Mather: Mariners fans deserve October baseball

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Kevin Mather is beginning his third season as Mariners president, which puts him in perfect position to pass on a Presidents Day message for Seattle baseball fans.
The Mariners have made a host of changes to their organization since Mather replaced the retiring Chuck Armstrong. MLB.com asked him to share his thoughts as the team prepares to embark on the 2017 campaign.
Here's what he had to say:
It is time to play October baseball in Seattle. Our fans deserve playoff baseball, and I'm not just talking about a Wild Card Game. Once in the playoffs, our goal is to win the World Series. Period. And having said that, we don't want to win just one.
Every person in our front office and ownership group comes to work each day with that goal in mind. That is always the number one item on our agenda.
That's why I'm so impressed with the work that general manager Jerry Dipoto and his staff have done putting the processes in place in player development, player acquisition (including the Draft) and the hiring of Scott Servais and the Major League coaching staff. It is vital for our baseball operation to be successful in all facets, since it takes the sum of many parts for the Major League team to win a World Series.
Last year, every team in our Minor League system advanced to the postseason, and our Major League team was alive until Game No. 161, the next-to-last game of the year.
The other two things we always try to keep in mind at the Mariners are creating lifetime memories and fun for our fans, and having a positive impact in our community.
Mariners baseball should be fun. Our manager stresses to our players that they should have fun playing the game. We want our fans to have fun at the ballpark; to know that coming to Safeco Field with family and friends will be a great day. We want our radio broadcasts and telecasts to be filled with fun and excitement that our fans at home can enjoy. We want our front office to be a fun place to work.
Baseball is, after all, a game. And it should be fun.
Finally, we work very hard to have the Mariners be a positive force in the community. Working with our players, our front office, and our corporate and community partners we believe the Mariners can be a force for good. Whether it is bringing a smile to the face of a child at a ballpark, or helping to raise money for important causes or encouraging our players, staff and manager to volunteer their time, we stress the importance of being a positive force in the community at all levels of our organization: from Seattle to rookie ball.
In 2014, we were very proud to be recognized with Major League Baseball's Commissioners Award for Philanthropic Excellence. Each year we strive to be even better in the community, just as we strive to be better on the field.