It was a whirlwind hour and a half for Mallex Smith on January 11. First, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners, with Thomas Burrows and Luiz Gohara being sent back to the Atlanta Braves. Then, just 77 minutes later, the Mariners sent Smith to the Rays, with Drew Smyly heading back to Seattle.
However, those 77 minutes left an impression on Smith. In fact, he called that time the best of his life, citing the love he received from Mariners fans and the atmosphere at SafeCo Field. One could just feel the love and wonder that Smith still has for the Mariners and their fans, who he regretted leaving behind.