Let's see it's 5 a.m. here, so that means it's 2 a.m. in the Northwest. No doubt some of you are just rolling in.

I'm flying out a 6 a.m. a time when most of you will still be asleep.

Of all the ways that the Mariners have found ways to lose games this season, this is a new one. As I wrote in my game story, J.J. is as close to a certainty that the Mariners have, and to see him struggle is like being kicked when you are already on the ground.

So what's the solution. McLaren mentioned the possibility of JJ throwing in non-save situations. But you always run the risk of using him there, and not having him for a save situation a few days later. Putz will do whatever McLaren, Mel Stottlemyre and Norm Charlton think is best. He just wants to find his comfort level again.

Of course he was frustrated after the game, but it seemed to me he was more perplexed as to why he can't throw his fastball for a strike when he wants to. For so long it seemed like it was second nature for him. You can it hear it in his voice.Take a listen.

From KurtisBallard: i know they're professionals, but how many more games can they lose like this before it takes a toll on their psyche and ruins the entire season?

I think they are a few more ghastly losses away from that, but at some point, something has to go right with this team. Doesn't it? I really thought Betancourt's wild pitch and Blake's error might be the trigger to something more. But this team is pretty fragile on some level. You have a catcher who's clearly not happy being benched for two games to clear his head. You have a DH who's hitting .200 and feels like it's been a good month (also in that story), and now you are asking two kids, who have a combined 30 games of major league experience to resurrect your offense. It seems like the psyche has taken hit.

With that being said, (there I go again, sounding like Mac) I think the team isn't lost yet. But a few more gut-punch losses and it could happen sooner than people imagine. I'm waiting for somebody on this team to say, "enough, dammit, it's time to get a little tougher, get mean, be accountable and play the damn game right, or get out." Jose Guillen would have done it last year, and with a look and tone of total insanity. Maybe there's no one like that on this team, but if Raul stood up and got a little vocal - which isn't his way - I think people would listen. He has that type of veteran cache.

Sometimes teams right themselves without it coming to that, but if you're the Mariners, can you really afford to take that chance?

A few other things....
* Wlad Balentien struck out three times in his first three at-bats. Don't be surprised if this happens again. For all the things he brings to an at-bat, the chance of striking out also comes with it with Wlad. It's kind of like taking an early flight like this, sure the airports not very busy, you get through security faster, but you're still getting up at 4 a.m., and if you're like me, not even going to bed at all.

* Miguel Batista pitched extremely well yesterday. I barely got to mention it with what was going on with JJ. But it was one of the better starts he's had this season, and it didn't take five hours for him to get three innings.

* The A's held their own against the Angels in the three game series, winning two, the latest being a 20-hit explosion. Did anyone see the highlight of Jack Cust dropping the fly ball in left. It was brutal and it led to five unearned runs, but he made up for it with a homer late.

* Here's the game story from the Cleveland Plain Dealer. It sounds like the Indians didn't get much enjoyment from the win.