Dear Seattle Mariners: Please Don’t Disappoint Us Again in 2014
By Todd Pheifer
Sep 27, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; A fan sits in the upper right field stands during the second inning of a game between the Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Dear Seattle Mariners,
Please don’t disappoint us again in 2014.
(signed)
Your faithful fans
Perhaps more than any sport, baseball fans begin each year with a sense of hopeful anticipation. Sure, there are those that will always be pessimistic, and it is wise to temper optimism with a sense of reality. However, baseball is a sport where teams can turn it around fairly quickly. A hot April can put a franchise on a path to sustained success througout the season.
Granted, there have been plenty of teams that have started strong and then wilted in the heat of late summer. In addition, there are always teams that look good on paper but fail to produce on the field.
So, what is it going to be this year, Mariners? Are you finally going to turn the corner? Will all of this long-term rebuilding finally produce a watchable product?
Maybe the fans in the Emerald City shouldn’t get greedy. After all, the Seattle Seahawks delivered a Super Bowl this year, right?
And yet, there is that desire to win titles. The Seattle SuperSonics gave us a championship, even if it was way back in 1979. Thanks to Russell Wilson and company, the Seahawks did their job. Now it is time for the Mariners to come through.
Truthfully, few fans are going to expect this 2014 team to contend. It obviously isn’t out of the question, but a lot of things would have to go right. Robinson Cano would have to inspire young hitters like Dustin Ackley and Justin Smoak in order to build the type of formidable offense that hasn’t been seen in year.
Taijuan Walker and Hisashi Iwakuma would have to come back from injury and not just pitch, but dominate. James Paxton would probably also need to have a breakout year.
Possible? Yes. Likely? Probably not.
Expectations for the Mariners are going to be mixed this year, but can I make one small request? Give the fans something to get excited about going forward. An American League West title may not be required for optimism, but 75 wins isn’t going to get it done.
Who knows? Maybe some of that championship swagger from the ‘Hawks will rub off on the Mariners. Stranger things have happened in sports. Maybe this is the year that the Mariners finally get rolling again.