First off, let me say what a pleasure it's been to write this column for the past few months. Thanks to everyone for reading. This will be the last Exit 164, but I'll be writing a column for SportsPress Northwest once a week, and you can also read my writing at an awesome local news/commentary web site called The SunBreak. Okay, on to this morning's news.

Tough to get excited about an offensive lineman who was graded as a second-round prospect. But we all know that you build a football team from the inside out, and if the Hawks did get what they think they did -- a book-end for Russell Okung, who'll protect our quarterback (whoever he is) for a decade, then kudos, kudos, kudos.

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No one can agree on where Jack Locker will go

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Mariners 7, Tigers 3 [box]: The M's teed off on Phil Coke again, this time scoring on hits instead of walks. In the two games the M's have faced Coke, they've averaged 10 runs scored. In their other 22 games, they're averaging 2.95 runs. More Phil Cokes, please! M's 9-15, 4th place, 5.5 GB. Next game today @ Detroit.

Flipped on the game yesterday and heard Dave Sims mention that Miguel Olivo had hit his first home run of the year. "That's a good sign," I thought. Until I saw the highlight. If you haven't seen it, I'm not going to spoil it for you.

How 'bout the M's pulling out a game when Felix Hernandez wasn't at his best. It was a "total team effort." John McLaren would've been proud. The offense hammered out six extra-base hits, and the bullpen came through with three scoreless innings.

Seahawks poobahs John Schneider and Pete Carroll are a model of corporate cooperation, writes Doug Farrar.

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If both were drowning which would he save?

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Former UW star goes from malcontent to hero

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Mariners 1, Oakland 0 [recap]: The King turned away the A's again with a 7 2/3, 126-pitch masterpiece. Adam Kennedy had a terrific game, homering for the game's only run and making a running, over-the-shoulder catch of a foul pop in the 9th with the winning run on second. Mariners 7-13, 4th place, 5.5 GB. Next game tonight vs. A's.

In other news...

Milton Bradley was scratched with an upset stomach. Carlos Peguero got the start--and his first major league hit -- a slow roller to shortstop. Peguero then got picked off first. Not how you dream it when you're a kid...

Doug Fister is throwing his curveball more and more accurately, writes Jeff Sullivan.

The M's will push Erik Bedard's scheduled Tuesday start back a day so Felix Hernandez can stay on his normal rest, reports our John Hickey.

The Nike Air Max Griffey II shoes are on sale today.

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One week until the NFL draft, I just sent out the invitations for my annual draft party, and it's time to check out the mock drafts again.



Only two of the mock drafters have updated their mock drafts (get with it, mock drafters!). Fox Sports' Adam Caplan still doesn't have Jake Locker in his first round, but Pro Football Weekly has moved The Savior from #15 (MIA) to #12 (MIN). Two new names appear for the Seahawks, Jimmy Smith, a 6-3, 211 lb. CB. No more getting pawned by Larry Fitzgerald with Smith around, you'd hope. Pro Football Weekly now has the Hawks selecting Andy Dalton, the ginger TCU QB, who our own Doug Farrar has called a "fringe prospect" because of his lack of arm strength. Doug didn't exactly say Dalton's passes weren't strong enough to knock Jack Wilson over, but he sure implied it.

My exclusive mock draft is available via fax for $250. I have yet to actually write a mock draft, but if anyone wants to pay me the $250, I will.

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Halloween would be just about perfect

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"The best time to trade Felix will be this summer." -- Buster Olney, ESPN
"Trading (Ichiro) now is the best way to toss more eggs in the spawning stream," -- Mike Seely, Seattle Weekly

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Mariners scolded: The Mariners got yelled at Saturday, but this time it wasn't by me or other fans, it was by manager Eric Wedge. After leaving 11 men on base in a 7-0 loss to the Royals, Wedge aired the M's out, citing a lack of aggressiveness. I see more of a lack of talent, but...here's John's story. Then Sunday, on a clutch two-RBI single by Brendan Ryan and more stellar pitching by Michael Pineda, the M's won! Wedge should yell at them every day! M's 5-11, 4th place, 5.5 GB. Next game tonight vs. Detroit at Safeco, Scherzer vs. Vargas.

Gutierrez scratched again: Franklin Gutierrez' planned rehab start Friday didn't happen--his stomach pain came back. The M's are planning to send Gutierrez to a national clinic to try to identify the source of his problems. As it is, don't expect to see Guti anytime soon.

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