The bad news is the Mariners are still the only team not to have ever played in the World Series.
The only slightly good news is they were very, very close.
The good news is we were able to share our disappointment with friends over good food.
And now, back to our regular life for 2 weeks.
To set the stage:
Game 5 of a 7 game series. Mariners and Blue Jays each have 2 games, won in the other teams ballpark. After today they return to Toronto. If it goes poorly, this is our last home game. If it goes well,the Mariners will no longer be the only team to have never made it to the World Series.
This morning, I had a moment of peace and thought that, regardless, it’s been a pretty good and fun season.
But now that I’m at the park, it’s all about being the loudest fans. Not about the fun of the game, even the situation.
And it’s a beautiful sunny fall day in Seattle, and the roof is closed. My cynical self says it’s to increase the din. It rained in the morning, but none is predicted this afternoon/evening.
I’m mad, not sure why. My focus is the roof, but I think it’s stress. Not about the game, although I really, really want to win. I left our seats to walk around and try to get in a better head space and figure this out. Which is why I am writing as the game swirls around me.
The rest of the story is work. I have two more weeks and two more weekends to finish what I want to get done. So here I am on a workday afternoon, not working.
GRAND SLAM- GENO SUAREZ , MARINERS UP 6-2, 1 OUT IN THE 8TH
I need to be stable next week. Lunch for me at work on Monday, last statements to the Board of Commisioners Monday afternoon. Possible game 7 at 5 PM (away game).
I know what I want to say, but I don’t want it to be emotional. 38 years is a long time. Maybe that’s what today is about.
And I really want to get the work done, but it’s not quite under control.
Listening to the fans around me in standing room only is helping. They’re excited to be here at all. And just a great play from our 2nd baseman to snag a line drive.
For now, LET’S GO MARINERS. No time like the present.
⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️
Warming up
And while it started well, the game ended as a loss. No one said it was going to be easy.
Still up 2 games to 1. Hope for a better result tomorrow.
I want my hands to hurt like they did in 1995.
I want to be hoarse like I was in 1995.
Tonight feels more like 1995 than any playoff game I’ve been to since 1995, albeit it’s only been a few games.
I had forgotten how tiring it is to care so much.
About a silly game
And you can’t win if you don’t hit. And sometimes you do.
For those who don’t know, this is about the Seattle Mariners. The only major league team to never get to the World Series.
But Humpy won the Salmon race. First win in 2 years.
And now, back to our other, regular life.
Until Sunday, because we WON.
At Game 5 of the ALCS. Mariners vs Tigers. It’s win or go home.
In line, near the front, and probably the 40th or so game I have been to this year. The number isn’t important, but more than a few.
We bring in the clear bags with our food. (Aside, the Tigers don’t allow fans to bring in their own food. Paying for ballpark fare would bankrupt us.)
Extra layers of clothes. It is October.
Sunscreen (a friend had her sunscreen lotion confiscated once, but it hasn’t happened to me).
Sunglasses (if I take my sturdy container, it sets off the metal detector, so I use the cloth version).
Bobbleheads (Carl is cleaning out a small part of our clutter, piece by piece). These are really appreciated by the recipients.
⚾️ ⚾️ Baseballs. Carl gets lots of these at Minor League games, but they’re usually Major League balls. These are given to other fans, and they are usually excited.
Just before the gates opened today, a security worker announced baseballs wouldn’t be allowed in. SAY WHAT?!?! What about the balls that are obtained within the confines of the ballpark. Caught during batting practice or the game. Tossed up. Or bought at the Team Store.
What I’m pointing out is that there will still be balls in fan’s hands.
And the purported reason for this sudden change in the rules? A woman apparently stepped on a ball, fell, and broke her leg. A knee-jerk reaction if I ever saw one.
Carl tripped on the stairs here earlier this year, but they’re still here. And what about the numerous empty beer containers.
Anyway. That’s my rant for the day. So far.
GO MARINERS ⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️
Two games into the American League Division Series the Mariners are tied 1 game each with the Tigers. I rooted for the Tigers to beat the Guardians as they are the team from the background of my youth. But not right now.
A few pictures of my life over the past few weeks. Very baseball centric.
The Mariners lost yesterday’s game 3-2, but rebounded today to win 3-2.
Why is this special enough to report? The last home playoff game the Mariners won was October 15, 2001. Almost 24 years ago.
It’s been a while.
It actually reminds me a bit more of ’95 than 2001.
And it’s not like I don’t have a lot to write about. For today, 2 items.
We have both soccer and baseball activities both days this weekend.
So we started by retrieving the car after they fixed whatever was wrong. No charge this time. I think it was related to an earlier fix of the electrical/computer system. At 247,000 miles, some hiccups are to be expected. Because they ran through a long checklist to test and identify the problem, a lot of things were not at their normal settings. I spent each red light on the way home resetting things.
And then we were off. Two busses to our first destination, Rueben’s Brews, in Ballard.
The Champions League championship game was fun. Paris-Saint Germain beat Inter-Milan 5-0. But PSG was great fun to watch. Lively play, lots of passing, and goals. Plus, we got to enjoy lunch from the brewery’s food truck. The rueben I had was very satisfying.
From there, we set off in a light rain to the next bus. Followed by a short walk to the light rail and another short walk to the stadium.
The baseball game started at 4:15, which was good because it dragged on for 3 hours and 46 minutes, spanning 11 innings. The Ms did win in the end, so that was exciting. They called up a rookie, Cole Young, and he managed a walk, his first major league hit, and in the bottom of the 11th inning, hit a weak ball down the first base line, which allowed the runner at 3rd to score, barely under the tag at home plate. I’m not sure it counts as a hit, but it secured a walkoff win. What a way to experience your first major league game.
Tomorrow’s weather is supposed to be improved, and we will once again be heading to the ballpark. First for the Mariners game, and we’ll leave that at some point to walk across the street to the Sounders soccer match. They start about 2 hours apart, so unless the Ms play a really short game, we’re going to miss part of one of the games.
Today, I got something I last got when I was 16. Braces! Invisalign, actually. Very high tech stuff. Scans you do with a thing you attach to your phone. An accelerator that vibrates your mouth for 10 minutes each night.
This all has to do with a tooth that must be removed, in a few weeks.
I have had the Invisalign “trays” on since late morning, except for lunch and dinner. They don’t hurt, but my mouth is tired.
If you’ve ever been in a mascot suit maybe you have experienced a similar feeling. You’re supposed to entertain, be peppy, and make others smile – without talking. You find yourself smiling widely, to encourage others to do the same, even though nobody can see your face.
Everytime I have been a costumed mascot I end up with a tired mouth from smiling so much. This feels almost the same. I assume I will get used to it after a few days. I hope so because this will go on for more than a year.
In other news, this greeted me on my drive home
If it’s not one thing, it’s another.
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