Seattle Mariners are on the brink of greatness
Clint Prasky
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Despite a recent downturn, the Seattle Mariners are poised to reach the postseason for the first time in over two decades, and the outlook isn’t as gloomy as their detractors say.
Most Seattle Mariners fans have been lamenting the team’s recent losing skid, as they should. The ghost of “No Playoffs Past” was surely coming to strike the Emerald City again, right?
Julio Rodriguez went on the injured list with a bad back. Eugenio Suarez also got hurt, and poof, there goes the offense. Combine that with the bullpen’s epic meltdown in Kansas City, when they gave up 11 runs in one inning to blow an 11-2 lead, and there’s a major cause for concern.
The positives
Maybe the bullpen needed a bit of a reset. Maybe catcher Cal Raleigh needed a breather as well. Ty France seems to be getting his swing back just in time, while Carlos Santana has come through time and again with clutch hits. Jesse Winker, while not hitting all that much nor playing defense as well as the team would, is still getting on base. He ranks third in the American League in walks.
fun fact: a baseball's biggest fear is cal raleigh pic.twitter.com/FmRD8a0Jif
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) September 24, 2022
The Seattle Mariners starting pitching has been “lights out” most of the year. The unit avoided serious injuries and prolonged slumps. Even their perceived weak link, Marco Gonzalez, was Seattle’s best pitcher just two years ago.
Playoff rotations usually get cut down to four or sometimes three starters, depending on off days. Look for Gonzalez to move to the pen and be a much-needed lefty and long relief option.