State of the Mariners Address: An Interview with the Seattle Times’ Larry Stone

Jun 6, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners former designated hitter

throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game against the New York Yankees at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

BONUS, BONUS, BONUS!

I couldn’t end my interview with Larry Stone without talking about something less depressing than the state of the Mariners. So I picked his brain a bit about the Hall of Fame, and what is to come in this voting season.

LS: “I’ve voted for the Hall of Fame the last 15 years now… the problem now is with the steroids guys there is a difference in opinion and the candidates are really starting to stack up.”

If you remember, this last season not a single player was elected to the baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Edgar Martinez, the lifetime Mariner and fan favorite of many, received 36.5%, less than half the 75% necessary to be inducted.

What comes in 2013 then, with guys like Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas, and Greg Maddux now eligible?

LS: “I think Glavine and Maddux, and Frank Thomas will sail in. Three right off the bat. I think Jeff Bagwell might sweep over the top this time. I’d like to see Mike Piazza get in too, but I don’t know if these last two will this season. “This year for the first time I’m going to have more than 10 candidates I want to vote for.”

Lastly I had to ask if Larry thought Edgar has a chance at the Hall of Fame:

LS: “It’s gonna be a real long shot for him. The candidates are getting clogged up, and guys like him are going to get lost in the shuffle. He may need to go the Veteran’s Committee route to the Hall.”

That is everything from Larry Stone, whose knowledge and grasp of Mariners baseball are invaluable for M’s fans and baseball fans alike. Thank you to him again for sharing his thoughts on the State of the Mariners.

We all can only hope, and hope is a fickle thing, that the Mariners do what they need to do this offseason to begin to cultivate winning ways of baseball again in the Pacific Northwest.

As always, Go M’s and Long Live the King!