So, I was fiddling around the other day, trying to remember some specifics about baseball seasons from way back. You know how one thought leads to another? Well, I landed on the Seattle Mariners, specifically that year right before their huge 2001 season. That was the year 2000.
I sat there for a bit, trying to pull the names out of my head. It’s funny what sticks and what fades. Some faces popped right up, others were fuzzy. So, I decided, alright, let’s actually nail this down. Had to go through the process of digging it up properly.
Recalling the Crew
First thing, I tried just listing guys off the top of my head.
- Alex Rodriguez at shortstop, that was easy. Young A-Rod, before all the Texas and New York stuff.
- Edgar Martinez, the legend, gotta have Edgar at DH. Automatic.
- John Olerud at first base, smooth swing, always remembered him.
- Dan Wilson behind the plate, solid catcher for years.
Then it got a bit tougher. Who was in the outfield? Okay, Mike Cameron came over in that big Griffey trade, right? He was definitely there, taking center field. Jay Buhner… was he still playing much then? Had to check that one. Yep, he was still listed, though injuries were catching up. Rickey Henderson even had a stint with them that year, totally forgot about that brief stop!
Pitching Staff Memories
Then I moved onto the arms. Who was throwing the ball?
Jamie Moyer, of course. Felt like he pitched forever, and he was already the veteran presence back then. Aaron Sele had a pretty good year for them, if I recall. Freddy Garcia was one of the younger guys making a name for himself.
And the bullpen… ah! Kazuhiro Sasaki! The closer, “Daimajin,” he was dominant that year, racking up the saves. Can’t forget him.
Putting it Together
So, after jogging the memory and doing a quick lookup to fill the gaps, the core group came back into focus. Guys like Mark McLemore playing everywhere, David Bell holding down third base. It wasn’t the record-breaking team of ’01, but it was a darn good squad that won the Wild Card.
It’s just interesting going through that exercise. Seeing the names brings back the feel of that specific time in baseball. Good bunch of players. Solid year for the M’s, even if it ended in the ALCS against the Yankees. Just a little trip down memory lane, figuring out who wore the uniform back in 2000.
