It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to say this. But the Mariners are contenders. Of course there were a couple of recent seasons when they were eliminated from contention on the very last day. And then there were the times that I has happy that they were just attaining .500 (I think last season, they clawed their way back to .500 at least 8 times). But as of this writing, they are on top of the Al West, leading the ‘Stros (the current World Series champions in The New World Order (Mind-Control Division) by a half game. And they’re currently 20 games over .500. I think they’ll make it to the post-season this year.
But if they’re going to make it the post-season (and the World Series) this year:
- The pitchers need to stay healthy. King Felix, Big Maple, Wade LeBlanc, and Edwin Díaz are all parts of why we’re so good. If the pitchers go down, that’s when the slumps start.
- The players need to stay clean. I’m looking at you, Robinson Canó. Though I think he might be on his way out with the way Dee Gordon is playing (though Mr. Gordon has been suspended for performance enhancing drugs, too).
- The bats need to remain alive. This is the first year since 2001 when so many players have been a valid long ball threat.
When Ken Griffey, Jr came back to Seattle, he was a has been in the twilight of his career. And his retirement (literally in the clubhouse one afternoon, IIRC) cost us also the manager. Ichiro came back in the twilight of his career. But instead of retiring, he has instead ‘reroled’ as a special assistant in the front office. He may not have the on the field performance, but he can still be a mentor off the field. Like The Edgar, our hitting coach.
I think they’ll at least get a pennant this year. Now the Sounders FC, on the other hand….
No comments:
Post a Comment