The Mariners, in the opinion of Hall of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons.
In Peoria, Arizona, a wealth of MLB spring training experience totaling 185 years was gathered Sunday morning on one side of the third-base dugout at the Mariners’ complex. Peter Gammons, in his 53rd big-league spring training, stood by the dugout fence for nearly an hour, reminiscing and exchanging stories. Alongside him were Mariners broadcasters Rick Rizzs (in his 49th camp) and Dave Sims (in his 18th), along with retired Seattle Times columnist Larry Stone (in his 38th), Mariners KIRO 710 reporter Shannon Drayer (in her 23rd), and a humble Times reporter, thrilled to be present in his fourth camp.
Gammons, a figure of baseball royalty renowned for his decades-long career as a distinguished reporter at The Boston Globe, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and MLB Network, was the focal point of attention. Mariners manager Scott Servais and Justin Hollander, among others, warmly welcomed him to Peoria.
Living in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Gammons annually attends numerous Cape Cod League games, a premier league for college players. It was here that he first encountered George Kirby, who pitched for the Harwich Mariners in 2018 at the age of 20, impressing Gammons and the scouts from the Yankees and Red Sox he was seated with.
Ever since that initial encounter, Gammons has been captivated by Kirby, so much so that he expressed a preference for Kirby if he had to select one young pitcher to anchor a team. Drawing parallels between Kirby and Hall of Famer John Smoltz, Gammons extolled Kirby’s pitching prowess and his ability to consistently deliver strikes with an impressive pitching motion.
Regarding the Mariners’ prospects for the upcoming season, Gammons expressed optimism, envisioning them as a playoff contender and praising their starting pitching as the best in the American League. Seattle holds a special place in Gammons’ heart, being one of his favorite cities to visit, and he fondly recalls the great Mariners teams of the 1990s, particularly moments like Ken Griffey Jr.’s electrifying runs on Edgar Martinez’s hits, which are etched into baseball lore.
