SHANNON DRAYER

Robinson Cano most proud that the Mariners played ‘as a family’

Oct 2, 2016, 12:26 PM | Updated: 12:44 pm

While the morning clubhouse rarely changes, this Sunday was very different for the Mariners. The music was on and guys were rolling in in their sweats, a lineup was posted and there was traffic between the training room and the locker room, but there were boxes in front of lockers. Had Seattle won Saturday night there would have been bat bags and suitcases ready to go if more fell their way Sunday. It was a tough sight to see as nobody wanted this season to end quite yet.

Despite the odds that hadn’t been in their favor, there was a belief in that clubhouse that the Mariners would be playing at the very least an extra game. Addressing his team after the loss Saturday was not easy for manager Scott Servais as he was not prepared to make an end-of-the-year speech. He believed they would still be playing next week.

Nelson Cruz said it had felt like the Mariners were writing the script in the last few weeks with so many things going their way. While they may need to work on the ending to that script, Robinson Cano believes there is a lot to be taken from the journey start to finish.

“I think the guys did a great job,” Cano said Sunday morning. “Nobody thought we would make it this far and be able to fight to the end. It’s something that I take a lot of pride in, especially with what we saw from the young guys. Guys who came from other teams, guys who got hurt and came back. It was an up-and-down season but we fought to the end.”

While Cano put up one of his best years numbers-wise, he says he takes even more pride in what he was able to do as a teammate. Cano, along with Cruz, Kyle Seager and Felix Hernandez, was instrumental in helping first year manager Scott Servais instill a culture in spring training in a manner that was perhaps a bit unconventional. Their buy-in, however, was paid off, according to Cano.

“All the things that the manager does to keep us together, we learned so much about ourselves, each other. We were able to play together not only as a team, but as a family.”

There were challenges to building that family and keeping it together with drastic roster turnover from the previous year and more throughout the season, yet the team continued to take steps forward. Thirty-one pitchers and one shortstop took the hill for the Mariners this year. At one point, three starting pitchers were on the DL at the same time. There was a switch at closer, and in the last week rookies stepped to the plate in crucial situations in must-win games.

That all happened on the field. Off the field there was the Swelmet, the M’s Olympics, Super Hero day and a number of team activities. All of this contributed to what no doubt is a new expectation of team, on and off the field, for the group in the clubhouse that finished the year with the team.

We will get into the numbers, the evaluations and the next steps in the coming weeks, but Sunday morning was more about what can’t be quantified but should not be undervalued. A tough season to see end, but a season which should raise expectations.

Mariners Roof Report

Brought to you by
Rain then Showers And Thunderstorms
High 54° | Low 41°
Roof is open
Red Sox at Mariners today at 7:10pm

Shannon Drayer

Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh...

Shannon Drayer

Why Mariners hitters are embracing new approach to offense

The Seattle Mariners have new players, new coaches and new messaging for their offense. Based on spring training, it's all landing.

21 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Gabe Speier...

Shannon Drayer

Inside how the Mariners’ pitching lab gets most out of relievers

With two of the Seattle Mariners' best relievers beginning the season on the injured list, the team's “pitching lab” has perhaps never been needed more.

2 days ago

Seattle Mariners Dominic Canzone...

Shannon Drayer

Breakdown: What Mariners bring north this year is very different

How is the group the Seattle Mariners are bringing north from Arizona? Insider Shannon Drayer details the roster -- and some thoughts from clubhouse leaders -- after 40 days at spring training.

3 days ago

Seattle Mariners Emerson Hancock...

Shannon Drayer

Drayer’s Mariners Notebook: Expectations for demoted players, more

Shannon Drayer details plans for the players not making the Seattle Mariners' opening day roster and much more in her latest notebook.

5 days ago

Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh Julio Rodríguez...

Shannon Drayer

Drayer: A look around the diamond as Mariners near opening day

Let's take a trip around the diamond with thoughts on each position as the Seattle Mariners are less than a week from the start of 2024.

6 days ago

Seattle Mariners Scott Servais...

Shannon Drayer

Drayer: Where Mariners stand as they enter final days of spring

Shannon Drayer checks in from Arizona with the Seattle Mariners just three days away from breaking their spring training camp.

7 days ago

Robinson Cano most proud that the Mariners played ‘as a family’