Playoffs or Not For Mariners?

I am sure most Mariner fans are dumbfounded or disappointed or whatever other adjectives you want to use because after Wednesday’s game the chances became even harder for the Mariners to make the playoffs losing to the Astros 10-7.

Wednesday’s gave wasn’t as close as the score indicates. The Mariners offense did come alive scoring five runs in the sixth inning that included a two-run homer by the ever hot Mitch Haniger. The problem in this game was that starter Marco Gonzales gave up eight runs in three innings. The bullpen which has had problems throughout the season only gave up two runs in six innings to give them somewhat of a chance.

What the Mariners have to do to make the playoffs is to play playoff baseball and that might not be enough to make it anyway. It was the kind of ball they were playing back in May and June however we haven’t seen that for some time other than the series where they swept the Astros in Houston.

For the Mariners to have any chance to be in the playoffs they must win at least twenty of their remaining thirty-four games and then the A’s would have to win no more than sixteen of their remaining thirty-five games.  This is a season where the Mariners can have the best record in the last decade and still not make the playoffs. They are playing in the best division of baseball with the Astros expected would be good but the A’s have done great as well. In fact they have played even better ball than the Mariners did back in May and June since the all-star break if not before then.

The Mariners split the remaining thirty-four games they will end the season 89-73 which many years might get them in but not this one. I believe even with that record us fans will be disappointed in what could have been. The way they have been playing of late the record might be less than eight-nine wins.

All we can do right now as fans is to enjoy the ride and we hope that the Mariners will play in the way that we can enjoy the ride. Even if the team doesn’t make the playoffs let the last thirty-four games look like playoff baseball. One way that can happen if Dipoto can go out and pick up another starting pitcher; he mentioned at the beginning of the season picking up Mike Leake and Marco Gonzales at the end of last season was for this season. Let’s do the same thing this year where the pitcher they pick up is for next year as well. We look at the rotation right now and it doesn’t look so well for the rest of the season. We hope when Paxton gets back soon he will be the ace type of pitcher along with Mike Leake. Without another starter the other three spots don’t look that good though Wade LeBlanc might be alright if he hasn’t pitched too many innings in the manor of Gonzales. The Mariners might be OK if Felix pitches similar to what he had done coming out of the bullpen when Paxton went on the DL.

The starting pitching is only the beginning though for playoff baseball. The offense has to get going as well. They need to consistently score at least four runs a game and the defense needs to do a better job as well. The top of the batting order has done well but the Mariners need more out of five through nine especially from Kyle Seager who has not played very good ball. We hope that Servais giving him the day off on Wednesday and playing Cano at third will help. In fact playing Cano at third at least another game or two might be a good idea as well. The Mariners need to have all their regulars play at a good level as well. Let’s make the next five weeks look like playoff baseball and who knows what may happen. Go M’s.