Well, another regular season has come and gone. It seems like almost yesterday I was enjoying life at spring training getting my hopes up on guys shoulders like Justin Smoak and Alex Liddi. Although many of those prospects did not come to fruition I think this was the best mariners team I have watched since I moved here 8+ years ago. Of course the offense is (and probably will never be) as dynamite as the teams I am used to watching (245 HRs for the Yankees this year/with Granderson and Cano ending the season on FIRE) but it was a remarkable improvement. I have to say watching the M’s defense was a treat I was not expecting. Where we lacked in offense the defense really picked up the slack (2nd in MLB). Of course as the years go by most of this will be forgotten and the main memory’s will be the 2 perfect games that slid into Safeco history and perhaps for a few; the combined 6 pitcher no hitter.

Other than those feats, I hope in the future this year is remembered for the curiosity rover not just finding signs of water on Mar’s but signs of life (and no doubly great PNW beer) in the M’s clubhouse. As M’s fans we should hold our head high because the hat of shame this year belongs to those who pray at the obtuse angles of the green monster.

After watching last night’s final game consisting of Montero revoking Trout’s license to steal (ps…Mike: "baseball gods do not allow rookies to be the MVP"...well unless your name is Ichiro Suzuki [01’]and/or Fred Lynn [75’]…but otherwise its true) and the overall man handling of the Angels I leave this season as I started with high hopes and expectations for next year!

See you at the game,

-Kurt