Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners Tickets

In 2013 the Seattle Mariners will embark on their first full season schedule sans Ichiro, whom they traded away in the middle of last season. The fans will not be without an All Star to cheer for, as the front office resigned “King” Felix Hernandez to the most lucrative contract for a pitcher in the MLB. For how much he is being paid, the fans better find their Seattle Mariners tickets to Safeco Field because TV money alone will not pay off this commitment.

In addition to the retention of a Cy Young winner, the acquisition of left fielder Michael Morse and first baseman Kendrys Morales should give the M’s a chance to compete for the first or second wild card spot by resuscitating an almost flat lining batting order. Morse strikes out with alarming regularity but he can also put up a decent average while hitting for power. If only he could raise his OBP he would be an All Star. Morales is not a sure thing, but three years after an ankle injury seemingly ended a promising career he is ready to make his comeback. These signings, in conjunction with the fences being moved in, should aid the baseball team in an effort to put up the kind of numbers not dreamed of since the departure of ARod.

Seattle does not have a great relationship with major professional sports leagues. It seems the city is always on the verge of losing a franchise and, in fact, the Mariners are the direct result of such a departure. Back in 1970 the Pilots had played a single season in the city before being purchased and moved to Milwaukee and becoming the Brewers and the city sued the American League for a breach of contract.  The city was convinced it would win and built a multipurpose stadium that could also house a new NFL team in addition to a new MLB team. Ultimately, the Seattle did win and in 1977 the fans would celebrate the arrival of the Mariners.

It would take a decade and a half until the Seattle Mariners would boast a fearsome roster worthy of the fandom and challenge in the American League West. The 1990s found those Mariners fans hoping Cy Young winner Randy Johnson, MVP center fielder Ken Griffey Jr., and exciting young shortstop Alex Rodriguez would be the building blocks of a World Series champion.

Ironically, it seemed as each of these players left the Seattle Mariners became more dangerous. With Ichiro Suzuki its lone big draw, the Seattle Mariners would tie the major-league record for wins and would rattle off two more 90-plus win seasons before beginning to struggle again. The franchise is not willing to put its faithful devotees through another decade-plus of bad memories and is busy rebuilding a winning team at Safeco Field.