The Parting of “Friends”

Figgins in all of his glory. Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE

Note that “friends” is in quotation marks. I did not shed a single tear between the release of Chone Figgins or the trades of Ichiro and Brandon League. Figgins was an absolute disaster with the Mariners, and I feel relieved to know that I will never have to look at him wear a Seattle Mariner uniform again.

Ichiro did a lot of good things for the Mariner organization and the city of Seattle during his stint here, but it was time for him to go. He was no longer contributing to the team’s success and he seemed to cast a negative spell over the locker room. Following Ichiro’s departure, the team excelled which proved that parting with him was the right decision.

Although his stats were not terrible, Brandon League gave every Mariner fan a heart attack every time he stepped on the mound. There was no such thing as a save without suspense for League, and most were glad to see him sent to Los Angeles were he can no longer scare us. The fact that we got a few decent prospects in return was just the icing on the cake.

I am very thankful that each of those players are no longer Seattle Mariners.

The Making of History

On August fifteenth, King Felix threw the 23^rd perfect game in baseball history. All of us got to witness history and one of the finest moments in Mariner history. His performance that afternoon was absolutely masterful and the fan reaction was very exciting as well. For Felix’ following start, Safeco Field filled with fans, and the King’s court was spread throughout the whole stadium. I hadn’t seen that much energy in Safeco in almost a decade. The fan base needed the boost that the perfect game gave, and I’m sure all of us are thankful that Felix achieved perfection that day.

The Coming of New Players

This year’s MLB Draft was very productive for the Mariners. The third overall pick, Mike Zunino, had a phenomenal first year in the minor leagues. His .538 wOBA and 234 wRC+ in short season Everett confirmed his status as a prospect and he is now ranked the 44^th best prospect in baseball and 3^rd best catching prospect. There were several other good selections made in the draft. Names like Joe DeCarlo, Tyler Pike, Patrick Kivlehan, Chris Taylor, and Timothy Lopes have already started to gain attention just months after being drafted by Seattle.

The Stadium Alterations

The fences are moving in! This has been an idea tossed around by Mariner fans for years. While there are pros and cons to the change, the Seattle offense which has been at the bottom of the league for years, will certainly get some help from the shorter fences, but the pitching staff will struggle more. However, considering the strong future of the pitching staff, I feel confident that we will continue to have a solid staff and still get more run production from the batters. The smaller field also allows Seattle to pursue and attract top free agent bats. This was a very good all-around move for the organization.

The Astros

Tired of being in the division cellar? At least for now, the Marines will no longer be the worst team in the AL West with the Astros around. Having the 107-loss Astros in the west will also mean that Seattle will have more games against the poor Houston team and far less against the three good teams in the division.

Overall, there has been a lot to be thankful for over the past year, and I hope that we will have many more things to express our gratefulness for in a year from now.

While logically I know this is the right move to make for the organization, my emotions betray me and an attack of nostalgia has unearthed many feelings that have been buried over the course of two poor seasons. Over the past 11 years one player, one face, has stayed consistent: Ichiro. The team has been an ever evolving, ever changing agglomeration over the years but fans could always count on Ichiro year in and year out. Beginning my Mariners journey sometime during the 2002 season, I have never known a Mariners team without the Japanese super star and in some strange way, even though I have yet to watch a game without him, it feels very empty, almost wrong. Letting go has become exceptionally hard, especially knowing the Mariners have just given up the final piece of an era of when they were a good baseball team. Familiarity was escaped us and now as a fan we must face the fear of the unknown.

Unfortunately, I missed Ichiro’s coming out party in 2001, and all that came with it. I missed his intricate production during a 116 win season, I missed the play at first that Ichiro’s new teammate Derek Jeter proclaimed would change the timing of every short stop in the game. I missed the laser beam throw that Dave Niehaus insisted was “something out of Star Wars!”.  I missed the 242 hits, the .350 average, and the Rookie of the Year and MVP hardware.   So when I think back upon what I’ll remember most, I’ll think about 2004 and the season Ichiro broke George Sisler’s single season hit record. It was the single most amazing season I had ever witnessed, and probably the best I’ll see for some time. I’ll remember Ichiro and Junior and I’ll remember several milestones including his 200 hit season streak and his 2500th base knock, but in the end the 2004 season will embody my memory of him.

