Mariners wait to release their schedule

  • Kirby Arnold / Herald Writer
  • Wednesday, December 5, 2001 9:00pm
  • Sports

By Kirby Arnold

Herald Writer

SEATTLE – It’s not up there with Bret Boone, third base and left field, but there’s another pressing issue the Seattle Mariners hope to resolve soon.

They’d like to release the 2002 regular-season schedule.

A tentative major league schedule, at least a version that features 30 teams, has been in Mariners executives’ hands for some time now. However, they haven’t been able to make it official because of the chance that two teams, including the Minnesota Twins of the American League, could evaporate because of contraction.

“This is usually the time when we try to get the schedule out,” said Randy Adamack, the Mariners’ vice president of communications, who handles schedule-related issues for the team.

In a normal year, a schedule is released soon after the season ends and, after the national networks have chosen the games they want to televise, game times are set.

“About now is usually the time when the national networks have made their selections and game times are adjusted and we have an official schedule,” Adamack said. “But we’d hate to put a schedule out there until we know the answer to the whole contraction question.”

The likelihood of contraction doesn’t seem as great now as it did last month, but even the remote possibility has put many baseball functions – including the schedule – on hold.

It’s uncertain whether such a delayed release has made an impact on ticket sales.

“We normally wouldn’t put our single-game tickets on sale anyway until the FanFest (in late January),” Adamack said. “The 16-game plans won’t go on sale until the second week of January.”

The Mariners are reluctant to talk about season ticket numbers because the deadline for commitments is next month.

“We’ll try to stay as fluid as we can,” Adamack said. “We would prefer to have a schedule in place, absolutely. But we’re going to continue to do business as best we can without one.”

The Mariners announced a 30-game spring training exhibition schedule on Wednesday, beginning with their annual charity game against San Diego Padres on Feb. 28 at the complex the two teams share in Peoria, Ariz.

The Cactus League schedule begins March 1 with Anaheim at the Mariners and ends March 28 against the Padres.

The Mariners will announce spring training ticket plans in January. When available, those tickets will be sold through Ticketmaster, the Safeco Field box office in Seattle and the Peoria Stadium ticket office in Arizona.

The exhibition schedule also includes three games on March 29, 30 and 31 against opponents and at sites to be determined. The past two seasons, the Mariners have played their final two exhibition games at Safeco Field before beginning the regular season.

In its unofficial form, the regular-season schedule has the Mariners opening April 1 at home against the Chicago White Sox, then moving into a block of games against American League West Division opponents.

The interleague schedule shows the Mariners playing six different National League teams – St. Louis, Colorado and the Chicago Cubs at home and Cincinnati, San Diego and Houston on the road.

It’s all subject to change, of course, depending on contraction.

“That’s the way it is on paper,” Adamack said, ” … in pencil.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Arlington’s Leyton Martin puts three fingers in the air after making a three point shot during the game against Glacier Peak on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Saturday, Feb. 15

Leyton Martin’s triple-double leads Arlington to district win

Monroe's Halle Keller drives past Meadowdale's Payton Fleishman during a Feb. 14, 2025 3A District 1 playoff game at Meadowdale High School. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Last-second layup powers Monroe past Mavs

The Bearcats staged a 50-49 road upset in a district playoff clash.

Shorecrest’s Cassie Chesnut leaps in the air to block a shot by Shorewood’s Bridget Cox during the 3A district playoff game on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Shorecrest girls win rubber match against Shorewood

Cassie Chesnut’s 28 points, 18 rebounds pushes the Scots to District 1 3A semifinals with 53-38 win.

Freshman leads Jackson to 4A district swim title

Syunta Lee sets two meet records as Timberwolves edge Lake Stevens.

Shorecrest wins 3A district swim title

Snohomish’s Torsten Hokanson sets two meet records and leads two winning relays.

Marysville Pilchuck claims 2A district wrestling title

Tomahawks win three individual championship bouts.

Snohomish’s Kendall Hammer yells in celebration with teammate Snohomish’s Sienna Capelli after she makes a shot and is fouled during the game on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 14

Snohomish, Stanwood girls cruise into district semis.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Mountlake Terrace’s Svayjeet Singh leaps in the air after the basketball during the 3A district loser-out playoff game against Snohomish on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish upsets Mountlake Terrace for first playoff win in 11 years

Bryson Wheat scored 25 in Panthers’ 49-43 win to advance to the District 1 Boys 3A quarterfinals

Julio Rodríguez (left) and manager Dan Wilson (right) of the Seattle Mariners react after the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on Sept. 27, 2024, in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Dan Wilson begins first spring training as M’s manager

An anxious eagerness to get through the first of… Continue reading

Marysville Getchell junior Bubba Palocol reverses directions while dribbling against Arlington during a playoff matchup at Arlington High School on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Thursday, Feb. 13

Marysville Getchell, Lakewood boys each earn district wins

Kenneth Walker III runs with against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
Seahawks hire run game coach

Justin Outten added to staff as Mike Macdonald continues attempts to bolster rushing attack.

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.