MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AS DRUNK AS YOU >>>

Things have managed to stay interesting here in Rainiers Town as we approach September. 

With 18 games left in the regular season, the Tacoma Rainiers (63-63) remain 4.5 games behind the PCL Pacific North Division leading Reno Aces. Simply put, the Rainiers are 4.5 games out of a Pacific Coast League playoff spot. A playoff spot that in May seemed totally out of the question. A playoff spot that ex-Rainiers and now Mariners Dustin Ackley and Mike Carp are sure to be jealous of. 

But things are not all peaches and ice cream in Rainiers' manager Daren Brown's dugout.  The Rainiers are struggling to rise to the occasion and take advantage of the Reno Aces' recent downward spiral in the standings. The Rainiers have lost three games in a row to the Omaha Storm Chasers. The team has also lost five out of the last ten games, playing mediocre ball in a time when dynamite ball is called for.

Though there are 18 games left in the season, the playoff spot might be decided sooner rather than later. On Saturday, the Rainiers open a four game series with the Aces down in Reno - a series that if the Rainiers sweep could lead to an easy jaunt into the playoffs. 

Of course, if the Rainiers get swept it would effectively end the season for our boys of summer.

No pressure or anything, Rainiers.  Just keep on doing what you're doing. 

Oh, wait....

Notes:

-Having had the opportunity to attend two Rainiers' games and listen to the rest on the radio this past seven days, I've come away with two things. First, Mike Curto had a bit of a head cold earlier this week. He's fine now, but for a while his voice was, shall we say, a little frog-like.

Second, Rainiers' outfielder Greg Halman is a serious man. Every time he comes to the plate he has a grimace on his face. He looks pissed. The only time he even comes close to cracking a smile is when he scores a run.

I don't know if this makes Halman a mean guy or just a serious competitor, but, man, the guy does not smile. Either way, Halman has an on-base percentage hovering around .400. With on OBP like that, he could scream obscenities at fans for all I care.

-Conversely, Rainiers' infielder Matt Tuiasosopo is always beaming.  His smile was especially large after he hit a two-out grand slam against the Storm Chasers last night.

-It was announced today that pitcher Luke French cleared waivers and will be back on the Tacoma squad. French was released by the organization earlier this month, but now comes back to T-Town ... bringing his 6.12 ERA with him. Are we happy to have French back? Sure. Are we going to be nervous when he picks up the ball and heads to the mound? Oh hell yes.

Before the Rainiers do battle against the Aces, the team faces the Omaha Storm Chasers one final time tonight at 7:05 p.m. Tonight also marks the end of Key Bank's Stand of the Summer event. Friday night fireworks will be presented by the bank, so expect a lot of gold and green.

LINK: The "Rainiers Minute" collection