Julio Brings Hope Back for M's
Julio Brings Hope Back for M's
Baseball is unlike any other sport, isn't it?
“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in” - Michael Corleone (Godfather III)
Many of you stopped watching the Seattle Mariners weeks ago. Some of you stopped earlier this week when the M’s fell 4.5 back behind the Houston Astros again. But a few of us just can’t quit. We want to quit. Desperately. But baseball won’t let us.
Baseball is unique among sports. Baseball contains an individual component and a randomness that provides opportunities daily that one has never seen before. Baseball will keep pulling you back in. On Friday night, the Mariners were sucking like the Mariners often suck. Leaving runners on base, looking lifeless and bored, and frustrating Mariners twitter yet again. And then it changed. Well, Julio changed it.
Maybe the best part of this highlight is that Angie Mentink just laughs when Rodriguez hits it. Everyone talks about Aaron Goldsmith and for good reason, but Mentink nails it here. And Julio nailed the moment. For a guy with an average season (for him), Julio seized the opportunity to give Mariner fans hope yet again. Since Edgar Martinez’s return as hitting coach, Julio is hitting .280 with four homers and 17 RBI while posting a 143 wRC+. Is it because of Edgar? Maybe. Julio also has a 18% K rate and 11.7% BB rate in that span. Is that because of Edgar? More likely.
But if you asked any Mariner fan how Julio has been playing, they would say “meh”. Julio needed a moment. Maybe I needed a moment. And my goodness was last night a moment.
Julio feels it. Maybe it is nothing. Maybe the M’s will lose two straight and we will be sad again. But that is why I love baseball. When you go to a game, you never know if an amazing moment will occur. It could be a perfect game by Felix Hernandez, a triple play, a four homer game (Mike Cameron), or a massive second deck go-ahead rocket by the franchise cornerstone.
The M’s are 3.5 back in the Wild Card and 4.5 back in the AL West. Will they catch the Twins or the Rangers? Seems unlikely. But as Julio said last night:
Tune in tonight. You might see something special. Baseball has a way of showing that to you.
How I feel on Opening Day: “If you don't believe, why are you even here?”
How I feel on Game 162: “If you don't believe, why are you even here?”
Why Baseball is the best.
Go M’s.
Took my boys to the game last night - Teacher Appreciation ($10 view level), Pokémon Go, AND fireworks… didn’t turn it down. Leaned over to my son and said, “How about a homer here from Julio to give them the lead?” just before the pitch. What a moment, and what a night!