Seattle Mariners: American League West Preview
Chris Phillips
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Prediction Time
Dipoto’s plan is for the Mariners to seriously compete for the playoffs in 2022. The success of the 2021 Mariners can mirror that of the 2015 Astros. That year, Houston finished fourth in the division only to surprise everyone in 2015 by reaching the playoffs. One year after, the Astros finished third behind the second-place M’s.
Other Publications
The Seattle Mariners don’t get much respect from most media outlets. Here’s a sample.
- Overtime Heroics: 1) Astros 2) Athletics 3) M’s 4) Angels 5) Rangers.
- Off the Bench: 1) Astros 2) Angels 3) Athletics 4) M’s 5) Rangers.
- USA Today: 1) Astros 2) Athletics 3) Angels 4) M’s 5) Rangers.
- SI.com: 1) Angels 2) Astros 3) Athletics 4) M’s 5) Rangers
My expected finish
- Astros
- Mariners
- A’s
- Angels
- Rangers
Oakland may have the best rotation in the division. The Astros may have the best lineup. The M’s may have the best blend of both. Last year’s Mariners team gave the league a glimpse of the future and what can happen when they develop. Hopefully, Dipoto’s offseason bullpen restoration project is the difference in at least half of the games lost in 2020. The ascension this team and organization is on ends with a playoff birth in 2021.
Get ready M’s fans the future is here. No longer will fans be talking about the playoff drought and how close the roster is to the legal drinking age in the United States. The jokes about Seattle trading away top talent for more prospects will end. Repeating the same old cycle. Watch out MLB, the Mariners are coming.
Related story: Mariners over/under
How do you think the Seattle Mariners will do in 2021? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.