Longtime Seattle Mariners broadcaster Rick Rizzs finds himself savoring every moment of what will be his final year calling games for the franchise.
Seattle Mariners broadcaster Rick Rizzs throws out the first pitch prior to game five of the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays at T-Mobile Park. Thursday night, longtime broadcaster Rick Rizzs finds himself savoring every moment of what will be his final year calling games for the franchise.
” before the home opener against Cleveland. “It’s finally here, opening day, our 50th season. A sellout crowd on Opening Day is like a celebration, it’s a national holiday.” The 41-year Mariners voice, now in his 52nd year in professional baseball and 44th in the majors, acknowledged the weight of beginning his farewell tour, but said he plans to approach it with measured emotion. “I’m just going to take it as another opening day,” Rizzs said. “I’ve been thinking about this for the last couple of seasons, and now it’s here, and I’m just going to enjoy every drop of the season. Every play, everything is going to be heightened for me.” Right-hander Logan Gilbert will take the mound as the Opening Day starter for the second consecutive year, a role Rizzs called “an honor.” Gilbert dominated in last year’s opener against Oakland, going seven innings in a 4-2 comeback victory. “He retired 21 of 23 batters in the ball game,” Rizzs recalled. “If Logan Gilbert is anywhere near tonight what he was at opening day last year — seven innings, didn’t walk anybody, struck out six — the Mariners are going to be in good shape.” The Mariners enter 2026 as consensus World Series favorites, a dramatic shift from the hopeful optimism that has defined previous campaigns. Seattle returns a pitching rotation built almost entirely through the draft — Gilbert , George Kirby , Emerson Hancock , Bryce Miller , and Bryan Woo — supplemented by three-time All-Star Luis Castillo. “What it says is that Jerry Dipoto and Justin Hollander and the guys in the front office built this team around starting pitching,” Rizzs said. “It’s the hardest thing to cultivate in Major League Baseball, and the Mariners hit on every guy.” Miller will begin the season on the injured list with an oblique strain suffered in spring training, but Hancock is expected to fill the void seamlessly.“They said no to everybody that wanted any one of our five starters, because that’s the strength of this team,” Rizzs said. “You win with starting pitching and great defense, and now you’ve got an offense to go with it.”'Just not as physical': Shawn Kemp warns fans how much the NBA has changed with SuperSonics' return looming The sting of last October’s American League Championship Series loss to Toronto — Seattle squandered a 2-0 series lead — still motivates the clubhouse. “They got a bitter taste in their mouth,” Rizzs said. “They knew they should have gotten to the World Series for the first time. They know there’s unfinished business. They know they have the team to get back there. They know they have a team to win it.”“This is about expectations,” he said. “They are expected to win the division, they are expected to get to the World Series, and everybody in that clubhouse knows it. They embrace it, and they’re ready to go get it.” As for the Cheetos superstition that became a clubhouse phenomenon during last year’s late-season surge — when the team won 17 of 18 games after Dipoto delivered bags of the orange snacks — Rizzs confirmed the tradition will continue.When asked what a championship would mean, Rizzs’s thoughts turned outward. “I want this team to win it for the fans in the Northwest, because the fans are the ones who deserve a World Series champion,” he said. “And they’ve got the team to get them there.”Longtime Seattle Mariners broadcaster Rick Rizzs finds himself savoring every moment of what will be his final year calling games for the franchise.An Arlington resident is facing a charge of first-degree theft after Washington L&I conducted a workers’ compensation fraud investigation. ‘Just not as physical’: Shawn Kemp warns fans how much the NBA has changed with SuperSonics’ return looming "It's just not as physical, but I think you'll see that those things change in the future," Shawn Kemp said."I think people miss seeing defense."The Purr-fect Pals Cat Sanctuary in Arlington is seeking forever homes for more than 100 cats, many of whom have complex medical needs.A man wanted in connection with a double homicide investigation is now in custody, according to the Mason County Sheriff's Office.12 reasons to try Aegis Living respite care — yes, short stays are a thingChrystal Ortega's tireless dedication recently earned her the WSECU Community Champions Award and a $1,000 grant to further the mission.When Shawn Tibbitts opened Tibbitts FernHill, he was just trying to survive. The small Tacoma restaurant has since earned culinary awards and praise.Wilcox Family Farms is continuing its cherished holiday tradition of giving back by donating nearly one million eggs to food banks across the South Sound region this season.Matthew Ballantyne has transformed that early awareness into action, embodying the organization's mission:"No Kid Sleeps On The Floor In Our Town."
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Bothell couple renews wedding vows at home plate during Mariners spring trainingA Washington couple celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows at home plate during Seattle Mariners Spring Training — the same place where their love story began.
Read more »
The complete 2026 guide to Seattle Mariners Games at T-Mobile ParkIt's that time of the year! With the arrival of spring and high expectations for the Mariners, fans will be flocking to T-Mobile Park to watch the Mariners!
Read more »
Seattle Mariners Opening Day: Everything you need to knowThe Seattle Mariners kick off the 2026 season against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday. Here's everything you need to know.
Read more »
Seattle Mariners announce 2026 Opening Day rosterThe Seattle Mariners placed starting pitcher Bryce Miller and shortstop J.P. Crawford on the injured list as they set their 26-man roster for Thursday's opening day against the Cleveland Guardians.
Read more »
Opening day forecast throws Mariners fans a cold pitchTed Buehner is a longtime meteorologist expert for the Pacific Northwest.
Read more »
Seattle weather: Great weather for Mariners Opening DayThursday will be in the low 50s, which will be slightly below seasonal average. Sunshine will be around for the afternoon along with calmer winds.
Read more »