SECTION 331

Watching the Boston/Texas game on TBS for most of the morning allowed me to see what offense looks like. It’s a sobering realization to know that the team you love really truly has no offense. Not like that, anyway. I had to switch over in the 6th inning as Boston was trailing by a run. It feels weird to root for Boston, but I am predisposed to root against West cost rivals, and I am just irked at all things New York today, so it wasn’t much of a stretch, I guess. Also, say what you want about Red Sox Nation, but they are more like the ECS than any fanbase in baseball. Whether or not that is warranted, given the fact that baseball is riddled with far more issues than soccer might be as far as PEDs and ridiculous contracts is a moot point. If you’re going to be a fan, you support your team, and that is something that Red Sox fans just do with aplomb.

Today’s game got off on a bad foot in the top of the third, with Derek Jeter hitting a line drive into right field that drove Carlos Pena in for their first run. In our half of the third, Ryan Langerhans and Josh Wilson wound up on the corners with two out and Russell Branyan at bat. Branyan obtained a walk to load the bases against Joba Chamberlain, and Jose Lopez drove Langerhans and Wilson in with a nice smooth swing to left field, earning himself a double. Our good luck would not last for long, however, when Nick Swisher hit a two-runner off Doug Fister to give the Yanks a one-run advantage in the top of the 4th.

I lost track of the game a little while searching online for tickets for the last game of the season, but Kenji hit a good double which sent Jack Hannahan to third, and then wound up having to make a close run back to second on a Langerhans hit to first; Derek Jeter was unable to tag him as Kenji slid feet-first into the bag. Josh Wilson stranded both of them by popping out to center, sadly, but we were at least making Chamberlain work a little.

In the bottom of the 5th with two men on, Franklin Gutierrez hit a nice shot up to shallow middle outfield to send Russell Branyan home, and Jerry Hairston Jr couldn’t keep his glove on it. This move put men at the corners and tied the game with two out. Jack Hannahan took the liberty of smacking one out to right field, driving home our man on third, score 4-3 Mariners.

Fister managed to keep the Yanks silent in the top of the 6th. Josh Wilson made a shallow hit into the center outfield, but turned on the speed and made it a double. Ichiro followed that up with a single of his own, leading the major league at 174 hits (possibly 175 at the end of the game, I’m sure that the Ichi-Meter people know for sure!), and right on pace for his 200 this season. Russell Branyan managed another strike out. Jose Lopez fought with Alfredo Alceves, fouling off left and right, literally, until finally grounding out to short to end the inning.

Fister had some close calls in the 7th, but managed to get himself out of his jams. I have come to the conclusion that I like Doug Fister. I realize it’s only one game, but I choose to be optimistic here, because the alternative is far too depressing, and he really did pitch a great game today. Ken Griffey Jr had himself a single in the bottom of that inning, and Gutz sent him to third with an outfield double. Hannahan wound up out, Johjima got a walk, and Ryan Langerhans struck out on a 2-2 pitch from Alceves. With the bases loaded, Josh Wilson (who really isn’t terrible, so far as I can tell), took the batter’s box, and Alceves hit him in the back, sending him to first, and walking Griffey home. Alceves was promptly removed from the game in favor of Chad Gaudin, who was recently acquired from the Chicago Cubs. Ichiro did his Ichiro thing and hit a chop past Nick Swisher to right field, sending two runners home. Russell Branyan then followed suit, driving in another run. Jose Lopez hit one down the left field line for a double, sending in another run, score 9-3, and I both wondered why Joe Girardi was leaving Gaudin in the game, and hoped that Chris Jakubauskus did not give this one away. Not that I don’t generally trust him to be strong through 1-4 innings, but the Yankees bats are stronger. Griffey was the last out, grounding to first.

Jakabauskus used a change-up to strike out Mark Teixeira in the 8th, and took out Alex Rodriguez swinging as well. Jorge Posada popped out to Gutz for the final, a mercifully short 8th inning. Gaudin was left in the game into the 8th and finally managed to strike out Gutierrez. Jack Hannahan grounded to Robinson Cano, and Kenji Johjima, bless his little heart, hit one over the fence to the crowd by the visitor’s bullpen, score 10-3. Langerhans was the final out as they went into the 9th inning, and I finally felt like I could relax a little bit; and Jak followed up his 8th with a nice slick 9th, avoiding a sweep.

As of today, we’ve won as many games as we did all year in 2008. Frankly, that feels pretty good to me. Having your first proper full season be as miserable as that was not pleasant, and really did test me as a new fan. I’m happy that I passed the test, but happier still that I’m not being tested again.

In a few hours, my interview with Matt Smith of Baseball Great Britain should be posted. And of course, last licks to sign the petition for the Mariners bullpen’s gladiator helmets return. Jessica and I fleshed out the letter that we plan on sending with it yesterday, and should be able to send it out by next weekend (this is a time issue more than anything for both of us).