Randall on Baseball

Rick Randall is a Stanwood resident whose passions include his wife and children... and baseball. Beginning with his first Little League baseball game, Randall has been immersed in the sport on all levels. He shares his thoughts with other fan-atics on his blog and in his column in North County Outlook.

If you are like me--nearly 35, a 30-year resident of this great state of Washington, and a baseball nut--you have seen some fantastic sports moments, thanks to these M's. You know exactly where you were on October 8, 1995, when Edgar hit "The Double." When you close your eyes you can see Griffey smiling from the bottom of that pile, or making diving/leaping catches gap-to-gap, or hitting monstrous homeruns.

You can see The Big Unit in all his mulletous glory blazing fastballs by the Angels and "Pointing to the skies!," as Neihaus said, following the final out in that 145th game. You remember a young A-Rod bursting with talent and crushing HRs, or Little-O making a nonchalant bare-handed grab for the last out of a no-no. You picture a red-faced Lou Piniella screaming at an ump and kicking or throwing a base around the diamond.

There are images of the hometown nine decked out in their space-age, sleeveless uniforms for "Turn Ahead The Clock" day. You think back on the dozens and dozens of great commercials featuring your favorite Seattle ballplayers. You can see (and hear) the elder Costanza asking Steinbrenner, "How could you trade Jay Buhner?!"

You can see the beautiful outdoor world of our glorious Pacific Northwest united with baseball with the opening of (the not-so-cheap and highly debated) Safeco Field. You remember the sight of the 2001 Mariners walking proudly around the field, carrying the American flag and acknowledging the fans after winning their record-tying 116th game shortly after our nation's tragedy of 9/11.

You can see Chuck Armstrong and Howard Lincoln introducing Bill Bavasi as GM--then you shake your head violently and open your eyes.

If you are like me, you have followed the Mariners from butt-of-the-joke franchise in the early to mid '80s, to up-and-coming franchise in the early to mid '90s, to perennial disappointment in the late '90s, to record-tying-performance team of 2001, to...whatever set of expletives you want to use for the team we have now. It's been an up-and-down ride, for sure...but this current down cycle is depressing. The lack of offense, the in-fighting, the napping and then sudden departure of the Golden Child, the constant rotation of the AAAA-type arms in the bullpen--it all wears on you as a fan.

But I digress.

Being a Mariners fan is an exercise in constant patience, constant hope, constant looking to the future. It has to be, because the last time they were successful was in 2001 - when I had no kids, I was single and had no cares or worries except where I was going out that night with friends. I was just a 26-year-old ex-community college ballplayer with a butchered right shoulder who loved baseball. Since that time, I have gained a loving wife, two amazing children, and a great house (along with a few mortgages)...but I still constantly think about--no, WORRY about--my beloved Mariners.

What can I do to help them win? Can I close my eyes and wish them a cleanup hitter? Make Jose Lopez learn to take a walk? Give Ryan Rowland-Smith a 95 MPH fastball or a sinker? Convince Milton Bradley that it is 2003? 2008? Can I have Rafael Soriano back? Shin-Soo Choo? Eric O'Flaherty? Heck, even any of the "Mariners-East", aka the Royals (except Betancourt)?

Can I make Ichiro stop trying to bunt with two outs and runners in scoring position? Maybe get rid of Tui's hitch so he has a chance to hit at the big league level? Can I just get rid of Bedard? Sorry, last Bedard reference.

The truth is, the only thing we can do as fans is be patient. The current direction that the club is taking is very encouraging. And even though the results on the big league field aren't bearing the fruits of his labors, second year GM Jack Zduriencik is doing some great things for the future of this franchise.

The much-ballyhooed trade that brought in Franklin Gutierrez also gave the M's 2010 success story Jason Vargas. The entire situation surrounding Cliff Lee's tenure here was a big win for the Mariners. We have several players developing in the organization that give us a reason to be patient, and to believe. "Believe Big," even. A few of them are even on display daily for the big club.

Yes, being a long-time Mariners fan has its perks. And if we can all just weather the current storm at the big league level, it looks like we will enjoy many more perks going forward.