The Mariners wrapped up a 90-72 common season on Wednesday, matching their precise document from a 12 months in the past. The distinction, after all, is this workforce is playoff sure, and can start the Wild Card spherical on Friday in Toronto in opposition to the Blue Jays.
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I, like many fellow Mariners enthusiasts I’m guessing, am no longer totally positive what to anticipate the feelings shall be when observing those video games. Surely there shall be nervousness, particularly in a three-game series in comparison to a five- or seven-game series.
But after spending the common season dwelling and death with each sport in the determined hope of seeing Seattle finish its notorious playoff drought, I now really feel liberated to a definite level with that burden long gone. This 12 months’s Mariners workforce needed to make the playoffs. Any consequence in a different way would have made this season a failure. That project was once completed, and now it feels just like the Mariners are taking part in with space cash.
Put merely, I think this overwhelming sense of “just being happy to be here,” and I’m hoping that can assist ease the nervousness of those following couple of days, permitting me to actually savor a second that we’ve all waited see you later to reach. (It will have to cross with out pronouncing that I am hoping the workforce doesn’t really feel this in any respect, for they will have to consider they’re about to embark on a World Series run.)
The Mariners are a hefty underdog in opposition to Toronto and shall be for so long as they continue to be in the postseason. That, in and of itself, alleviates one of the most pressure. So does the hope that that is just the start of a five-plus 12 months stretch that includes annual journeys to the playoffs with each and every wearing better expectancies.
I’m no longer positive I’ll really feel “just happy to be here” ever once more, or no less than no longer in the foreseeable long term. This would be the handiest season the place being a one-and-done playoff workforce would nonetheless characterize a a success season.
There are nonetheless moments I’d love to look all through this series: A house run from Mitch Haniger, a signature second from Julio Rodríguez and Luis Castillo going toe-to-toe with Blue Jays ace Alek Manoah leader amongst them.
None of this implies I don’t consider the Mariners can beat Toronto. I wholeheartedly suppose Seattle can pull off the dissatisfied. Damn close to all the lineup is an influence risk, and I consider the bullpen in shut video games. Additionally, I would like not anything greater than to fly again to Seattle from Las Vegas and attend a sport at T-Mobile Park in the ALDS. There’s indisputably each participant in the Mariners’ clubhouse has dreamt in regards to the environment of a house playoff sport, particularly after experiencing the raucous scenes that adopted Cal Raleigh’s playoff spot-clinching walk-off house run final Friday night time.
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And after all the second one Manoah throws the primary pitch on Friday, I’m positive all of this may cross out the window, and I’ll be pacing as an apprehensive mess for all 9 innings. But I’ll nonetheless take the time to savor the instant all of the similar and keep in mind that I’m thankful for this workforce and this season regardless of the result in Toronto.
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