OT Mariners series against Houston

[Aseahawkfan]

Houston has been the big dog in our division. This is where we see if the Mariners take the division or Houston retains their hold on it. If the Mariners win at least one game, that's playing to expected levels. If they get swept, they're not ready for real contention. If they take two or three or sweep the series, the Mariners go into the playoffs ready for contention.

Can the Mariners do it? Can they take the division from Houston? Pitching and bats are going to have to prove they can take it.

Good luck to the Ms. This is the series that sets them up for a good playoff run or more likely disappointment.

[River Dog]

Yep, big series, as are the following 6 games against the Rockies and Dodgers. I'm excited. I find it odd that they're scheduling interleague games during the last week of the regular season.

Hopefully, I can get my head back into baseball. I've been so out of touch with it lately, mainly because the Mariners have sucked for so long. I was shocked last night to learn that there's a rule requiring infielders to line up on the infield dirt. I used to be a huge fan growing up until the M's drifted into obscurity shortly after the 2001 season. I'll be tuning in here in another 45 minutes or so.

Similar to football, I'm not into individual player performances except as it relates to the team's success. I'd like to see Cal Raleigh get the MVP, but it's way down on my priority list. I wouldn't give two cents for it if the Mariners were out of the hunt. Nothing against Cal as he seems like a great guy and a good teammate.

Speaking of Cal, I got into an argument with a friend about Cal vs. Mickey Mantle that caused me to do some research. The outfield dimensions in Yankee Stadium when Mantle played were 461 to center field, 457 to left center, and 415 to straight away left field.

The stadium (Yankee Stadium) underwent numerous renovations, changing the dimensions in the process. In 1923, the left field line was 285 ft. The straightway left field was 395 ft and the left center 460 ft. The straightway center field was 490 ft. Right center was 425 ft and straightway right center was 350 ft. The right field line was 295 ft and the backstop was 82 ft.

The dimensions of the old Yankee Stadium were altered in 1937. The left field became 301 ft; the straightway left field became 415 ft and the left center 457 ft. The straightway center field was reduced to 461 ft.

The deepest part of T-Mobile Park is 401 feet to center field. Left field is 331 feet, right field 326.

[Aseahawkfan]

I only watch the Ms when they are competitive as well. I don't believe in rewarding bad ownership that doesn't manage a team to win.

I wouldn't even watch the Seahawks if I thought the ownership wasn't trying to win. Sports teams are products, not charities. Owners that don't want to win shouldn't own a sports teams.

Nice. Ms took game 1. That sets them up well.

[River Dog]

Big win tonight! Hopefully Woo is OK.

[Stream Hawk]

Now this is a statement win. Lol. The Mariners actually took down a bully. This particular game was a huge challenge against Hunter. I’m a little concerned about Woo, but his post game demeanor seemed confident. I don’t believe there are many better lineups than us going into playoffs. This team has 95 or better vibe/talent so let’s go.e

[River Dog]

Now this is a statement win. Lol. The Mariners actually took down a bully. This particular game was a huge challenge against Hunter. I’m a little concerned about Woo, but his post game demeanor seemed confident. I don’t believe there are many better lineups than us going into playoffs. This team has 95 or better vibe/talent so let’s go.e

We have a potential problem with Woo. He came out of the game with a strained pectoral muscle and is to have an MRI on it today. Hopefully it's just a precaution and nothing to worry about, but if he's out for any length of time, it could handicap our chances. He's the ace of our staff and was pitching lights out when he left the game last night.

The next two games are crucial. We win tonight and we guarantee ourselves of coming out of Texas leading the division heading into the last week of the regular season. If we sweep, we'll be damn close to clinching a playoff spot.

Looking ahead to next week, we're in a pretty good position. First of all, we finish at home where we've been very successful, much more so than we have been on the road. Secondly, the Rockies, first team up on our last home stand, have been eliminated from the playoffs and are in the middle of a disastrous season with the worst record in baseball, so they'll be treating this game as not much more than player evaluation. The Dodgers, our final opponent, is on the flip side of the coin, having an outstanding season. But there's a good chance that they'll have clinched their division with no chance of getting a first-round bye, so the games won't be as meaningful to them. They might choose to rest some of their players.

[Stream Hawk]

Woo is day to day with a sore pec. But hot damn how about them M’s?! It was amazing seeing Cal’s 57th.

IMO the biggest key to postseason run will be our starting pitchers being this consistent. And dominant.

[Aseahawkfan]

Well ain't that something. Mariners are in position to take the division. They have to keep playing strong and it's theirs. Rockies are next. No choking against the Rockies. Then take at least 1 game against LA and prepare for the playoffs. Might even be able to rest a bit.

[River Dog]

There's still one more game with Houston before we return home for the final homestand. But yesterday's win was huge as it guarantees us of being in first place going into the last week of the regular season. Finishing the series with a win today would be icing on the cake.

