Do we have to go Home? As Hang 10’ Hilo eagerly anticipates
another Mariners Baseball game. (The Tomaso Collection)
As the Mariners leave Seattle Hanging again, after
another errant Slider…
Hey, I saw a flock of Blue Jays
Looking for the Stadium near Sodo’
From my Amtrak train’s window
Hilo’s paws aren’t Hairy
Wrapped in a Blanket for the cold
He’d like to meet My Tailor
And only wants the Beef from my bowl of
Chow Mein
And Not the Noodles
Toronto got Mutilated Monday night
At Rodgers Stadium
Better stay away from Team Mobile Park
Ah Whoo, Mariners on the Rampage!
Dave Neihaus’s statue is perfect
Although He’s sporting a Mustache now
Saying My, Oh, My!
Time to get out the Rye Bread ‘n
Mustard Grandma
Ah Whoo, Mariners on the Rampage!
But Jack Nicholson’s in LaLa land
Watching the Dodgers
(On their way to the World Series)
And the Trader Vic’s closed for the
night
So no Pina Coladas
Just me, Hang 10’ Hilo
Eatin’ T-Bone Steaks
While the Mariners are on the Rampage!
Ah Whoo, Mariners on the Rampage!
Ah Whoo, Mariners on the Rampage!
So, ever wondered what your Haggard, but Humble
No Fenders Scribe Tomaso does in the midst ‘O winter when Thars’ no Gory
IndyCar?
Yep, you guessed it! I come up with other
wacky, zany ways to stay entertained during the six months Hibernation…
Having Oh, so cleverly come up with that witty
Mariners Ditty,
Chuh-ching! After the Mariners had rocketed ahead of those pesky Blue Jays 2-0.
But we All know how that turned out, BOOH!
I’m not
a Baseball Fan and had even gone so far as taking the Mariners section off of
my NFB Newsline for The Blind’s news feed. Since every year, the Mariners start
off Hot, get everyone talking about playoffs and then Thud!
Yet this
year was different, and thus, I sat down and “watched”, Err listened to my
first baseball game in forever! Naturally picking Game 1 of the Mariners vs.
Detroit Tigers, which they lost 3-2 in 11 innings, Stee-rike!
Thus I
only paid cursory attention to the next few games, until it was Game 5 in
Seattle.
In years
past, I wouldn’t have bothered at all. But instead, picking a Doozy! I sat thru
the entire game which took five hours to complete. Lasting until the 15th
inning when gloriously, Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco drove in the
winning run with a single. With the Mariners victorious 3-2, advancing to the
American League Championship series (ALCS) for the first times since 2001!
What I
enjoyed most about that game was the Mariners “Unsung” Heroes pitching in. Most
notably Leo Rivas, celebrating His 28th birthday no less! Hitting a single (RBI)
in the seventh inning to tie the score 2-2.
Not to
mention Seattle’s pitchers coming out of the Bullpen. Not having done so since
College or earlier…
As I
really enjoyed The Seattle Times article upon the late “voice” of the Mariners
Dave Niehaus’s daughter Greta sitting with Her immortalized Pops’ at the end of
Game 5. Which I feel sums up Mariners baseball perfectly.
Dave
Niehaus statue helped His Daughter get thru Mariners Game 5 Win
Totally
missed Game 1 of the Best of Seven vs. Toronto, before tuning in late to Game 2
to hear the announcer saying Seattle leads 2-0 before joining our normally
scheduled program already in progress…
Then I
forgot about Game 3, presumably distracted scribblin’ that Ditty before
departing to Warshington’. Then wondering somewhere round Olympia-Lacey, how
the Mariners playing at T-Mobil Park would impact my arrival via Amtrak to
Tacoma that evening during Game 4.
Although
the train was sufficiently late enough that the only problema was Tacoma Bureau
Chief Mary Ellen trying to find parking at the station. Having to park some
four-plus blocks away due to everyone taking the “Sounder” train to the
Ballpark…
Not
learning until the next day that the series was tied-up 2-2, Yikes! Before
later that evening, learning that Game 5 was now tied 2-2 in the bottom of the
eighth inning.
As we
tuned-in at the perfect time, after I marveled over how old Rick Riz now
sounded on the radio. Justin-time to hear Riz pull an Oldie but Goodie out of
His vast repartee.
Exclaiming
Get out the rye bread and Mustard
Grandma, it’s Grand Salami time! As Eugenio Suarez hit a Grand Slam to put the
Mariners ahead 6-2, which would be the game’s final score. With Riz giving
credit to the Grand Salami call being from Dave Niehaus, which He’d made
famous.
Having
heard Niehaus call it many times on the radio. most notably during the 1995
playoffs vs. those dreaded New York Yankees! Becoming Folklore in Seattle when
Edgar Martinez hit that Grand Salami on October 27, 1995, also in the eighth
inning…
Dave Niehaus calls Edgar
Martinez’s Grand Slam in 1995 ALDS Game 4
Yet it
wasn’t meant to be. As we tried tuning into Game 7, but the local radio had
Steve “Holy Catfish” Raible calling the Seahawks instead. As the Mariners were
pre-empted by the Hawks playing a Monday Night football game, Swell!
Checking
the score, the Mariners were leading 3-1 in the top of the seventh inning in
Toronto, so it was looking good. Before we discovered the next morning that the
Blue Jays had scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh and prevailed 4-3
to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, Sayonara!
Alas,
although the Mariners advanced the furthest in team history. Playing in their
first ALCS in 24 years. They’ve still never managed to play in the World Seirs,
My Oh My!
Apologies to Warren Zevon, who’s probably rolling over now over my butchering of Werewolves in London! Or perhaps He’s simply Howling in despair, AhWhoo!
