T-Mobile Park (Photo by Susan Dennis, via Flickr)
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.
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.
Since the days of Sweet Lou, it’s been an exercise in futility. Bob Melvin lasted only two seasons, and I’ve got to ask why?
Did Melvin want more than the talent M’s management was willing to provide? It’s obvious to me the skipper knew what the Mariners needed to get over the hump after missing the playoffs by three games his first year (2003). Then not getting an extension after a disastrous second year.
Now, Melvin is in Oakland. Winning with the talent they provide to him. Since joining the Athletics in 2011, he’s gone to the playoffs six times and won American League Manager of the year twice. Meanwhile, M’s fans like me are shaking our heads. The success the A’s had while Seattle sent eight more managers through the revolving door is enough to drive a Mariners fan crazy. It makes me wonder what they’re trying to accomplish.
It certainly appeared M’s management wanted to see their team succeed when GM Jack Zduriencik brought Robinson Cano (2014) and Nelson Cruz (25) to Seattle. The duo joined six-time All-Star and 2010 A.L. Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez. With up-and-coming players on their roster, like Logan Morrison, Hisashi Iwakuma, James Paxton, and Kyle Seager, it looked like manager Lloyd McClendon had a winning team. Until it wasn’t.
While the Seattle Mariners showed glimpses of greatness, they wound up fielding a team that only entertained the fans with some flashy baseball. Cano daring runner to challenge his arm before whipping the ball to first base just in time entertained fans. There was also his quick bat, swatting out singles and doubles. Lest we not forget, BoomStick’s bombs certainly wowed the Emerald City faithful. Then they were gone too.
Now there is chatter that current skipper Scott Servais will not be the manager who takes the Seattle Mariners into their next playoff appearance. Interesting, considering Servais is the only skipper in the franchise’s history, other than Piniella, to last longer than three years.
I’ve wondered about Scott Servais and his role as Seattle’s skipper. They haven’t given him a legitimate team to lead into the playoffs since he’s been in Seattle. General Manager Jerry Dipoto has tinkered with the line-up, getting rid of Cano and Cruz until gutting the team. Now the M’s are in year three of their rebuild.
I legitimately miss hearing Dave Sims scream out, “BoomStick Baby!”
The glory years of Seattle were built by a legend at the coaching position, a superstar, and legitimate Hall of Fame talent, along with some talented scrappy players. Other than Zduriencik’s swing for the fences with the Cano and Cruz acquisitions, the Mariners have not committed to creating a playoff-caliber team.
It takes a shared vision from the GM and clubhouse manager as well as a commitment from ownership to bring in the pieces to win. It seems the Mariners are perfectly willing to settle for less than that. With Dipoto’s reboot, the Mariners will field nothing more than an entertaining team that likely will miss the playoffs … again.
The 44 and 4 Mariners will become the 45 and 4 Mariners. That’s 45 seasons and only 4 playoff appearances. That’s not good enough. Just being entertained by a decent team at the ballpark won’t cut it anymore. Seattle’s fan base is tired of watching other teams play in the postseason while they hear “next year” and “patience” from management.
Are Marco Gonzales, Kyle Lewis, Jarred Kelenic, Mitch Haniger, Seager, Tom Murphy, and Yusei Kikuchi good enough to lead the M’s to break the drought? History tells us no. But we’ll have to see what the Mariners need down the stretch… and whether management is willing to open their wallets and be a contender.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.