Mitch Garver homered on Tuesday. It was a solo shot in the third inning of the Mariners’ spring training game against the Dodgers.
This was very important to me for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with Garver or what he might achieve this season.
I was worried that I wasn’t going to experience the irrational optimism that tends to bubble up this time of year. I feared that the Mariners’ insistence upon doing as little as possible to improve their big-league lineup over the offseason might prevent me from getting all hopped up on best-case scenarios.
Not to worry, I’m as big an idiot as ever. Sure, the Mariners have only made the playoffs in one of the previous 23 seasons, but as soon as I saw Garver had homered, I found myself wondering about the implications of a bounce-back season. What if Garver were to hit like he did for Texas as opposed to batting .172 and striking out once every three at-bats like he did after coming to the Mariners?
See, that’s the sort of thing I like to do this time of year: some straight-up wishful thinking. Save me the wistful prose about the pop of a baseball into a leather glove. I don’t need to read anyone’s poem about pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training. I’d like to imagine what it would mean for my team if a series of not-at-all-probable things actually occurred.
You know, what if Victor Robles sustained what he did in his first 30 games as a Mariner for an entire season AND Luke Raley was able to recapture how he looked back in May and June last season AND Garver becomes the middle-of-the-lineup bat he was signed to be. After all, in addition to that homer Garver had, he also singled twice in Sunday’s spring training game against Arizona. This constitutes a start to spring training that can be officially described as “solid” and perhaps even “encouraging.”
OK, I realize I’m getting a little carried away here.
Two spring training games in February provide minimal insight into what should be expected from Garver or any other member of the team when the season begins on March 27. In fact, repeated studies have shown little to no correlation between spring training statistics and what happens in the regular season.
But I’m not talking about what is most logical or rational here. When it comes to anticipating a baseball season I am not required to use the evidence-based decision-making that I try to employ in most aspects of my life.
How I feel about the possibility of this upcoming season is important, too. Really important.
In fact, the emotions that come from rooting for a team are the most important thing to me, and I genuinely wondered if the frustration that I’ve felt over the past couple of months would undercut the sort of wishful thinking that I tend to practice every spring.
Some baseball fans focus on the development of prospects like Colt Emerson or Lazaro Montes. Others jump at the chance to spend a couple of days in Arizona sucking down Tecates. I enjoy the opportunity to tease myself with the idea that it’s not impossible for things to go inexplicably right.
It is – I’m sure – the same logic that leads to the purchase of lottery tickets and Charlie Brown’s continued willingness to try and kick that football, but I also find it slightly reassuring.
The owners may choose to sit on their wallets. The team may be locked into an outdated and increasingly expensive television package. That doesn’t prevent me from chucking aside the evidence-based decision-making I use in the rest of my life to wonder if maybe – just maybe – this is the year that things break the Mariners way.
Perhaps Raley and Donovan Solano will be an effective platoon at first base and maybe Jorge Polanco hits more like he did in Minnesota than what we saw after he came to Seattle last season. Maybe the Mariners do reach the postseason where this starting rotation gives them a buzzsaw.
I wouldn’t say all of that is likely to occur, but it’s not impossible, either.
The Mariners are about what they’ve been for each of the past three years. They’re good enough to reach the playoffs. However, that lineup has too many holes to say Seattle should reach the postseason.
There’s room for hope, though, and I’m just glad I feel that given how frustrated these past couple of months have been.
Danny O’Neil was born in Oregon, the son of a logger, but had the good sense to attend college in Washington. He’s covered Seattle sports for 20 years, writing for two newspapers, one glossy magazine and hosting a daily radio show for eight years on KIRO 710 AM. You can subscribe to his free newsletter and find his other work at dannyoneil.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
