MATT'S MUSINGS

Don't play the Mariners blame game

Matt Baide | Oct 05, 20230

The 2023 season had its ups and downs, and it came to an end in true Mariners fashion.

Seattle had a three-game lead for the AL West crown at the beginning of September after winning the most games in a month in franchise history in August.

Fan optimism and interest was at its peak when it's normally the time most Seattle fans turn their attention to the Seahawks. Copy editor Kirk Ericson became a big Mariners fan and we even watched some of a game in August at a bar, a loss against Baltimore. He was inviting reporter Gordon Weeks to his house to watch games.

Then September came, and much like Green Day, the Mariners were asleep until the end of the month and by then, it was too late. Texas won in Game 161 against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park to clinch a spot and allow the Astros and Blue Jays to clinch a wild card spot that same night.

After being eliminated from postseason play, people shared their opinions about what went wrong this season, and it would appear many people blame the front office for not doing enough to help this team win. Catcher Cal Raleigh echoed those comments in an interview after the game.

I do agree with Raleigh and fans that the front office should do more to attract top free agents and sign them to short- or long-term contracts to help the Mariners win a championship.

I also appreciate his apology and clarifying comments Sunday before the final game of the season. While I agree that ownership needs to do more to help this team win, it is also upon the players and coaches who are under contract to go out and earn enough wins to qualify for the playoffs and have a chance at winning a World Series.

It is up to general manager Jerry Dipoto to make the moves to acquire a 40-man roster that is competitive and put it in a position to win and compete deep into the postseason.

Of course, I'm upset that the Mariners didn't make the playoffs, they are my favorite baseball team and I like watching them succeed. We ended the playoff drought last year and won a playoff series.

I also can't deny that I've had this feeling for the previous 20 seasons prior to the drought ending, and it still hurts the same as it did in 2002. There is no one to blame this time or any time in the past because it falls on the team and organization as a whole because it is a team sport.

I continue to watch and cheer for the Mariners every year because I hope this is the year I see the Mariners make the playoffs, win an American League pennant and hoist the World Series trophy, and I also understand that only one team gets to accomplish that feat at the end of the season.

Despite the way it ended, it was a great year of Mariners' baseball. Julio Rodriguez showed everyone that he is a superstar, our starting pitching was solid all season with some young talent, and J.P. Crawford and Raleigh each had career seasons and became leaders of the team.

There is a lot of potential and belief for the Mariners next season. They can be a playoff team and World Series contender, but they need to take the 2023 season, learn from it, get better in the offseason and channel it into 2024.

I will admit to my fair share of playing the blame game after the end of seasons, but after many similar seasons, the negativity isn't worth it.

While I may not agree with people when it comes to many things, including education, politics, culture and entertainment, the Mariners and sports are an opportunity to come together with people who I may not have any other common interests with other than our fandom of the Mariners. I have appreciation for what the power of sports can do to bring people together and root for a common cause of seeing each other's favorite team win, the pride that comes from earning a win in the arena of competitive sports, and that's some of the things I love most about it.

It was a fun ride this season, Mariners fans. I hope it's better next year and I look forward to doing it all over again.

■ Matt Baide is a freelance writer for the Journal.