The season flashed before my eyes today.

I first heard about the potential severity of Bedard's situation on Friday. It was rough to read, but without any official confirmation, I just watched the games and hoped the tip-off was untrue. The two wins certainly took away some of the sting. In fact, it was safe to say that by the time I went to bed last night, the condition of Bedard's hip was the furthest thing from my mind.

Then I woke up and it all came flooding back.

It's funny. During conversations back in February and March, the general consensus seemed to be that the M's would have at least a fighting chance as long as five players stayed healthy. Those five players - Ichiro, JJ, Felix, Bedard, and Beltre - form the core around which the Mariners hope to compete for the playoffs.

13 games into the year, three of those players are hurt. Granted, Beltre's hamstring is a minor issue that might resolve itself in time for tomorrow, but still, it's been two weeks and already it's pretty clear that we won't get the same luck with team health that we did in 2007. Our closer's out with what could become a nagging concern, and our big #1 is being hindered by something even more sinister. I know Angel fans won't have any sympathy given what they've had to deal with, but really, it would've been hard for this season to get off to a more discouraging start.

With Erik Bedard on the sidelines, I found it difficult to care too much about today's game either way. Because with Erik Bedard on the sidelines, Seattle is boned.

Biggest Contribution: Greg Norton, +3.6%
Biggest Suckfest: Potatoes, -19.1%
Most Important AB: Burke double play, -15.0%
Most Important Pitch: Guerrero double, -19.7%
Total Contribution by Pitcher(s): -28.5%
Total Contribution by Hitters: -29.5%
Total Contribution by Opposition: +8.0%
(What is this chart?)

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Mop-up blogging.

Down 2-0. The score in the head is much much worse.

Ichiro CF                  Figgins 3B
Lopez 2B                 Matthews CF
Ibanez "LF"              Guerrero "RF"
Sexson 1B               Anderson "LF"
Vidro DH                  Kendrick 2B
Morse "RF"              Kotchman 1B
Cairo 3B                  Rivera DH
Burke C                   Mathis C
Betancourt SS        Aybar 2B

----------                    ----------

Baek SP                 Saunders SP

If you're not really sure what to do with yourself until gametime, turn on NBC at 11am and look for #8 in the red. Alexander Ovechkin is the most dynamic, exciting, and infectiously enthusiastic athlete in North America, and being able to watch as he enters the prime of what will be an extraordinary career is a spectacle that transcends one's opinion of the sport. Even if you don't like hockey, watch Ovechkin, and he will change your mind. Check Youtube if you don't believe me. He is just unthinkably, impossibly good. Felix-at-his-peak kind of good. A league as poorly run as the NHL almost doesn't deserve someone that talented.

And then when you've had your fill of that, switch on over to Erik Bedard. He's kind of good too. death

LET'S GO MARINERS!!