The M's have a strong culture and strong leadership, but what are the actual tenants of being a Mariners player?
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Earlier this week, I wrote that I was excited to see Mitch Garver return to the Seattle Mariners. Part of that excitement is rooted in the fact that Garver knows and understands Mariners culture.
I said this on the 'Refuse to Lose' podcast:
He knows the pitching staff, he has relationships with the pitching staff, he has relationships with coaches, with guys in the clubhouse, and he knows what it means be a Mariner. And believe it or not, I think that that matters.
And I think it does matter. Ever since the Mariners 're-imagined' their roster before the 2019 season, a culture has been built inside that clubhouse. Guys like Kyle Seager and J.P. Crawford and Dylan Moore and Marco Gonzales and Mitch Haniger were at the forefront of it, and guys like Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez and Logan Gilbert have continued to enhance it.
Garver knows it. Everybody who comes through Peoria or Seattle knows it, and works to adhere to it. That's very clear.
But I wanted to know: What exactly does it mean to be a Mariner? Is it easily definable or not? I asked manager Dan Wilson on Monday morning:
"One of the things that really came clear last year was just the ability to be a good teammate and how they work off of each other and play with each other. I think that's a big part of it. And then the willingness to fight and fight 'till the end. And that's another feature that we saw so relevant last year, was just their ability to fight. And every day at 7 o' clock, they were willing to go out there and lay it all on the line. Andthat's what you want from your guys is to be with each other, want to fight with each other, and then go out at 7 o' clock and fight. And that's what they did all season long. And I think that's what it means to be a Mariner."
This team very clearly likes each other and supports each other. And they do fight with - and for - one another.
And I've said this forever. Culture and good vibes alone can't win you a championship. You have to have talent too.
But you can't win a title without good chemistry and a good culture. And this team certainly has it. That was very evident during my five days in Peoria.
Now? We'll see where it goes for this team over the next eight months.
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