M’s look ahead after loss

  • Kirby Arnold / Herald Writer
  • Sunday, October 7, 2001 9:00pm
  • Sports

Seattle starts playoffs Tuesday against Cleveland

By Kirby Arnold

Herald Writer

SEATTLE — The 117th victory will have to wait until Tuesday.

That, after all, has been the goal of the Seattle Mariners all season: to win in the playoffs.

The Mariners’ opportunity to set the major league record for regular-season victories evaporated Sunday when the Texas Rangers scored a run in the ninth inning of a 4-3 triumph at Safeco Field.

It left the Mariners with a 116-46 record, tying them with the 1906 Chicago Cubs for the most victories in the regular season.

"Are we disappointed that we didn’t win 117 games?" manager Lou Piniella asked. "Well, it would have been nice. It would have been a crowning achievement to a magical season."

After John Olerud grounded out to end a 162-game march into the regular-season record books, the Mariners stepped out of their dugout and saluted their fans. Then they went into the clubhouse, poured some champagne and quietly shared a toast to everything they accomplished.

  • They won the American League West Division by 14 games over Oakland.

  • Ichiro Suzuki won the league’s batting title with a .350 average and led the majors with 56 stolen bases. His first-inning double gave him hits in 135 games, tying a major league record.

  • Bret Boone won the RBI crown with 141.

  • They walked off the field as winners 116 times, just not on Sunday.

    If it seemed the Mariners were satisfied with the way things turned out in their final game, then they pulled off an illusion.

    "Record or no record, we’re not used to losing. It stings a little bit," pitcher Paul Abbott said. "We’ve got guys here who aren’t completely happy even if they throw a scoreless inning. You might walk a guy, get a couple of pitches up when you wanted to be down in the zone even though you didn’t give up any runs.

    "That’s what makes this team great. They’re not satisfied."

    That’s why there was little gloating even though two Mariners — Suzuki and Boone — achieved personal glory.

    Suzuki went 1-for-4 and won the American League batting title, although he missed the major league batting championship by the smallest margins, .3497 to .3501 by Larry Walker of the Colorado Rockies.

    Boone nearly had his 142nd RBI in the bottom of the ninth inning when he hit a high fly ball to the warning track in center field off Texas reliever Jeff Zimmerman.

    "I hit it a little on the end of the bat," Boone said.

    Rafael Palmeiro drove in three of the Rangers’ runs with a two-run home run in the third inning and a single with two outs in the ninth off Mariners reliever Jeff Nelson to score Mike Young and break a 3-3 tie.

    The Mariners scored single runs in the first inning when Suzuki and Mike Cameron doubled, in the second on Dan Wilson’s leadoff home run and the fourth when Jay Buhner homered.

    The Mariners had only one baserunner in the final five innings, when Edgar Martinez doubled with one out in the sixth. He was picked off second base by Rangers pitcher Darren Oliver.

    "Today wasn’t meant to be," Boone said. "But what an unbelievable year. Let’s keep it going and end it the way we’ve wanted."

    In the greater picture, Piniella said, the Mariners couldn’t be in better shape.

    "All through September, we wanted to take the 100 and whatever (victories) we got and get our team ready (for the postseason)," Piniella said.

    A week ago there were serious questions about that.

    Shortstop Carlos Guillen had been hospitalized with tuberculosis, utility specialist Mark McLemore — who would start in place of Guillen — had a sore knee and third baseman David Bell couldn’t play because of a rib injury.

    "I think we’re as ready as we’re going to be," Piniella said. "We’re healthy, we got McLemore some playing time at short, we got Bell some playing time at third and we’ve used all our pitchers, from starters to relievers. Everybody on the club has gotten at-bats, so from that standpoint, we’re ready to go."

    If that brings victory No. 117 on Tuesday, even though it won’t count in the record books, the Mariners will be satisfied.

    Talk to us

    > Give us your news tips.

    > Send us a letter to the editor.

    > More Herald contact information.

  • More in Sports

    Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren watches his team against Washington Sunday, November 9, 2003. (George Bridges / KRT / Tribune News Services)
    No Holmgren in Hall is a travesty

    The Former Seahawks coach carries a resume superior to many already in the HOF.

    A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
    Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

    With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

    Gonzaga overcomes stagnant start to beat LMU

    Bulldogs get ‘best of best’ play down the stretch in 73-53 win.

    Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates during a stop of the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Nov. 24, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks)
    Leonard Williams restructures Seahawks deal

    More moves may be coming as Seattle deals with salary cap.

    Former Archbishop Murphy High School stars, Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon (6) and Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas (72), prepare for play at Soldier Field in Chicago on Dec. 26, 2024. Though Lucas is likely to return as a starter, Seattle's interior line needs offseason upgrades. (Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks)
    The Seahawks offensive line needs work

    A mix free agency and draft could lead to upgraded interior.

    UW men stumble in second half, fall to Nebraska

    The three-pointers that fell so frequently — and from a… Continue reading

    Edmonds-Woodway’s William Alseth dribbles the ball down the court during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Edmonds-Woodway boys basketball enters playoffs on high note

    The Warriors never let up in 63-43 win vs. Shorewood on Tuesday to secure Wesco South 3A/2A title

    Prep basketball roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 4

    Parker powers Seagulls to district berth.

    Kraken rally to force overtime, fall in shootout

    Streaking Red Wings too much for young Kraken lineup that showed some promise.

    Slivertips’ Clarke Schaefer tries to maneuver around Medicine Hat’s Josh Van Mulligen during the game on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Tips Week in Review: Everett splits slate in high-scoring week

    The Silvertips were outscored 24-18 in four games this week, losing two to the next-best WHL teams

    Everett Silvertips’ Landon DuPont during the game against the Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Tips’ DuPont becomes first rookie D to score 50 points in 35 years

    The 15-year-old star defenseman joined Scott Niedermayer in exclusive company with an assist Sunday.

    Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto believes players like Jorge Polanco (7) will enjoy bounceback seasons in 2025. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
    Despite quiet Mariners offseason, Jerry Dipoto confident

    With the pre-spring training luncheon and news conference no longer an annual… Continue reading

    Support local journalism

    If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.