Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks

(writer warning.. This is a baseball rant and a semi-deep analayis of Seattle, so if you're not into that kind of thing, then scroll down and trudge through the rest of my ramblings)..

Admittedly, purposefully, I’ve not mentioned one of my true passions for the first month of the season. Yes, that’s right, it’s baseball season kiddies and after my beloved Mariners made history last year by being the first team with a payroll of over 100 million (spoken in true Dr. Evil voice) to lose 90+ games, I’ve remained ever so quiet. Granted, there’s only been a bakers dozen of games (give or take a few), so I’ve remained quiet in an effort to not break the mojo, not stir bad ju ju’s or influence some sort of beloved jinx, but the time to come out of the proverbial baseball closet is here.

Seattle dropped an abundance of dead weight both during last year and in the off season. They fired the entire coaching staff (that makes 2 head coaches, general manager and an entire staff (including VP’s in scouting and development) within a 6 month timeframe. They hired a not so traditional (as odd as this sounds to say) new age thinking baseball guys. The head coach is a relative unknown (Don Wakamatsu). The guys have a firm belief in accountability, production and doing the small things it takes to win games. The team is full of speedy players willing to shed the “all about me” status and actually lay down a sacrifice bunt or move runners over and it’s refreshing to see on paper and even more refreshing to see come to life on the field. They also brought in some talent specifically geared towards clubhouse chemistry and charisma. Some of those players (and I’ll get to the big one later on) may be passed their prime, but seem to be an invaluable asset to the club and are mentoring the younger players on what it takes to be a winner and do the right things.

Each year they have a “theme”. Going back to the old days it was “Sodo Mojo” and “My-Oh-My”, but this years theme is “New Day, New Way” and I for one am amazed at the results. Seattle has the best record in the west and has the lowest ERA (both starters and bullpen) in the A.L.
The offense is in a semi-funk, but has picked up the pitching where needed and vice versa. The team is fast and not afraid to run. They’ve already had 2 suicide squeeze plays this year. They’ve got a 4 game lead on the division and yes, still have 150 games to play, but damn it, give me a break. It’s the best start the franchise has had in a long long time.

Now, on to one of those former mentioned, past the prime players. Ken Griffey Jr., back in #24 and spending time in the Left Field, or as DH. I couldn’t believe it when they announced he had signed the contract with Seattle. Of course, Griffey hits an opening day homerun and has struggled a little bit since then, but to see a city so energized and fired up about bringing back one of it’s own, has done wonders to erase the miserable debauchery of 08. He’s a club house leader and is teaching the younger players what it’s like to be a winner and how to handle the ups and downs. According to all the reports, JR is more of a force in the clubhouse, than he could ever be on the field and un-like in the old days, is carrying the team on his back off the field instead of the other way around.

I’ll leave it at that, for fear of driving away all of you non-baseball folk, but let it be heard here and now that I’m officially raising my hopes for the season to be a success. Who knows if it can be sustained or at what point they’ll take the knife and jab it in my back, but I’m willing to take my chances once again. It’s the reason we cheer for a team, it’s the reason we have hope and it’s a reason to never give up. Trust me, I’ve got enough scar tissue back there, that I hardly feel the cold shimmering blade when it plunges into my back anymore.. ahaha (that’s actually funny on several levels, you’ll just have to trust me).

I’m glad I didn’t waste the money on a trip to watch a game up there last year, but mark my words, this year is different. We’re going and we’re going to take the kids for their first ballgame.

It’ll be a “New Day, New Way” on several fronts and the optimism is starting to rear it’s ugly head..

Sláinte
K.J. Colucci