Seattle Mariners replace hope with expectations this year

He has always been one of the “hear him before you see him players,” but this spring Julio Rodríguez was seldom heard, his interactions with non-teammates limited to a single word or wave or nod while passing by. The actual sight of him stopped in one place, limited to the playing field.

Drayer: The state of the Mariners as camp breaks for opening day

Stories about Julio have been limited, as well. There is of course the social media presence, but aside from that, it was striking how much an afterthought to the spring training storylines he managed to be, particularly for a MVP finisher who many believe has the potential to challenge for the award this season.

Now granted, Rodríguez left camp for 2 1/2 weeks to participate in the World Baseball Classic, but still, this is Julio Rodríguez we are talking about. Aside from his daily joyous run from the batting cages, through the bullpen area and onto Field 1 with seeming every child on the back fields gleefully chasing him and shouting his name, in camp he was strikingly under the radar – perhaps by his own doing, as Rodríguez seemed to have learned to control the noise around him.

“I think he’s definitely shown a lot of maturity,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “I just really like where he’s at. He’s got a lot of confidence rolling. I think he feels more mature. He feels like he’s really understanding what his experience is telling him.”

Understanding what his experience is telling him. If that is not a last piece of the puzzle for an individual, I don’t know what is. And if this is true for Rodríguez, from what was seen this spring in Peoria, it seems what can be said of him can be said of the whole team.

“Getting to a postseason, getting deep in a postseason, it does give you the experience you need,” Wilson said. “I think if there is anything different, that’s what it would be is that we’ve been there, we understand it, that’s a motivator for us.”

No holes

It is such a different starting point for the Mariners than a year ago.

Last year in spring training, “focus on the little things” was the mantra. This year they know. They know how precious each strike thrown and each swing decision made is when you come eight outs away from the World Series.

A year ago this time, there were questions in the lineup and bullpen. What would Jorge Polanco be, and could he possibly play third base? Could Donovan Solano and the late-signed Rowdy Tellez produce enough at first? With the relievers brought into camp to compete for multiple spots in the bullpen, could the Mariners find or create another gem?

This year there is far more certainty with Josh Naylor locked in at first base, Brendan Donovan at third. There’s low-key excitement about a what a healthy Luke Raley can bring, and Cole Young has opened the eyes of teammates as well. That certainty, coupled with experience, brings confidence.

“Top to bottom, there’s no holes,” opening day starter Logan Gilbert said of the lineup. “As a pitcher, you want to get to a spot where you can slightly exhale barely. It’s hard in the big leagues to get there, but making it through 2-3-4 (of a batting order), you’re kind of like, that’s a big deal. We have that one through nine, I feel like, this year. So that’s the first time I’ve seen a lineup this deep, this powerful.”

Last year, there was still an element of hope built into to the equation. The Mariners hoped things would break right with some players and some situations. This year is not about hope for the Mariners. This team has been built, raised, curated and perhaps finished, forged in the postseason fire, to replace hope with expectations.

As one player put it in an early spring training team meeting, in the past, the World Series was a goal. This year it is an expectation. It’s a lofty step to take regardless of forum, but from day one of seeing this group together, there was no mistaking the step had been taken. From the words that were spoken to the way they carried themselves, it is clear this group of Mariners understands where they are and where they have been.

“This is a team that in some ways really understands what it takes to get to where we want to go. That is something that is going to help throughout the season,” Wilson said.

Go-time

A lot can happen in a baseball season, and the Mariners did not leave spring camp in Peoria unscathed with pitcher Bryce Miller, shortstop J.P. Crawford and utility player Miles Mastrobuoni left behind with minor injuries. The depth that was on display in Peoria, however, appears more complete than ever before, with a number near big league-ready prospects and experienced veterans available on both the position player and pitching side.

At this point, there’s little more to do than to play ball and embark on what may be the most eagerly anticipated Mariners season since their first.

“The guys have gotten what they needed, they’ve gotten the physical work, they’ve gotten the mental preparation,” Wilson said. “I think all our guys understand what go-time means.”

Seattle Mariners replace hope with expectations this year

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