Yep, that's right. That's a "1" before the "7". That's the number of consecutive losses the Mariners now have versus divison rivals. The last time the Mariners beat a team from the AL West it was June 11th, beating the Angels at home, the last game of a three-game series.

The team has now dropped a season-high 12.5 games out of first place. It's like this year is the anti-1995 or something. The 2006 Mariners were closer (3.5 games) to first place at an earlier time of the season (july 26) than the 1995 team, but rather than piling up wins this tieam continues to fold like a wet newspaper against AL West rivals night afer night after night. Obviously the secret is out on how to beat the Mariners, and that is to be in the same division as them.

What gives? Over at USS Mariner, they make the case that it was the fiery leadership of Carl Everett- in the clubhouse if not necessarily in the results on the field- that made the Mariners a good, if not competitive, team. Indeed, since Carl was DFA'd on July 26, the team has been a .400 team. I don't necessarily buy the "Carl Everett effect" to explain the Mariners' recent struggles. Rather, I feel it's just the team reverting to the norm. Remember, in the past couple of seasons theteam has reverted from one of the best in baseball to an over-all .420 team, posting a .389 record in 2004 (63-99) and a .426 record last year (69-93). Perhaps the team is realizing that they've been far out-playing their capabilities and are seeking out that magic .420 number. To reach that benchmark, the Mariners only have to go 12-29 for the rest of the year. ANd the way they've been playing in August, that's entirely do-able.

I mean, why else would you allow Willie Bloomquist to not only start the past two games in center field, reducing uber-propsect Adam Jones to bench fodder, but also allow him to swing away in two at-bats over the past two games with runenrs on- at a time when runs for the Marienrs are at a premium? In the fourth inning of Wedensday's 4-0 loss to the A's, Willie came to bat with the bases loaded and one out and immediatley struck out against Danny Haren. In the seventh inning, Willie came up with runners on first and third and immediately grounded into a double play. Sure, it got a run in, breaking a string of 18 shut-out innings, but the question has to be asked: Why in God's name is Willie swinging? He's the number nine batter! Why in these situations did Willie not bunt? Or is Mike Hargrove only able to do that strategy when Jose Lopez, one of the Mariners' top RBI guys, comes to bat with runners on.

It's quite clear that after Joel punched his ticket out of town, Hargrove is trying to follow suit.

On the bright side, Beltre extended his hitting streak to 12 games and now has a 28-game streak of getting on base, the longest current streak in the majors. Huh. Who would've thought that Beltre would've put together such a streak back in April?

Felix Hernandez takes the mound in tonight's ballgame versus Jered Weaver, a re-match of the 7-1 loss against the Angels last July 3rd. In that game, Felix went into the seventh and allowed five runs, though he did strike out six. Though Felix has struggled in his last start- giving up six runs in 5.2 innings versus Texas (an AL West rival, natch)- in his four prior starts Felix had allowed only 5 earned runs in 26 innings for a 1.73 ERA, lowering his season's ERA to 4.29. Which Felix will show up tonight? Felix has a 2-5 record versus the AL West so far this season, allowing 56 baserunners in 41.1 innings for a 5.88. Do we really expect Felix to stp the M's current horrendous slide?

If the Mariners are to eventually beat an AL West rival, it sure isn't going to be at the hands of Jered Weaver, who i still unbeaten (8-0) 11 games into his young major league career. In that 7-1 win last July, Jered allowed one run and struck out nine in seven innings. Jered has been the anti-Felix against the AL West this year, allowing 19 baserunners in 20 innings for a 1.80 ERA and a 2-0 record.

I'm goign to throw out the 9-1 final score guess for a second night, as I think the ANgels will eventually win one game of this four-game series with that score, and tonight's match-up promises to be just as good a time for the Angels to win by that score as any other.