A Grip on Sports: Sorry M’s fans, there is a another year of building for the future ahead

A GRIP ON SPORTS • It’s Jan. 24, so what is on the agenda for today? Baseball, of course. Specifically, the Seattle Mariners, the region’s major league team. And its prospects for 2020.

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• Prognosis: negative. Sorry, but that’s the 2020 Mariner season in a nutshell. Before you start yelling about nattering nabobs of sports journalism, let me explain. We’re basing this sad outlook not on our personal observations but on the comments of the M’s general manager.

You know, the guy who is paid millions to put a winning team on the field.

But Jerry Dipoto doesn’t believe winning this upcoming season means actually winning games. Nope. It’s more about developing young players for the future. When it will have been at least two freaking full decades without a postseason appearance.

We didn’t write “without a World Series title” there. Nope. That’s not the goal for M’s fans in Blaine or Walla Walla. All anyone from Long Beach to Okanogan really wants is a chance to go on StubHub and see how much a ticket to a wild-card game in T-Mobile would be. Is that asking too much?

It seems to be. Mariner fans from Clark Fork, Idaho, to Tillamook, Ore., are bracing themselves for another season of “player development.”

Maybe the S-R should quit running the American League standings every day from April to October. Just list young players throughout baseball and how they have developed. Maybe the Mariners will be atop that list come July 4.

Those of us who have been around here since the turn of the century fear even that won’t happen. We’ve seen the local club tout its up-and-coming stars before, only see to see them crash to earth or shine in someone else’s firmament.

So excuse us for not getting all giddy. A little skepticism is fine in this regard.

But don’t let it blind you. Or destroy your capacity for hope. Someday the Mariners are going to do something special.

Hopefully, it will be while I still can walk up the T-Mobile stairs.

• Life is fleeting. Way too fleeting. That point was driven home again yesterday with the report a young man was killed in a one-car accident south of Spokane.

The news of Kellen Erickson’s death is personal.

In the past few months, I’ve gotten to know the Erickson family through Ferris High School basketball, where Kellen was a starter last season. The Ericksons are the type of people who are so common in Spokane, yet extraordinary at the same time. The type of family that is the backbone of our community, that makes this place so special to call home.

And now that family is devastated by the loss of a son, a brother, a grandson, at such a young age.

Kellen graduated from Ferris just last year, a 19-year-old young man with so much ahead. In a minute it wasn’t anymore. It shouldn’t ever be that way. But way too often it is. We can’t let it happen without fighting back.

Take a moment today to cherish your loved ones. To express gratitude for those close. To appreciate everyone around you. You never know when you will get the chance again.

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WSU: Theo Lawson took some time yesterday to talk with Larry Weir for the latest Press Box pod. … The Cougars have never won a basketball game in Boulder and they didn’t come close last night. Colorado dominated the second half and won 78-56. … She’s not their leading scorer, but Chanelle Molina means so much for Washington State. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12, three conference coaches have been reprimanded for comments about the basketball officiating. As far as anyone knows, however, no one has been fined. … Another game, another late collapse for Washington. This one came at Utah, which has struggled to win games lately as well. … USC had a chance for an upset in Oregon, but Payton Pritchard wouldn’t let it happen. The Ducks won in double overtime. … Oregon State struggled again and ended up losing to visiting UCLA. … There is no one better for Arizona State than Remy Martin. … In football news, Washington has a lot coming back up front on defense. … Oregon State has a favorable schedule next season. … Arizona State’s Jayden Daniels had a good freshman season, but he has things to work on.

Gonzaga: I attended the 70-36 rout of Pepperdine last night at the Kennel and I can honestly say I haven’t seen a less-athletic WCC women’s team in the past couple decades. The Waves were not in the same ocean of talent as GU, even though the Zags were without two key players. Jim Allen was also there and has this game story while Colin Mulvany adds a photo report. … Jalen Suggs, the Zags’ top commit for next season, was named a McDonald’s All-American. Jim has more in this story. … Jim also has the news of an upcoming visit from a 2021 recruit. … Justin Reed asked a bunch of folks associated with the men’s team to describe the squad in one word. What ensued is pretty interesting. … Around the WCC, for the second time this season, Saint Mary’s topped USF. … BYU, with Yoeli Childs back on the court, overpowered Pacific.

EWU and Idaho: Though the Eagles and Vandals were off last night, there were some games in the Big Sky, including leader Montana edging Idaho State. … It’s been a while since Montana State has defeated Weber State. It happened Thursday. … Sacramento State still hasn’t lost at home. The Hornets topped Portland State last night. … In football news, Weber State is losing a quarterback to a transfer.

Preps: With the basketball regular season winding down, Luke Byrnes takes a look at the GSL races.

UFC: Michael Chiesa has a fight coming up Saturday. Ryan Collingwood caught up with the Shadle Park High graduate in North Carolina and offers this preview.

Rodeo: There will be some bull riding this weekend in the Arena. Dan Thompson previews the Spokane Classic.

Seahawks: Is Pete Carroll Hall of Fame worthy? A couple of plays that came up just short, one in the Hawks’ second-consecutive Super Bowl, one to end the regular season a few weeks ago, might mean he also comes up just short. … Russell Wilson and Shaquill Griffin seem to be enjoying their Pro Bowl experience. … The Hawks, like everyone else, have a presence at the Senior Bowl.

Mariners: We linked a bunch of M’s stories above as Dipoto talked about the year ahead. He also looked back at the Astros’ trash-can banging scandal and said his franchise is above reproach. … Mitch Haniger is not coming back right away. He has another injury.

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• I’m sorry about bringing the real world and its heartache into your sports feature this morning. But it was important to me. And such things always will be. Until later …