The newest Mariners fan

Heretofore non-sports fan Marc Maron, Air America Media pundit, has chosen a baseball team to root for. He explains his variety of reasons in this segment from Friday's Break Room Live:



No sooner had Maron boarded the good ship Mariner than the team went out and got clobbered by the Twins 11-0 on Friday and 9-6 on Saturday, continuing a four game losing streak courtesy of Texas and Kansas City.

Only today's 5-3 win over Minnesota saves Maron from jinx status. Welcome, Marc, and see ya at Safeco Field.

Game 2

Tonight's Mariner game was again encouraging. The team displayed smart baserunning, and the ability to get hits down the stretch. The one weak link: Jarrod Washburn.

I've had this philosophy that of the five pitchers in your starting rotation, the guys in the 1 - 3 spots ought to be able to deliver their first times out. If your staff can't start the season at least 3-2, there's a problem.

The Ms are 2-0 so far, but not because of Washburn. He threw 104 pitches in a little over five innings before he was pulled, leaving with a 4-2 lead. But two of his four runs were unearned -- basically, he left with a 2-2 tie. Not good for a #2 starter.

Julio Mateo -- come on: 1 inning, 3 hits, 2 runs??? Almost Ayalaesque.

Fly away

I'm cautiously optimistic about the Mariners (as I am every year) after the way they went to town on the A's yesterday. Ichiro transitioned smoothly to center field; 12 Ks for Felix; Sexson stepped up the way he needs to. Plus, it was only the second-ever Opening Day shutout M's win, the other being Game 1 of 1995 -- and look what happened that year.

A good way to start the season.

One down note: this year's crop of Mariner TV spots are terrible! Time to put Copacino+Fujikado on the hot seat.