Getting to know you

  • Tuesday, April 27, 2004 9:00pm
  • Sports

Opponent: Baltimore Orioles

When: 4:05 p.m.

Where: Camden Yards, Baltimore

TV: FSN (cable)

Probable starters: Seattle left-hander Jamie Moyer (1-2, 6.26) vs. righthander Kurt Ainsworth (0-1, 9.88).

Quinton McCracken had the idea first, thinking about what to do with an unexpected night off.

“A lot of teams, you get a rainout and it’s 25 guys, 25 cabs,” the Seattle outfielder said. “I thought about this team, how many new faces were here, and thought it might be a good chance to get to know each other.”

On Monday, about 30 minutes after the Seattle-Baltimore game was postponed, McCracken approached veteran teammates Edgar Martinez and Bret Boone with a proposal. What did they think of a team dinner?

“It just worked out that most guys didn’t have family here, weren’t already committed to something else,” Boone said. “We had 17-18 guys at dinner.”

From a 25-man roster, that was almost everyone on short notice.

“We went to a steak place across from the team hotel and everyone just started talking,” Martinez said. “I’ve been to a team party at the end of the season, but even then everyone’s not there. This was the first time I’d ever been to a dinner with so many guys.”

“Guys got on each other, there was a lot of conversation, a lot of laughter,” Dave Hansen said. “No coaches, just players.”

McCracken and a few teammates tried to coerce manager Bob Melvin into loaning them his credit card for the night. He wasn’t sold.

“Win some games, we’ll talk,” he joked.

Some three hours after they’d started, Mariners players were finished eating and the tab was just over $2,800. The waitress was told to get a credit card from rookie Matt Thornton, who’d been called up Monday.

“I thought they were teasing,” Thornton said. “But I gave her my card and she came back and it was all totalled up and she said, ‘Sign here, please.’ I think I got a little pale.”

“We had him going,” Jamie Moyer said. “I told him, ‘You pick this one up, the veterans are really going to like you.’”

Thornton signed the check. Boone and Martinez then told the waitress to tear it up. They split the tab, including a tip of more than $400.

“Worth every cent,” Martinezsaid. “We all got to know each other a little better. It just came together on the spur of the moment. Maybe it will make a difference, maybe it won’t. But we had a lot of fun together.”

Closer to returning: Rafael Soriano will make a two-inning relief appearance Friday for San Antonio, then be returned to the Mariners for evaluation. The expectation is that by the time Seattle opens its homestand on Tuesday, Soriano will be in the bullpen.

“He was so effective late in games for us last year, that’s the role we want him in now,” Melvin said. “I think we’ve missed that the last few weeks. It’ll be good to get him back.”

Around the horn: Utilityman Jolbert Cabrera, a right-handed hitting specialist who has played seven positions in his career, likes second base and center field the best. Against left-hander Matt Riley on Tuesday, Melvin slid Cabrera into the lineup in center field. … If you’re in Baltimore on Aug. 3, you’ll get the chance to see a doubleheader when the Mariners and Orioles make up Monday’s rain out. It won’t come cheap, however – Baltimore will charge two admissions, one for the game that begins at 1:05 p.m., another for the 7:05 p.m. nightcap.

Larry LaRue

The News Tribune

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren watches his team against Washington Sunday, November 9, 2003. (George Bridges / KRT / Tribune News Services)
No Holmgren in Hall is a travesty

The Former Seahawks coach carries a resume superior to many already in the HOF.

A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

Gonzaga overcomes stagnant start to beat LMU

Bulldogs get ‘best of best’ play down the stretch in 73-53 win.

Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates during a stop of the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Nov. 24, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks)
Leonard Williams restructures Seahawks deal

More moves may be coming as Seattle deals with salary cap.

Former Archbishop Murphy High School stars, Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon (6) and Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas (72), prepare for play at Soldier Field in Chicago on Dec. 26, 2024. Though Lucas is likely to return as a starter, Seattle's interior line needs offseason upgrades. (Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks)
The Seahawks offensive line needs work

A mix free agency and draft could lead to upgraded interior.

UW men stumble in second half, fall to Nebraska

The three-pointers that fell so frequently — and from a… Continue reading

Edmonds-Woodway’s William Alseth dribbles the ball down the court during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds-Woodway boys basketball enters playoffs on high note

The Warriors never let up in 63-43 win vs. Shorewood on Tuesday to secure Wesco South 3A/2A title

Prep basketball roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 4

Parker powers Seagulls to district berth.

Kraken rally to force overtime, fall in shootout

Streaking Red Wings too much for young Kraken lineup that showed some promise.

Slivertips’ Clarke Schaefer tries to maneuver around Medicine Hat’s Josh Van Mulligen during the game on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tips Week in Review: Everett splits slate in high-scoring week

The Silvertips were outscored 24-18 in four games this week, losing two to the next-best WHL teams

Everett Silvertips’ Landon DuPont during the game against the Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tips’ DuPont becomes first rookie D to score 50 points in 35 years

The 15-year-old star defenseman joined Scott Niedermayer in exclusive company with an assist Sunday.

Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto believes players like Jorge Polanco (7) will enjoy bounceback seasons in 2025. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Despite quiet Mariners offseason, Jerry Dipoto confident

With the pre-spring training luncheon and news conference no longer an annual… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.