9/24/17: Open Game Thread

Yesterday I sat in the sun with friends and watched the Mariners play agonizingly sloppy baseball in a stadium overrun by the grinning rictus of Chief Wahoo. Those parts of the day weren’t fun. What was fun: getting the adorable Felix Funko Pop, watching the Oktoberfest dancers pull people from the crowd (initially reluctant, then goofy-smiling like the rest of us), the aforementioned sun and friends. We cheered loudly for Daniel Vogelbach, getting a rare plate appearance, and felt personally vindicated when he singled into right field. This season has been full of disappointment, and today it takes one more shaky step into its inevitable end. So let there be sunshine, and Vog-el-bach! chants, and maybe don’t look at the scoreboard, where the limping Mariners will be opposed by Cy Young favorite Corey Kluber.

Jean Segura is out after spraining his middle finger, which feels a little on the nose, don’t you think.

In things that don’t suck: here’s MVP Joe Rizzo’s walkoff interview from the Cal League championship. Like all other Modesto players, he starts by crediting his teammates. It will take a while for what they’re building at the lower levels of the organization to filter up to the majors, but there’s every reason to be encouraged about the kind of humble, team-focused players they’re developing.

Today’s game: 1:10 PT on ROOTNW, 710 ESPN, MLB.tv

And if you’re anywhere near Safeco, tickets are under 10 bucks on Gametime if you feel so inclined to pay one last visit.