The Padres Series
by Dustin Shires ~ May 18th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Over the last 13 years of my life, I have never become uninterested in the Mariners. That is, until about the last week of April, 2008. I typically would watch all 9 innings of a game. When I would go to games, I would stay until the very last pitch, including the Cleveland double-header last year. Yes, I stayed through both games. I never found the Mariners boring. I found them frustrating, I fould myself irritated, and even pissed off, but never was I bored with Mariners baseball. That changed this past month.
The Mariners looked like they were playing with no passion, no desire over the past almost 2 months. They looked like the 2003 team, the 2004 team. The terrible Marinersteams that other teams wanted to play.
Before today, the Mariners had not won back-to-back games since April 20 against the Angels, and April 22 against the Orioles. Before today, the Mariners had not won a series since the April 16, 17 series against the Oakland As.
This series showed us some of the fight the 2007 Mariners had. The 2007 Mariners showed some scrap every now and then. Once that team got the lead, they didn’t lose it either. The 2007 Mariners fought. They were fun to watch.
This series made me want to watch the Mariners again. I missed Fridays’ game, but I watched the Mariners mount comebacks on Saturday and Sunday. Man, it was sweet to watch.
The only thing that interested me early in the game Saturday was Ichiro’s chase (no pun intended) at the Mariners all-time stolen base record. Then the 7th inning came along. Watching Beltre turn on that slider left over the middle of the plate, putting the Mariners ahead for good, was a thing of beauty. It put some exciting back into my heart. Watching a late-inning comeback today put more joy in my heart. Jose Lopez has been OUTSTANDING this year. Before the season started, I was 100% for letting Lopez ride out this year, and then sign Orlando Hudson in the off-season. Now, I’m lobbying for a long(ish) contract for Lopez after this year. Clutch 2-run double to put the Mariners ahead, and then have J.J. Putz come in and save the 9th, nothing could have made me happier.
This is just the story of one kid, one devoted Mariners fan, who got the joy, the excitement of Seattle Mariners baseball put back in his heart this past series. I’m hoping the rest of Seattle can wake up and realize that this season is not lost.
The next four series that the Mariners play are at Detroit, at New York, home for Boston, and home for Detroit. Three of these series are against last place teams. Detroit has suffered mightly all year long. This team has succumbed to injury all year long. This team isn’t playing up to their expectation, whatsoever. Their offense has all the potential in the world, but their pitching has been absolutely rancid. Next come the Yankees. Again, we come in playing a team in last place. I’m skipping Boston because we all know about the Red Sox, and how they have been 1st or 2nd basically all year long. Then the Tigers come back to Safeco. Same team, hopefully.
My point: I’m hoping that this past series, the first series win, the first back-to-back wins in about a month, the first sign of life in a month sparks some passion, some desire in our Ms. This past series sparked some joy in my heart. This past series showed me that the Mariners can “grow a pair” and dig down deep within themselves, and pull out an improbable win.
I’m fired up for these next few series that the Mariners will be playing. I hope the rest of Seattle is fired up as well.
On a more depressing note, I was supposed to go to the game today, but found out I couldn’t get the tickets after all. Typically, I go to about 20 games a year, on average. I haven’t gone to a game this year, yet, which I am sad to admit. I just haven’t had the motivation to pay money to watch this team. I can watch them suck at home for free. If this next road stand shows me something better, I will be going to one of the Boston series games.
Let me, and the rest of BBT know how you feel though. Tell us your current feelings. Are you more upbeat? Are you still indifferent? Do you still think the season is a loss?
Please, let us know!
11 Responses to The Padres Series
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BlueBuster
May 18th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
I too have been disappointed and uninterested in the Mariners as of late. I have a hard time watching the team not play to their potential. The last few days I have had a hard time watching them play, but still sit down every night and hope for the best.
