Saying goodbye to the 2009 season

Lots of goodbyes going on here today, one of which came from Ken Griffey Jr. after being lifted for a pinch-runner following his eighth-inning single. Turns out, that post-game "victory lap'' taken by the Mariners, when they saluted the fans, shook their hands and even hugged some of them, was all a spontaneous gesture thought up by Mike Sweeney down on the field. Felix Hernandez was caught off guard by it. He was in the clubhouse in shorts when he saw what was going on and had to get dressed again and go running back out on to the field. The sight of Griffey gettting carried off the field was one many fans will remember. But who envisioned the sight of Carlos Silva carrying Ichiro off on his shoulders? My, how things can change in one year. The post-game hugs and camraderie continued well after the players left the field. During the post-game press conference, when about 50 reporters, cameramen and technicians stood crowded together in the interview room listening t...