Dave Sims looks at the Mariners' prospects for getting 'off the schneid'

It's opening day for the Seattle Mariners! And as they say, hope springs eternal. Thanks to an encouraging 90-win season last year and some big moves in the off-season, Mariners fans are feeling quite a bit of hope heading into 2022.

You may have heard the Mariners haven't reached the post-season in 21 years, which stands as the longest post-season drought in North American pro sports and means for now the team remains "on the schneid."

But the Mariners have added some excellent players to this year's squad, including Cy Young winner Robbie Ray, who will be on the mound today for the Mariners' opening day match against the Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis, and all-star outfielder Jesse Winker.

Not to mention, the upcoming debut of 21-year-old phenom Julio Rodriguez, regarded as one of the top prospects in baseball.

For more on what to expect this season, KUOW's Kim Malcolm sat down with Dave Sims, play-by-play broadcaster for the Mariners.

Sims said he was especially excited to see the Mariners beef up their offense with the addition of Winker and third-baseman Eugenio Suarez. In 2021, the Mariners hit .226 as a team, the lowest hitting average in the league.

"The promise and expectations are just a total flip from last year at this same time," Sims said. "If that doesn't get your juices flowing, you're not doing something right."

This year's home opener is next Friday, April 15, Jackie Robinson Day, which honors Robinson's debut at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, when he became the first African American to play in the major leagues.

Sims said he grew up hearing stories from his father about watching Robinson play in Brooklyn.

"I always feel like I'm part of the last generation of black folks who are totally committed to baseball, loving baseball and following it," he said. "We're trying to reignite the passion in the Black community for baseball."