Well, I've been released from Don's trunk after the Mariners' awful offense proved I'm not a jinx. Don't worry Don, I won't tell them that you have the remains of Jimmy Hoffa in your trunk.

I knew I wasn't a jinx.

Why?

This Mariners' offense is bad beyond jinxes and superstitions. Still, a big thanks to Don for covering the game, which allowed me to play some fastpitch softball last night and avoid getting more bitter and frustrated with the Mariners.

Here's some linkage...

* Here's Don's game story from last night.

* Here's his notebook which leads with a conversation with Chuck Armstrong.

* Our columnist Dave Boling calls for Junior to be brought back to Seattle.

* Here's Evan Grant's game story from the Dallas Morning News.

* LA Times baseball writer Bill Shalkin thinks the Mariners should go after Barry Bonds.

I cannot believe how bad Vicente Padilla made the Mariners look. Basically the Mariners let a guy, who looks like a serial killer, hold them to two hits...

The lineup looks a little different for tonight's game...

Ichiro CF
Lopez DH
Ibanez RF
Beltre 3B
Sexson 1B
Betancourt SS
Balentien RF
Johjima C
Bloomquist 2B

McLaren decided to give a slumping Jeff Clement - 13 strikeouts in 23 at-bats - the night off with the Rangers starting lefty Kason Gabbard.

Clement is obviously pressing a little, which is something the whole team is guilty of. But the youngster is not this bad of a hitter. I did ask McLaren that if Clement wouldn't have been slumping, would he be in the lineup normally against lefties, and McLaren said absolutely.

Last season in Triple A, Clement actually hit lefties better than righties. He hit .315 (40-for-127) against lefties with 13 doubles, 10 homers and 28 RBI, and .259 (85-for-328) with 22 doubles, 10 homers and 58 RBI against righthanders last season.

Obviously the sample size of at-bats differs, but I've watched Clement consistently rake lefties. One of the main reasons why is that he is willing to stay in on the ball. He doesn't bail out because his strength is really hitting the ball of the opposite field, particularly the left-center gap. When he's hitting well, Clement stays in and sprays the ball all over the field - obviously he's not doing that now.

And that leads us to the decision to pinch-hit for Clement with Willie Bloomquist. The decision belonged to bench coach Jim Riggleman, who assumed the duties after McLaren was tossed out of the game.

I don't care how bad Clement is hitting, I give him the chance to hit because he has a chance to hit the ball out of the park. Willie? Not so much.

It would be nice to have Greg Norton on the bench still, but he's too busy getting big hits for Atlanta.

* Jose Vidro is available only as a pinch-hitter tonight because of his back spasms.

* Lopez said he's comfortable with DHing having done it quite a bit in the Venezuelan Winter League.