SEATTLE – It can’t be easy to be Richie Sexson these days.
On one hand, he’s earning nearly $15 million a year playing Major League Baseball. He’s part of a Seattle Mariners team that’s making a push to make the playoffs for the first time since 2001. He has a beautiful wife, Kerri, and three children, including a set of twins. He plays a few hours’ drive from Brush Prairie, where he grew up.
On the other hand, Sexson has been the unfortunate object of fans’ wrath since the season started in April. Naturally, it bothers him. For the most part, Sexson has handled the booing to rally to reach the Mendoza line. He’s killed so many rallies by striking out, often swinging at pitches that look like they’re drilling for oil. So many times, he’s looked lost at the plate.
When a big gun doesn’t produce, down come the boos. Sexson understands that.
The trouble, though, is this:
Sexson showed signs of breaking out of it on the last road trip. In six games, of which the Mariners won five, Sexson was 8-of-21, with a home run, a double, two runs scored and an RBI. He came into Monday night’s game against the Twins with a five-game hitting streak. Finally, after seven months, it appears Sexson’s problems are behind him and he’s ready to carry the team [—] just in time for a white-hot pennant race.
“He’s been swinging at pitches and not missing them,” teammate Jose Vidro said. “He was probably thinking too much and missing a lot of pitches. Now, he’s letting the swing take care of itself.”
But what happens Monday night when Sexson comes up to bat in the first inning with two on base?
“BOOOOOOOOOOO!”
So Sexson hits a bullet off the wall off two-time and defending Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana for a two-run double.
Next time up:
“BOOOOOOO!”
Sexson strikes out. Strikes out again his next time up.
“BOOOOOOOO!”
Then he leads off the bottom of the ninth with the game on the line at 3-3.
“BOOOOOO!”
This time, he sends Matt Guerrier’s second pitch over the left-center-field wall. Game over. Everybody’s happy, perhaps no one more so than M’s manager John McLaren, who sees Sexson grinding away daily, trying to get himself right.
“I feel real good for Big Rich,” he said. “He’s been working hard behind the scenes. He really had a good road trip and for him to do that on his first day back, that’s huge.”
In the clubhouse, a calm, humble Richie Sexson talks with the media about, well, everything, good and bad. He is asked if he’s heard his last boo.
He snorts.
“Nah,” he says. “I’m sure tomorrow if I make an out or hit into a double play, I’ll hear it again.”
He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t frustrated. He was stating a fact in the same tone of voice as when he asks Kerri to pass the potatoes.
My question is this: Are the fans too busy trying to start The Wave to pay attention to what’s happening? Can Sexson do nothing to earn their respect? Is it a knee-jerk reaction these days to boo Richie Sexson?
OK, OK, fans pay for their tickets and they can do what they want. Booing isn’t inherently immoral. Indiscriminant, unintelligent booing, though, reflects horribly on the booer (or is it booist? Whomever boos?).
Good Gracious, people! Is it too much to ask to pick your spots? Give the guy a break! Sexson was responsible for two of the Mariners’ three runs against the great Santana and won the game with a blast off Guerrier, one of the best relievers in the game.
And yet, Sexson said he expected to get booed the next day.
What’s wrong with this picture?
I’ve heard people refer to Seattle sports fans as intelligent, fair and discerning.
Those must not have made it to Monday night’s game.
Sports columnnist John Sleeper: sleeper@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
