It's A Game For Kids ...
Ryan Feierabend is making his first start for the Mariners this season, but he should feel right at home.
On the 25-man roster today, Seattle has 11 who played in Tacoma this year.
Why wait for September to call up the kids? Well, more are coming - including Brandon Morrow, who's with the Rainiers now.
Clearly, the future has begun for the Mariners.

Um, Can You Mix In An Out? ...
Feierabend threw nine pitches and loaded the bases with no one out, listened to pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre - who visited the mound - and then allowed an RBI single to Justin Morneau.
Probably not the start he imagined.
Feierabend got one out, then gave up a two-run double to Jason Kubel.
As R.A. Dickey began throwing in the bullpen, the Twins got another two-run double.
Still just one out.
Twins 5, Mariners 0 ...

And Then, There's The Seattle Offense ...
Raul Ibanez doubled with two out in the first inning, Kenji Johjima doubled with two outs in the second and in the third the Mariners went down 1-2-3.
The Ibanez double was his 37th of the year, one behind his single-season career high.
Both Seattle base runners have been stranded at second base.
Twins 5, Mariners 0 ...

Ichiro Pitches In ...
Another inning, another Twins run and R.A. Dickey looks like he'll start the fourth inning.
Feierabend was helped by Ichiro in the third, when the right fielder ended a Minnesota rally by throwing Adam Everett out at second base.
Twins 6, Mariners 0 ...

Knuckling Down ...
Dickey, who is supposed to start Wednesday in Chicago, is pitching - and Johjima is trying his best to catch him.
In the fifth inning, however, a passed ball moved a runner up and two wild pitches allowed two more runs.
Should they have been caught? Both were knuckle balls and Joh had no idea where they were going.
Twins 8, Mariners 0 ...

Chicks Dig The Long Ball ...
After Raul Ibanez singled with one out - his third hit of the day - Adrian Beltre hit a home run so deep that left fielder Delmon Young didn' even glance back at it.
One out later, rookie Wladimir Balentien homered to straightaway center field.
Johjima then hit one out down the left field line.
No. 20 for Beltre, No. 7 for Balentien, No. 4 for Johjima.
To the bottom of the sixth:
Twins 8, Mariners 4 ...

Oh, That Raul ...
Finally coming to the plate with men on base, Ibanez doubled home a run with his fourth hit of the game.
That's 20 RBI in the month of August, along with eight doubles, a triple and four home runs.
Ibanez now has a new single-season career high: 38 doubles.
Twins 10, Mariners 6 ...

Those Fightin' M's ...
That's what a Minneapolis columnist called this team in the paper today, and they're living up to the billing.
Bryan LaHair picked up an RBI, and Ichiro dropped a bunt single that the Twins threw away for an error and another run.
Now Ibanez is 5-for-5 today, and the Twins are bringing closer Joe Nathan into the game in the eighth.
Games like this, much as you marvel at the comeback, you wonder 'what if' this pitcher or that had just held the game in check.
They didn't, and it looks like eight runs is not going to be enough today.
Twins 10, Mariners 8 ...

Unbelievable ...
J.J. Putz gives up a run, but the Mariners STILL get the potential tying run to the plate.
With one out in the ninth, Balentien doubled and Johjima walked. LaHair lined out to center field.
Jeff Clement pinch-hit for Yuniesky Betancourt - who had two hits and a walk in the game.
Clement singled to load the bases and bring Ichiro to the plate.
Ichiro grounded out on the first pitch.
Final:
Twins 11, Mariners 8 ...

Ken Griffey Jr. is waiting in Chicago for the Seattle Mariners, and when he plays against them this week, it could be for the last time.

The Mariners passed on acquiring Junior early this year, thinking their future wouldn't be served by bring back a 38-year-old future Hall of Famer in his last years.

Or months.

When the White Sox traded for Junior 12 games ago, they knew they weren't getting the Griffey of the '90s.

As a member of the White Sox, he's batted .241 without a home run and with three RBI. He has DHed as often as he's played center field.

Is this Junior's last season? That decision will be his - someone will offer him a contract for next season, but not for what he's been used to making.

Does a man with more than 600 career home runs, with more than 1,750 RBI want to play a diminished role for another team?

Much depends upon the next five weeks.
If Griffey can help the Sox win their division by helping them win even a few more games than they might have without him, that will factor in.

And should the team get to the post-season - and Junior rises to the challenge and has an impact - that might bring him back.
On the other hand, win or lose this year, Junior may want to go out while most fans remember his best seasons.

He was, in his prime, as good as any player in the game and might well have been the best of his era.
Junior was also unique - a man whose joy on the field spread into the stands, throughout a clubhouse.

Whether he plays beyond 2008 may depend upon whether he still feels that joy.