Don't know if you caught this or not (for those watching at home) but for the first 4 1/2 innings home plate umpire Kerwin Danley's fly was open.

It was noticeable every time he went into his crouch behind the plate.

So, a loyal P-E reader and good friend of this writer's called to alert me of this (OK, it was my fiancee, Suzanne, watching the game at home). I couldn't believe it until I mentioned it in the press box and a fellow beat writer whipped out his binoculars and verified that it wasn't some trick camera action on the screen.

(I guess that's better than something else being whipped out ... )

Afterwards, that's all the writers in the press box were looking for when Danley went into his crouch behind the plate. And, like little kids, we all giggled.

Word of this spread to the Mariners' PR staff and one of them called someone in the TV production booth and between innings we searched to see if someone would tell Danley.

After the Mariner Moose came onto the field, a fellow wearing tan shorts, a blue polo shirt and a ballcap ran up to Danley, near the third base line, wrapped his arm around him and let him know.

Danley grinned, looked down, and zipped up.

It was easily the funniest thing I've seen all season. And that includes the fan in Boston getting nailed with the pizza.

Thanks, dear, for giving all us bitter sports writers something to make our Tuesday more enjoyable.