Mid-Valley Sports

If you saw the Kevin Costner movie “Tin Cup” you’ll remember the scene where Costner’s character, a small-time golfer, gets the yips. His caddie, played by Cheech Marin, frantically tries to help rid him of the disease, suggesting that he take the change out of one pocket and put it in another. It’s funny stuff, but golfers aren’t the only one to get the yips and pitchers seem especially susceptible.

After starting the season with an impressive 12-6 record, the Mariners have lost 13 of their last 17 games. Over this stretch they have looked pretty much like the team we expected to see: pretty good pitching, but limited offensively. Thursday’s loss to the Texas Rangers in a get-away game that started at 11 a.m. our time is a perfect example of what’s been wrong. Feliz Hernandez pitched seven shutout innings and David Aardsma pitched a scoreless eighth. But Mariners’ closer Brandon Morrow got hammered for the second day in a row.