M's 4, Athletics 3

Last Seattle game of 2008

......R...H...E
SEA...3...10..1
OAK...4...10 .1

Box score

Game story in the morning.

A nightmare Mariners season had barely just ended, and Raul Ibanez was already talking about how he'll help a teammate try to better himself next year.

Ibanez puts himself through a series of torturous workouts just north of his Miami-area home each winter. This offseason, he'll be bringing along shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, who had the decisive two-run triple in the team's final 2008 game.

Betancourt struggled at the plate and in the field throughout much of 2008 and was one of several reasons the Mariners, touted as contenders, wound up losing 101 games. The biggest question Ibanez faces after the Mariners wrapped up the season with a 4-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday is whether he'll stick around to help this franchise pick up its shattered pieces.

"I love this franchise, I love the fans here, I love the city," Ibanez said. "We'll see what the future holds. Sure, I'd love to be here, but I'd love to be in a competitive environment."

Ex-Rattlers for the Mariners
Raul Ibanez (Foxes, '94): 0-for-4, RBI
Wladimir Balentien ('04): 1-for-4
Matt Tuiasosopo ('05): 1-for-3, RBI
Rob Johnson ('05): 0-for-4
Luis Valbuena ('06): 1-for-4, run
Cesar Jimenez ('03): 1/3IP, H, 0R
JJ Putz ('00): IP, 0H, 0R, 3K, Save #15

Seattle ends 2008 61-101