The Mariners won their 61st game on Sunday, equaling the number of wins that they got all of last season.

Hmm.

2008 - The 61st win on game 162 - a game most fans didn't want to see them win so they could get the No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft.

2009 - The 61st win comes in game 118 on a sold-out sunny Sunday at Safeco Field that was filled 7/8 Mariners fans. Yes there were annoying Yankee fans there, but it was an M's crowd (much respect to the fans).

For this new regime - GM Jack Zduriencik and manager Don Wakamatsu - this is a milestone and something to be proud of. To be fair, I didn't know that this win would come with 44 games left to play. They've exceeded my expectations and several other peoples as well.

“The number one goal that we came in with is to try to regain the confidence of the fans,” Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said. “If you watch us play, that’s what I’m most proud of is that we don’t give in and these guys play hard. To be able to keep your head up high and know that you gave the fans their money’s worth that’s important to us.”

Obviously, I wanted to write about the difference of getting this win now, in comparison to getting this win on the last day of the season. So I was going to ask players who were around from last year ... problem is there aren't a ton. No Betancourt, no Sexson, no Vidro, no Washburn, no Putz.

The list
Ichiro Suzuki
Jose Lopez
Felix Hernandez
Mark Lowe
Kenji Johjima
Mark Lowe
Ryan Rowland-Smith
Rob Johnson (September call-up)
Adrian Beltre (wasn't there today for groin-related reasons)
Erik Bedard (really wasn't there to begin with)
Carlos Silva (sort of there)
Miguel Batista (haven't talked to him once this season, why start now)

Perhaps of all the players who found most season to be difficult it was Ichiro. There were anonymous comments about him in the newspaper, more offseason comments from former teammates and just the agony of losing from last season. He was admittedly miserable last season. This year, he's a different guy.

So naturally, he's the first person you want to talk to about it.

When it was mentioned to comment on the significance of getting last year's win total in August, he replied through translator Ken Barron:

“It makes me think, ‘man, we lost a lot of games last year.’”

When asked if the difference simply just winning or a different attitude about the way the game is played and approached, Ichiro said: "It's both. We have lot better human beings this year.”

One of the most memorable and humorous moments from last season came after the Mariner had gotten thrashed by the Yankees, 13-2 at the old Yankee Stadium. It was their fourth straight loss and 12th in 16 games. In that game, John McLaren had gotten tossed for arguing an awful called third strike call on Ichiro.

It was one of the low points of a season that would only get lower and Ichiro admitted he thought that the team was falling apart.

From my story:

NEW YORK - This Seattle Mariners team, at least in its current state, is bad enough to drive Ichiro Suzuki to drink.

Metaphorically speaking, at least.

Following the latest thrashing, a 13-2 demolition at the hands of the New York Yankees on Friday in Yankee Stadium, the Mariners center fielder wore the look of a haggard Brooklyn construction worker after a week of hard labor.

After the Mariners lost their fourth straight and 12th in 16 games - Ichiro dropped his head into his hands as if to wipe the stain of defeat from his face.

"Playing on this team and seeing what's happening around me, I feel like something is beginning to fall apart," he said through translator Ken Baron.

Falling apart?

Ichiro is aware that, to outsiders, it looks like a total catastrophe.

"If I was not in that situation and I was objectively watching what had happened to this team in the last week, I'd probably be drinking a lot of beers and booing," he said.

And it wouldn't even matter what kind.

"Usually I enjoy Japanese beer, but given the situation I wouldn't care if it was Japanese beer, American beer or beer from Papua New Guinea," he said.

So when I reminded him of that moment and asked him if he no longer would need a beer from Papua New Guinea this season, he was much happier.

"This year I am able to enjoy some Japanese beer, the right way," he said.

And in a little plug he added,

"In particular, Kirin Ichiban."

So if you want to drink the preferred beer of the Mariners leading hitter and right-fielder that's what you go with.

Also a tip of the cap to Doug Fister, who was solid today. He pitched 7 innings allowing, eight hits and three runs. He also didn't walk a batter and pitched fast (call him the anti-Batista).

“It starts with the starting pitching and Doug Fister was outstanding,” Wakamatsu said. “This guy really has a feel for pitching.”

He also has a feel for deflecting credit.

“It’s still a team game and a team win,” Fister said. “Yeah, I was out there pitching, but it takes everybody in the dugout to make it happen.”

Come on, Doug, you got your first big league win, it's no time to go Nuke LaLoosh on us. You pitched great. You deserved the win and you can bask in it a little bit, nobody will h old it against you.

=> Read more!

