THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: A lot of ask of capable M's

Maybe it was wishful thinking. 

Or maybe it was trying to light a fire under someone. 

Whatever made Rick Rizzs tell the crowd at his retirement press conference that the Mariners were going to win the World Series in 2026, I hope we’re ready for this ride in the coming months. 

THERE HAS been plenty of times where the Mariners come into the season with high expectations, but never like this. 

Not when you’ve got a proven pitching rotation led by guys like Bryan Woo, Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo, George Kirby and Bryce Miller ready to take the ball on a nightly basis. 

And, should someone get hurt, they’ve got Emerson Hancock waiting for his turn. 

And who knows? Maybe the Mariners could opt to run a six-man starting rotation this year. 

Offensively, things got a lot better at first base with the addition of slugger Josh Naylor, who will be a mainstay in the lineup after having the option to leave town in free agency. 

Seattle continues to fish around for a third baseman and will likely be doing that until the trade deadline in August. 

They could also opt to sign third baseman Eugenio Suarez with the idea of finishing what they started last October. 

In the outfield, it appears the Mariners have depth coming out their ears with Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodriguez and Victor Robles the projected starters, with Luke Raley and Dominic Canzone just waiting for their opportunity. 

Chances are, someone won’t be with the team when the season starts in March, but that’s to be expected anymore. 

The real mystery will be if Cal Raleigh can come anywhere close to his season in 2025. 

Nobody expects him to hit 60 home runs again, nor hit .247 and drive in 125 runs. 

You just can’t rely on that to be successful. 

Thankfully, it looks as if the Mariners are set up to be a little better than the team that started the season last year.

Then again, if Naylor and Rodriguez can get out to hot starts, the Mariners might be able to make up for a lot of those unreal power numbers Raleigh had last season. 

BACK TO Rizzs, who has been the radio voice of the Mariners for well over 40 years. 

He’s seen more than a few ballgames in his time, including those peak games in 1995 and the 2001 run to 116 wins. 

Sure, it could just be a reaction to the team being so close last season and just believing this team is destined for great things. 

It worked out well for the Seahawks when they lost to Atlanta in 2013, then went on their Super Bowl run in beating the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl in 2014. 

Not saying that lightning could strike again, but you just never know. 

At any level, coaches or players look for a reason to play a little harder throughout a season and give an extra push when things aren’t going well. 

It’s still early and plenty can and will happen.

Rizzs just gave this Mariner team a reason to work a little harder in during spring training. 

To keep pushing when things aren’t looking great in July and August. 

If that happens, it could be a really good retirement gift. 

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1206 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on ‘X’, formerly Twitter @JECdAPress.