MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL COVERAGE AS DRUNK AS YOU >>>

Let us take a brief interlude as the Tacoma Rainiers (51-52) meet up with Mr. 100 Games late last week. Here, take a listen:

Oh. Sorry. We didn't see you standing there, Mr. 100 Games. You always sneak up on us so fast.

What? Yeah, I guess we have a second to talk. We'll always try to make time for you, Mr. 100 games.

Oh, We're doing OK, Mr. 100 Games. We're doing OK.

Why just OK? You know how it is, I guess. Every time we see you it's pretty late in the year.  Our boys are always worn out by the time we run into you. It's a long, grueling road, this baseball season. Never easy. Yeah, we know. But last year was special. It's not every year you win the Pacific Coast League Championship. There was magic in the air last year, Mr. 100 Games.

No, no, the magic's not all gone. We're doing OK. Hanging in there. Not great, no, not great. Still, we're hoping there's enough baseball left to be played.  By the time we meet up with Mr. 144 Games, we'll hopefully be sitting pretty. Well on top of those pesky Reno Aces, at least. That's true. That's true. No, you're right.  We're about ten games behind the Aces right now, but things could pick up. You know how baseball is, Mr. 100 Games.

Star players this year, you ask? It's hard to say, Mr. 100 Games. We've got a hot new third baseman named Kyle Seager. He's batting .423 so far this season. Then there's first baseman Matt Mangini.  He's always ripe for a base hit. And Jay Yenich over at USS Mariner just named Carlos Peguero the hitter of note for the week.  So things are looking up.

What's that, Mr. 100 Games? Matt Tuiasosopo and Michael Saunders, our past stars? Well, Mr. 100 Games. What can we say, really?

Sorry, Mr. 100 Games. We gotta run. Wish we could talk more, but Mr. 144 games is waiting for us. Can't be late.

Same time next year, Mr. 100 Games? Alright. See you then. Maybe, just maybe, in better spirits.

Notes ...

-Last night, the Tacoma Rainiers lost to the Salt Lake Bees 2-9. This loss capped off an eight game road trip that saw the Rainiers go 4-4. Over the trip, the Rainiers actually outscored opponents 66-64. This brings us back to our continuing theme that 4-4  -- or .500 -- on the road is not a bad stretch at all. Not bad unless you're the 2011 Tacoma Rainiers, a team that has relied on its road success to keep it close to .500. C'mon boys, you've spoiled us with all those road wins. Don't stop now.

-In rather bizarre Rainiers' game news, Salt Lake Bees player Jeremy Moore legged out an inside the park Grand Slam against the Rainiers Sunday night. Moore hit a whopper of a fly ball to leftfield. A sunny day and a bit of misdirection caused Carlos Peguero to lose the ball, stumbling far away from its path. As centerfielder Michael Saunders ran over to retrieve the ball, Moore rounded the bases. How the missed fly ball was not scored an error, we aren't exactly sure. But still, weird, wild stuff; an inside the park Grand Slam.

-Speaking of wild stuff, Radio 950 KJR's Mike "The Gasman" Gastineau and Hot Shot Scott will host their daily sports radio show live from Cheney Stadium this Friday starting at 3 p.m. We can only imagine what these crazy radio DJ's plan on doing while at Cheney. Chili-dog eating contest? Rainiers' players wet T-shirt contest? Something truly groundbreaking in the realm of radio journalism?  Or something even more devilish, like sports radio guys talking sports on the radio? We'll have to wait and see.

The Rainiers start on game number 104 tonight against the Sacramento Grizzlies. The Rainiers' Luke French will take the mound against Grizzlies' Josh Outman.

Here we come, Mr. 144 Games.

LINK: The "Rainiers Minute" collection