85-77

And I can’t really put that into words, either.

This site has made watching Mariners baseball a completely different experience for me. I’m sure I sucked at commenting for the most part, but I’ll try to get better during the off season.

Wish my camera hadn’t fucking died in the 5th inning

So much love for a season where our team that was outscored this year…

Kidding! Kidding!

Thank you!

This really was a great year. I haven’t enjoyed Mariners baseball this much since I was a much younger man. Damn my work schedule for making me miss so many games. Looking forward to next year already.

Anybody got a link to the AP photos of this game? Should be some good stuff.

It saved a miserable season in 08, a good season with a bad front office in 2007 and gets me through a long off-season.

I love LL.

I have very few friends who are baseball fans (UT and the Cowbows dominate everything around here), and none who really follow the Mariners, so participating here is very special.

You all are fantastic, even Matthew and Graham

the material and viewpoints that LL/USSM provide.

Its not painful to be a Mariners fan, its actually quite fun.

For that I am thankful to the team and to everyone here.

You guys have all contributed to making me enjoy even the most low points of being a Mariners fan, and for that I have nothing but appreciation.

I spend more time here than any other website, and even if I tried to cut down, I’d start sweating nervously and wouldn’t feel right. It’s an addiction, and it’s so fucking good. It’s like a cigarette (or a nicotine patch!) after a stressful day. I need it.

Thanks, Jeff. And thanks to Matthew, Graham and all the regulars who have taught me so much about baseball in the past three years that it’s hard to even talk about the sport with anyone else. I’m gay for you all.

without LL I would have given up on the Ms after last year’s hell.

It’s just so difficult! Breaks down

I know I can be a hassle. : )

It went from being a site where I learned more about the team I loved, to the site that made me hate the team that I loved to the site that is slowly making me love them again. Along the way I have picked up some of my closest friends that I will ever make. While putting out incredible content night after night you are also positively affecting so many of your users lives. Thank you for the time that you put into this place. If you ever stop writing here I will hang myself.

I’m one of the many lurkers who rarely posts here, but I just want to express my thanks for all the work you put into this site. This season has been fantastic, largely aided by my happening upon this site.

I hope you’ll continue to keep us up to speed in the off season and can’t wait for next year.

and even though I’m mostly a lurker and don’t know much about statistics or analysis, it’s already become hard to watch or listen to a game without following along with the game threads. I’m so glad this place exists.

joins in

It’s been a fun season. More fun than 2008 ever was and a lot more fun interacting with many of you. We’ve heard a lot about the "trust factor’’ going on with the Mariners and I want it to be that way with us.

I want you to trust in what you read here. And I want to be able to trust in some of you to keep up the good rapport we’ve had going these past eight months. This blog has grown into something special the past three seasons and you’ve all helped that happen. We don’t always agree, but I think we’ve reached an understanding of sorts about where we’re all coming from.

And not just on this blog. I’m talking about others in the Seattle blogosphere, like U.S.S. Mariner and Lookout Landing. I think it’s been a fun year, a better year of understanding for all of us.

And now, it’s time to go home. I’ve got someone waiting there for me and she’s had to share me with the rest of you for the past eight months.

Until the next time.

There’s just nothing like checking up on LL, USSM, Baker/Stone, Divish/LaRue, Drayer (and anyone else I’m missing) on a regular basis for my Mariner fix.

Thanks to all!

Jeff, Matthew, Graham, y’all are awesome. Between the sheer amount of content and the complexity of the analysis and the ridiculous sense of humor that you all (and we) seem to share, I can think of no finer website to risk myself getting fired over.

I just can’t figure out what I’m going to do until the Winter Meetings.

Also to all of the commenters who obviously make this site what it is. I’m going to be commenting on winter ball in a few weeks in order to improve my comments. I’m looking forward to spring training when hopefully you all won’t have to roll your eyes when my name shows up on the right side of the screen.

I am amazed both by the quantity and quality of content here at LL. And knowing it’s done without monetary gain makes it even more amazing. Thanks for all the work.

were we in the same place, at the same time, right about now.

This applies to Jeff, Matthew, Graham and everyone else that’s put up with my ~3000 posts of largely irrelevent drivel.

The vastly improved team is definitely not the only reason I’ve enjoyed my second full season as a baseball fan so much more than my first.

It has taught me a little about the Mariners, a little about statistics, a little about life, and a lot about beer. You guys are awesome.

than this site is a crime.

Y’all fuckin rock. Yes, even you Matthew. Graham, I love the centre, the tonne and the colour. Mr. Sullivan: may your inability to recognize a Felix splitter nor anything else ever hinder your wildest dreams. Cheers to a job well done.

Among the authors and commenters, there scores and scores of engaging, wonderful people here who have made watching baseball a new experience for me, even though I’ve been a Mariners fan for 14 years. Thanks to everyone here for the most fun I’ve ever had following sports (I’d even take LL over my being introduced to baseball – I mean my first game game EVER – by going to the 1995 Yankees vs. Mariners ALDS. LL is that cool).

I’ve loved the Off-Tops (getting to know a good portion of you guys), Matthew’s season previews, the motherfucking 85 wins, Felix’s debutante ball (can he sneak away with a Cy Young this year?), Branyan’s muscle-y dongs, trading Yuni, the sexiness that is Franklin Gutierrez, Ichiro’s continued awesomeness, Hannahan’s adorableness, Aardsma’s out-of-nowhere dominance, Rick Rizzs’ guttural giggle as Mike Blowers’ home run prediction came true, Junior’s antics, Mike Sweeney’s “suck it” gestures, Eyebrows’ now-defunct animated gifs of the day in the Off-Tops…

…and some of the best baseball analysis I’ve read anywhere.

Thanks everybody. And don’t ever change. This place fucking rules.

but I just wanted to join in and say thanks. As a M’s fan who lives away from the team and works with people who don’t really follow sports, having this site to come for the writing and everything else really makes the baseball season that much more enjoyable.

Keep it up.

You make me laugh and for that I can never repay you, but someday I need to try with a few beer purchases.

Special thanks to Matthew and Graham also not only for your work here but for being awesome guys to hang out with in person.

I also thank all of you that I have had the chance to get to know in person a little bit this past season. There are too many of you to name, but you have all made this a great season for me. Thanks for joining me at games and for drinks at Temple.

Most of all thanks for letting an old fart like me play with all of you kids.

My Mariners fandom would be radically different if I had never found this place.