'I'm trying Ringo. I'm trying real hard.'

I used to think it was absolutely amazing just how many of my favorite movies were released in the seven-year period from 1990 and 1997.

Now it’s possible that this was due to the quality of cinema in that specific period. Or perhaps the “independent” movie craze produced a series of films uniquely suited to my weird-ass taste.

It seems more likely, however, that it has more to do with my age when I saw those movies. I was born in 1974, and much like music, my favorite era of movies was those I saw between the ages 16 to 23.

This self-indulgent bit of navel gazing is an attempt to explain why I’m about to use a seminal scene from Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film “Pulp Fiction” to explain the inner conflict I am currently experiencing as a Mariners fan.

Now if you would prefer a more typical form of sports writering, I’ve got you covered. Here’s a link to my column this week in The News Tribune.

If you want something a little more … unorthodox I’m going to modify the “Pulp Fiction” script to describe the bit of inner conflict I’m currently experiencing.

On the one hand, I am super excited that the Mariners have acquired corner infielders whose bats are not just competent, but perhaps even potent. Third baseman Eugenio Suarez and first baseman Josh Naylor each homered last night as Seattle won for the fourth time in five games.

On the other hand, I remain aghast Suarez was ever traded by Seattle. Furthermore, I believe Seattle would have reached the playoffs in 2024 had he been on the roster. The fact that GM Jerry Dipoto had to dump his salary so he could acquire Jorge Polanco and Mitch Garver is yet another example of the rinky-dink nature of this ownership group.

A psychologist would describe this as cognitive dissonance. Jules — Samuel L. Jackson’s character in “Pulp Fiction” — would describe it as something he’d talk himself through while holding a pistol trained on the man who was attempting to rob everyone in the diner.

Jules: You read the sports writer’s bible, Ringo?

Ringo: Not recently, no.

Jules: There’s this passage I’ve got memorized: The path of the righteous fan is beset on all sides by the bluster of slick-talking GMs and the tyranny of cheap owners. Blessed is he who in the name of truth and plain-speaking calls out these acts of corporate chicanery and other cheap-ass behavior for he is the fan’s true advocate.

And I will strike down upon thee with strongly worded columns and on-air tantrums against those who attempt to put annual profitability ahead of improving the baseball product because we all know owners really make their money when they sell the team.

I’ve been saying that sort of stuff for years. And if you heard it, you know why the people who run that team may not like me very much anymore. 

I saw something last week that made me think twice.

I went to three Mariners games against the Rangers. The first one, with my friend Erik Gordon, I stood up to welcome Eugenio Suarez back. Twice. Then we applauded his double and I actually squealed with delight when he came running home to score the first one in Seattle’s 6-0 victory.

Then on Friday, I was screaming my head off while standing next to Jessamyn McIntyre and Dave Wyman after J.P. Crawford hit a game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth.

I was there on Saturday, too. When Randy Arozarena hit a two-run homer to tie the game in the 10th inning, and while the Mariners wound up losing in 11, there was some undeniable momentum in the stadium and behind this team.

Vincent: Jules, you give this franchise your unadulterated enthusiasm and I’ll boo it on general principle.

Jules: You’re not going to do a (gosh) (darn) thing. Vince, shut the FRONT DOOR!

I’m not just giving my enthusiasm to them, Vincent. I’m getting something in exchange. Want to know what I’m buying, Ringo?

 Ringo: What?

Jules: My happiness. I’m giving you my enthusiasm so I can cheer for this team without subjecting myself to the frustration and regrets that your decisions have caused me and other fans across the years.

I’m not going to keep harping on the fact that Suarez should have never been traded or that you should have been the one to trade for Naylor back in December when Cleveland decided to move him.

I’m not going to keep rehashing through all the ways you could have improved this team’s chances of reaching a World Series because to do so would get in the way of my enjoyment over these next two months.