May 21 Seattle Mariners: Don't Look Back (In Anger or Otherwise)

Mariners (20-24)

Like the friend who shows up at your door with a six-pack of good craft beer or a bottle of wine ready to try and cheer you up after a depressing event, I have arrived this morning to look at the bright side for the 2017 Seattle Mariners.

Yes, I am relatively sure they have angered the baseball gods in some as-yet unknown way (Jerry Dipito may know). But let's not worry about higher powers. Or 15-run victories. The past can be a troubling, worrying place. Let's not go there.

Let me open that for you. Sit back and relax and contemplate what I am trying to say to you.

  • They've only played 27 percent of their games, plenty of time to turn it around
  • The 538 blog still says the Mariners have a 20 percent chance of making the playoffs - that's better than just about half of MLB. That's stat geeks talking, not me. 
  • The rookie right fielders are studs. Ben Gamel has played well, and Mitch Haniger is on his way back.
  • You're four games below .500 with four of your five projected starting pitchers out. Imagine how it will be when some of them get back. Imagine it!
  • You are not the Kansas City Royals, where fans already are writing your 2017 season obituary.  
  • The Mariners are just three games behind the Rangers. Three! That's nothing. You could catch them by the end of the week. 
See? It's not so bad. Let's just not talk about last night's game against the Chicago White Sox. 

The box, if you must.

Meanwhile, a Mariners fan longs for a mercy rule. 





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