Many times over the course of his stay in Seattle the media has scrutinized Ichiro. Most often, accusing him of being selfish, on the word of less than savory teammates. The whole mess has always been hogwash and even in his final hour Ichiro proved to be everything but selfish. Ichiro asked for this trade. Astute as he is, Ichiro said that he realized he had no place on this rebuilding team going forward and asked the organization to move him so that the younger players could have a chance to develop. Yes, he was traded to the Yankees where he will be given the chance to compete in the playoffs, but at the same time, he will be playing in a reduced role compaired to that which he had here in Seattle. I certainly wouldn’t call that selfish.

Ichiro has been true to Seattle since day one.

Other than the past two seasons, the Mariners have found it impossible to find a player as consistently good as Ichiro. When he retires, or returns home to Japan to finish out his career and we take a moment to reminisce on his time in Seattle, no one will remember that he struggled to finish his career, especially considering he will probably end it with another team.

I don’t know how I am going to handle seeing Ichiro in another uniform tonight, and I don’t really know how to wrap up 11 seasons into a nice neat bow. I don’t really know if that is even possible. As a player, the current Ichiro is replaceable. As an icon, as a symbol,for everything he has meant to these fans and this city, he is irreplaceable. He has established himself as one of the best Mariners in history, in just 11 short seasons. His career is exemplary, and I am proud to say I was able to witness it unfold before my eyes. The Yankees attempted to outbid Seattle for Ichiro 12 years ago and failed, Seattle reaped the benefits. But Ichiro hardly reaped the benefits from Seattle. Now the tables are turned. The Yankees may not be receiving a whole lot from the former super star, but maybe they can help Ichiro obtain that elusive World Series ring.

Farewell Ichiro, and thank you for everything.

The Mariners will pay for all but 2 million of the 17 million he is owed this season. The former Mariner actually requested the trade a few weeks back, and the organization obliged today.

Mitchell is in his first year as a major leaguer and has thrown just 4.2 innings in relief this season. In AAA this year, he posted a 5.04 ERA and started 14 games, while he started 24 AAA games last year and put up a 3.18 ERA.

Farquhar has bounced around a lot this season. He started in Toronto before being claimed off waivers by Oakland and was then claimed off waivers by the Yankees. In 51.1 innings of relief for four different AA and AAA teams, Farquahar has a 3.33 ERA.

Now that all of the facts are out of the way, let’s look at what this means as Mariner fans. First of all, we no longer have to worry about Jay Buhner throwing up. Next, it will give the Mariners the ability to switch up the batting order without the restrictions they were originally burdened by. It also opens up an everyday spot for another young outfielder like Carlos Peguero or Mike Carp who has spent most of the year in Tacoma.

As for the prospects the M’s got in return, they’re certainly nothing to write home about. Neither are big time names, and both have been referred to as career minor leaguers. I actually think that Mitchell is an option in the starting rotation right now considering the struggles of Noesi, Beavan, and Iwakuma.

I am not at all worried about eating most of Ichiro’s 2012 salary. In reality, Seattle would have paid him either way, but with this arrangement, they will get a few million back and will also get a few players back. This deal also means that Seattle will not be forced to make a decision between likely overpaying him and letting a future hall-of-famer leave town.

Finally, I would like to recognize the phenomenal career of Ichiro Suzuki. In over eleven years in a Mariner uniform, he hit .322, led the league in hits seven times, and stole 438 bases on the course to winning an MVP, Rookie of the Year, 10 all-star appearances, 10 gold gloves, 3 silver sluggers, and setting the single season hits record.

Ichiro played a major role in the 116 win season in 2001 and was the face of the franchise for a decade. I am happy that Ichiro will finally get to play for a contending baseball team, because he has only been to the playoffs once in his career.

If you are attending the game tonight, give Ichiro a long, sincere, and warm round of applause. He did great things for the city and brought us fans a lot of joy. He played hard in Seattle and played over 155 games in every season except one during his stint in Seattle. Even as a 36 year old, he played every game, and he played every game but one as a 37 years old. Ichiro Suzuki is a first ballot hall-of-famer and will undoubtedly be inducted as a Seattle Mariner.