After a whirlwind offseason, Mariners spring training is right around the corner

This without question has been the most whirlwind offseason with the Mariners I have ever covered. Some winters you are searching for news. This year the news never stopped coming. We appear to be in a bit of a pause right now, however, as the team is nearly complete.

Before we know it, pitchers and catchers will be reporting to Peoria, Ariz. for spring training. There are far more baseball-less days behind us than there are ahead of us and when the calendar turns, those days will start to fly by. We are almost there.

We are also almost to Christmas, and with the gifts all wrapped and a few quiet minutes to spare, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank all of you for following along throughout the year and give a special thanks to those who have contributed in the comment section. I’ve learned a lot from a number of you and enjoyed the interaction with such a diverse group of passionate baseball and Mariners fans. You quite often give me needed, new eyes on what I am watching and I hope I have been able to give you at least the tiniest picture of what I see every day.

Win or lose, good year, average year or bad year, the day-in, day-out ride you can take with a baseball team if you so chose is like no other fan experience in sports. It’s a commitment, but so much to see, hear, learn and ultimately enjoy in baseball.

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and much happiness in the new year. And with a little luck perhaps, some very good baseball, too.