I dont think that this season is a loss, but I am not sure they can win the division. I have been hoping for some blockbuster trade or a winning streak to get me excited about the team this year. I am cautiously optimistic that the last few weeks has been due to injury and frustration and that something simple like the series win against the Padres can help turn things around. My only hesitation for the upcoming series against the Tigers is that Silva, Washburn, and Batista are pitching and other than the Silva game, it could be a high scoring affair.
Hopefully they can do something because when the diehards are getting tired of watching there is something wrong.
Jon Shields
May 18th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
My interest has stayed the same, if not increased over the course of this sesason. Doesn’t mean I haven’t been disappointed though…
I would not call any of the upcoming series you listed easy. No matter how bad the pitching of the Tigers and Yankees are, they both have offenses that can easily outscore whatever lineup Mac decides to field. There is no doubt that Seattle is one or two offensive upgrades away from being legit.
houseofgriffey24
May 19th, 2008 at 12:14 am
I share the same sentiments about the mariners, i usually watch every game i can until the last pitch, lately i will watch the game until the m’s lose the lead (cause it feels like once they’re down, they stay down), then i start flipping channels.
i was at work watching the game during my lunch break when i saw ichiro steal 2nd, then on the very next pitch steal 3rd. i couldnt help but laugh and be happy because i have not seen aggressiveness like that come out of these guys for about a month now.
these guys can definately turn it around, and i agree with jon, with a couple more offensive upgrades this team can turn it around. bavasi had better make something happen before the trade deadline (i know its awhile away) or he should lose his job.
Adam The Lord
May 19th, 2008 at 6:54 am
I’ve remained as interested as always but I must say that I’ve been severely disappointed by what the M’s have done this far into the season. Still I remain hopeful that a prolonged hot-streak will send the M’s right back into the race and I think this series win is a good turning point for the season… a season I will not give up on until the numbers tell me otherwise…
BlueBuster
May 19th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
COmpletly unrelated but very interestong
May. 19 News:8:28 AM
Clement was sent down to Triple-A Tacoma after hitting just .167 with 20 strike outs in 15 games, the Seattle Times reports.
Found at: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/features/briefingroom?playerId=28647
Thunderstruck
May 19th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
I agree with most of you. I am as interested as I always am and I still watch every game but I know they should be playing better than they are. However, I would not say the season is over in any way. We are in a pretty weak division so we are never really ruled out. And we can always count on the A’s to choke late in the season.
Also, I don’t really think there is that much that we could accomplish through trades.
drivindave
May 19th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
“I can watch them suck at home for free”
HaHa! great line and so absolutely true,that is my reason for not going to any games yet this year and until they start motivating my sorry rear in my chair I will stay.One thing I do enjoy about what has happened is they brought Balentein and Clement up a bold and necessary move,OK we gave Jeff a try he needs more work down in AAA but we tryed! thats something.Now I hope we continue to play Wlad and hopefully some other offensive moves then everybody starts to play up to there God given potentail and perhaps we may start being a team more people are into watching .
Great article Jon
drivindave
May 19th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
excuse me…great article “Dustin” Jon you rock too
Jon Shields
May 19th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
^you’d never know it but there are SIX authors on BBT’s roster with a very wide spread of ages and M’s experience.
angrybeltre
May 21st, 2008 at 10:11 am
I hear you about the Padres series. Two in a row? Late game rally? I loved it. That’s the fire we haven’t seen this year.
I think overall though I’m still in denial. I keep thinking of how hot the M’s got during that 14-game (or maybe more/less, I’m not sure) streak that began last June, and looking at most of the same pieces of that team still here playing terrible ball. I want to believe that this team is just one huge kick in the ass away from picking things up to their potential. So I remind myself that it’s still May, keep watching the games, and hope something changes. (The M’s did pull off a too little too late rally last night…wasn’t it 4 runs in the 9th? That was something we haven’t seen this year)
Brian
May 24th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Lets see if we can not get blown out this game…I don’t expect a win…Just maybe we could be within 4 runs???