ANAHEIM -- The Mariners were trying to keep things light the morning after being victims of one of the greatest defensive performances this game has ever seen.
After all, they stung three balls that -- independent of Jo Adell’s amazing athleticism -- would’ve cleared the fence. But instead, Seattle was saddled with a 1-0 loss that was, essentially, willed by Adell almost single-handedly.
So, when the Mariners reported to Angel Stadium on Sunday morning, someone with the club’s traveling party wrote a very simplistic yet hilarious message that all players would see upon arrival.
“Gameplan: Don’t hit the ball to Joseph Adell.”
It’s unclear who actually wrote the message, but the placement -- and more so, tone -- was perfect.
“We're still very, very early in this thing and got a long way to go,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “And that was something that's probably never been done in the game before. And so, you move on and you flush it and come back today. We've got a chance to win a game and win the series, and I think that's the important thing to take out here.”
Angel Stadium is one of MLB’s older ballparks and has a lengthy tunnel from the visitors' clubhouse that’s followed by a steeper stairway out to the dugout. That extended path is where players enter and exit to catch the team bus, which drops off way out in the right-field tunnel -- coincidentally, in front of where Adell was positioned throughout an all-time night.
So, the mystery penman knew that the message would be read after each of Seattle’s personnel had strolled through the playing surface, into the dugout, up those stairs and to the clubhouse.
It’s worth noting, too, that the whiteboard wasn’t there ahead of each of the Mariners’ first two games of this series.
“I've never seen something like that before in the game,” Wilson said, “and as I said last night, the good news is our guys are starting to swing to bat and made some solid contact. Some good swings last night, so it's good to see that, and that's what we're hoping to continue to see.”
Making the message even more hilarious was that Adell’s first name is not actually “Joseph.” His full name is “Jordon Scott Adell,” and he’s always gone by “Jo.” But it’s easy to see why whoever wrote on the whiteboard might get that mixed up.
This lighthearted gesture tied into the grander vibe of Sunday mornings in The Show, which typically are far more relaxed.
Even after brutal losses -- a category that Seattle’s on Saturday probably didn’t fall into, given how early we are in the schedule -- most teams attempt to keep things light in an effort to flush away the previous day.
Sunday games almost always mark the end of a series, and unless it’s a nationally-televised broadcast, are always a day game. Most teams don’t go through a full pregame workout on the field, either, which creates a more at-ease environment.
This Sunday was also Easter, and nobody was going to sulk on Easter.
The clubhouse tunes are typically reflective of this tempered tempo. On the speakers for this one was Cal Raleigh, one of Adell’s victims, and who’s still seeking his first homer of 2026 after his historic 60 last year.
His song of choice: “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” by Crowded House, the lyrics of which are about hope, resilience and not giving up, especially in relationships or tough life situations.
Raleigh, who has 17 strikeouts in 33 at-bats, wasn’t pouting, but quite the opposite. Josh Naylor, another of Adell’s victims and who’s just 4-for-35 with zero extra-base hits, was all smiles, too. Same for J.P. Crawford, who was at the plate for Adell’s hat trick, and who departed the clubhouse on Saturday in a rush of frustration before it was open to reporters.
Within a game that has plenty of failure, even among the very best, the ability to absorb frustration then move on is a vital attribute to stick in The Show.
And the whiteboard that went viral was a perfect encapsulation of how the Mariners did so on Sunday morning.