The Mariners are staring down a 48-49 record as they kick off their second half against the San Francisco Giants this Friday, and longtime radio broadcaster Rick Rizzs, in his 41st season with the M’s, isn’t holding back. He’s got “unfinished business” before he hangs up his mic for good after this year, and that means he wants to see this team fighting in the playoffs and ultimately getting to the World Series. For Rizzs, who announced in January that 2026 would be his last season, the reality of retirement is definitely settling in.
Rizzs’s Farewell Tour and His Playoff Demand
It’s been 52 seasons behind a microphone overall for the voice of our Mariners, and Rizzs, at 72, has even cut back on road trips, with his next one not until September. He’s been enjoying the preview of retirement with his grandkids and his cat Sparky, named after legendary Tigers manager Sparky Anderson. “I’m starting to feel like what retirement is going to be like, and I’m liking the time off,” Rizzs said on “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio. But don’t get it twisted, he’s not going anywhere just yet, and he’s insistent on that “unfinished business.” He believes this team, *if* they get healthy and play up to their potential, can absolutely make a special finish and win the AL West.
The Grim Reality and The Three-Part Fix
Right now, our M’s sit just a game and a half behind the Texas Rangers in the American League West. Rizzs laid out a three-part formula for a second-half surge: get healthy, hit better with runners in scoring position, and improve the right-handed hitters’ numbers against left-handed pitching. That second point is hitting hard, especially after the team hit a dismal .052 in their five straight losses on the road. “They’re going to slug. They’re going to hit their home runs. But I love two-run home runs, three-run home runs,” Rizzs emphasized. Injuries have absolutely plagued Seattle all season. The good news? Outfielder Julio Rodríguez is expected to return Friday after missing the past week. Rizzs noted that the team hasn’t had their one through nine in the starting lineup since day one.
Trade Deadline Buzz and Future Arms
With the August 3rd trade deadline fast approaching, Rizzs expects our front office, led by President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto and General Manager Justin Hollander, to be active. He’s looking for a right-handed bat and another power arm for the bullpen. “Jerry always finds a way to pull off a deal,” Rizzs said, and we’ve seen it before. Beyond the current roster, Rizzs can’t stop raving about the pitching pipeline. Double-A right-hander Cade Anderson is crushing it in his first professional season, going 8-0 with a ridiculous 1.22 ERA through 13 starts, 99 strikeouts, and just 10 walks. Both Anderson and fellow prospect Ryan Sloan even appeared in Sunday’s All-Star Futures Game.
The M’s have their work cut out for them this weekend against the Giants, but with Julio back and the trade deadline looming, here’s hoping Dipoto and Hollander can make Rizzs’s final season a truly unforgettable one for the Emerald City.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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