Saturday, May 26, 2001 (W: SEA 7 - KC 2 35-12)

No big comeback tonight, as the M's took an early lead and held it. Poulsbo native Aaron Sele is 7-0 after tonight's 7-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals. Only Pedro Martinez has won more games than Sele since the 1998 season!

Bret Boone hit his ninth HR of the season, a two-run shot in the seventh.

Al Martin's back. He went 1-4, with a walk, to raise his batting average to .171. Maybe concussions are what he needs to be effective. No word on whether he got married again while he had the concussion. His .171 average is still better than the M's backup left fielder from last year, Raul Ibanez. Ibanez pinch hit for Royals' catcher AJ Hinch both tonight and last night, failing to get a hit in either at bat, dropping his average to .147. Perspective is important when you're criticizing your own team's players. Ibanez's performance this year shows things could be much worse out there in left than Martin and Stan Javier (who's hitting .250).

Cleveland lost tonight, while Minnesota split a doubleheader with the A's. The M's are now 3.5 games ahead of Cleveland and 4 ahead of the Twins. Our AL West lead is 11.5 games over the A's. Eleven games back in May; I'd put the champagne on ice for the M's pennant celebration, if not for my fond memories of the 1995 M's, who were 12.5 games back on August 15th, yet came back to win the division! Just a little wake up call for everybody who thinks this season's a lock. 11.5 games back is NOTHING! The M's shouldn't rest until it's a 30 game lead over the A's, because they're sure not going to give up, and neither are their annoying fans or their front office!