Some perspective for Mariners fans

I'm still laughing about Jeff's recent post that had "binoculate" in the headline. It was, as most of the posts here are, quite clever. I've been writing professionally for a very long time and have never used binoculate, let alone seen it in an article.

Yet the post also demonstrated that Mariners fans are getting a little punch drunk after all this losing, and that you need some tea and sympathy. So, as a public service, here are some organizations that may actually be worse:

• The Chicago Cubs. One almost season does not make up for all that futility (shamless plug for a piece I wrote about the Cubs' all-time worst players). And, as I like to point out, the North Siders taught Jim Riggleman all he doesn't know about managing.

• The Texas Rangers. I live in Dallas, and get to watch them on a regular basis. Ouch. That means I have seen them trade away Chris Young, Adrian Gonzalez, John Danks, and Francisco Cordero in the past couple of years for almost nothing.

• Kansas City Royals. This does not even require an explanation, does it?

• Washington Nationals. Jim Bowden may be the most inept general manager in baseball -- and he hasn't been fired yet.

• Pittsburgh Pirates. Its last winning season was 1992. How many of you reading this even remember 1992?

Hope this helps. And, regardless of anything else, the Mariners have Ichiro. They can't say that in Kansas City.