2000 Seattle Mariners: Down to the Wire

August 24th, 2016
By Joel Magaraci
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The regular season came down to the wire for the 2000 Seattle Mariners as they went back and forth against their division rivals, the Oakland Athletics. On February 10, 2000, the Mariners traded star center fielder Ken Griffey Jr., who had been with the team since 1989, to the Cincinnati Reds. In return they got center fielder Mike Cameron, pitcher Brett Tomko, infielder Antonio Perez and minor leaguer Jake Meyer. The trade ended one era of Seattle baseball. The Mariners went 91-71 in 2000 and finished just half a game behind the Oakland Athletics in the American League West, but they clinched the Wild Card. The Mariners went 47-34 at home and 44-37 on the road. 2000 was the team’s first full year at Safeco Field.

The Mariners Lineup

Designated hitter Edgar Martinez led the 2000 Seattle Mariners offense, batting .324 with 37 home runs and 145 RBIs on 180 hits and 31 doubles. Shortstop Alex Rodriguez batted .316 with 41 home runs and 132 RBIs on 175 hits, 34 doubles and 15 stolen bases. First baseman John Olerud, who signed with the Mariners on December 15, 1999, batted .285 with 14 home runs and 103 RBIs on 161 hits and 45 doubles. Reserve outfielder Stan Javier batted .275 with 94 hits, 18 doubles and 5 triples in 105 games.

Mike Cameron had 19 home runs and 78 RBIs on 145 hits, 28 doubles, 4 triples and 24 stolen bases. Right fielder Jay Buhner had 26 home runs and 82 RBIs on 92 hits and 20 doubles in 112 games. Third baseman David Bell had 11 home runs, 112 hits and 24 doubles. Left fielder Rickey Henderson had 77 hits, 13 doubles and 31 stolen bases in 92 games after signing on May 19. Catcher Dan Wilson had 63 hits and 12 doubles in 90 games. Infielder Carlos Guillen had 74 hits and 15 doubles in 90 games.

The Mariners Pitching Staff

Starting Rotation

Starting pitcher Aaron Sele went 17-10 with 137 strikeouts, 2 complete games and 2 shutouts. Paul Abbott went 9-7 with 100 strikeouts. John Halama went 14-9 with 87 strikeouts, 1 complete game and 1 shutout. Jamie Moyer went 13-10 with 98 strikeouts. Freddy Garcia went 9-5 with 79 strikeouts and a 3.91 ERA. Gil Meche went 4-4 with a 3.78 ERA and recorded 1 complete game and 1 shutout.

Bullpen

Closer Kazuhiro Sasaki had 37 saves and a 3.16 ERA. Relief pitcher Jose Mesa had 1 save and 84 strikeouts. Jose Paniagua went 3-0 with 5 saves, 71 strikeouts and a 3.47 ERA. Arthur Rhodes had 77 strikeouts. Robert Ramsay went 1-1 with a 3.40 ERA. Brett Tomko went 7-5 with 1 save.

The 2000 Postseason

Sweeping the White Sox in the ALDS

The Mariners convincingly swept the Chicago White Sox 3 games to none in the American League Division Series. In Game 1 on October 3 at Comiskey Park II, the Mariners won 7-4. In the top of the 1st inning, Alex Rodriguez had an RBI single, and John Olerud followed with an RBI groundout. In the top of the 2nd, catcher Joe Oliver hit a solo home run. In the bottom of the 2nd, center fielder Chris Singleton had an RBI triple and then scored on a wild pitch. In the bottom of the 3rd, second baseman Ray Durham hit a solo home run, and right fielder Magglio Ordonez followed with an RBI triple. In the top of the 7th, Mike Cameron had an RBI single to tie the game. In the top of the 10th, Edgar Martinez smashed a 2-run home run, and Olerud followed with an RBI groundout.

The Mariners then won Game 2 on October 4 by a score of 5-2. In the bottom of the 1st inning, shortstop Jose Valentin had an RBI double. In the top of the 2nd, David Bell had an RBI single, and Dan Wilson followed with a sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the 3rd, left fielder Carlos Lee had a sacrifice fly. Jay Buhner hit a solo home run in the top of the 4th, Rodriguez had an RBI groundout in the top of the 5th, and Cameron had an RBI single in the top of the 9th.

Seattle completed the 3-game sweep at Safeco Field in Game 3 on October 6 by a score of 2-1. Aaron Sele pitched 7.1 innings and gave up 3 hits, 3 walks and 1 run while recording 1 strikeout. Third baseman Herbert Perry had a sacrifice fly in the top of the 2nd inning, but the Mariners answered with an RBI single by Stan Javier in the bottom of the 4th and then won the game on a walk-off RBI bunt single by Carlos Guillen in the bottom of the 9th.

Falling to the Yankees in the ALCS

The Mariners’ season was ended by the eventual 2000 World Series champion New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series, as they fell to the Bronx Bombers 4 games to 2. However, the Mariners performed well in their 2 victories against the Yankees. The Mariners blanked the Yankees 2-0 in Game 1 on October 10 at Yankee Stadium II. Freddy Garcia pitched 6.2 innings and gave up 3 hits and 2 walks while recording 8 strikeouts. Rickey Henderson had an RBI single in the top of the 5th, and Rodriguez hit a solo home run in the top of the 6th.

The Mariners also won Game 5 at Safeco Field on October 15 by a score of 6-2. Olerud had a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 1st inning. In the top of the 4th, second baseman Luis Sojo had a 2-run double. In the bottom of the 5th, Rodriguez had a 2-run single, Martinez blasted a 2-run home run, and Olerud capped things off with a solo home run.

A Foundation for the Future

While they didn’t get the result they wanted, the 2000 Seattle Mariners were well on their way to reaching their full potential, and the very next season would prove even more fruitful.

Note: The original had an unfinished sentence, “Second baseman Mark McLemore,” with no stats after it. I took it out so I wouldn’t invent numbers. If the writer can supply his 2000 stats, add him back to the second lineup paragraph.