What a truly amazing weekend!

There were, just in case you’ve been under a rock, a couple little baseball games played in Toronto . . .

On Friday, what more could you ask for but a SHUTOUT?!?
An absolutely DOMINANT pitching performance by Luis Castillo: 7.1 IP-6H-0R-0BB-5Ks
And, Andres Munoz put the cherry on top with 1.2 walk-less/scoreless innings of his own.
As for the offense, they did more than enough, scoring early and often. J-Rod was HBP –twice!– and scored both times: first IN the 1st, on a double by Geno and then in the 5th on a force out by Geno. And, there was -of course!- a Cal home run: a two-run variety that put the M’s up three runs in the 1st and they wouldn’t look back.
The defense was crisp and clean – just like it should be in October!
It featured one DP (Geno-Adam-France), some good to great OF catches and holding runners.
Anyhoo – it was just really swell 🙂

And then came Saturday . . .

Likely the most improbable playoff win in decades. Hard to find the words to describe how unbelievable this game was (though I’m sure Blue Jays fans would easily find a few rather quickly 😉 )

Robbie was great! in the 1st inning – in which he retired the side in order and then, it was all way down hill from there. He exited in the bottom of the 5th to be replaced by Brash (one of the few relievers, along w/Munoz and Kirby (yes, Kirby!) who performed well).
The M’s wouldn’t score until the 5th inning (and then it was only one run – sac fly by Jarred to score Adam). By the end of the 5th, they were down 8-1 – and then, the magic happened. Three consecutive singles (Ty, Geno, Cal) in the 6th basically ran the Jays starter and their reliever promptly gave up a run on a bases loaded wild pitch and then a THREE-run homer to Carlos – and suddenly, 8-5 wasn’t looking so bad. Thought the Jays would get one right back so, it was 9-5 headed to the 8th – and the M’s magic was far from depleted – they would score FOUR more runs to TIE THE GAME AT NINE!!! (a Cal single to score Geno; JP double with the bases loaded scored Cal, Mitch and Adam). And then we would see more mystical, magical M’s – Adam would hit a double down the right field line (incidentally on the 26th Anniversary of Gar’s double down the left field line 😉 ) to break the tie and George would come in the the bottom of the 9th to recored his first major league save (posting a groundout, walk, strikeout, line out) after which jubilation would ensue on the field and in the locker room 🙂

Now, the M’s head to Houston, where we hope they will pose a problem 🙂
While I’m BEYOND excited that the M’s are in the ALDS, I’m beyond FRUSTRATED with the scheduling by MLB – both of the games in Houston this week are scheduled for a 12:37pm PT first pitch – I happen to have a 3-day, all day training class for work from Tue-Thu . . . argh!!! After an entire season of not being able to watch games because Dish no longer carries RootSports, they are finally aired on a Channel that Dish provides and I can’t watch live.
So, for the first time ever, I’m going to attempt to stay uninformed about a sporting event so that I can watch the recording as if it were live and truly not know the result until the last pitch of the recording.

Here we go into the long time uncharted territory that is Mariners playoff baseball. After what we have seen this past weekend – ANYTHING is possible.

Go M’s

In just about 90 minutes . . .

after years, and years, and years of watching nearly every pitch (some years, many in person) and documenting (in one way or another) every regular season game, I – and Mariners fans everywhere – are finally about to be rewarded again with postseason baseball.

While my viewing and documenting has waned over the past several seasons, it’s not been for lack of interest or passion but, more of circumstance. Moving to an island has a lot to do with that – at first, the ferry schedule and my very long commute made it difficult to watch, let alone document or attend. Then, last October, my TV provider dropped RootSports so, this was a “radio only” season for me – which I actually quite enjoyed.

I was lucky enough to attend several games this season – all with my dad ❤
Unfortunately, that magical Friday night on the last day of September wasn’t one of them.
But, I was listening when, with two outs in the bottom of the 9th and the game tied at one, Cal Raleigh hit a 3-2 pitch off the windows of the Hit it Here Cafe at T-Mobile Park to drench Mariners fans in the sparkling excitement of possibility that is postseason baseball after 21 years of drought. I’m not sure that the hit has an official name yet but, undoubtedly it ranks with “the Double” that sent the M’s to their very first postseason. And, just as Dave’s call of Edgar’s historical hit, Rick’s call of Cal’s homer will be forever etched in M’s fans’ memories.

I may be tempting fate, as baseball fans tend to superstition but, I did purchase a few postseason tickets – as not even the ferry schedule will stop me from attending at least one if they come back home. As I was exiting the ballpark after the last regular season game I attended on Sunday, October 2nd, I very cognizant that it was not a given I would have to wait at least six months to return . . .

Never has uncertainty been so welcome.

Go M’s