Let the Gookie Win

You know, there's one sort of cool thing about the Mariners going into the fray this year.

See this 40-man roster?

See what isn't on it?

No, no, I know Doyle isn't on it, and neither are several other players we'd like to see there. But that's not what I'm getting at. It's something else, a little more subtle, something we haven't seen a complete absence of on Mariners rosters in almost the entire team's existence.

There aren't any 1960's birthdays.

If Arthur Rhodes (DOB 10/24/1969) makes the roster off the NRI list, he'll be the oldest guy on the team. Heck, the oldest guys on the roster right now are Batista, Ibanez, Ichiro, Vidro, J-Rod, and Richie, in that order. Everyone else is under the age of 32.

Speaking of which, if you look at that NRI list, you'll see a guy named Gookie Dawkins. Isn't that the coolest name in the world? You almost want to pull for a guy like that to make the team, just for the sake of hearing the announcers say his name.

Travis Sentell Dawkins seems to have gone on a career trip around the Midwest somewhat akin to going to Bombay India to try to become a movie star, racking up accolades such as being the last man to strike out at Cinergy Field before the Reds moved to the Great American Ball Launcher.

Three years ago, the Gookie Monster lamented being stuck behind Barry Larkin in Cincinnati. And yet, I can't really imagine he'll fare that well being stuck behind Yuniesky Betancourt in Seattle. On the other hand, just think of the nickname potential! "Gookie to Willie to Richie" has a certain ring to it, doesn't it?