Does anyone remember 1997? When the Mariners had nine players with double digit home runs? Heck, does anyone remember the 39 bombs Richie Sexson hit for the Mariners last season? Anyone? Because I sure don't. In fact, I don't even remember the last time a Mariner hit a home run. Oh yeah- it was last Monday. In Minnesota.

One week since hitting a home run. Whose going to hit more home runs in 2006: the Seattle Mariners or Albert Pujols?

The Mariners lost to the Indians this afternoon 2-0. I'm hammering the point of the Mariners' current offenseive ineptitude as it cost the M's a beauty of a start from left-hander Jarrod Washburn. All Jarrod did was hold the Indians to six base-runners over seven innings (four hits, two walks) which is more than enough to earn a win against the hot-hitting Tribe. Unless, of course, you're playing for the Mariners.

If you hold Cleveland to eight hits and three runs over two games, you shouldn't split them. Your record should be 2-0. Pathetic.

Is Jarrod the 2006 hard-luck version of Ryan Franklin, minus the steroids, of course? Franklin had the worst run support in the major leagues over the past two years. In his last five starts, Washburn has only given up 11 earned runs in 35.1 innings. With the Mariners dropping games by such scores as 2-0, 5-1, 2-1, 3-2 (and winning one game 5-1 against Mark Buehrle and the White Sox), Washburn has had a 1-4 record during that stretch. So, yes, sadly it appears that Washburn is this season's version of Ryan Franklin, sadly.

Okay, so how did Adrian Beltre do? The box score said AB went 1 for 4, which raised his average up to .212. (AB now has a higher average than Richie Sexson!) AB got his hit with a ninth inning single, stretching his hitting streak to five games.

I got a chance to watch the end of the game while working out at my gym. However, the audio plug-in on my ellipitcal machine didn't work, so I was listening to Niehaus and Fairly call the game. This, of course, led to a delay as the TV lagged behind the radio. I watched Richie Sexson ground weakly to third, then watched Everett follow up with a single. Up stepped Beltre.

What do I do? If Beltre comes through with a clutch game-tying home run, I wouldn't have anything to bitch about on this blog. If he grounds into a game-ending double play, I'd come here and say 'See! Told you he can't hit with runners on.' Well, Beltre balanced both worlds, as he singled into center field, thus getting a base hit with runners on, but without actually knocking anyone in.

I was getting excited. Two runners on, one out. As I was watching the action unfold, another TV screen was showing VH1's "May Metal Month" with the Top 40 greatest heavy metal songs of all time. Coming in at number 12 was Anthrax/Public Enemy with "Bring the Noise." Anxious, I was looking back and forth. "Hell yeah, we're bringing the noise. All Kenji needs to do is not ground into a double play and it's good-bye shut-out!"

Seconds, nay miliseconds, after I thought that, Kenji proceeded to ground into a double play and end the ballgame.

Oh well. Tomorrow the mariners begin a series versus the Devil Rays, who have always played the Mariners tougher than they should. Casey Fossum is taking the hill for the D-Rays, and Beltre has scorched Casey to the tune of a .444 batting average and 1.413 in 19 plate appearances. So perhaps AB can help get the series off on the right foot....