So, maybe it takes a little while for a new hitting coach to have an impact. The Mariners dropped game 2 of the series in Toronto 3-1, with Seattle’s only run coming off of a Jeremy Reed solo home run. We’re all looking for a powerful bat to emerge from this line-up, but who knew it would have frosted tips?

Like any other warm-blooded Mariner fan my heart skipped a beat when I heard that Brandon Morrow couldn’t pitch last night because of some “tightness”. With as hard as he throws, and his scare earlier this season, I’m already a little concerned about his durability. Boy, was it nice to see him back tonight. Seven pitches was all it took for him to mow through the heart of the Blue Jays line-up in the 8th. Welcome back.

Felix takes the mound tomorrow for the rubber match. No matter what this club looks like day to day, seeing Felix is always a treat. So, we’ve got that to look forward to, as well as Adrian Beltre bobbleheads this Friday at Safeco. I’ll be maxed out in the bleachers with a backpack full of snacks, and one glorious mini-Adrian just waiting to spend the rest of his life with me.

For all of you that will be there to either take your bobblehead and go home, or hoard 45 of them to sell, may the ghost of Abner Doubleday track you down and haunt your wretched soul for eternity.

Where is the sun? It was going to be a steamy 75 in Seattle today. Right now it’s 60 degrees and cloudy. Hmm… well at least come 7:10 we’ll all feel the warm glow of Felix Hernandez on the mound. The friendly people at Safeco Field will give you a statue of him tonight just for showing up! By the way, if I see you with more than one bobblehead, and you’re not carrying it for a child, a grandparent, or your spouse who’s using the restroom, I will stomp on your kneecaps just to give you a taste of the damage that is about to be inflicted upon your dirty little hoard of Mariners memorabilia.

Tonight is not about violence, however, but about the team that we love to love…. the Seattle Mariners. After months of frustration and calls for the impeachment of every member of the organization, there has been what appears to be the start of a rebuilding phase. So even if there is all kinds of news about the Mariners firing people, promoting and demoting, trading and releasing, they still won’t be any better for a while. So, let’s not expect them to be. Let’s watch some baseball games because it’s summer and because there is no better place on earth to put your good eating habits on hold thanks to the glorious traditions of America’s Favorite Pastime.

Last night’s game was the first I’ve been to in a few weeks, and while I thought it was going to be all about Felix, I was pleasantly surprised to leave Safeco with memories of a huge Raul Ibanez grand slam followed up a few innings later with a three run Lopez smash.

I was also happy to see almost every seat filled in Safeco for one of the worst teams in baseball. Yesterday evening being a sunny Friday with Felix bobbleheads being given away helps, but the Mariners have brought in close to 30,000 fans every home game this season. It’s testament to the radness (and endless patience) of Seattle fans.

Felix was a blast to watch as usual, striking out eight over six innings… but the gold star goes to (it really should go to Raul) Jamie Burke! Burke went 3-4 with a double and a run scored, but what elevates his game status from solid to gold star worthy was the backup he provided down the first base line on wide Betancourt throw to Cairo in the 8th. It was a hard play for Betancourt to make, but how did Burke hustle down the line so fast AND come up with the ball to prevent Ben Francisco from taking second base on the play? Most catchers don’t hustle like that in a close game, let alone one they’re winning by six runs. Bravo, Jamie Burke.

What can this guy not do? Besides field, I mean… and run fast. But, come on! He’s smashing balls for fun! We’ve needed a little something like this to make us forget about the pain.

It kills me that Felix pitched eight innings of four hit, one run ball and the win goes to Putz. Not that it matters, but I’m a big fan of credit where credit is due, and J.J. didn’t deserve a win a couple nights ago either, when Dickey threw a strong seven.

I’m going to the game tomorrow to pick up the Yuniesky bobblehead and to watch this historic dance that we call baseball. I’ll be up in section 330. You heard me right. That’s directly behind the catcher. Never mind that I’ll be high enough up to eat clouds like cotton candy. 

I was at the game on Friday to see the Mariners play like the AAA team that they are. The Yuniesky bobblehead that I left with did a pretty decent job of calming my nerves though. I don’t have it out of the box yet or anything, but at least I got something tangible in return for my price of admission. The losing-induced soul searching alone doesn’t always give me the fulfillment that I’m looking for on a Friday evening.

So, I got a plane the next day with my better half and headed for the Bay Area. No, I wasn’t going to see the Giants play in an effort empathize with another floundering team… I went to spend some good quality family time at a reunion slash wedding party for my brother. And what a weekend it was. Short, but awesome. If you have a family, I highly recommend visiting them, and if you don’t, you may want to start one.

The Olympics are also under way now, and Bainbridge Islander Emily Silver did us all proud by earning herself a silver medal in the 4×100-meter free relay. Way to go, Emily!