Normally you don't hear "...that's all I need - 4 runs" uttered by a pitcher in a positive manner. We know we've heard that a few times from Nationals starting pitchers, but usually with some of those 7 words the late, great American Philospher George Carlin said. But Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners did say those words, after hitting a grand slam against Johan Santana.

In the battle of teams with managers fired last week, the Mariners beat the New York Mets and their ace Santana, with Hernandez's base clearer contributing 4 runs in the 2nd. Too bad he later got injured, putting a damper on what would have been a night to remember. It still is, as it is the first home run hit by a pitcher in Mariners history.

This reminds me of some better days in Baltimore, when Mike Mussia was their ace pitcher. The Orioles actually put him on the depth chart as an emergency outfielder on his non-starting days. I remember a two week stretch in the late 90's when the Orioles were down a couple of outfielders due to injury, Mussina was the 4th outfielder ahead of Harold Baines. I don't know if it was more that Moose was such a great hitter and the arm to send a hit back into the outfield quickly or that Baines' knees were held together with scotch tape, so they couldn't trust him to chase down a turtle.