From bobbleheads to blankets, here are the Mariners’ 2011 promotions

The Mariners have announced their promotions for the 2011 season and, as you’d expect in a year when expectations won’t be horribly high, there’s not a “Guaranteed Victory Night.” Maybe next year.

OK, that was uncalled for.

But even in a season when nobody’s predicting a lo

t more than growing pains on the field (but don’t forget, Felix pitches every fifth day), you’ll still get your bobbleheads and a few other promotions that make for a good time at the ballpark win or lose.

Here’s what the Mariners have cooked up:

• Fans at the home opener April 8

not only will see the Mariners face the Indians, they’ll get the usual pregame ceremonies and a 2011 magnetic schedule. That schedule not only is the planner for my life over a six-month period, it’s strong enough to hold a huge amount of paper on my refrigerator.

• Remember when other teams feared the Mariners? The Mariners will on July 16 when they honor the 10th anniversary of their 116-victory team. Several people with that 2001 team will be at the ballpark, among them former GM Pat Gillick, Jay Buhner, Dan Wilson, John Olerud, Mark McLemore, Jeff Nelson, Bret Boone and Jamie Moyer. The first 10,000 at the ballpark will get a t-shirt adorned with the commemorative 10th anniversary logo.

• Let’s say you’re sick of baseball by the end of July. The Mariners have something right up your wheelhouse – a July 29 tribute to the NBA Seattle SuperSonics, with appearances from some former Sonics players. Would do me good to see Slick Watts again.

• You want bobbleheads? Of course the Mariners will have bobbleheads (I can see the line forming already). The new Felix Hernandez bobblehead, to the first 20,000 fans on April 9, depicts Felix holding his 2010 Cy Young Award plaque. On May 6, the first 25,000 will get an Ichiro Hit Counter bobblehead, which has a littler-than-life Ichiro atop a mini tote board that you can reset each day to keep track of his hits. Wonder how far past 200 it goes?

• Over the years we’ve had train cars honoring Edgar Martinez, Bret Boone, Felix Hernandez and others. This year, the 12th train car in the series will honor recycling. That’s right, on June 3 the first 20,000 will get a “Go Green” train car.

• Speaking of recycling, the Mariners’ go-green effort has a few other special nights: On June 17, the first 20,000 will get green Ichiro jerseys (a replica of the green alternate jerseys the Mariners will wear on Monday and Friday home games). And on Aug. 26 the first 15,000 age 21 and older will get a green Mariners fleece blanket. (Any chance those blankets will be available in April and May on those chilly nights when folks could really use them?)

• Here’s one of my favorites: The first 20,000 on April 22 will get a “Guti Flyswatter.” Really. It’s a flyswatter shaped like Mariners center fielder Franklin Gutierrez, with a giant glove.

• Here’s one of my creepiest: Viva Las Vargas night on May 27. The Mariners will combine the glitz of Las Vegas with … well … starting pitcher Jason Vargas. Hmmm, Vargas seems like a really laid-back guy, so the only connection there with Vegas might be the V and the G and the S. Oh well, at least the first 10,000 will get some Elvis-style sunglasses.

• April 23 is Salute to Armed Forces Night, one of my favorites. I get chills when various members of our military march onto the field before the game. True heroes on the diamond.

• King Felix Knit Cap Night is June 18. Again, any chance we could move it up a couple of months? Although who knows, it might still be cold in mid-June.

• The Mariners and Padres will turn back the clock to 1983 on July 1. Something tells me there won’t be any reference to the Mariners’ 102-loss season in ’83.

• The first 20,000 on Aug. 12 will get a t-shirt designed by Ichiro Suzuki. I haven’t seen the design but, just a hunch here, I hope you like pink. Ichiro does.

• Fan Appreciation Night is Sept. 17. After what the fans endured last year, I’ll guarantee everyone in the ballpark will be appreciated this year. The difference Sept. 17 is that there will be a lot of nice prizes, including a cruise.