Is There Anybody Out There?

Last night, only 24,841 turned out for the Mariners 7-6 win over the A's. That's the smallest crowd in Safeco Field history.

The Mariners committed more than $100 million to big name free agents this winter in an attempt to improve a last place team. But the casual baseball fan does not know the names Beltre and Sexson, and until the Mariners start winning, that fan won't come to the games.

This makes it much easier sneak down to the relatively deserted field level after shelling out only $7 for bleacher seats. It's almost like reliving the mid-80s, when Seattlest would leave the house at 6:45 for a 7:05 game, encounter no traffic, park free at the Bemis Bag factory, walk two blocks to the Kingdome, and buy seats halfway up the first-base line in the 10th row for $7.

In those days, a crowd of 24,841 would have been cause for celebration. The M's averaged barely 10,000 fans a night.

The 2005 Mariners aren't great, but they are much more fun to watch than last year's booooring team. They play great defense, have solid pitching, and some excellent batsmen who are bound to start hitting better than they have. So until the rest of Seattle discovers them, you can get pretty close to the action.

The Mariners play Oakland tonight at 7:05, hoping to sweep the short series. Buy tickets.