Lance Armstrong may be leading overall in the Tour de France, but check out the winner of Monday's leg of the race. Chris, you will appreciate this one the most.

No, I'm not talking about this website. I'm referring to the Mariner's 4-game sweep of the Los Angeles California Anaheim Identity Crisis Angels of Extreme Redundency. On the road, no less. Has there been a more improbable sweep this year?

It's a shame that the all-star break falls right now, just as the club is heating up. But the good news is that right after the break, we start off with the Angels again, this time in Seattle. A chance to gain 3 more in the standings?

All 12 of the Sonic's fans can sleep a little easier now. What took so long? You wanted him back, he wanted to come back, and you guys could offer him the most money. And the terms of the deal are basically what Allen wanted. Now that that's out of the way, Seattle can probably look forward to another 50 wins next year.

On a completely unrelated note, ESPN's page 2 posted a poll of each team's public enemy No. 1. Not surprisingly, A-Rod is ours, although the article starts out by ripping Jim Presley a new one. Of course, if you polled diehard Mariner fans, A-Rod is not our pick (though Presley might be for some). The true public enemy will remain nameless. Let's just call him Bobby A. No, too obvious. Call him B. Ayala.

The one-time cellar-dwelling Oakland A's have completed a three-game sweep of the Mariners today. I have nothing further to add.

ROER is now up to date.

One year ago today, The Mariners threw up the white flag on the 2004 season, trading Freddy Garcia to the Chicago White Sox for three youngsters: Miguel Olivo, Jeremy Reed, and Michael Morse. Therefore, it's a good time to look back on how that trade's worked out.

At the time of the trade, Garcia was having one of his best seasons, striking out 82 (with 32 walks) and having a 3.20 ERA in 107 innings. His record, however, was a mere 4-7, due to some horrible run support. Everyone stressed that fact, as well as his youth (27 at the time), and the Mariners were able to get top dollar in the trade.

Garcia didn't pitch particularly well after the trade, going 9-4 with a 4.46 ERA and 102 K's in 103 innings. This year, his line reads 7-3, 3.58 ERA, and 69 K's. He also signed a 3-year contract worth $25 million, which looks like a good deal for the Sox after last off-season's run on pitching salaries.

The Mariner's end of the trade is well-documented, so I won't bore you with the details. It's interesting to read that at the time, Olivo was considered the prime prospect in the deal, while Morse was a mere throw-in.

Both teams got what they wanted in this deal, and I'm guessing that both teams would make this deal again.

Adrian Beltre and Bret Boone are tied for 3rd on the team in Home Runs.

Of course, they are tied with Ichiro, who has a mere 5 on the year.

This might have gotten more attention if there weren't so many other sad stats on the Mariners. Like Ichiro's batting average. Or Beltre's batting average. Or Boone's batting average. Or the lower part of the lineup's batting average. Or Ryan Franklin. Or...

Brought to you by Jack-In-The-Box. Ciabatta: C-I-A-B-A-double-T-A. Ciabatta. Peace out.

Aaron Sele didn't bring his best stuff, as evidenced by 7 hits, countless line-drive outs by Oakland batters, and a mere 3 strikeouts in 6 innings. Still, he gave up only 2 runs and left the game well within reach. Then the bullpen conjured up images of '96-'98, giving up 4 runs, 4 hits, and 4 walks in 3 innings. The offense didn't help matters much, essentially going silent after the 2nd inning.

Game ball goes to Jeremy Reed. He collected a couple of hits and did his best Mike Cameron impression out there in Centerfield. Adrian Beltre also had a good game with two hits and some fancy leatherwork of his own at Third.

The goat of this game was the Mariner bullpen, specifically Julio Mateo. Not only did he have problems throwing the ball over the plate, but he took forever in doing it. I really think they need to enforce the 25-second rule (or whatever it is) between pitches. Pitchers shouldn't slow down the game like that, especially when they can't hit the broad side of a barn. As for the rest of the Pen, it's pretty sad when Matt Thornton has the best night, and even he had a walk on his record.

Overall, not as fun as my last trip to the Safe, last year when the M's beat Baltimore 11-0 with a Jamie Moyer shutout and an Ichiro homer. Arguably the best game they played last year (almost by default, really). May have to come back for one more before the big Florida trip.