‘I’m going to enjoy every drop’: Rick Rizzs embraces final Opening Day as Mariners eye World Series
Longtime Seattle Mariners broadcaster Rick Rizzs finds himself savoring every moment of what will be his final year calling games for the franchise.
This story was originally posted to MyNorthwest. com As the Seattle Mariners prepare to open their 50th season Thursday night, longtime broadcaster Rick Rizzs finds himself savoring every moment of what will be his final year calling games for the franchise. “I just heard their music, and I just got chills,” Rizzs told “ Seattle’s Morning News ” before the home opener against Cleveland.
“It’s finally here, opening day, our 50th season. A sellout crowd on Opening Day is like a celebration, it’s a national holiday. ” The 41-year Mariners voice, now in his 52nd year in professional baseball and 44th in the majors, acknowledged the weight of beginning his farewell tour, but said he plans to approach it with measured emotion.
“I’m just going to take it as another opening day,” Rizzs said. “I’ve been thinking about this for the last couple of seasons, and now it’s here, and I’m just going to enjoy every drop of the season. Every play, everything is going to be heightened for me.
” Right-hander Logan Gilbert will take the mound as the Opening Day starter for the second consecutive year, a role Rizzs called “an honor. ” Gilbert dominated in last year’s opener against Oakland, going seven innings in a 4-2 comeback victory. “He retired 21 of 23 batters in the ball game,” Rizzs recalled.