I almost forgot to do the game thoughts. I was busy staring off into space and pondering what it would be like to be covering a winning team, or a team that didn’t want to beat up it’s best player. Anyway I digress.

A few quick notes… The Gar is here promoting his new foundation. And also Kaz Sasaki, the Daimajin, is here doing some commentating for Japanese television.

So let’s get to some thoughts…

Top of first

Three ground balls to shortstop, three clean plays by Yuni.

Bottom of first

Ichiro

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Ok, well, our competitor had a story in today’s paper about some of the Mariners not being too fond of Ichiro Suzuki. In the story, an anonymous clubhouse source had a few quotes that were pretty eye-opening.

"I just can’t believe the number of guys who really dislike him," said one clubhouse insider. "It got to a point early on when I thought they were going to get together and go after him."

The coaching staff and then-manager John McLaren intervened when one player was overheard talking — in reference to

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Felix Hernandez on the mound or his 31st and last start of the season, trying to win his 10th game.

The Mariners, of course, are trying to avoid losing that 100th game, which is a long shot with five games left, including tonight.

We’re off – Mariners vs. Angels.

Jose Lopez continued his best offensive season with his 40th double in the first inning, a gapper that drove Yuniesky Betancourt in from first base with two out.

That was RBI No. 85 for Lopez, who spent much of his season batting second – not a big

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Felix Hernandez will start tonight having worked 194 2/3 innings this season, already a career high – and manager Jim Riggleman wants him to get to 200.

“In today’s world, 200 innings makes a statement about a pitcher,” Riggleman said, “especially in the American League. I’d like to see Felix get that number beside his name.”

No matter what happens tonight, Hernandez will finish the season below .500 – he’s 9-11 going in wigth a 3.38 earned run average in 30 starts.

Tonight will be his 31st start, tying his career high, and with 171 strikeouts, he’s

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They haven’t lost 100 games in a season since 1983, when they dropped 102 – but the Mariners are sprinting toward that plateau this year.

Seattle has lost a sesason-high 12 consecutive games going into this one, tying the franchise record for the second-longest losing streak.

What was worse, you ask? A 14-game losing streak in 1992.

Ryan Feierabend starts, and the last five men in the Mariners lineup – Jeremy Reed, Wladimir Balentien, Matt Tuiasosopo, Kenji Johjima and Luis Valbuena – have a combined 81 RBI.

Here it comes: Mariners vs. Angels.

Ryan Feierabend

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A remarkably bad year has ended early for Carlos Silva, a right-hander for whom nothing has gone right since April.

At one point, he was 3-0 for Seattle, then went an improbable 1-15 and suffered through losing streaks and back pain.

Scheduled to make his last start on Thursday, Silva has been scratched because of back problems.

Someone – probably a reliever – will start in his place.

Silva has had the kind of year you wouldn’t wish on anyone. When he pitched well, he got no run support. And when he pitched poorly, no

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Notes…

Jose Lopez is back at first tonight (lineups below) and the lineup as a whole has a Rainer-esque feel, in fact Ichiro and Raul have to be wondering if they were sent down to Triple A. … It’s also f-f-freezing up here. That won’t do much to help attendance. I’m guessing maybe 17,000 at the most and that’s on the high side.

Top of first

Rowland-Smith sets down the side in order. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again … “I like how he competes.”

Bottom of first

Ervin Santana just

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It’s good to be back covering baseball, maybe not this caliber of baseball, but its still good. Maybe I’ll actually cover a win from this team. That hasn’t happened much. Just a rough guesstimate but I think of the 90-odd games I covered, I think only 25 might have been wins. I’m going to have to go look that up to find out for sure.

A few things from pregame

Jeff Clement was back in the clubhouse and walking around without crutches following his knee surgery a few weeks back.

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