Who will win the World Series? Take a survey!

Wow, so the Red Sox came back and won the series from the Cleveland Indians, and I can't say that I'm happy about it. Still, it should hopefully be a good World Series... with the Colorodo Rockies prevailing, of course. And no, I'm not a huge Colorodo Rockies fan, but I am now - and ever since the Sox won a few years back, I no longer have any interest in them.

Anyway, here's a quick InstantSurvey where you can say who you think will win and other opinions about baseball. Take the survey now!

Griffey returns; Mariners check out early

Ken Griffey, Jr. returned to Seattle for the first time since he was traded after the 1999 season to the Cincinnati Reds. Blame it on the scheduling folks for denying this exciting (and for some emotional) reunion, or give them props for waiting eight years to build the hype and anticipation.

I showed up late to the game to see one of my favorite players of all time - hell, probably my favorite - talking to the crowd before the game. Unfortunately, I couldn't hear anything where I was standing, as the sound system sucks when not in your seats. It didn't help that a bunch of drunk guys kept talking to the point where some little midget guy (not really, but he was small) was on the verge of going ape shit on them.

Anyway, the game starts, and Safeco Field is a powder keg waiting to blow. The first sold out crowd in a long time (I went on Wednesday to Weaver's 7-0 win, and there were 20,000+ fans there - this time there was 45,000+) was waiting for two things: the Mariners to kick some Cincinnati ass, and for Griffey to hit some home runs.

Instead, the game turned out to be the worst in Safeco Field history. Griffey started off in the first with a single and later scored, but followed it up with three strikeouts. As for the Mariners, neither the offense, pitching or defense realized they were supposed to play tonight, as they were held to two hits and the pitchers gave up an amazing 16 runs - and not a single RBI was attributed to The Kid.

Our starting pitcher, whose name I wouldn't even bother to attempt to spell, lasted not three innings and gave up a sickening nine runs, which completely took any energy out of the crowd. His replacement, Davis, looked good for a couple innings, until he ended up handing out seven more, mainly on home runs. One home run ball landed right next to me, but I didn't have the heart to elbow that little kid in the face to get his ball.

All in all, it was the worst Mariners game I have ever been to.

It was still cool to see Griffey, and to hear his name announced on the loudspeakers, and to see 40,000+ people standing and watching the video screen diligently as he talked - this really reminded me of the old days when people really cared about the Mariners (a.k.a. when the Mariners were really good). But to lose 16-1 is just embarrassing and a huge disappointment to the fans, who paid money to see an exciting game. After a while, when it was clear the Mariners were checked out earlier, I was completely okay with seeing Griffey hit a bunch of home runs, but it became such a one-sided game that he was removed in the sixth inning. At least put him in DH!

Seattle Mariners: In second place?

Wow, after a six game losing streak, the Seattle Mariners are back in second place thanks to a great star by Cha Seung Baek and a lucky (and smart) call by an umpire. While Oakland lost, Baek took the Mariners into the 6th inning with a no-hitter, and left with a 1-1 no decision. Then Bloomquist struck out with two men on... wait, he didn't! He swung, foul-tipped it to the catcher, and the catcher caught it - but he didn't actually caught it. He trapped it, so it wasn't a clean catch, and thus the strikeout that was not to be a strikeout gave Willie one more chance to get his second hit of the season. And he hit a double, to seal the deal for the Mariners.

Needless to say, I will be surprised if Baek is sent back down to the minors next week when Felix returns... after all, the Mariners can't possibly allow Jeff Weaver to embarrass himself again, can he?

Anyway, I'm now 2-0 on the season for games I've gone to, and both games have had fabulous, sunny, T-shirt weather.

Seattle Mariners Undefeated!

The Seattle Mariners are undefeated! Who could believe it? Felix Hernandez does what only Pedro Martinez has done once and Randy Johnson has done twice: struck out 12 batters on opening day! Richie Sexson gets only one hit - but it's a hit that cost the A's three runs. The Seattle Mariners, projected to be a fourth place team, are in first place, and undefeated!

Okay, so the Mariners have only played one game this season, but I have to be excited! I mean, how can I not? How many more days will be the Mariners go undefeated? Go Mariners!

Fire Bill Bavasi - The beginning of baseball season

The Seattle Mariners, along with the rest of the MLB, kick into high gear next week, and while I am and always will be a loyal fan, I am preparing for the worst: a fourth place finish once again in the AL West, and perhaps the loss of one of the greatest players in the game: Ichiro Suzuki.

Several years ago, when the Mariners were off-and-on again in regards to the playoffs, I criticized Alex Rodriguez (and still do) for abandoning his loyal fans to go to a crappy Texas Rangers team for a shit load of money. Why leave a good team for a bad team just for more money you're not going to use?

Anyway, the point of my story is that I cannot blame Ichiro for leaving, if he does at the end of this season. Why stay with a team that sucks, when your dream, like any other baseball player's dream, is to play in and win the World Series? And yes, you should stick it through the bad years like Ichiro has, but when your management shows no sign of doing anything to help the team, what's worth waiting around for? Bill Bavasi, general manager of the Mariners, like the general managers before him, has failed to make a big trade once again. We're stuck with the same team that could do well if everyone has career years, but with exception to 2001, that doesn't happen. I like Beltre and Sexson and some of the other guys, but in a season where Bavasi really needed to make the big deals to keep people interested in the Mariners and to give us even a long shot at winning the division, he purchased B-grade players that are lackluster at best. Fire him now, and let's move on to the next crappy Mariners general manager!

In a Yahoo! sports prediction I read today, the Mariners were of course rated at the bottom of the division, but the prediction also included staff picks of who would be the first to be hired. Guess what? Bavasi, and Mariners manager Mike Hargrove, were both on the list!