Notebook: M's win 93 games again, but still they stay home

If nothing else, the Mariners have a time-honored blueprint for how not to make the playoffs.

With their 9-3 victory yesterday over Oakland, the Mariners finished 93-69. That's the record they had last season, also in a failed effort to reach the playoffs. They are the only team in the majors with at least 90 wins that didn't advance to the playoffs this year.

It's a rare feat, just not for them. In the past 18 years, only 13 teams that won 90 games have failed to reach the playoffs. Seattle (2002, 2003), Minnesota (1988, 1992) and Milwaukee (1987, 1992) have each done it twice.

This season was remarkably similar to last season, to wit:

• The Mariners spent 131 days in first place last season, then were displaced on Aug. 23. They spent 118 days in first this season and were displaced on Aug. 27.

• They were eliminated from the playoffs with four days left in the season both last season and again this season.

• They were 27-27 in August and September last season and 38-36 in the second half. They had a 27-27 record in August/September this year and 35-34 in the second half.

• They were 34-24 against AL West teams last year and 33-25 this year.

• They were 11-8 against Oakland last season and 12-7 this year.

• They had a 4.07 staff earned-run average in the second half last season and a 3.99 ERA in the second half this year.

The biggest breakdown this season — even more than last year — was the offense. The Mariners hit just .261 in the second half (.275 last year), 10th-lowest in the league.

General manager Pat Gillick, looking back at the season, said, "There are other things, but it probably comes down to eight or nine games against Toronto, Boston and Tampa Bay. San Diego, Tampa Bay and Texas played us particularly well.

"The clubs that played well, we played well against them," he added. "The clubs that didn't play well we needed to dominate."

The Mariners went 3-4 against Toronto, 4-5 against Tampa, 2-4 against San Diego, 10-10 against Texas and 2-5 against Boston, including getting swept in four games Aug. 22-25.

M's management looks ahead

Gillick, in an informal gathering with the media before the game, said more offense is needed next season.

"One area we need to improve is that we have to score more runs," he said. "We have to improve on our power."

He added that another priority is left-handed pitching.

"We never had enough left-handed pitching all year," he said.

Gillick, who said he will tell the organization this week if he is coming back, said, "We have an idea right now. We have (an offseason) game plan and we'll go from there.

"It just depends what the free-agent market will be. Some of our players will be back, hopefully. And will want to come back. There will be other players we might bring in."

Asked if the payroll needs to be increased to get this team to the World Series, he said, "There are a lot of different ways to get there. Who thought Anaheim would win last year? Who thought Boston would make the playoffs this year?

"Sure the budget is an important part, but that's not the only thing that drives you toward the World Series."

Mariners chairman Howard Lincoln, interviewed after the game, said, "I'm just disappointed for the fans. I'm disappointed for the players. I understand why they are frustrated. They have expectations after our 116-win season. They were disappointed last year and again this year.

"I understand because I'm a fan, too. I can also promise that we're going to roll up our sleeves this offseason and get it right."

Defense sets major-league record

The Mariners finished the season with the fewest errors in the history of the game. They made just 65, though in the sixth inning yesterday things got a little weird.

On back-to-back plays, third baseman Carlos Guillen and second baseman Bret Boone booted the ball. It was the 14th error for Guillen and just the seventh for Boone.

The previous record was 68 by the 1999 Mets that included John Olerud at first base. The Mariners finished with a .98887 fielding percentage.

Starting five goes distance

With Jamie Moyer's start yesterday, the Mariners were just the second club since 1904 and fifth overall to use just five starters all season. They were Moyer, Freddy Garcia, Gil Meche, Joel Pineiro and Ryan Franklin.

The other teams to do it were: the 1966 Los Angeles Dodgers (Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Claude Osteen, Don Sutton, Joe Moeller), the 1904 Boston Red Sox (Cy Young, Bill Dinneen, Norwood Gibson, Jesse Tannehill, George Winter), the 1901 Boston Braves (Vic Willis, Bill Dinneen, Kid Nichols, Togie Pittinger, Bob Lawson) and the 1901 Washington Senators (Bill Carrick, Watty Lee, Case Patten, Win Mercer, Dale Gear).

Melvin finishes first season tied for 15th

The Mariners' 93 wins allowed manager Bob Melvin to finish in a tie for 15th among first-year managers. Oakland's first-year skipper, Ken Macha, was tied for 10th with his 96 wins.