballparks have them too in some other form. Quit whining!! It's not big of a deal.

As for Blowers, I'll take him over Mr Ego Dave Henderson anyday of the week. I enjoy listening to him.

I guess we just can't be happy unless we're complaning about something.

Why would they reimburse you for tickets?? You bought tickets, the people with the rally fries sign bought tickets too. Maybe they should start handing out pacifiers and a baby bottle too. Grow up!!

Did anybody see this? http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080723&content_id=3179424&vkey=news_sea&fext=.jsp&c_id=sea

If this is how Riggleman sees the DH role, we're screwed.

I feel sorry for Willie because although he missed that catch, that wasn't the only thing that lost the game... what about the Johjima GIDP with runners on 1st and 3rd? I know he doesn't actually TRY to hit DPs but you could have predicted that one.

Chris From Bothell:

You DO realize Willie's middle name doesn't actually start with an F? It's a tag unfairly added by the blog-o-sphere for a guy who has simply been mismanaged by his team. So you're backing him in your comments and calling him "WFB" at the same time? You're a tired parody of yourself.

Hear yee, Hear yee,
Posted by Jonathan

12:56 AM, Jul 24, 2008

"Willie I forgive you, Putz welcome back. If JJ is ready to close again I'm 100% behind putting Morrow in the rotation. With Fields/Green setting JJ up next year - Jimenez and Lowe as bridge men and Morrow, RRW, Bedard, Felix in the rotation next year there might be a light at the end of the tunnel to this team's pitching"

Exactly what I want to say. Also, our catcher trying to get a man in from third with one out in extra innings. So many things better than a double play: get hit by the ball, work the pitcher for a pass ball or wild pitch, a slow roller, wow, maybe a broken bat single, or BUNT!

POOP

byebye

COWARDS OF THE PRESS

I find it absolutely remarkable how Rigglehead got away - WITHOUT ANYONE FROM THE PRESS - asking why he didn't have the runner on first take second base when the the RED SOX were clearly giving the base to the runner. THe pitcher never even looked over at first and the SS and 2nd baseman were playing deep on the outfield grass.

This would've have prevented the double play - oh and what about pinch hitting for our high prized catcher? You're telling me noone on the bench was capable of hitting a fly ball to win the game?

Rigglehead and the PRESS are a match made in heaven they both are cowards and clueless.

@ Anonymous

I've seen plenty of games where the Mariners have won where both Mike Blowers and the Rally fries were present. Not sure where you are getting this superstition from.

Felix IS an Ace pitcher Geoff. Best we got and one of the best in the league.