Baseball playoffs are supposed to be fun

Todd?s Take On T?ings, Commentary by Todd Mordhorst, Journal Assistant Sports EditorThe American League playoffs are proving to be a painful experience. Andy Wilcox wrote of the sorrows of being an A?s fan earlier in the week and I can empathize with my colleague at about this time.I am a Mariners fan and Wednesday and Thursday were not pleasant. I was tragically set up for a major letdown after Seattle won 116 games during the season. After playing in another solar system in the regular season, the Mariners have now returned to earth. The Cleveland Indians reached up and tugged at their jerseys and now the New York Yankees have yanked Seattle down to the ground.The aliens who had abducted the real Bret Boone six months ago returned him for the playoffs. After playing like a spry 25-year-old for 162 games, Edgar Martinez now needs a cane to get to first base. Even the indomitable Ichiro looks lost on the basepaths and he is flopping around in the outfield as if he?s playing on a frozen pond.The two losses to the Yankees, at home no less, have been more than disheartening. Seattle is 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position in the series. Misplays on defense have cost them a run in each game. The pitching has been adequate, but not the sharp, mistake-free kind of pitching needed in the playoffs.I can only watch the Mariners for short stretches at a time. Don?t get me wrong. I haven?t given up on my team, but to see them play poor baseball and barely put up a fight against the hated Yankees brings great pain.T.G.I.F. Fresno State will host Boise State at 5 p.m. today on ESPN. The Bulldogs have stumbled in the past several weeks against Western Athletic Conference opponents after strolling through their tough early schedule.In a wild game last Saturday against Colorado State, FSU showed it just might be a team of destiny. The Rams struck what appeared to be a knockout blow to the dream season, getting a touchdown and a two-point conversion with just 27 seconds remaining to take a 22-19 lead. But FSU miracle-worker David Carr led the Bulldogs down the field and Asen Asparuhov drilled a 48-yard field goal to tie the game.In overtime the kicker from Bulgaria came through again with a 41-yarder to win it. Colfax product Alec Greco was a key for the Bulldogs, hauling in a 14-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. The TD was Greco?s first of the season and the fourth of his FSU career.Greco was quoted in the Associated Press game story, saying that FSU is deserving of its No. 8 AP poll ranking. The Bulldogs are shooting for a chance to play in a Bowl Championship Series game, meaning they would need at least a top-6 ranking.?I think we justified our ranking,? said Greco. ?You win a game on the road you deserve your ranking. We don?t talk about the BCS. We come to win every week. That is all that matters to us.?Tonight?s game with BSU could involve some bragging rights for some local high school products. FSU features Greco and Nate Ray from Colfax along with three Granite Bay alums ? Doug Rousch, Adam Jennings and Matt Stevenson, though all three are redshirts.BSU has a roster loaded with Sacramento-area natives, led by quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie. The former Elk Grove signal-caller threw for a career-high 405 yards last week against Tulsa. He is quietly ahead of Carr in passing efficiency, leading the WAC.Other Broncos from the area include: Sean Steichen (Oak Ridge), Marvin Morris (Grant), Matt Navest (Elk Grove), Jess Hernandez (Woodland), Bobby Hammer (Rio Americano) and talented running back/kick returner David Mikell from Natomas.???Todd Mordhorst?s column appears on Fridays.