After Years of Turmoil, Seattle Charts Successful Path

It’s been a rough weekend for Seattle. After winning six of their first seven games, best start in franchise history, the Mariners were drop-kicked twice by the Angels before winning, 3-2, Sunday.

Despite the brief slide, the Mariners believe 1995 is going to be the breakthrough year they have sought in 19 major league seasons.

“We have gotten rid of a lot of the negative thinking that has been over us like a cloud the past few years,” Seattle’s Jay Buhner said.

“Over the winter, the ownership showed us a commitment to keep the team together. Now we have to do the job on the field. But I think our chances are very good. We have questions with our pitching, but so does everyone else.”

Third baseman Edgar Martinez, now in his seventh season, flatly calls this Mariner team “the best I’ve been on since I’ve been here. We have defense, we have some pitching. We can hit. We’re past the point of trying to convince ourselves we can win. All we have to do is stay healthy and we can win this division.”

The best finish by Seattle was fourth, accomplished twice in the 1980s. In 18 seasons, the Mariners have finished better than .500 only twice, but both times have come in the 1990s--most recently 1993 when they were 82-80.

There is power in the middle of the lineup with Ken Griffey Jr., Buhner and Martinez. Randy Johnson anchors the starting rotation and Bobby Ayala is a strong-armed closer. Seattle blends youth and young veterans and it is in a division that has no clear favorite.

“We have the best player in the league (Griffey) and arguably the best pitcher (Johnson),” said Manager Lou Piniella, in his third season with the club. “We have a competitive club that has gotten off to a decent start in a division that’s wide open.

“This could be the best team ever in Seattle. We’ll know more about us and the rest of the division after they cut down the rosters on May 15. Then everyone’s pitching numbers will be equalized. But we didn’t make too many changes over the winter. This nucleus has been together for a while, and at some point the crop has to bear some fruit.”

Griffey, in a tug of war with Chicago’s Frank Thomas, San Francisco’s Barry Bonds and Cleveland’s Albert Belle as the game’s top offensive player, still has a couple of reservations, however.

“I’ve been here six years now and seen many changes,” Griffey said. “I still have a wait-and-see feeling.”

But Griffey added the team actually caught a break last July 19 when falling tiles from the ceiling of the Kingdome forced Seattle to cancel their remaining home games.

“It was the best thing that could have happened to us--all that time on the road made us come together,” Griffey said. “We got rid of cliques. Everyone started to care for each other.”

Buhner agreed. “We were together all the time for two months, and were looking to be on the road the rest of the season. You either come together or you start killing each other.”

The Mariners, who have led the AL West from the first day, say the good vibes have carried over into this season. Now it is time to establish a winning tradition.

“The hot August we had last year (9-1 before the strike) made us turn a corner,” pitcher Chris Bosio said. “This should be a breakthrough year, and it’s up to us. Because if it isn’t, rest assured management will make some changes.”