I have to say, that while last night’s M’s win was nice, it left me wanting more. It was like a great meal with a terrible dessert. The M’s go up 7-0 in the fourth, the Rangers bring in Ryan Rupe, mop-up reliever. Now, if you are a mop-up reliever for the Rangers, you are really quite terrible. But the M’s didn’t do anything. In the fourth Raul Ibanez made a completely indefensible baserunning error, getting thrown out trying to go from second to third on a groundball to the shortstop. Then Richie Sexson—who’d been very patient earlier in the game in working Kevin Millwood—swung wildly at a succession of terrible pitches and struck out. I’m normally a very optimistic person, but the way these guys stop trying when they are ahead—there could be a reason our supposed veteran leaders have never won anything, I think. Onto the news…

The Mariners win a game! The Mariners win a game!
But it may have been a Pyrrhic victory–Washburn felt a “pop” in his calf, writes Larry Stone.

J.J. Putz, who once again looked very shaky, is gonna be ok, a grumpy Eddie Guarado tells Stone: “He’ll be fine, bro. He’s trying to get back in his rhythm after the DL. He’ll find it. Unless something is still bothering him. You never know. J.J. is the kind of guy, he’ll go out and pitch, not like these young kids now. They have a broken fingernail and they won’t pitch.”

There was a very creepy Ichiro impersonator in the stands: Lookout Landing has a screen cap.

M’s pitchers are having trouble putting hitters away, writes John Hickey.

Jim Moore catches up with three former Mariners now exiled to Tacoma. Jeremy Reed sounds like he’s not in the best place, mentally: “Asked if he still loved the game, Reed said: ‘Most of the time. … I don’t want to hate the game. But the business side of the game can suck the life out of you sometimes. It’s tough, especially here. You’re 30 minutes from Seattle. That stadium, it’s beautiful. Down here you realize you’re not there.’” Yikes. Earlier in the day, the M’s got one minor leaguer to the bigs, trading Greg Norton to Atlanta.

USS Mariner says rebuilding this Mariner team would be a bad idea.

In other news…
Danny O’Neil breaks down the Seahawks’ kicker competition.

Turns out Isaiah Thomas’ test score didn’t quite qualify him–he still has to finish his semester of coursework. Writes Dan Raley: “Put it this way: Thomas now has a 20-point lead as he heads down the stretch to the final scholastic buzzer.” Thomas and the Dawgs could face Nat’l Champs Kansas in the CBE Classic next season, writes Bob Condotta.

Part of Greg Nickels’ deposition was included in a Sonics’ court filing–Eric Williams of TNT has the documents.

Win a chance to play three-on-three with Nate Robinson.

Bobby Engram is staying away from Seahawks minicamp because he wants his contract renegotiated.

The Shaun Alexander tour moves to New Orleans.

That Coug who headbutted a guy at a bar may face felony charges, which would push the Cougs into contention for the Fulmer Cup.
Funny headline of the day: Piniella non-committal when asked about Pie.