A GRIP ON SPORTS • Searching for a TV during lunchtime today? If you find one, check if it gets the MLB Network. You might be wondering why. With snow blanketing the ground in the Inland Northwest, baseball feels distant, right? But it’s sunny in Arizona—at least enough for the Mariners to have a spring training game.
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• We’ve endured the extended winter. Spokane and its suburbs have had a mild season, despite a fresh layer of snow last night. It’s been quite a while since we watched the M’s take the field.
That last game, played in Toronto as autumn was settling in, carried much more weight. The objective was the same: reach the World Series. In early October, Seattle only needed one win, but now the Mariners embark on an exhibition schedule, six months of regular play, and a playoff journey that might culminate in their first World Series appearance. There’s potential—always has been for over five decades—but this season feels notably attainable.
The journey kicks off today at 12:10 p.m. on MLB Network, so it might be worth a watch, even with players donning numbers in the 80s and 90s.
• The spring training game signifies future prospects. Meanwhile, major college basketball games this weekend also point to future excitement, specifically for March Madness. For just the third time ever, the top four men’s teams in the AP poll will face each other on the same day, outside the NCAA Tournament.
On Saturday, No. 1 Michigan will take on No. 3 Duke in Washington, D.C. (3:30 p.m., ESPN), while No. 2 Houston hosts No. 4 Arizona (noon, ABC). This could hint at a Final Four matchup, but the unpredictable nature of the season leaves us in suspense.
• The top three men’s teams in the West Coast Conference will also be on the court Saturday night. Gonzaga is set to host Pacific (6 p.m., KHQ) in a matchup where the Tigers are surprisingly competitive at 8-8 in conference play. Saint Mary’s travels to Pullman an hour later (ESPN2) to challenge the formidable Cougars, and Santa Clara, another top contender, faces off against Bay Area rival USF (7 p.m., CBS Sports Network).
