Quick, Sign Him For 3 Yrs. $36 Million

More tragic comedy from the Pacific North-West:

The Mariners were playing the Tigers, and the score was tied 1-1 in the 15th inning. The M's bullpen was worn thin, with only a sore-armed Arthur Rhodes, a tired Brandon Morrow (pitched in four of the previous five games), and some starting pitchers left. Instead of using one of the relievers, or having Carlos Silva (due to pitch two days later but having already thrown on the side that day) or RA Dickey (pitched the previous day but is a knuckle-baller) pitch, Seattle's manager sent 36 year-old back-up catcher Jamie Burke out to the mound. From what I understand, Burke pitched pretty well - he hit the mid 80's with the fastball and threw a decent breaking-ball. He did give up a hit though, and the runner came around to score the winning run on a sac fly. The way things are going for the Mariners, they may just want to employ Burke in the Brooks Kieschnick role of hitter/pitcher. The novelty may give fans another reason to watch this team.