Whilst waiting for the Yellow line going home last night some youngster in Mariners kit came up to me, after asking what station he was at (it was Archives - he had missed his stop at L'Enfant while chatting with someone), told me 'We're going to win tomorrow...we got a pitcher'.
I just said we'll see about that - that's why they play the games - and meanwhile I'm just going to enjoy my lads being at .500 this late in the season for the first time since 2005.
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A by-product of recent success: not only are we drawing better generally (two consecutive nights of 21k+ against a relatively uncompelling opponent would have been unthinkable in August or September of last season)...but people are staying longer, because the matches have been more competitive than in recent years. Far less of a parade to the exits starting about the sixth inning, when last season the home nine would be staring up at a four- or five-run deficit with little hope in sight...instead we're having matches like last night's, carrying a one-run lead into the late going with every Mariners batter representing the potential tying run...unless they have to get up at 04.00 the following morning for something, people will stay for that. Much more compelling viewing than in past seasons.