Seattle Mariners: Filling T-Mobile isn’t good enough anymore, M’s fans want a winner
PNWS Staff
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The Seattle Mariners postseason drought is at 19 years and staring down 20. When will M’s management learn that their fans want a winner?
44 and 4. That’s quite the record. I’ll get to the 44-4 Seattle Mariners in a bit. First, let’s reminisce about how it finally came together for the M’s in the 1990s.
Glory Days
The 1995 Seattle Mariners had a legitimate star on the mound in Randy Johnson. And another dominator in the bullpen that Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Niehaus called “The Sheriff,” Norm Charlton. They also had future Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez at DH, ARod at short, Dan Wilson catching, at Mike Blowers defending the hot corner.
Seattle also had a guy fans liked to call “The Kid,” Ken Griffey Jr., who had a habit of creating baseball frenzy in the King Dome. It was a joy to see him make plays like sliding across home plate after a dash around the bases from first… in extra innings… against the iconic New York Yankees.
That happened after the Mariners were down 2-0 to New York in a best of five series. That unbelievable victory sent the 1995 Mariners to Cleveland for the ALCS. The Seattle Mariners are in the ALCS, baby! But the M’s lost that best of seven series 4-2 when Jay Buhner was thrown out at first to end Game 6.
It took 17 years, 11 different coaches, and a lot of futility to get to that point. But Seattle finally believed that Mariners team was the start of a legitimate World Series contender. As it turned out, their window opened only four of the next seven years.
To be clear, the Mariners’ only legitimate glory years were coached by Lou Piniella. Or until “Sweet Lou” requested to be let out of his contract and out of Seattle. The request came after management denied his plea for another arm at the trade deadline. Piniella didn’t only want to coach the Mariners; he wanted to win rings as well.
Unfortunately, management was not on board, and Piniella saw the writing on the wall. Seattle management is only in it to fill the seats with an entertaining team.
Next: Page 2 – Brief flashes