A man of many hats for M's

Dave Sims got his opportunity 13 years ago to join the broadcast team of the Seattle Mariners.

In 2019, he’ll be on the microphone — either television or on the radio — as a new group of players get theirs as part of a team that traded Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz, James Paxton, Jean Segura and Mike Zunino, and then saw Nelson Cruz leave in free agency.

SIMS JOINED the club in 2007, starting on the radio side of things for the team.

“Where the heck did the time go?” Sims said Wednesday, relaxing in the teachers lounge at Mullan Trail Elementary in Post Falls. Sims, along with Mariners players Marco Gonzales, Shawn Armstrong and Braden Bishop, were in Post Falls as part of the Mariners Caravan through the Northwest.

“When I got there in 2007, I opened with Rick Rizzs on the radio side and did color,” Sims said. “If Rick took a blow, I’d do a game with Dave Niehaus and sometimes do a TV game with him. I sat next to Dave on the plane and would hear unbelievable stories about his time with the (Los Angeles) Angels, his time in the Army, and Gene Autry stories. His ability to hear a joke and retain it was unbelievable. There was always guys on the circuit that would ask him to tell stories. He was a good one.”

When Niehaus died in 2010 at age 75, Sims, 65, moved to the television side, working with Mike Blowers on ROOT Sports broadcasts.

“He’s a good guy, good player,” said Sims of Blowers. “I remember him coming up with the Yankees and remember one time we were talking about fields. Old Yankee Stadium had a crown to it. I was doing talk radio at the time for WFAN in New York, and Mike was talking about going for a foul ball and went down to field the ball and dropped it (because of the crown). I told him that if it happened around 1989, I was probably killing you on the radio at that time.”

On Tuesday, this year’s class for the Baseball Hall of Fame will be announced. Former Seattle Mariner designated hitter Edgar Martinez is on the ballot for the 10th and final year.

“My perspective on him as a player is kind of from afar,” Sims said. “Watching him from New York where I live, like many east coast people, you don’t stay up that late to watch a baseball game on the west coast. My memories of him from the playoffs are crystal clear. ... Edgar’s numbers are indisputable. You don’t have to tell people in this part of the country that it’s a joke that it has gone to 10 years, and he’s still not in.”

That could change soon.

“I was looking at some tweets of someone who’s been keeping a tally of the voting,” Sims said. “They’re at 43 percent right now. Mo’s at 100 percent and Edgar’s at 90 percent (players need 80 percent to be selected). It’s more baseball symmetry, no doubt about it because Edgar’s numbers are just phenomenal.”

The game keeps him coming west when he could stay on the east coast, and he calls Philadelphia home during the offseason.

“It’s baseball,” Sims said. “There’s only 30 jobs — television jobs — and I got this one late in my career. I’ve been very lucky as a newspaper writer, talk show host, producer, reporter, anchor. I did baseball for ESPN in 1993 and 1994 and worked for the MSG Network in 1989 and 1990. So when this job came about, you’d have to be an idiot not to jump on it.”

The love of the game of baseball keeps him coming back to the ballpark.

“It’s a dream come true,” Sims said. “I’ve been a baseball fan all of my life. Growing up in Philly, a 15-minute walk from the ballpark, I saw every major National League superstar in the 50s and 60s. I was a fan of the broadcast teams in Philly and the national guys — some that I’ve had the chance to get to know and work with a few over the years. It’s a dream come true. It’s a profession a lot of kids want to get into, and would be willing to give up a body part to do it.”

WHEN NOT talking Mariners, Sims can be found during a weekly radio show, Basketball and Beyond, with Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski on SiriusXM, in which he’s a co-host.

“We’re in our 14th year this year,” Sims said. “It’s a privilege and honor to do that. Coach K and I have known each other since 1977. I was covering college hoops for the New York Daily News and he was at Army. We used to have a weekly writers’ luncheon at Mamma Leone’s restaurant. And now, here he is the greatest coach in the history of college basketball. When satellite radio exploded, and before I got the Mariners job, my wife and I were doing media coaching for Division I programs and some professional teams. They asked if I’d have any restrictions from doing a satellite radio show, and I said heck no. Then they asked if I’d like to do a show with Coach K, and I said ‘done, and when do we start.’”

Sims is very familiar with those Bulldogs from Spokane as well.

“We hear a lot about Gonzaga because we’ve had Fewie (Mark Few) on a lot,” Sims said. “Mark and coach are friends, and I’ve heard him say more than once he tries to emulate his program and what Mike does. I’ve had three or four (Zags) games in the NCAA Tournament over the years.”

On Monday, Sims was named Washington Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.

AS FOR the Mariners, not only did they overhaul the roster in the offseason, but the home ballpark has a new name.

“They broke it down,” Sims said. “It’s not the anticipation that I thought it was going to be for the club. I thought maybe this time next year they’d move a lot of people. We’ve lost some big names, some power bats and an elite closer. But what it creates is a lot of opportunities for guys. I saw the over/unders the other day, and I think Caesar’s had the Mariners at 74.6 wins and MGM had them at 76.4. We’ll see what happens. That’s the beauty of baseball, you’ve got to tee it up.”

And they will, first with two games in Tokyo vs. Oakland on March 20-21, then again March 28 against Boston at T-Mobile Park, the former Safeco Field.

“I knew it was coming, but it wasn’t official,” Sims said. “I knew there was a good chance a year ago. I do know one thing that I’ll probably have a card in front of me to make sure I get it right.”

As for the upcoming season, Sims is ready for the season to get going.

“Let’s go, let’s play,” Sims said. “Let’s get in the sun, let’s watch some baseball and have some laughs. There’s a lot of stories to tell. And I want to see how these guys perform. Shawn (Armstrong) was terrific in the 14/15 games he played, Marco (Gonzales) had a great year. Braden (Bishop) is on the 40-man roster and looking for a chance. Let’s see it happen. It’s all about opportunity this year.”

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at (208) 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @JECdAPress.