Washburn's performance last night

Something stuck in my mind last night during the Mariners' 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays last night about Jarrod Washburn's pitching performance. Now I've been the Randy Quaid in Major League 2 of the M's since they started the season off hot. All the talk about Griffey and how they could bounce back and blah, blah, blah.

Well I'm not wrong on Griffey... he's hitting .184 and the biggest impact he's had on the team so far is getting the 20,000 or so fans at Safeco Field on their feet before every one of his at-bats - and then striking out to silence them. 

However, Jarrod Washburn's start last night was electric. I already posted the stat line because and if the Mariners can keep getting starts like from their pitchers, they may have a legitimate shot at the division title.

Now that being said, Jarrod's start was like step 4 of a 56-step process. It's kind of like if you're an alcoholic and you've just switched to light beer in the process of becoming sober. 

Promising, but the Mariners aren't there yet.

Jarrod was good. My family by default are Mariners fans, and they were over last night taking in the game on FSN (Which apparently has the Mariners, replays Sounders FC games and then re-re-replays the 4A State basektball high school championship game, that's it), and that's what they've been doing for most of the season so far. And judging from their reaction, Jarrod is really good.

First, there's my grandpa who curses at Griffey and everyone else that screws up. Also, in an unrelated topic, he can't stand Derek Jeter and I have yet to uncover the orgin of this hatred - but that's cool with me. He was practically on his feet dancing after every Washburn strike out.

Then my parents usually sit their quietly and behave themselves. Washburn's start was different. I thought the neighbors were going to call with noise complaints because they were cheering so loudly. And this is on television, mind you. And it's funny when a player does such a good job you start talking to him from your living room and refering to him in first person as if you're having some sort of Mufasa in the clouds talking to Simba effect going on.

"Come on Jarrod, come on Jarrod..." 

And yes, being the Red Sox fan of the family, I caught some trash for proclaiming that the Mariners just won't be able to keep it up. Oh well. 

We'll see, plenty of season left, but if we keep seeing Washburn doing things like that - there just might be some hope in Seattle after all.