"It doesn't matter what names are scrawled on Manager Lou Piniella's lineup card; doesn't matter who is hurt, who is sick, who is playing out of position. It doesn't matter what team they're facing; what pitcher is on the mound; whether it's 90 degrees, or 50 degrees. Roof open or roof closed. Edgar Martinez is hurt? They go 11-4 without him. Carlos Guillen gets sick? They sweep the Minnesota Twins anyway." -Steve Kelly, sportswriter

So first inning and I am SO HAPPY this is televised as Freddy Garcia retires the Twins in order and then Eric Milton retires us in order too which was pretty annoying and then Freddy sat them down all 1-2-3 like again thanks in large part to TWO spectacular plays by Mark McLemore in the second and then John Olerud led off with a walk and an out later, Ed Sprague walked and then David Bell blooped a single to load the bases and then an out later and Stan Javier walked which forced in a run and we head to the third leading 1-0 and my cat falls off the back of the couch trying to take a bath which makes me laugh uproariously.

Freddy gave up a harmless double to Luis Rivas and then Stan led off with a single and then Bret Boone followed it with a single and Ole grounded the runners over and Cammie hit a sac fly to score Stan and we head to the fourth leading 2-0 and the cat is still pretending that he didn't just majorly wipe out.

So fourth inning and with one out, Doug Mientkiewicz doubled and then Corey Koskie doubled which scored him and then an out later, Torii Hunter was safe on an error by David Bell and Koskie scored and I am having a huge tantrum and then AJ Pierzynski walked but that was the last run they'd get for the rest of the game and we don't do much in our half except waste Mark McLemore's single, and we're all tied at 2.

"I don't think this team is going to get complacent. I haven't seen any signs of complacency at all. Not even an iota of it. I mean we've met every obstacle so far." -Lou Piniella

So fifth inning and Freddy settles down and retires the side in order, including a strikeout to Denny Hocking and his shocking hair and then Stan Javier led off with a single and Bret followed with a single and then Stan went to third on a fielding error by Matt Lawton and then Ole walked and we have the bases loaded with nobody out and Cammie struck out looking and wasn't very happy about it and then Sprague delivered with a big old double which scored Stan and Bret and moved Ole to third and then David hit a sac fly to score Ole and we head to the sixth leading 5-2.

Freddy retires the side in order AGAIN and Mac leads off with a single and then Ichiro sacrificed him over to second and an out later, Bret doubled to score him and Eddie Guardado relieved Milton and we head to the seventh leading 6-2 and I have to say I'm right pleased about it.

"A few walks, a few hits and the first thing you know is that you're behind. When you are behind this team, it's pretty much impossible to come back." -Eric Milton, starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins

Torii Hunter unfortunately led off with a single, but Freddy had no problem getting the next three guys to make outs, and then our old friend Bob Wells relieved Guardado and gave up a single to Sprague, but since that was as exciting as it got, let us move right along to the eighth where Freddy retired the side in order and then LaTroy Hawkins relieved Wells and Mac led off with a walk and then Ichiro singled and then Stan reached on an infield single to load the bases and then Bret doubled which scored Mac and Ichiro and in case you lost count, Bret Boone now has a career-high 99 RBI this season and it's still JULY.

"If this clown would have hustled!" -Bret Boone, kidding about Stan Javier (who, had he scored on Bret's double, would've given Bret an even 100 RBI)

So anyway, Travis Miller relieved Hawkins and 2 outs later, Sprague delivered AGAIN with a single, and that scored Stan and Bret and when the dust finally settles as we head to the ninth... Seattle 10, Minnesota 2.

"You can't have the same nine guys contribute day-in and day-out. You're going to need the bench to step up on those other nights. Someone always seems to come up big for this team. Lou just seems to have the touch with the lineup this year." -Ed Sprague

So Koskie walked to lead things off and then David Ortiz singled, but Hunter grounded into a double play and then Pierzynski grounded out to Freddy who pitched a mighty fine 9 innings to earn the win, and we have just swept Minnesota for the second time this season.

"It's unbelievable the way these guys have played here. They've responded to every piece of adversity we've had." -Lou Piniella on his baseball team

"They are better than we are at this particular time. Obviously, we need to be better if we are going to compete with these people. We're not at that level yet." -Tom Kelly, manager for the Minnesota Twins

"Before a season, I don't think you could ever expect this. You can expect winning seasons, and I think we came out of spring training expecting to contend for our division (title). But what we've done, I think, is above and beyond everybody's expectations, including our own. It's been a special season and a lot of fun." -Bret Boone

"What I've said all along is, we don't need the superstar-type player. What we need is just to protect the depth a little bit, just in case we have an injury here or there. My concern was with the depth of the team, but as long as we stay healthy, we're fine. We didn't want to mess with the chemistry of the club that much. Realistically, our players here have done pretty darned good. To tinker with that too much unless you're improving yourself a whole, whole lot could be self-defeating." -Lou Piniella

"To me, Freddy is a legitimate No. 1 starter. Maybe not everyone calls him that, but talk to people around the league, and you'll know that batters don't feel real comfortable or confident facing him." -Ed Sprague

"In [today's] 10-2 pummeling of the Twins, Martinez's replacement at designated hitter, Ed Sprague, went 3 for 4 with four runs batted in. In Guillen's absence, Mark McLemore, who hasn't played shortstop regularly since 1989, made two plays behind second base throwing across his body that would have made Ozzie Smith proud. He also had two hits, two walks and scored two runs. They answer every concern. They solve every riddle. They find ways to win. Worried about the left-field conundrum? Look what Stan Javier is doing since returning from the disabled list. In his past 10 games, Javier is 16 for 33 with six RBI and six runs scored. This is how the Mariners win. Everybody does his role. No fragile egos to stroke. No delicate psyches to massage. No volatile chemistry experiments." -Steve Kelly