SAN DIEGO _ "They always get better after they leave the Mariners!"
It's an oft-uttered complaint from Seattle fans when a player who once wore a Mariners uniform finds almost immediate success with his new team.
There are plenty of players to dispel such a notion _ Austin Jackson, Tom Wilhelmsen and every Mariner traded to the Rays are recent examples.
But a glance at the rosters for Tuesday night's All-Star Game won't change that mind-set. Three recent former Mariners have played their way to the Midsummer Classic.
Outfielders Michael Saunders and Mark Trumbo will represent the American League, and reliever Fernando Rodney _ an All-Star with Seattle in 2014 _ is back again, pitching for the National League.
Of the trio, Saunders' selection through the "Final Vote" process might be both frustrating and satisfying for Mariners fans. Frustrating because Saunders was one of their own, drafted and developed by the Mariners. Satisfying because the breakdown of the of the "Final Vote" showed that Washington state voted for Saunders, along with all of Canada.
"I saw that the Pacific Northwest had my back," said Saunders, a native of Victoria, B.C. "I didn't have much of the U.S. voting for me, but I had the Seattle area. That meant a lot. I always felt the love no matter how good I was doing or how bad I was doing. I always felt the love from the fan base."
He was traded after the 2014 season for starting pitcher J.A. Happ. (Happ, by the way, was 4-6 with a 4.64 ERA with Seattle last year before being traded to Pittsburgh. Back with Toronto this year, he is 12-3 with a 3.36 ERA.)
This year Saunders is hitting .298 with a .923 on-base plus slugging percentage, 25 doubles, two triples, 16 homers and 42 RBIs in 82 games.
"It's obviously very gratifying," he said. "I feel like this is a redemption year for me. Last year what happened to me was devastating for me, more mentally and emotionally than physically."
Plagued by injuries with the Mariners, Saunders had similar issues a month into his first spring training with the Blue Jays, tearing his meniscus and knee cartilage after stepping on a sprinkler head. He tried to come back but appeared in just nine games before being shut down for the season.
"Coming back and getting stronger after missing the entire season to get my knee healthy, I just wanted to prove to everyone in the organization, the fan base in Toronto and all of Canada why they traded for me," he said. "I really feel like took a step forward mentally, and it's allowed me to become a more consistent player."
Admittedly, it's the type of player he felt he could be with the Mariners. But injuries stymied that progression.
"For the first three or four years, there was a lot of struggles up and down," he said. "I'd show glimpses here and there of what I was capable of. But I was never able to put it together on a consistent level, and that's what baseball is all about, right? I couldn't stay healthy."
An injury-filled 2014 season led to diminished playing time by the end of the season. Then-manager Lloyd McClendon opted to use the aging Endy Chavez instead of Saunders in the outfield. The Mariners' leadership at the time _ general manager Jack Zduriencik and McClendon _ were frustrated with Saunders' injuries and commented publicly about his conditioning level and offseason workouts. It left Saunders, who already was miffed about the lack of playing time, privately fuming and ready for a change. The relationship was broken, and a few months later he was traded to Toronto.
"I didn't want to leave Seattle that way," Saunders, 29, said. "It's not how I wanted to leave Seattle. Seattle raised me not only as a baseball player, but also a man. I was 18 when I joined the organization. I owe a lot to them."
And yet, it might have been the best thing for his career.
"I don't know if it was the change of scenery or the really by the end of my time in Seattle, that feeling of being wanted again," he said. "Toronto showed that they wanted me, and I think that was nice boost of confidence for me as well. Quite frankly, I feel like I found my home here in Toronto. The biggest thing is I'm healthy again."
For Trumbo, his monster season comes at the most opportune time _ a contract year. He's hitting .288 with a .923 OPS and a league-leading 28 homers. With Trumbo scheduled to make around $9 million in arbitration, the Mariners traded him to the Orioles last offseason for catcher Steve Clevenger.
"I really like to stick it to my old teams," Trumbo deadpanned. "No. I'm kidding. It's been enjoyable this year. Our team's success is still greater than my individual accomplishments, but to have this sort of recognition, it's nice."
Trumbo credits the swing changes recommended by Edgar Martinez last season as a key for his success.
"In the past, the down periods tended to last a little longer," he said. "This year I've fortunately been able to semi-right the ship at times. What we worked on was pretty key, just cleaning up all that wasted movement."
Rodney was the unlikeliest of the group considering how bad he was last season. The Mariners designated him for assignment in August. He lost his closer's job in June and was largely ineffective as a setup man. But the Padres took a chance on him this season. He made 28 appearances, saving 17 games and allowing just one earned run in 282/3 innings. He then was traded to the Marlins.
"I knew I was better than that," he said. "I lost my confidence when (the Mariners) took the closer job away from me. This year I have confidence. The Padres believed in me."
