a better idea of why the Mariners suck

the Seattle Mariners have good players, but they seem to have a knack of playing just badly enough to lose. today's game at Minnesota is a great example.

tie game, top of the 10th. Ichiro, lead-off single. Jose Lopez, possibly the best second baseman in the AL, another single. no outs, 2 on. Ibanez drives one to deep right, which gets snagged at the last second. for some reason, Ichiro is running, so he has to tag up and is still at second instead of on third with one out. next batter, Sexton, hits one to the baggie in center. Ichiro not only isn't able to score on what should have been an easy sac fly, he's again halfway! he again is stuck on second.

Mike Hargrove may have some chops as a manager, but i'm not seeing them. other teams have lesser talent yet win. Hargrove got Cleveland two AL titles but never over the hump; in Baltimore, he did nothing. again, he's doing nothing. the Mariners certainly need a few more pitchers and they need Beltre and Sexton to earn their money. but for the winning run to get stuck on second like that is unfathomable and ridiculous.

and of course, in the bottom of the 10th, immediately after this embarrassing Seattle lack of smarts, the leadoff batter hit the game-winning home run. of course.