The 2009 Mariners thread (errmmm, uhhhhhh, ehhhhh)

[Bond James Bond]

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/s...9/daily15.html

Monday, March 9, 2009, 2:56pm PDT
Seattle Mariners lose $4.5 million in 2008
Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle)

The Seattle Mariners lost $4.53 million in 2008, according to the team’s annual report released Monday.

The financial losses come after the M’s posted the second-worst record in Major League Baseball and saw attendance slide 13 percent. The losses mark the first time the Mariners finished in the red since moving to Safeco Field in 1999.

It’s a dramatic turnaround from 2007, when the Mariners reported a $17.8 million profit. Team officials said the poor financial performance is more related to fallout from losses on the playing field than to the recession.

In 2007, the M’s were contenders and won 88 games, drawing nearly 150,000 more fans than the American League average. Overall the team drew 2.67 million fans for 81 home games in 2007, averaging 32,992 fans per game.

In 2008, the team drew 2.33 million fans, more than 100,000 below the league average, according to the Baseball Almanac. The Mariners’ average of 28,763 fans was a 13 percent drop from 2007 — and added up to the club’s worst attendance since 1995, when the Mariners were still playing in the Kingdome.

Despite the financial losses, Mariners officials say the team is still a very healthy franchise. Between 2001 and 2007, the club raked in nearly $100 million in profits, which the team said the owners have plowed back into the team. The team announced that the ownership group did not draw any money from the franchise in 2008, which has been the case since the group purchased the team in 1992.

Under the terms of the stadium lease, the Mariners are required to share 10 percent of annual profits with the Washington State Major League Baseball Public Facilities District, the public agency that oversees Safeco Field, once the team recoups $200 million in operating losses. Those losses accumulated from 1995 to 1999, the year the team moved into Safeco Field.

Despite last year’s losses, the Mariners said that a special adjustment means that the M’s will reflect a $1.9 million gain toward whittling down the cumulative net loss, which now stands at $51 million.

The Mariners’ 2008 fiscal year ended Oct. 31. The team is required each spring to submit an annual report under the terms of its 20-year lease at Safeco.

[Bond James Bond]

Ichiro's old house is for sale. Anyone wanna buy it? Only $1.75 million!
http://blog.seattlepi.com/realestate...ves/164829.asp

I guess that means he bought a new one somewhere else.

[RMacherat]

Yeah, it scared me for a moment when I first heard it. Cue the Ichiro-Griffey issue next. The price is very surprising, and the comments beneath the story are embarrassing. (World - most of those guys are not from here originally, honest.)

[Bond James Bond]

And the Mariners starting rotation is . . .
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/200...rting.pitchers

[M'sFan]

The M's starting rotation is not too bad, with the glaring exception that is Carlos Silva (thanks Mr. Bavasi). If things go well, there will actually be enjoyable baseball this summer! With everyone playing on all cylinders, and some luck, we may even semi-contend with the Angels.

[BoulderGrad]

Haha, I saw this in the stadiums page, and just had to share it. Its a booth in the new Yankee Stadium. Both Safeco and Qwest are big on having local business of Seattle being represented. Why not have a stand for local farmers? A sunday farmers market at every Seahawks game, or a weekly thing for weekend mariners games? It would work!

[Bond James Bond]

I'm sure if they did that they'd charge $5 per apple.

[Bond James Bond]

Ichiro will start the year on the DL.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm..._ichiro04.html

[M'sFan]

The day I look forward to all winter long...

[Seattlelife]

Another over-hyped under-performed Mariners season? Woo hoo...

[M'sFan]

Not just the M's, but baseball...I always think of James Earl Jones' speech at the end of Field of Dreams, beautiful summer nights at the Safe, and playing pick up games with my buddies. I know football has taken over as the national pastime, but baseball is my first love.

[Seattlelife]

Originally Posted by M'sFan

Not just the M's, but baseball...I always think of James Earl Jones' speech at the end of Field of Dreams, beautiful summer nights at the Safe, and playing pick up games with my buddies. I know football has taken over as the national pastime, but baseball is my first love.

I'm a bitter basketball fan so please bare with me. Thanks! I still think MLB baseball is the national pastime. It's easily the best league in the country, baseball is great in general, and the MLB playoffs are amazing. Then of course you get beautiful stadiums and weather together and it's one of a kind. I totally understand what you mean. I'm just bitter because of Seattle's blind Ms following while kicking the Sonics out the door, not saying you are one.

I'm excited to see new Yankee Stadium, it looks incredible! I'll be there rooting on the Mariners, hopefully. I hope to see Citi Field too, although it doesn't look nearly as good imo.

[Bond James Bond]

They won!!

[Seattlelife]

plus Griffey homered!!!

[SJM]

A new day, a new way!

[M'sFan]

Ah, no worries Seattlelife. I knew by your Supersonics banner your heart is in the right place.

Yesterday felt good! A little balm on the injuries left over from what was the train wreck of 2008 in Seattle sports. The only thing that would have made it better is if that game was at Safeco.

Let's see what Bedard has today. If Bedard is any semblance of what he was his last couple of years in Baltimore, we could have the best top of the rotation in the AL. That would make for a fun summer.

[Bond James Bond]

I hope the game today wasn't portents of things to come, but I have a feeling it is.

[M'sFan]

So the delusion lasted one day...ah, summer in Seattle...

[M'sFan]

Mostly kidding...I still think they'll be decent.

[M'sFan]

Hey! We won! We're .500!