Boss, we need to check out new-look M's in person
March 4, 2019
Mike Patrick
Editor
Coeur d’Alene Press
Dear Jefe:
You were right about imagining the crack of the bat, the smell of the grass and thud of a ball hitting a fielder’s glove.
You nailed it.
There’s nothing like spring training.
Also, I totally agree with you that there are thousands of Mariners fans here in North Idaho.
The number is amazing, and it’s growing all the time as newcomers land here and embrace the loveable M’s.
And yep, I do think that with this nine-day lull in the Gonzaga hoops schedule, the best thing for the paper would be sending me off to spend three or four days hanging out with the Mariners in Arizona.
There are so many stories there.
I’m sure you know plenty of them, but we’ve got to get an up-close look at this team, which GM Jerry Dipoto has said is “reorganizing.”
Or maybe it was “rebooting.”
Anyhow, you get the drift.
THERE ARE so many players to feature, I’ll have to be on my toes to do it in less than a week — but you know I’m up to it.
Yes, I could try to schedule my trip to see the Mariners play the Cubs.
But what about those M’s?
Huh?
Jean Segura?
No, boss, I’m afraid he was dealt to the Phillies — and he was poison in the clubhouse, anyway.
Nelson Cruz?
Nah, gone to Minnesota as a free agent.
These new, young Mariners have no use for the aging Cruz and his 37-homer average over the past five seasons.
James Paxton, the lights-out lefty?
Hell, he was always hurt, so Dipoto cleverly shipped him to the Yankees for a sack of resin bags.
Robinson Cano?
Also a trade casualty, as Dipoto unloaded that trillion-dollar salary on the Mets.
What did you say? At least they have record-breaking closer Edwin Diaz?
No, afraid not.
Diaz was part of the package Dipoto shipped to the Mets (along with $20 million) to get Cano off the roster.
Dipoto was busy, I agree.
He made a slick deal with Tampa Bay, moving popular catcher Mike Zunino in exchange for a bona fide center fielder in Mallex Smith.
THE BAD news is that Smith has suffered an injury in camp, something to do with a bundle of nerves right near his elbow.
Yes, very close to the neighborhood of Tommy John surgery.
And no, the Mariners do not have another center fielder on the 40-man roster.
Surely an unlikely prospect will turn up in spring training, which is why savvy newspapers have a reporter on the scene — to turn up those gems before fans actually see them under the bright lights.
Since these are the Mariners, you know they’ve uncovered a sleeper from the Far East, and this time it’s left-hander Yusei Kikuchi — potentially the M’s No. 1 or No. 2 starter, even if he claims he doesn’t like the feel of American baseballs.
Is that the Mariners, or what?
With some solid holdovers on the pitching staff, Mitch Haniger still in right field and Kyle Seager attempting a comeback year, the challenge for these M’s is to enjoy back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2002-03.
But the newcomers and kids are so exciting, and possibly the future is now.
We need a columnist on the scene, and I’m packed for the trip.
And no, the minus-11 wind chill here this morning has NOTHING to do with this request.
We need to cover these thrilling new M’s.
Yeah, I’d be taking my golf clubs, but you have to kill some time between games.
Right?
Humbly begging,
Steve Cameron
Columnist-at-large
•••
Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns for The Press appear on Monday, Wednesday and Friday after he’s warmed his typing fingers in the fireplace.
He also contributes the “Zags Tracker” package on Gonzaga basketball each Tuesday when he’s not being treated for frostbite.
Facebook: Steve Cameron
Twitter: @BrandNewDayCDA
Email: scameron@cdapress.com