Let's flash back to June 19, which seems like another lifetime ago for the Mariners. The ballclub had just lost its fourth out of five games to the Angels at home — the second in a row by shutout. It was 10 games under .500, the season was in shambles, and the universe of angry Mariners fans was imploring GM Jerry Dipoto to fire or cut someone.
I asked Dipoto, warmed by the glow of 16 wins in the next 19 games, if he was tempted at the time to execute such a bold stroke of a move.
"Not at all, because I think they also wanted to fire me," he said with a laugh.
