Seattle radio station goes off on Mariners owner John Stanton for team's complacency

There is still a beauty that lies in local sports radio. This medium doesn't have to dance around the ethics of being cordial and professional like a new show or a journalist would be. That allows these personalities get more emotional and invested than a play-by-play broadcaster.

The unapologetic approach applies to Seattle's 93.3 KJR FM. Their radio personalities have no issue telling it like it is, especially when it comes to the Mariners.

As part of an episode last week over the air, KJR went after Mariners owner John Stanton. They discussed the frustration of how the rest of the organization is taking heat this offseason when it should really be Stanton, the owner, being criticized.

Sometimes it's easy to forget who is really in charge, but the diehards don't. Stanton is the one ultimately responsible at the end of the day, so the burden must fall on him.

The Mariners narrowly missed the postseason yet again in 2024, marking another year they were legitimately in the hunt with just a few days left in the schedule. Unfortunately for Seattle, they went 85-77, which was not enough to land a playoff berth. KJR claims that while this record won't cut it to make the postseason, it's far more of a successful season in the eyes of Stanton.

"As long as John Stanton owns the Mariners, this is how things are going to go. 85-77 seasons are going to be perfectly fine because that is going to make him a lot of money," KJR mentioned in the rant.

This is a valid point. Owners view their organizations as a business, and as long as a profit is being made, a guy like Stanton won't seem to care much if the Mariners painfully miss out on the playoffs year after year. Why spend that much more money while risking a similar result when you can spend ... les?

There were several moments that kept Seattle on the outside of the postseason bracket this season, which will haunt Mariners fans all offseason. Did they haunt Stanton, though, if he made millions?

It's a tough pill to swallow knowing the Mariners have been in a nightmare cycle of ineptitude However, it is a breath of fresh air to know there are media members justifiably blaming the owner for the team's problems, and not the others who are hard at work trying to make a difference (even if they are falling short).