767 losses.
Six managers.
All of that is between the last time the Mariners made the playoffs, and now. As a kid growing up in Seattle during the 1990's, I was too young to remember the struggles, so things with the M's always seemed perfect. I remember going to the raucous games at the Kingdome in 1995. Griffey's MVP season in 1997. Going to the first game at beautiful Safeco Field in 1999. The "two-out so what" squad in 2000. And, of course, that almost unbeatable team the following year. Winners of 116 games. Everything was going right. until they ran into the Yankees and a roided up Roger Clemens in the ALCS. And although they did not make it to the World Series, the season was still pretty fantastic.
Then things slowly began falling apart.
Longtime, and very successful, manager Lou Piniella left to be closer to his family. They did maintain decency for a couple of seasons following his departure, but they were getting old. And fast.
The big time superstars that helped in the rise of the club were either gone (Griffey, A-Rod, Big Unit), or on the decline (Jay Buhner, Edgar Martinez).
Baseball fans in Seattle had just gotten used to winning. We got used to great teams, exciting players, packed stadiums, and national exposure. What we were really getting used to was the success.
Despite all of the issues. All of the firings, terrible trades, 100 loss seasons, and downright awful play, they still have me coming back for more.
When things first started getting bad, I was in denial. Then we were tricked for a few years when they put up 78, and then 88 wins. We thought things were looking up.
101 losses later, we realized they weren't.
At this point, I know what to expect. We have arguably the best pitcher in the game, and a few potential stars. And we have the always consistent Ichiro. That's it. We don't even have our most beloved member of the organization anymore in Dave Niehaus. We won't win more games then we lose. We will not score very many runs. And our pitchers, outside of the King, will give up a helluva a lot of them.
Yet, I am still excited for the season to begin. I will still try to make it out to Safeco field, and what has now become known as "Club Safeco" in the beer garden, to watch some games (You know the on-field product is bad when people are going to the games because of the beer garden atmosphere). I will spend $9 for a beer and wear my jersey. I will read the blogs, and constantly check the standings.
Some may call it loyalty, I am starting to believe it is stupidity.
By mid-June I will tell myself and my friends I have had enough. Yet, I will still watch, and have a vested interest. And when guys like Dustin Ackley are called up for the first time, I will be excited and brag about how this guy is going to be the real deal.
For some reason, I just can't get enough of my Mariners. My loyalty will be right on line with this teams record and performance for 2011, it won't be changing much.
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