Mariners: Ken Griffey Jr buying partial ownership is an amazing sign

The news came out Monday morning that the Seattle Mariners had a new partial owner as a part of the ownership group. The kid himself, Ken Griffey Jr. has become a part-owner of the Seattle Mariners.

I don’t know about you, but this comes at an amazing time. Think of where the team was at the beginning of 2021. Kevin Mather had embroiled the team in scandal. There were worries of player relationships, spending, prospect management, and being “very boring”.

It easily could’ve become a time where the relationship suffered even further. Players could’ve demanded to leave, prospects could’ve refused to play, fans could’ve gone on a sort of strike and refused to go to games. It’s a lot of could haves, but all of that would’ve been understandable. We know the issues the Mariners have faced over the years and the drought that they are currently in.

Instead, Ken Griffey Jr provides another great step for the direction of the Mariners

Think about how much has changed since that… stopping myself from getting fired here, since Kevin Mather left. The players embraced the dislike of Mather. Even the team’s Twitter page did back when they changed their tagline to “Very Boring” for a Marco start.

Kelenic and Gilbert got called up. Trammell was up. They made a real commitment to showing that they believed in the youth and didn’t want to be seen as holding them back (even if it may have been the correct call). Then, the team went and made a wonderful hire by choosing Catie Griggs to be their new President of Business Operations.

The 2021 Seattle Mariners had one of the craziest seasons ever, finishing with a record of 90-72 despite a -51 run differential, becoming the first team in MLB history to have 90+ wins and a -50 or worse run differential. Through all that, this team, more than almost any I can remember since the mid-’90s, straight-up loved playing baseball. They always seemed happy and energized.

Things could’ve fallen apart. It would’ve made sense. Instead, the team looks like they may be one of the most attractive destinations in baseball for free agents because of how bright the future looks. Now, Ken Griffey Jr is buying into that as well. The heartbeat of Mariners baseball wants to be even more involved with the team. He’s who you think of when you think Mariners. The fact that he bought in speaks untold volumes towards the turn-around the team is making.

The more I think about it. The happier I am that Ken Griffey Jr is a bigger part of the team going forward. Big things are happening in Seattle, and it’s a great time to be a Mariners fan.