The Seattle Mariners have packed things in and are ready for the 2008 season to be over it appears. They were hammered, beaten, and crushed by the Kansas City Royals on Thursday afternoon by the score of 12-0. Yeah, you read that right… The M’s have now lost eight straight games.

Ryan Feierabend was terrible in his 3 1/3 innings as he was charged with six hits and eight runs. Feierabend gave up one home run while walking three and striking out two batters. Sean Green was bad out of the bullpen once again as he gave up two runs in relief. Jared Wells and Jake Woods both gave up one run as well.

And for the offense, well there really wasn’t any offense on Thursday afternoon. The M’s struggled at the plate as they only had three total hits. The offense sucked just as bad as the pitching staff!

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Silva to DL after league-leading 14th loss

In the past few days in Mariner Land, we saw a major league record tying four wild-pitches in one inning by R.A. Dickey, the shaky debut of Ryan Feierabend, and three-game sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Twins.  Raul Ibanez continues to give us something to cheer about, and really is strengthening his case for a extension.  And struggling, whining, over-paid Mariner Carlos Silva has been placed on the 15-day DL.

In the first game of the series against Minnesota, the M’s had the unfortunate task of facing a rejuvenated Francisco Lariano.  Lariano (3-3) pitched seven frames allowing only two hits while striking out five batters.  Silva’s performance was embarrassing to say the least, especially against his former team.  Silva was shelled (again) for nine runs on nine hits in 3.1 innings, and now owns the major league lead for losses with 14.  Jason Kubel went 3-for-4 with a home-run and 3 RBIs to pace the Twins to the 9-3 victory.

The M’s dropped Game 2 in a hard fought game 7-6 on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 9th by Brian Buscher scoring Joe Mauer.  Losing 5-0, Seattle put together a six-run sixth inning to actually take back the lead before losing it late.  Mauer also homered in the game.  Ryan Rowland-Smith was hit hard for his second straight start allowing five runs on ten hits, in five innings. Ichiro Suzuki and Jeff Clement picked up two RBIs on the day to lead the Mariner offense. 

In Game 3, it was the Jason Kubel show again as he went off with a 4-for-5 day with two doubles, totalling four runs and two RBIs.  The game was a slug-fest much like the recent series in Seattle and runs definitely weren’t at a premium, but Minnesota came out on top 11-8.  Ibanez continued to massacre Twins pitching as he went 5-for-5 with two doubles, one run and one RBI.  Adrian Beltre, Wladimir Balentien, and Kenji Johjima went yard for Seattle, but the Feierabend and Dickey before mentioned pitching performance ultimately let them down.

The Mariners begin a three-game set in the South Side of Chicago against Ken Griffey Jr. and the Chicago White Sox. Jarrod Washburn vs. Mark Buehrle will be the Game 1 match-up.

Earlier in the season, the Mariner offense was wasting a strong number of quality pitching outings especially from the relief staff, now it appears the offense has heated up with the Summer sun, and the pitching is awful.  I guess that is what makes you a last place team.

M’s Manager Jim Riggleman: “”If it’s not one thing, it’s another” 

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Multiple outlets are reporting that both outfielder Raul Ibanez and pitcher Jarrod Washburn have been claimed on waivers during their waiver periods.  The teams that claim them have to work out a deal with Seattle by a deadline depending on the exact time they made the claim.  Washburn seems to be certain to be dealt to another club, where as Ibanez is a different situation.

Ibanez will bring two compensatory first-round draft picks if he leaves via free-agency after the 2008 season, meaning the offer Seattle gets in return they would have to feel is better than the two picks they would receive.  There is also speculation as there should be that both sides want to work out an extension.

All in all expect Washburn out, and Ibanez to stay unless of course a team offers a great package.  The way Raul has been hitting, this could be very possible.  If Wash leaves, expect Ryan Feierabend to get his shot for the rest of the season in the rotation.

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