Why Are We Still Friends?

With the news that 98° band member, and former Mr. Jessica Simpson, Nick Lachey has joined the ownership group for the Tacoma Rainiers, I had to pull one of his band's songs out of the archive. Seems this one's a bit fitting:

Why, why are we still friends
When everything says
We should be more than what we are
And tell me why
Everytime I find someone that I like
We always end up being just friends

Of course, it may be more appropriately applied to the Boston Red Sox, who, up until 2004, were always the bridesmaid and never the bride. But, it could also apply to the Mariners who probably will end up missing out on the free agents they want (which, of course, may or may not be a good thing). I mean, heck, this franchise has grown some serious warts since the glory days of 2001. With Hargrove at the helm, and Howard controlling the direction, who really would want to jump on board?

Free agents are going to be expensive in the first place. Tack on an additional percentage to try and lure people to a place commonly associated (outside of the PNW) with the remote netherregions of Alaska (and, with the weather we've had lately, any tours of the city couldn't be all that appealing, furthering this feeling), and you've got some serious problems trying build a playoff-caliber roster with Alaska-sized holes in the rotation.

So, it looks like the Rainiers will be an interesting team to watch. The transition between ownership groups will be interesting to watch, too.

Sorry, Mariners -- You're really nice guys, but I just want to be friends.