Getting to know Mariners Manager Scott Servais

Having been a fan of the Mariners for a while you know that manager Scott Servis is in his fourth season in Seattle. When he was hired it was a couple of weeks after general manager Jerry Dipoto was hired. They worked together in the front office with the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels.

When Scott Servais was hired as Mariners manager in October 2015, he had never managed in the major leagues. Many had questioned whether it was a good idea or not. I am sure there are still those who still wondering now, although he has a record of 253-233 over the three seasons.

I figure a team who has as many changes of players as the Mariners have had, especially going into this season, Servais is still the right fit. The Mariners don’t expect to compete this year but they have started off with a 9-2 record beating Oakland twice in Japan, the World Series champions Boston Red Sox 3-1, Los Angeles Angels 2-0 and taking two out of three from the Chicago White Sox.

Now they head to the rebuilding Kansas City Royals for a 4 game set. With a younger group of players, this will be the ultimate test for Servais and may determine whether or not he is the long-term choice of the Mariners.

Last year, because his original contract was coming to completion at the end season, the Mariners signed Servais to a new multi-year contract. He signed shortly after general manager Jerry Dipoto contract was extended as well.

There is a good chance they will both be in their positions so long as the Mariners have success. Especially, if they can reach the playoffs on a regular basis. This is the plan of Dipoto and Servais. It won’t be easy, because of division rivals Houston Astros and Oakland A’s, plus the Red Sox and the New York Yankees.

Going back in time, Servais was drafted by the Houston Astros in the third round in 1988. He played three years in the Astros minor league system before his major league debut in 1991. He was with the Astros until June 28, 1995, when he was traded along with Luis Gonzalez to the Chicago Cubs.

Servais played 11 seasons in the major leagues. His best seasons were the four he had with the Cubs. He played in 416 games for the Cubs with 36 home runs and 179 RBI’s. After those four years, he went to the San Francisco Giants for two and Colorado for one where his career ended.

Scott Servais did some coaching after his major league career, with the Cubs, and some scouting for the Rockies as well. He went to work as Senior Player Development for the Texas Rangers from 2006-2011. He went on to join the Los Angeles Angels as an assistant general manager where he worked with scouting and player development primarily from 2012-2015.

This is when Jerry Dipoto was general manager of the Angels. Dipoto then became Mariners general manager. Dipoto felt Servais was the best choice to become the next manager of the Mariners and was hired in the winter of 2015.

Whether it will happen or not Jerry Dipoto and Scott Servais plan to lead the Seattle Mariners into the promise land and stay in Seattle for many years. I will wait and see, hoping this will be true.