Seattle Mariners 2020 Review/2021 Preview – Middle Infield
Shed Long Jr., Seattle Mariners middle infield.
It was an exciting 2020 season for the Seattle Mariners. Pacific Northwest Sports continues our six-part series, which looks back on the season that just ended and previews the next season. Today we examine the M’s middle infielders.
The 2020 Seattle Mariners season is officially in the books. It was certainly an up and down ride during this year’s 60-game sprint. But uneven play should be expected from what turned out to be the youngest team in Major League Baseball (26.9-years-old).
Houston swept the Mariners in the first four games of the year. Their poor start continued through August when the team bottomed out at 9-18 on the 20th. Many Mariners fans thought the 60-game schedule felt more like 180 because Seattle was manhandled in so many of their defeats. To the supporter’s delight, the Mariners played outstanding baseball over the final five weeks of the season and going 18-15.
Despite their youth and spotty play at times, the Mariners finished with a 27–33 record. That was good for third in the American League West Division. Better yet, Seattle put themselves in the hunt for a playoff spot, lasting until the final week, but ultimately came up two games short. Their young team got just a taste of what it’s like to battle for the Major League playoffs. A valuable experience that will serve them well in the future.
While there were more losses than wins in 2020, the team instilled hope for a better 2021.
PNWS takes a look back at the season that just ended and previews the next season. We continue our six-part series with the middle infielders.