Building culture: Scott Servais keeps the talk going with Mariners’ dress-up flight

Looking good, guys. #GoMariners pic.twitter.com/um0AqbZVog

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) June 1, 2016

While the fun started on the field Tuesday for the Mariners with their 16-4 win over the Padres, it continued as they prepared to leave for a five-game road trip. The team was given the assignment of accessorizing their travel attire with something that represents where they are from or expresses their personality in some way. Manager Scott Servais let them know about this during the last Kangaroo Court session, which took place in Baltimore 10 days prior.

“The reason? It gives the guys something to talk about for the next eight days,” Servais explained earlier this week.

Talking has been a big part of the culture that Servais has established in the the Mariners clubhouse – from the spring training meetings to installing a pool table in the clubhouse to the walks around the outfield he takes during batting practice. It is tough to quantify just what this has brought to the club, but there is no question that there is a very different feel around the club.

Related: Mariners may need to pump the brakes with steals

According to Servais, there is method to the madness.

“You can’t talk about winning all the time. It wears people out, it doesn’t work,” he said. “Talk about our culture, talk about our environment, having fun, what are we going to do today … And every day someone comes up, like Adam Lind, ‘Hey man, you should see what I got going,’ and tells me what he has got.”

Lind certainly did have something going. Born and raised in Indiana, he represented the Hoosier state well in Indiana University basketball warmups he bought online from the IU bookstore and a bright red blazer from Leroy’s in downtown Seattle. Kyle Seager and Chris Iannetta also went the college route, wearing North Carolina blue. Among those with jerseys, Steve Cishek from Massachusetts was wearing Tom Brady, Edgar Martinez a team Puerto Rico jersey, Manny Acta sporting Aguilas winter league team jersey, and Taijuan Walker was in full Lakers Kobe Bryant gear.

On the more creative side, Dae-Ho Lee wore a decorative Korean jacket, while Wade Miley dressed as a Louisiana cowboy complete with camo blazer and jeans tucked into his boots. Robinson Cano was in the all-white, pants rolled up, straw hat garb of a “campesino” or sugar cane farmer. Strength and conditioning coach James Clifford, a former Huskies football player, decked himself out in the purple and gold of UW, and Steve Johnson wore a suite and tie made from material that was printed with the design of the Maryland state flag. Nick Vincent, who hails from San Diego, was in swim trunks, blazer, flip flops and sunscreen. First base coach Casey Candaele, a Southern California beach bum.

On the more dapper end of the scale, the Venezuelans wore suits with Vz tee-shirts and flag headbands. Nathan Karns wore a sharp black suit with a Texas flag dress suit and Seth Smith from Jackson, Miss., looked the complete Southern gentleman in a blue and white seersucker suit.

As for the skipper? Wisconsin would be proud. Green Bay Packers blazer and a cheesehead.

In short, this group is a wild potluck.

“It is,” Servais agreed. “I think the way our team is built, that’s our niche,” said Servais. “We are so diverse that we have to celebrate it, make it fun. Let’s talk about the Koreans, the Japanese, the Dominicans, the Venezuelans, the Cubans, the Louisianans.”

The group clearly enjoyed the day, and the preparation beforehand. In the process, they have learned a little bit more about each other, something Servais believes is very important.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed it, continuing to learn about guys. Every day just going through the outfield, it’s amazing the stuff they will talk about if you let them talk. Got to let them talk.”

Follow @shannondrayer