If the Seattle Mariners proved anything the last two years, it’s that it’s not where they start the season, it’s where they finish.
The Mariners announced their 2004 regular-season schedule Monday, and the end may look more ominous than the beginning for a team that started strong but faded from playoff contention late in the last two seasons.
They will start again with 19 straight games against American League West Division teams, including an opening series April 6, 7 and 8 at Safeco Field against the Anaheim Angels.
Of the Mariners’ final 13 games, they will play 10 straight on the road against American League West Division teams before finishing with three at home against Texas.
It’s not the best sign for a team that fell out of first place the last two seasons and couldn’t recapture the lead in its final opportunity against the AL West.
Manager Bob Melvin downplayed the road element as a detrimental factor.
“It’s tough, but that’s a time when you’re right in the thick of things,” he said. “Veteran teams tend to play well on the road.”
It didn’t help in 2003.
The Mariners played a similar schedule last season, with 10 straight at Texas, Oakland and Anaheim before finishing with three at home against Oakland. They swept Oakland in the three meaningless games at the end, but their 4-6 record on the road cost the M’s a playoff spot. They finished three games behind Oakland in the division and two behind Boston for the wild-card playoff spot.
In 2002, the Mariners played 10 straight at home, going 7-3, before finishing with three at Anaheim. The late surge had no bearing and the M’s finished 10 games behind Oakland in the division and six behind Anaheim for the wild card.
As in the past, the Mariners will open the 2004 schedule with 19 straight against division teams, beginning with three at home against Anaheim before playing three at Oakland and three at Anaheim on their first road trip.
The Mariners will play nine home interleague games against Houston (June 7, 8 and 9), Montreal (June 11, 12 and 13) and San Diego (June 25, 26 and 27). They will play road interleague games at Milwaukee (June 15, 16 and 17), Pittsburgh (June 18, 19 and 20) and St. Louis (July 2, 3 and 4).
Home night games will start at 7:05, with Sunday games at 1:05 p.m. and midweek day games at 1:35 p.m. Those times may be revised this month to accommodate national television broadcasts.
The Mariners also announced that prices will not change from 2003 for season tickets, weekend, business and 16-game plans. Single-game ticket prices will go up between $1 and $5 per ticket, depending on the seat location.
Season tickets are on sale, and fans are asked to call the Marines at 206-346-4001.
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