Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2002 - 7:30 p.m. Pacific
Fan forum
Send in your comments
Like the Mariners of 2002, the M's forum is done for the season. Feel free to look at archived e-mails (right) or send us your comments with the link below. Thanks for writing in!
E-mail your responses to marinersforum@seattletimes.com. Selected comments, subject to editing, will be posted here.
Here are responses to the last forum that asked: What would you like to say to the team right now? Encouragement? Discouragement? Let us know!
Looking ahead
Mr. Pat Gillick, the team makes money, but will not make money going forward if the players aren't playing hard and winning. Attendance and buzz dropped off significantly as the season wound down. Perhaps it didn't hurt ticket sales too much this year, but it will in the years going forward.
If the team doesn't start competing for championships, at some time, attendance will diminish (see the Atlanta Braves) and that means getting guys that can get it done in the post-season. That means a handful of pitchers and hitters that strike the fear of God in the opposition. Ichiro has it. Edgar has it. Freddy had it. Maybe he still does. Jamie doesn't, but can get the job done. Olerud is the same way. But that's it. Comeback Pat for 2003, but with some thoughts of doing things a little differently.
Charles Ro, Seattle
Be proud of what you've done
All we can offer is words of encouragement. I went to my first Mariner game at the Safe on Sept. 18, where we won in 10 and Sweet Lou had his spat with the first base umpire. The intensity that each
Mariner plays with is evident. The AL West is far
and away the best division in all of baseball - with three teams well over the .500 mark and a more amazing stat,
which I learned last night, of the AL MVP coming out of our division for the past 7 years!
The M's have
played great baseball and we should embrace our .270 hitters and be proud of our clutch pitchers.
Everything came together last year - everything will come together again, even if we are faced with the
unpleasant decision of choosing between the A's and Angels to unseat the Yanks.
Chris Trebon, Washington D.C.
High expectations, low return
Mariners, the season is over ... We were looking forward to the postseason for a third season in a row but never expected guys like Cirillo and Cameron to hit like Little Leaguers, or Baldwin and Freddy (in second half) to throw like batting practice pitchers. The Mariners just need to concentrate on keeping Gillick with the organization. If he can't stay full-time, have him stay as a consultant or whatever... we can't lose him! No offense to Ichiro, Moyer, Olerud, or Edgar, but Pat Gillick has been the team MVP every year he's been part of the organization. He's the one person Seattle can't afford to lose!
David Wallace, Reseda, Calif.
Look on the bright side
Don't worry Mariners, it could be worse ... you could be playing for the Seahawks!
No, really, we'll get 'em next year!
David C., Kenmore
Changing and rearranging
A three-way race would have been so much more fun. No one expected the
incredible season of last year, but to end like this, being swept by Texas,
is almost too much too bear. Why do the bats go silent at the end of the
year? That was our undoing against the Yankees last year, too. The
pitching for the most part has been great. I felt so bad for Jaime last
week, pitching so well, only to lose on an error. Joel is the real deal,
and I think Franklin can be too. Freddie makes me extremely nervous every
time he pitches.
I would like to see some changes for next year. Say goodbye to Baldwin and Cirillo.
Cammy, it's a good thing you are so good in the outfield, because at the plate, you haven't done squat since the four-homer night. Edgar and Jamie can stay as long as they want, Olerud and Wilson
too, for that matter. Let's finish out this year with some pride. Pat Gillick, get to work and see you
in the spring.
Kathy Kelly, Vancouver, Wash.
We are suffering with you
We were spoiled last year as everything went right for the club until the Yankees upset us in the playoffs. Remember "two outs so what?" Now things are evening out as things do in baseball over the long term. The second half stats are abysmal. Carlos, Cirillo, McLemore and Sierra have ridiculously low on-base percentages, and Cameron strikes out an average of once every three at-bats.
This is hard to bear for all of us hard core Mariner fans. We need a power hitter in left field, a better shortstop, a role player off the bench to spell Olerud and pinch hit. Lost in this recent painful stretch is how well Dan Wilson and Ben Davis have done catching and hitting the ball this year. Lou has had some bad games too. We are dying right along with you.
Beth Mann
Spend some moolah
Like it or not, it takes dollars to compete in this game. Outside of New York, the
Mariners fan base produces more of them than for any other team.
To the Mariners ownership, I say, SPEND SOME OF THAT MONEY! Don't take us
fans for granted. We won't be filling the park every night in the coming
years if you don't seize the moment and get us the cast of players needed to
produce a World Championship.
Just competing isn't good enough. And it creates the mindset that actually
means you won't even compete — witness what happened this year. You have to
go for it while you can. Hopefully it's not too late.
For next year, spend the money it will take to inject life into both the
pitching and offense of this team, and raise the confidence and belief of
the fans.
Steve Nesich
Don't hang your heads
Go get 'em guys. We still love you. You make us proud when you run out onto Safeco Field. I have been a fan since the days of having an entire section out in left field all to myself and my two children and I am not stopping now!
You have had a terrific season, you can be proud, we fans are!
Mary Jo Lovell
Do the math folks
In April, Seattle won about 70 percent of its games. In May and June it was 60 percent. For July, the winning percentage dropped to roughly 55 percent and in August, it was an abysmal 45 percent. Perhaps the Mariners SHOULD go on strike in order to prevent a truly awful September. You can fit a mathematical curve to this data and you don't need to be a rocket scientist to see where the season is heading. It now appears that the Mariners are hopelessly mired in third after all. Thank God for the Texas Rangers!
Ronald W., Bellingham
Return to the dark side?
With Pat Gillick contemplating a move east, I foresee dark days ahead ... particularly if the M's put their faith in the likes of James Baldwin, Jeff Cirillo and Ruben Sierra. It's time to clean house, build a young team around Pineiro, Ichiro and Boone, and get Garcia's head back in the game. However, Moyer and Martinez must be allowed to finish their careers in Seattle, whenever they want! It's been fun — but the A's are unstoppable (at least until they meet up with the Yankees).
Steve C., Benicia, California
Be efficient!
What would I say to the team? Get an early tee time. It allows you to still have a productive day, do
those things your wife has planned for you and still get that round of golf in.
A Season Ticket holder from Edmonds
Keep your chins up
Play on, do the best you can. I am just as frustrated. I hear the ribbing I get from Yankees, A's and Angels fans. Do what you can this year, then if you don't make the playoffs, discuss it as a team and think of next year.
Arthur A.
Move on
Forget about last year. Last year could only be described as a "peak"
experience. An experience so profoundly enjoyable that it can be very hard
to let go of. However, you do need to let go of it. Each day is a new day.
Stop trying to recreate the feelings of last year. Stop trying to force
things. Relax, love the game, have fun, and be here now.
Pablo G.
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