Happy Opening Day from The I-5 Corridor
Send in your mailbag questions.
Opening day is good.
I don’t have a long post today to do one of my favorite days of the year justice, but thankfully a lot of really good writers have invested their time waxing poetic about what should be a national holiday.
How’s Adley Rutschman Day sound?
Goodness, earlier today the Sherwood phenom became the first catcher to notch five hits on Opening Day since at least 1900. He smacked the third pitch he saw over the right field wall and followed with four singles and a walk.
He might be good, folks.
Unfortunately, Northwest baseball fans will have to wait until August before the Orioles come to Seattle. That’ll be Felix Hernandez Mariners Hall of Fame induction weekend. And, if things go as expected, T-Mobile Park will be the rocking home of a team in the thick of a pennant chase.
I’d buy tickets. Should be electric.
Writing expected up there felt weird, though.
Usually, Seattle opening day comes with hopes of best case scenarios dependent on career years, elastic UCLs and that former top prospect suddenly learning how to hit the breaking ball.
And while it would still be nice if that former top prospect could suddenly learn how to hit the breaking ball, the 2023 Mariners should be just fine regardless.
There’s depth and personality to this roster, and if Julio Rodriguez could learn how to pitch, he might be the best player in baseball.
Do you know what’s nice? Reading season previews about the team you like without everything boiling down to whether or not this will be the year they finally make the playoffs. The drought is over. And hey, maybe the Mariners’ complete lack of spending this offseason compared to other World Series contenders has them fall on their faces.
But for the time being, I’m going to enjoy the little things that come with following a city gripped by baseball again, like my 5-year-old nephew falling for the same things I did back in the 90s: A superstar and great writing.
From Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci, via my Sister-in-Law1.
— Tyson Alger
ALSO FOR PAID SUBSCRIBERS: Send in your mailbag questions. We’ll knock one out next week!
From Wisconsin.
Well, the M's did sign Julio Rodriguez to what amounts to a lifetime contract during the season last year. And if they are in contention after the All-Star break I would not be surprised to see them become 'buyers' and deal some cheddar to improve the club for the stretch and playoffs.