I read a news report the other day that absolutely floored me. Seattle Mariners coach Dan Wilson was handed his pink slip Sunday as the season came to an end. This is the same coach who last year, in his first full season as head coach, was so celebrated for leading his charges to a 90-72 record. Respect of Wilson was evident with the Baseball Writers’ Association of America where he finished third in their voting for AL Manager of the Year after the Mariners captured an American League West title and earned their way to the A.L. Championship game.
The team’s fortunes last year were led by a breakout season from All-Star catcher Cal Raleigh. He averaged .247—the highest of his career—but really excelled with a Major League leading 60 home runs and an American League leading 125 RBI while walking 97 times. A sterling season by any measure.
This year saw Seattle struggle . . . and regress. At 76 wins and 86 losses, it was their worst record in the past five seasons. Raleigh backtracked to a subpar performance with a .182 batting average, only 23 home runs and 69 RBI. Some of the worst numbers of his career outside his 47-game rookie season.
Is this where we are in today’s world of sports where one disappointing season, one on the heels of tying the fifth best record in franchise history, warrants a dismissal? I accept the idea that the buck stops with the coach, however, my goodness. I wonder if UCLA’s legendary basketball coach John Wooden, the “Wizard of Westwood,” would have survived his early performance to win 10 national championships later in his career if this attitude was prevalent back then. 🤷♂️
Imagine being a high-performing executive or division head who’s pushed out shortly after delivering record revenue or a blockbuster quarter. That typically doesn’t happen . . . unless there’s more to story.
Further research uncovers that the appointment of Wilson as head coach was pushed by ownership, who bypassed a traditional extensive search. While the decision for Wilson not returning is being characterized as a mutual front office conclusion, that just doesn’t ring true to me. President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto stated that “collectively we failed to meet our own expectations this season.” OK, expectations were not met. But to axe the head coach . . . again, one season after such success? Where’s the accountability of the “collective?” Did Wilson put a spell on Raleigh? Was he the one on the mound giving up the hits, walks and runs? There’s gotta be more to this story.
I get it. It was a very disappointing season, but let’s keep this in perspective. The difference between 2025 and 2026 was 14 wins. In a season that covers 162 games, that’s less than a 10% difference. And from what I could ascertain, no coach in recent times whose team lost 14 more games season-to-season—or something closely approximating that—was fired. Plus, reports don’t suggest that the locker room was fractured . . . which would have been a definite reason to clean house.
I accept the fact that sports are no longer just sports but a business, and that decisions are made from a non-emotional corporate perspective, but, again, I question the rug being pulled out from underneath Wilson so quickly. Did the organization recognize Wilson with a raise . . . or at least a bonus . . . after the 2025 campaign? Nope. Indeed, it’s a one-way street. And sometimes actions just don’t make sense.