We spoke to Brian O'Keefe about what it means to be a Mariners player, and we talked with ESPN's Buster Olney about the importance of clubhouse culture.
PEORIA, Ariz. -- During my recent trip to Seattle Mariners spring training, it was extremely obvious just how close this group is. It's clear that they like each other, respect each other, push each other and have big expectations for the organization as a whole.
I also started thinking about how far the Mariners have come since they "stepped back" after the 2018 season. They've had winning seasons for five straight years, earned two playoff trips, a division championship and were on the verge of a trip to the World Series in 2025.
It's clear that the M's clubhouse culture is strong, and that it now means something to be a Seattle Mariners player.
If you recall, back on Feb. 24, I asked manager Dan Wilson on what he thinks it means to be a Mariner:
"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."
Brian O'Keefe
O'Keefe is a 32-year-old catcher who has been with the Mariners on three different occasions. He has played 10 total games in the big leagues with Seattle, but has been around the organization enough to understand the Mariners, so I asked him the same question a few days later. We just released the full interview on the most recent 'Refuse to Lose' podcast:
"That's a good question. I don't know if I could kind of give you an answer. I mean, I think you look at it now, it's just like there's, I don't want to say playing the game the right way, because I think that's kind of given at this point, you know. But I think it's one of the things that they do a great job of is I think it's playing the game the right way, but playing it the way that you play it.
You know, I don't think there's one set way and it's cool to see now how the standard has shifted, kind of making the playoffs to, 'hey, we expect to win a World Series.' So I think it's really cool to see how that's kind of evolved from, you know, like you said that 2019 to now. But yeah, to go back to it, I think that honestly, it's about playing the game the right way, but I think it's about playing it the way you play it. I think every day, embrace your individuality over here, and I think that it's one of the reasons why I love being here."
Seattle Mariners catcher Brian O'Keefe (64) hits an RBI double to left field against the Houston Astros during the third inning at Minute Maid Park in 2023. Erik Williams-Imagn ImagesBuster Olney of ESPN
The noted ESPN MLB Insider was on a recent episode as well, and spoke with me about clubhouse culture and my observations:
"You are absolutely onto something... You know, last year during the Blue Jays run to game seven of the World Series, that's why people fell in love with that team, because they could see that the players enjoyed each other and that they were having fun. When you're early in a building process, you're just looking to add good players. But I think when you get to where the Mariners are now, where they had success last year, they're trying to build on that. The guys you bring in, you want to make sure that they fit what you're doing. And this is why I think Jerry (Dipoto) is right, that you absolutely are in a position now where you can pick and choose the guys that you add into a group that built around Cal Raleigh with being the great teammate that he is, being around someone who's going to add to Julio. And that's how you wind up with a Brendan Donovan, because you know that he's going to fit or Rob Refsnyder who, as they say, very respected veteran."
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