Does "Former Mariner" equal "Future Champion"?
By Tracy Larsen, for Seattle Insider
Originally published by Cox Interactive Media, May 1999
Nineteen hits! Twenty-two runs! Griffey's first Grand Salami of the
year! Nine pitchers used!
When a game averages one pitcher per inning and the final score leaves
you wondering where the halftime band disappeared to, something is definitely
still tilted. But kudos go to our hitters on their first official (and
record-breaking) Slugfest. Keep it up, guys; I have the feeling a lot more
will be needed before this season is over.
While I could talk about pitching (or, for the most part, the lack thereof)
for most of the day if passersby would indulge me, I've been thinking instead
not about our current Behemoths of BB's, but rather about some former Mariners,
both quiet and superstar, and that ol' "Where are they now?" question keeps
popping up. The question of "Where is the pitching?" was too depressing,
I guess, so I chose to ignore that one for a while (the answer? New York
and Atlanta).
The common refrain from M's fans asserts that once a player uses the
phrase 'former Mariner' to describe himself, he goes on to singlehandedly
win the next World Series for whichever team he was parolled to.
But is that truly the case? Despite former Mariner first baseman Tino
Martinez making it to two World Series' (the second of which he barely
played in, if that makes you feel any better), after taking a look at the
stats of some other former M's - hitters and pitchers alike - I was pleasantly
surprised to find that maybe Mariners management hasn't always been so
vision-impaired after all.
I say "maybe" and "hasn't always been", because there's certainly at
least one glaring exception, and that's the Biggy, of course: Randy Johnson.
He must be much happier to not be dealing with Woody et al. - or maybe
he simply prefers a warmer climate, who knows - since his post-Seattle
ERA is a stunning (by AL standards) 2.42. His ERA for the '98 M's was nearly
double that. But more importantly and enviably for Seattle fans, during
his short stay in Houston his strikeout-to-walks ratio was 116-26.
Considering the fact that our top two starters' combined ERA's average
a depressing 6.64 while they've allowed enough homeruns alone for opponents
to win several ballgames, the gripe about letting Johnson go seems valid.
On the other hand (you couldn't be a true M's fan without a few dozen
hands), it should be remembered that when the Big Unit's whining and season-long
pout finally ended last summer with his trade to Houston, most fans screamed
that it was the most insane move by management since... well, since Mark
Langston was traded away in '89 - for Johnson. Trading our ace for a then-wild
hurler from Montreal who had zero wins that season had most fans smacking
their foreheads in disbelief, but I think that particular arrangement worked
out well, at least for awhile. Maybe this will turn out right in the end
as well.
But while it was hard to let go of Johnson for his (mostly) solid pitching,
it wasn't so hard to say adios where his attitude was concerned.
Some players are at least respected for their ability, but are not loved;
others, however, are adored, despite flaws in their talent. Saying goodbye
to them also means wishing them well forever.
Second baseman Joey Cora became a fan favorite after his heart-melting
crying scene at the end of the '95 ALCS, even though his was one of the
least impressive fielding percentages in the league. Where is he now? No
longer on the active roster of a major league team, Cora is in Toronto
where his contract was picked up after Cleveland declined it following
his disappointing post-season appearance. And while I miss seeing the way
he played his heart out every game, despite his relatively small stature,
I'd take David Bell as our second baseman any day. We need some sure hands
between ARod and Segui - four of the surest hands around.
But one player who is in the Blue Jays' lineup is another former
M's darling, Jose Cruz, Jr. He had fallen in love both with Seattle and
with a girl from the area, and was reportedly heartsick when told of his
trade to the Blue Jays. Most fans saw his promise in left field, that place
where so many have come and gone - and come and gone and come and gone
- in the past few years, and his connection to the city through his father,
another former Mariner, Jose Cruz, Sr., made severing those ties even harder.
But while he does have promise and a real love and respect for the game,
Cruz is still young and still learning. Although he did well immediately
following the trade, he spent time within the Blue Jays' farm system last
season, and he's struggling again so far this year, posting a .202 average.
But aside from that, Cruz seems most comfortable at centerfield, and there's
not often a need for back-up in that position in Seattle, or at least we're
always praying that there won't be. If he wanted to have a chance at shining
in that position, he'd have to go elsewhere.
And then there's Bobby Ayala, whom we can always look to when we think
things couldn't get any worse. Traded to Montreal just prior to the start
of this season, he's worked 13 innings and has issued 10 walks during that
time, with a record of 0-2 thus far. And oh, yes - he hit a batter in the
head during Thursday's game. That's enough reminders of Ayala for one sitting.
There are many more "former" Mariners, of course, and the obvious reasoning
that "you never know..." could apply in any trade. You do never know. One
of our minor leaguers who's right now struggling in Everett or Tacoma (what
greater inspiration could a player have to want to make it to The Show?)
could be the next Real Thing. They hire scouts (we all assume), and their
job is to spot that intangible element which separates the major leaguer
from those of us who play in shirts sporting "Sponsored by Ralph's Towing"
on the back. Maybe management has some grand plan, and they're just biding
their time with all this wheeling and dealing before sharing it with the
rest of us.
So we can all cling to that hope, just as we can all calm ourselves
with the thought of what Ayala might actually be doing at that moment...
just as we're praying that the ninth pitcher will do the trick.
©2000. Tracy Larsen & Cox Interactive Media. All Rights Reserved.