First inning
With that single to right, Derek Jeter tied Luis Aparicioo with the most all-time career hits as a shortstop with 2,673. But Doug Fister gets out of the inning with a big strikeout of Alex Rodriguez. Did I think the called third strike by Mike Everitt was actually a strike. No it wasn't close at all, but this crew owes the Mariners a few.

Look it's Joba Chamberlain. I have never understood the hype surrounding him. Don't get me wrong. He's an unbelievably talented pitcher, but he's not even close to how good Felix Hernandez is, and yet Joba is more widely known. I guess that happens when you play in New York. Felix will know what it's like in a few years ... I'm kidding.

Second inning
Fister looks solid with a couple more strikeouts. Meanwhile, the Mariners haven't done much against the Hall of Famer.

Third inning
The Yankees take a 1-0 lead as Jeter doubles to right field and scores Pena. That was hit No. 2,674 putting Jeter atop the list of all-time hits as a shortstop. So congrats. Unlike A-Rod, it's hard to say bad things about Jeter. He's a class guy and player.

The Mariners rally as Joba walks Langerhans, gives up a double to light-hitting Josh Wilson, walks Branyan and then gives up a two-run double to Jose Lopez. M's lead 2-1.

Fourth inning
A quick note to Doug Fister --- when you get a guy 3-0 in the big leagues, they can and will get the green light, so it's not a good idea to gut an 85 mph fastball on 3-0, thinking Nick Swisher is going to have the take sign. Instead, he took it right over the centerfield fence. On a bright note, Josh Wilson understands the words "I got it" coming from the left fielder on the shallow fly ball. If that's Yuni, the Mariners would be needing another leftfielder.

The Mariners are getting base runners against Joba, but they need to get some timely hits.

Fifth Inning
A nice inning for Fister. He got ahead and made decent pitches.
The Mariners obviously aren't impressed with all things Joba. Franklin Gutierrez and Jack Hannahan come up with RBI singles each to give the Mariners a 4-3 lead.

Sixth inning
Fister again gets through the inning.

Again another wasted scoring opportunity as Seattle gets runners on first and second with one out, but Branyan strikes out and Lopez puts up a good fight fouling off seven pitches in a long AB but can't come up with the hit.

Seventh inning
Doug Fister showed more fight int he seventh getting out of a jam than Erik Bedard did in 12 starts.

The Mariners break it open dropping a five spot as Aceves inexplicably hits Josh Wilson with the bases loaded to open the flood gates. Ichiro delivers a two-run single, Branayn an RBI single and Lopez with an RBI double - his third hit of the day.

I'm going to blog something quick and come back with a little more later.

Perhaps the most important news hear is a a high-ranking Mariners executive saidthat Dustin Ackley is not here, but they are trying to get him here to take a physical as soon as possible. And this request was specifically asked to his agent Scott Boras. They were hoping it was today. Which means, the two sides may be closing to finishing up negotiations.

* Michael Saunders is out of the line-up again today with a jammed right shoulder. Wakamatsu said Saunders would be available in an emergency, but they want to give him another day or two off just to be on the safe side since it's the same shoulder Saunders had offseason surgery on.

* Carlos Silva will throw another extended bullpen session in the coming days and will possibly throw another one before throwing a simulated game. But there really is no exact timetable for his return.

* Jack Wilson was doing running drills today and Wak figures he'll be ready to play on Wednesday, but is still holding out for Tuesday.

* There was also a lot of conversation about Mr. C.B. Bucknor and his umpiring skills, or lack thereof. Each year Sports Illustrated does a player and coach survey rating umpires and Bucknor has been voted as the worst in baseball for the last three seasons. It's a combination of a floating strike zone, a high level of arrogance and an unapproachable nature.

Wakamatsu obviously can't come out and criticize Bucknor directly, but did offer some thoughts on umpiring in general.

“I was chirping, but I also feel, and have said this before, but I am awfully proud that our guys don’t get kicked out," he said. "I think some of that is a reflection on the manager on complaining. I have always felt that there are certain things that you can control and certain things you can't. And when things happen like that (called third strike on langerhans), unless I come on the field, I don’t think he can hear me, especially with the crowd going crazy anyway".

"Everyone in the stadium knew that wasn’t a strike. The rest is you like to trust MLB to be able to mandate or control the quality of what’s going on in the game.”

MLB also does surveys of coaches and also has supervisors rate the umpires as well. But the results of those ratings aren't released. Wakamatsu thinks they should.

"You'd like to think at some point, with umpiring that there's a rating system," Wakamatsu said. "Players are exposed, managers are exposed for their records. It'd be nice to know who is the best umpire out there. If they are published - which they won't - it would be a good thing."