M's owners: Step up to the plate
By Tracy Larsen, for Seattle Insider
Originally published by Cox Interactive Media, March 1999

It's now less than one month until Opening Day, and Mariners fans can already smell the fresh grass at soon-to-open Safeco Field, gladly replacing the stench of a Kingdog from their soon-to-be former home, the Kingdome. We've taken our multitude of M's shirts out of the bottom drawer and have searched for that beloved and grungy cap ("Wash it? Never! Edgar hit that Grand Salami because I was wearing that cap!"). We're ready to return to our "We will rock you" chant and standing ovations for every 3-2 count.

One month, and the Mariners have no ace pitcher, an as-yet-to-be-named left fielder (nothing new there), and the same "Let's get out there and blow another one!" bullpen - minus one or two actual hopefuls, of course. And oh, yes - Bobby Ayala still wears a Seattle uniform. Just how many seasons will it take for Mariners management to get it right?

I know, I know, we've only been around for a relatively short period of time. Just ask any Cubs fan, the True Believers of baseball. We have little right to complain when you look at their streak of rabid (some might say insane) devotion, or at The Curse going on in Boston. But ever since the '95 Cinderella season, the season which ignited a city-wide passion for the team, Mariners fans have been waiting for some sign from management that they're even remotely interested in moving further into October, that the words "World Series" have some meaning here.

We've certainly done our part. We heard their plea for a new ballpark - "If you build it, we will stay" - and opened our hearts and our wallets for that. We were asked to be patient while Randy Johnson, one of the real architects of Safeco Field, healed following back surgery in '96. Okay, the guy deserves a break, we thought. By '98 we were told that the bullpen was well balanced, a good mix of veterans and enthusiastic newcomers, with Randy staying as the ace and Heathcliff Slocumb solid as our closer. Stormin' Norm Charlton was gone - no more worries there.

And just what has happened? We've watched pitchers come and go - sometimes as many as six or seven in a single game, even - watched in vain as Randy and fan favorite Joey Cora were traded away to playoff teams, watched with amazement (and obscenities deleted) as Lou repeatedly called Ayala in from the bullpen. Oh no, no more worries. None at all.

Just the fact that Junior has hinted that he may not renew his contract once it's up in 2000 if management doesn't get its act together. Just the fact that Edgar Martinez, one of the most dependable hitters in baseball, is approaching the shelf life of most Major Leaguers. Ditto Buhner. And the bullpen? Slocumb's gone, Timlin's outta here, and management's latest word on Ayala is that they're trying to "showcase" him at Spring Training to try and generate interest in a trade. Oh, yeah - to the Batting Practice Association of America, maybe. No offense to the guy personally, but...well, you know. I just wasn't able to watch when he was on the mound last season. It was just far too painful.

So where does this leave us? Hoping, praying that M's management will start laying some money on the table to put together an effective bullpen. A better starting rotation (Fassero and Moyer can't pitch every game, folks). Maybe throw in a semi-permanent left fielder with a decent throwing arm for good measure. You just can't build a world-class team with "good prospective"'s and annoyed, aging veterans as your guides.

I know you gotta love these guys, and I do. I have both '95 playoff series' on video, and I still pop at least one game - along with Ken Burns' "Baseball" - into the VCR prior to each season just for some inspiration. I can't wait to breathe in the non-stale air of Safeco Field (I may even risk trying one of their hot dogs). I know I'll still be here cheering, waiting to witness any future glory days.

But the glory of October '95 has long since faded. The Yankees have since won the World Series not once, but twice (with a little help from former Mariners Tino Martinez and Jeff Nelson), and the bat boys seem to remain the only members of the M's staff not to take their turn on the mound. Players are eventually going to follow the Big Unit's lead and start walking away from broken promises and claims of relative poverty.

But it takes not only money, but will... drive... desire, to build what the fans here have always known could be built in the Emerald City: the Boys of Summer and Fall.

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