Over the last 13 years of my life, I have never become uninterested in the Mariners. That is, until about the last week of April, 2008. I typically would watch all 9 innings of a game. When I would go to games, I would stay until the very last pitch, including the Cleveland double-header last year. Yes, I stayed through both games. I never found the Mariners boring. I found them frustrating, I fould myself irritated, and even pissed off, but never was I bored with Mariners baseball. That changed this past month.

The Mariners looked like they were playing with no passion, no desire over the past almost 2 months. They looked like the 2003 team, the 2004 team. The terrible Marinersteams that other teams wanted to play.

Before today, the Mariners had not won back-to-back games since April 20 against the Angels, and April 22 against the Orioles. Before today, the Mariners had not won a series since the April 16, 17 series against the Oakland As.

This series showed us some of the fight the 2007 Mariners had. The 2007 Mariners showed some scrap every now and then. Once that team got the lead, they didn’t lose it either. The 2007 Mariners fought. They were fun to watch.

This series made me want to watch the Mariners again. I missed Fridays’ game, but I watched the Mariners mount comebacks on Saturday and Sunday. Man, it was sweet to watch.

The only thing that interested me early in the game Saturday was Ichiro’s chase (no pun intended) at the Mariners all-time stolen base record. Then the 7th inning came along. Watching Beltre turn on that slider left over the middle of the plate, putting the Mariners ahead for good, was a thing of beauty. It put some exciting back into my heart. Watching a late-inning comeback today put more joy in my heart. Jose Lopez has been OUTSTANDING this year. Before the season started, I was 100% for letting Lopez ride out this year, and then sign Orlando Hudson in the off-season. Now, I’m lobbying for a long(ish) contract for Lopez after this year. Clutch 2-run double to put the Mariners ahead, and then have J.J. Putz come in and save the 9th, nothing could have made me happier.

This is just the story of one kid, one devoted Mariners fan, who got the joy, the excitement of Seattle Mariners baseball put back in his heart this past series. I’m hoping the rest of Seattle can wake up and realize that this season is not lost.

The next four series that the Mariners play are at Detroit, at New York, home for Boston, and home for Detroit. Three of these series are against last place teams. Detroit has suffered mightly all year long. This team has succumbed to injury all year long. This team isn’t playing up to their expectation, whatsoever. Their offense has all the potential in the world, but their pitching has been absolutely rancid. Next come the Yankees. Again, we come in playing a team in last place. I’m skipping Boston because we all know about the Red Sox, and how they have been 1st or 2nd basically all year long. Then the Tigers come back to Safeco. Same team, hopefully.

My point: I’m hoping that this past series, the first series win, the first back-to-back wins in about a month, the first sign of life in a month sparks some passion, some desire in our Ms. This past series sparked some joy in my heart. This past series showed me that the Mariners can “grow a pair” and dig down deep within themselves, and pull out an improbable win.

I’m fired up for these next few series that the Mariners will be playing. I hope the rest of Seattle is fired up as well.

On a more depressing note, I was supposed to go to the game today, but found out I couldn’t get the tickets after all. Typically, I go to about 20 games a year, on average. I haven’t gone to a game this year, yet, which I am sad to admit. I just haven’t had the motivation to pay money to watch this team. I can watch them suck at home for free. If this next road stand shows me something better, I will be going to one of the Boston series games.

Let me, and the rest of BBT know how you feel though. Tell us your current feelings. Are you more upbeat? Are you still indifferent? Do you still think the season is a loss?

Please, let us know!