The Seattle Mariners' 2007 season was their 31st in franchise history, and has started with the Mariners trying to win their first AL West title since they tied the MLB record for wins in a season in the 2001. Right fielder José Guillén and designated hitter José Vidro were expected to be key players for the year.
After spending two and a half seasons managing the Mariners and guiding the team to a 44-33 record this season, including a Major League-best 25-12 record since May 22, manager Mike Hargrove shocked the team by announcing his resignation prior to a July 1 game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Hargrove said he could no longer give the same passion or commitment to his bosses and players. Bench coach John McLaren was named as Hargrove's replacement. The Mariners won eight consecutive games between June 23 and July 1, making Hargrove the first manager since 1900 to resign his position after a winning streak of more than seven games.
The Mariners longest winning streak was eight games between 23 June to 1 July, while their longest losing streak was nine, from 25 August to 2 September, effectively ending their running for the ALDS.
For the seventh consecutive time in his seven year career, Ichiro Suzuki was named to the All-Star Game, held at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Closing pitcher J. J. Putz was selected to his first All-Star Game. Suzuki was voted the Most Valuable Player of the All-Star game, going 3-for-3 with a two-run, inside-the-park home run (the first home run in All-Star history to be hit inside the park). Three days after the All-Star game, on July 13, The Mariners announced that they had signed Suzuki to a five-year contract extension with an estimated value of $90 million, making Suzuki the highest-paid player in Mariners history for the second time.
Famous quotes containing the words seattle, mariners and/or season:
“I once heard of a murderer who propped his two victims up against a chess board in sporting attitudes and was able to get as far as Seattle before his crime was discovered.”
—Robert Benchley (1889–1945)
“Ye Mariners of England
That guard our native seas!
Whose flag has braved a thousand years
The battle and the breeze!”
—Thomas Campbell (1774–1844)
“Business by no means forbids pleasures; on the contrary, they reciprocally season each other; and I will venture to affirm that no man enjoys either in perfection that does not join both.”
—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694–1773)