MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL COVERAGE AS DRUNK AS YOU >>>

Woah, Nelly. We've been off for almost two weeks here at the Rainiers Minute. And in Minor League baseball, a lot can happen in two weeks.  A hell of a lot.

In the time we've been away, the Tacoma Rainiers (60-59) have crawled up from the depths of Nowheresville to find themselves somewhere near contention. The Rainiers now sit 6.5 games behind the PCL Pacific North Division leading Reno Aces with 25 games left in the season, not to mention an upcoming four-game serious against the Aces. 

This rise in the standings for the Rainiers has had more to do with the Aces' nosedive than Tacoma's recent play. The Aces have lost four in a row and an outstanding 14 out of the last 19. This may not immediately jump out to Pacific Northwest readers as a bad slide, but that's only because we're accustomed to worse. 

Twenty-five games isn't much time to make up 6.5 in the standings. But if the Aces continue to tank, there's no telling what could happen. Plus, the Rainiers head to Reno next week, giving the team an opportunity to pick up some serious ground.

- Thursday night, Mariners' insider Shannon Drayer reported on the Seattle Mariners' post game show that former Tacoma Rainier Mike Carp keeps a lucky plastic rat in his locker. Apparently, Carp believes the plastic rat, or El Raton as he calls it, brings the team good luck. According to Drayer, Carp kept the rat with him last year when the Rainiers went on to win the PCL Championship.

By the time this reporter got around to writing today's Rainiers Minute, this piece of journalistic gold had already been snatched up.  Damn you, Seattle media. You always get the best stories first.

-In a rather presumptuous move, the Reno Aces have already put playoff tickets on sale on their website. Lets hope the Aces eat some serious humble pie when this season is all said and done. Not the awesome rock band kind of Humble Pie, either.  

-Rainiers' infielder Alex Liddi set the Rainiers' franchise single season scoring record Tuesday night. So far this season, Liddi has scored 109 runs, breaking the old record of 107. Liddi has some work to do if he hopes to break the Pacific Coast League's all-time record of 141 runs scored, set by a Tucson outfielder named Billy Sample in 1978.

-In more Rainiers' media news, it was announced today that News Tribune baseball writer Ryan Divish will no longer cover the Rainiers or the Mariners.  Divish is switching to the University of Washington football and basketball beat. But never fear, Rainiers' fans. You can always turn to the weekly Rainiers Minute for hard-hitting, fact-checked, reliable Rainiers' coverage. Isn't that right?

Tonight's Rainiers' game against the Iowa Cubs marks the start of Key Bank's Stand of Summer celebration.  Kicking off tonight with Friday Night Fireworks, Key Bank is sponsoring a special event for each game of the team's current home stand at Cheney Stadium.  Standout events include Hawaiian shirt giveaway night Aug. 15 and ‘80s night Aug. 16.

Rumor has it Rhubarb has been spotted at a local grocery store stocking up on Aqua Net in anticipation of Tuesday's ‘80s night. But that's Rhubarb for you, always full of spirit ...

LINK: The "Rainiers Minute" collection