This Made My Heart Happy
September 30, 2001
I was still sound asleep when this game began, so I missed Oakland going down in order in the first with 2 K's besides courtesy of Mr. Aaron Sele and then we didn't fair a whole lot better, even though Bret Boone singled with 1 out and got to second on a passed ball and that was his 200th hit of the season which was very exciting and I'm sorry I slept through it.
"It's definitely something I'm proud of. It's a nice personal achievement. It's a tough thing to do. Not many guys have done it. I've never come close to it." -Bret Boone
So let us just move along to the second inning and with 1 out, Eric Chavez singled and then was doubled off of first when Ramon Vazquez caught Miguel Tejada's pop up that I guess Chavez didn't realize he'd catch or something. I don't know because I was still sleeping. So anyway, with 2 outs for us, Ramon singled and then Tom Lampkin reached on an infield single but I guess Ramon ran into it which means that he was out. Doh.
So third inning and I come stumbling out and turn on the TV and realize I'm missing the game which made me kind of cranky but I recovered as Aaron sat Oakland down all 1-2-3 like and then we were down in order as well, and I have to admit that Chavez made a really nice play to get Ichiro out, despite the fact that it was tremendously annoying, and then there is the new Afflac Duck commercial where he is listening to these two idiot figure skaters talk about supplemental insurance and he gets mad and kicks a hockey puck at them but it unfortunately doesn't trip them up and make them fall down which frustrates both me and the Duck. So then we're back at Safeco Field which has run-amuck with mascots because out roaming the stands there is a reindeer and a cougar and some black thing that I have no idea what it's supposed to be and I can't help but wonder if they had the UW Husky there and I'm referring to the real dog whom I LOVE, I mean that is one seriously cool dog who just sleeps through the football games from the sidelines and it totally cracks me up when the cameras flash to this dog who is not at all bothered by the crowd or anything and then I wonder if that scary Seahawk mascot is there and then I wonder if the Chicken was there and anyway, it's now the fourth inning and Aaron Sele STRUCK OUT THE SIDE, and then with 1 out, Edgar singled and then John "I'm Goin Yard!" Olerud WENT YARD to put us up 2-0 and then an out later and Ramon singled again but we settle for the 2 runs and head to the fifth inning where Oakland's down all lickety split like again which made me very happy and all I can say is that I hope Aaron pitches like this in the playoffs and anyway, with 1 out, Ichi "I'm Goin Yard!" ro WENT YARD to put us up 3-0 and it just really cracks me up when he hits one out because nobody is ever expecting it.
"I was trying to get cute. It was pretty much over the plate and went right to his strength. He is a pretty strong guy. I think he got all of it. That's probably about as far as he can hit a ball." -Tim Hudson, starting pitcher for the Oakland Athletics
So anyway, we head to the sixth inning and once again, Sele retires the A's in order and then Edgar singled and then Ole reached on an infield single and Edgar ended up at third on an error by Frank Menechino and then Mike Cameron grounded into a double play but that scored Edgar and we head to the seventh inning leading 4-0.
Jeremy Giambi doubled with 1 out and then an out after that and Jermaine Dye doubled to score him, but the 1 run is all they manage, and we get it right back and then some because Tom Lampkin was safe on error 550 billion by the A's and then Charles Gipson sacrifice-bunted him over to second and NO WAIT!!! Error 551 billion! Everybody's safe and they both took an extra base besides! So then Lampkin scored and Charles went to third on a wild pitch! And then an out later and Stan Javier singled to score him! So then Chad Bradford relieved Hudson and I have to say that Oakland seemingly has an endless supply of relievers, I mean good grief. Anyway, 6-1 Seattle.
Eighth inning and Jeff Nelson relieved Sele and a strikeout, a walk and 2 more strikeouts later, it's our turn again and Jason Isringhausen relieved Bradford and with 1 out, Mike Cameron walked and then an out after that and Lampkin singled but that was as exciting as it got and we head to the ninth inning where Arthur Rhodes relieved Nellie and decided to make things exciting by giving up a lead off single to Johnny Damon and an out later, Ron Gant hit for Jason Giambi and singled and then Dye singled which scored Damon and then Chavez singled which scored Gant but Miguel Tejada struck out and I'm always glad when he has to go sit down because he has like 2 grand slams off of us this year and anyway, Terrence Long grounded out to Artie to end the trauma I mean excitement and we win it, 6-3 to take the series, as well as the season series, 10-9 against the ever-annoying Oakland Athletics.
"I have a good feeling about this team." -Lou Piniella on his 2001 Seattle Mariners
"We know we can play with them. Hopefully, we will see them again." -Art Howe, manager for the Oakland Athletics
"Eh. I'd rather see New York. I want a rematch from last year. Plus, you guys bug me." -Laura
"I've played on some awfully good teams. And I never played on one that won even 100." -John Olerud
"This has been a special year. We've got some guys having great years. We've got some guys having good years. And we're doing some things that no one has ever done. When you can say that, that's pretty special. We've played well all year as a team. If we go out and play like we can, I love our chances. We can't bring our 'B' game. Everybody we face is dangerous." -Bret Boone
