Seattle Mariners

When the Mariners won a game against the Red Sox, the rubber match of the series, they did so on the starting pitching of Jason Vargas, the late-inning pitching of David Aardsma, and RBI by Russell Branyan, Ronny Cedeno, and Franklin Gutierrez.

The common thread between each is that none of them were on the team last year.

Once again, Brandon Morrow was pulled from closing.

First time, he went to the DL so he was pulled. But this time, he struggled to get a save in two consecutive days. Now, he is pulled from closing.

Since coming off the DL, Morrow gave up six runs in only 1.2 innings. On the first game, he was able to get a save even giving up a run.

But in the second game against the Rangers, he gave up a walk-off two run double to Hank Blalock. And finally, he gave up walk-off two run homer to Chris Davis to lose his closing job.

Enough is enough.

When the Mariners lost their ninth of the last 10 games last night at the bat of Texas first baseman Chris Davis, I began to wonder.

Texas has another one of these guys? Big bats from the left-hand side, they don’t grow on trees, generally, but perhaps the growing season and crops available are different in Arlington.

If you weren't already numb to it, I'm sure you are by now.  Baseball is sick of steroids and we all just want to move on.  But every time we think maybe it's safe to flip on SportsCenter or go to a game, there's a bombshell.

Another baseball stud used PIDs. This time it was Manny, and I don't know about you, but I didn't have any reaction. I had heard it all before...

1.  Breaking News! (Insert baseball star's name here) failed an MLB drug test.

In lieu of this recent series with Texas, I've decided to countdown the five worst Mariners losses of the season.

Yes, I know that it's only May 14th, but the hard-luck Mariners have already suffered a good amount of heartbreaking ones.

Let's get to it.

5. May 2nd vs. Oakland - Rob Johnson Blunders

Following Wladimir Balentien's RBI double off C.J. Wilson in the top of the 11th inning, the Seattle Mariners appeared to have won their matchup against the Texas Rangers.

Luckily for the Rangers fans, Brandon Morrow still had to face the heart of the Rangers' dangerous lineup.

After Michael Young's single to lead off the inning and a Josh Hamilton walk, Hank Blalock hit a double to deep right-center, scoring both runners. It was Blalock's only hit of the night in six at-bats. Wilson was credited with the win.

Let me start the typical “shock value” article the typical way, I love Ken Griffey, Jr.  When I was a kid, I measured how tall I was getting on a Ken Griffey Jr. height chart, before running out to play with my black outfielders glove with his golden signature in my palm.  

Now, unfortunately, I have outgrown Griffey, and the glove that I retired so many years ago is getting just as much work as Juniors glove does now. 

Adrian Beltre has been a source of contention among Mariners fans since signing a contract with the team before the 2005 season.

Fans were warned that Beltre, who’d hit 48 home runs in 2004, and finished second-place in MVP voting in the National League had never duplicated those numbers in his career. Following an unprecedented season is an uncomfortable time to sign a player.

The Seattle Mariners are currently in third place in the AL west (1.5 GB) and have a 16-16 record.

New general manager Jack Zduriencik said this offseason that the Mariners front office wants to acquire players than can have the team competing now and long term.