Opinion

After going a dismal 8-19 in May that dropped them into the cellar of the mediocre AL West, the Mariners have played inspiring baseball in June, going 3-0 to begin the month.

I understand that three games isn't exactly the 1995 comeback all over again, but if you look at the numbers going back into later May, this team is showing signs of life.

The 2007 season was truly magical for me as a baseball fan. For me, it rivaled 2001. Obviously it was very different, but still magical.

It is well known that the Diamondbacks were a statistical anomaly. They allowed more runs than they scored. They were an absurd 32-20 in one run games. They had the lowest team batting average (.250) in the National League. Outside of Brandon Webb, no starter on the staff had an ERA under 4.25.

On June 2, Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga was robbed.

Not robbed of a home run, but of a perfect game.

Galarraga retired 26 straight hitters, placing him one out away from a perfect game.

Jason Donald of the Cleveland Indians stepped to the plate, the last chance to end perfection.

Donald slapped a ground ball between Miguel Cabrera at first and Carlos Guillen at second. Cabrera ran over to field the ball, backhanded it, and threw it to Galarraga at the bag. The throw beat the runner by half a step. A perfect game! Right?

Wrong.

Amazingly, the Houston Astros have turned pitiful late game plays into incredible ninth inning heroics.

Those same Astros were at it again on Thursday afternoon at Minute Maid Park, battling the bewildered Washington Nationals and walking off the field with a come-from-behind 6-4 victory.

On Wednesday afternoon, Ken Griffey Jr. took the next step in his baseball career, and that was to end it.

The Mariners outfielder and designated hitter was not having his best season and decided it was time to call it quits. Next stop for Griffey…Cooperstown.

How can a player not make it when he is listed as No. 6 overall on the all-time home run list and made the All-Star team 13 times in 22 years? Griffey is beyond qualified for a spot in baseball eternity.

With his spineless decision today not to right an obvious wrong, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig again showed his detractors why they are right about what a weak leader he is.

Detroit Tiger pitcher Armando Galarraga had a perfect game going with two outs in the 9th inning when first base umpire Jim Joyce blew a call on a play at first involving Jason Donald of the Cleveland Indians.

An obviously upset Joyce admitted after the game that he blew the call.

This article is going to be very short, but I really want to know what everyone thinks about this subject.

I hate to bring this up, but it's almost impossible for me not to ask this hypothetical question:

As the A’s round out their first successful road trip this season with a 6-4 record, their winning percentage sits at .527 (29-26). This is good enough for a half-game out of first place in the AL West.  That corresponds to a final record of 85-77, which may be enough to take the division. 

This is not a bad season, overall. However, a lot can be done to raise this percentage and give the A’s a legitimate chance at a late playoff appearance, and possibly even greater success.

As the A’s round out their first successful road trip this season with a 6-4 record, their winning percentage sits at .527 (29-26). This is good enough for a half game out of first place in the AL West.  That corresponds to a final record of 85-77, which may be enough to take the division. 

This is not a bad season, overall; however, a lot can be done to raise this percentage and give the A’s a legitimate chance at a late playoff appearance, and possible success.

It was two seasons ago in a men's wood bat summer league game. It is a good league, with great competition and many former (and at least one current) major leaguers as alumni.

I was base umpire, situated behind the pitcher's mound in a two-man team. Man on first, one out, late in a tied game.

Batter hits a ground ball to the hole in short, throw is made to second for the force out, then the relay is made to first.

Bang-bang play, and I signal OUT! Double play and inning over.