Reasons Why (I’m Excited to See the Mariners Play Meaningful Baseball)

As Matthew and Staind have said, it’s been a while.  What is the best way for us to get the good times rolling again here on the blog?  A thoughtful piece on what it will be like when playoff baseball makes its way back to Seattle?  That sounds nice, but no.  A thorough recap and discussion on the Mariners off-season?  That would make too much sense.  A season preview?  That’s coming.  After much contemplating the best way to welcome ourselves (the Good Guys) back to the internet while showing off our incredible knowledge and writing skills is… A list! Why wax poetic when I can write a post inspired by scribbles someone takes to the grocery store?

Okay, okay.  I admit, this is the easy way out.  But, each and every day that April 6th creeps closer brings more and more thoughts of why I’m excited about the Mariners season.  That’s exactly what this list is – reasons why I’m excited about the Mariners season.  These are in no particular order and some may be more general baseball reasons.  Others might be things that I’ve missed watching the Mariners do since last September.  Get off my back, I’m a little rusty when it comes to writing about sports!  Before the list, here’s a song called Reasons Why.  It’s about a break-up, not baseball.

Without further ado, here’s my list of reasons why I’m excited for the Mariners season (presented in bullet-hole format in honor of Jeff Sullivan’s late, great game recaps).

• King Felix fist pumps.
• Lloyd always wearing that sweatshirt he wore everyday last season no matter the temperature and me thinking, ‘does he have anything on under that sweatshirt?’
• Logan Morrison running in from first to watch Rodney’s arrow fly.  I love this even when Rodney forgets that he’s there.
• Dustin Ackley doing weird but effective things in left field.
• Mike Zunino dropping his head and then barking at the umpire as he runs out to the pitcher after a blown strike call.
• Robinson Cano being the most relaxed professional athlete in the world.
• Following minor-league baseball.
• Jesus Montero running the bases.
• Seeing a real middle order of the lineup instead of Jose Vidro, Justin Smoak, and Adam Kennedy (no, they weren’t all together but it felt like they have been for the last 15 years).
• Eating a Torta at Safeco Field.
• Following the maturation of James Paxton and Taijuan Walker (hopefully).
• Lloyd getting thrown out of games.
• Nelson Cruz hitting the ball really, really hard.
• Kuma’s stretches before every inning followed by pin-point control.
• Some awkward Jen Mueller interviews.
• The King’s Court.
• That amazing Fernando Rodney entrance.  I really hope that hasn’t changed.
• Felix doing everything else along with those inning-ending fist pumps.
• Safeco Field having a buzz that’s been missing since the early 2000’s.
• Having a pennant race in Seattle.

There’s more but you have to be getting bored at this point.  Add your own in the comments!  Go M’s!

– Andrew