For a maritime-themed franchise, the Mariners have been far more nought than dreadnought. That irony seems to have dwindled some lately. A series of random events have conspired together to cause the enterprise to be taken seriously.
There. I said it. Or maybe it’s Seafair Week and I’m drunk.
Perhaps this rare air was helped by the Hall of Fame induction speech of Seattle hero Ichiro, which should be nominated for the Speech Hall of Fame (he had me at his impression of broadcaster Rick Rizzs). Or maybe it was the bizarre conditions in the MLB pennant races that have laid semi-waste, via injuries, to the game’s three most annoying/envied/hated/feared franchises — the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros.
I think the most noteworthy accelerator was an observation made Wednesday by Cal Raleigh. At the same time the Mariners catcher rides his aircraft carriere derriere to the far horizons of pop culture, he also has become the team anchor. No easy metaphorical feat. For him (or me).
Following the Mariners’ re-acquisition of third baseman Eugenio Suarez, the hottest offensive property available ahead of the annual trade deadline — while avoiding
a blood-letting of premier prospects — Raleigh spoke up about a development fundamental to elevating the franchise out of the remainders bin at the back of the MLB store.
“This is what we were talking about in spring training, when I was looking to sign long-term,” he told reporters, referring to the six-year, $105 million contract extension, all guaranteed, he agreed to in February. “It makes me feel good about those guys (team president Jerry Dipoto and ownership) following through. We played good enough, not great, to make some moves at the deadline, and they came through for us.
“It’s on us now.”
Brothers and sisters, all rise: Amen.
Raleigh identified the truth that has escaped the franchise for nearly all its 49 years: The ownership requirement, in a sport without a salary cap, to provide the resources to legitimately compete for a championship, then let the players play.
As a team leader, star and occasional public critic, Raleigh used his leverage on ownership, then promptly delivered what seems destined to be the greatest season for a catcher in MLB history. That leaving the bosses no economic wiggle room. They honored their commitment.
Besides Suarez, 34, bringing his bat and “good vibes only,” the Mariners earlier traded with Pittsburgh for lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson, 29, and again with Arizona for first baseman Josh Naylor, 28. Ferguson won a World Series ring with the Dodgers in 2020, and in 43 innings with the Diamondbacks this season, left-handed hitters have one extra-base hit. Naylor, a 2024 All-Star in Cleveland, hit .292 with 11 home runs and 59 RBI with Arizona this season.
Besides filling the three most urgent roster needs, the newcomers share another feature: They all are on expiring contracts. But being a rental player for two-plus months is not as bad a thing as Dipoto often made it out to be. His desire for longer-term contracts is standard baseball wisdom, but there are times and teams when short-timers make sense, particularly since the prospects traded were not among the most highly coveted in the Mariners’ impressive farm system.
This is the team. This is the time. Actually, way past time.
Among all the plaudits that came his way at Cooperstown, Ichiro never had a World Series story told about him. His teams made the playoffs just twice (86 plate appearances), in 2001 in Seattle and 2012 with the Yankees. Fellow Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez were similarly zeroed out for the global stage. Thousands of players have reached the pinnacle, none wearing a Seattle uniform. Even one of the greatest teams ever assembled, the 116-win Mariners of 2001, fell short.
Now, things appear to have shifted. Raleigh and his bosses made a deal. Each side has delivered. Raleigh leads MLB with 42 homers. His new/old teammate Suarez has 36. The last time the game saw teammates with 35+ homers entering August was 1961, when the Yankees’ Roger Maris had 40 and Mickey Mantle had 39.
That comparison seems baseball serious.
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Pretty rare that a major Seattle sports team provides you the opportunity for minimal snark and major effusion. Totally subjective observation from last night’s game is that every player top to bottom was playing with the confidence that comes with knowing it’s not all desperately on any individual’s shoulders. Just need Naylor to embrace the Trident.