If the season were to end today, we'd have a first-round bye in the playoffs by one game over the Tigers. We're set up very nicely for the last week as Colorado has been eliminated from the playoffs and the Dodgers, while already qualifying, can't change their playoff position no matter what happens, so we won't see their best pitchers.

I'm still concerned about Woo. They'll probably hold him out of the rotation during this last homestand and hope he can go in the playoffs, which look like a near certainty at this point. Getting that first round bye would sure help his status.

[River Dog]

At least so far, this has been a pretty damn good Sunday. The Seahawks blow out the Saints 44-13 and the Mariners jump out to a quick 7-0 lead in the top of the 2nd. Going into the game, the M's magic number for clinching the AL West is 5: Any combination of Mariner wins and Astro losses and they win the division.

Cal Raleigh just hit his 58th home run of the season, which coupled with the Mariners success, should just about lock up his MVP, at least in my book.

[Aseahawkfan]

Don't want to jinx them, but the Mariners are taking Houston to the woodshed right now. Not sure what Wilson did or told them, but they are making a statement saying, "We're not going into the playoffs as a wild card team that slipped in. We're taking this division and no one is going to stop us."

Now I will knock on wood, not get too hyped, and hope for the best.

[River Dog]

Don't want to jinx them, but the Mariners are taking Houston to the woodshed right now. Not sure what Wilson did or told them, but they are making a statement saying, "We're not going into the playoffs as a wild card team that slipped in. We're taking this division and no one is going to stop us."

Now I will knock on wood, not get too hyped, and hope for the best.

Let's not stop at the division title. We currently have a one game lead for the 2nd first round bye, so keep an eye on the Tigers, our closest competition for the bye. That could be key for things like getting Bryan Woo healthy for the playoffs.

And I'm already over hyped. This is as good as I've felt about the Mariners since 2001. I think we're going to the World Series this year for the first time in the nearly half century the franchise has existed.

[Aseahawkfan]

Let's not stop at the division title. We currently have a one game lead for the 2nd first round bye, so keep an eye on the Tigers, our closest competition for the bye. That could be key for things like getting Bryan Woo healthy for the playoffs.

And I'm already over hyped. This is as good as I've felt about the Mariners since 2001. I think we're going to the World Series this year for the first time in the nearly half century the franchise has existed.

Please baseball gods, don't punish his arrogance. It's genuine excitement after years of disappointment. Don't punish the Mariners for the fanbase getting too excited.

*de-hexes the excess excitement*

Mariners are going to fail again. Nothing has changed. Don't get excited.

[trents]

Don't want to jinx them, but the Mariners are taking Houston to the woodshed right now. Not sure what Wilson did or told them, but they are making a statement saying, "We're not going into the playoffs as a wild card team that slipped in. We're taking this division and no one is going to stop us."

Now I will knock on wood, not get too hyped, and hope for the best.

The Astros are missing several key players right now due to injury. Most notably, their slugger, Yordan Alvarez who has been a Mariner killer. Astros have been snake bit with the injury bug most of the season. Don't misunderstand me, the Mariners still had to take care of business in Houston and they did and they are as hot as a pistol right now. I would also have to point out that the American league west may be the weakest division in MLB this year. Not trying to be a kill joy, just interjecting some reality. But the Ms should win their division this year and that is reason to celebrate! It is progress! And they made couple of smart, substantive trades at the trade deadline that have paid off. And it has been exciting to follow the Cal Raleigh drama. Who would have thunk any Mariner would have passed Junior for the single season homerun king? The Mariners are hot hot right now but they will run into another hot hot team very quickly in the playoffs in the Jays.

[Aseahawkfan]

The Astros are missing several key players right now due to injury. Most notably, their slugger, Yordan Alvarez who has been a Mariner killer. Astros have been snake bit with the injury bug most of the season. Don't misunderstand me, the Mariners still had to take care of business in Houston and they did and they are as hot as a pistol right now. I would also have to point out that the American league west may be the weakest division in MLB this year. Not trying to be a kill joy, just interjecting some reality. But the Ms should win their division this year and that is reason to celebrate! It is progress! And they made couple of smart, substantive trades at the trade deadline that have paid off. And it has been exciting to follow the Cal Raleigh drama. Who would have thunk any Mariner would have passed Junior for the single season homerun king? The Mariners are hot hot right now but they will run into another hot hot team very quickly in the playoffs in the Jays.

A dose of reality is good. The only time to get excited is when the last game of the World Series is finished with a W...if that should happen, then we can get excited.

[River Dog]

A good starting outing, one big inning, and some nice work out of our bullpen and we sweep the series with the Astros.

We're hot right now. We've won 14 out of our last 15 games as we head into the final week of the regular season. Our magic number for clinching the division is now 3: Any combination of 3 Mariners wins and 3 Houston losses and we win the AL West.

We're also in the driver's seat for a first-round bye. The Blue Jays look to have the #1 seed locked up, but we're in the #2 position with what is essentially a 3-game lead over the Tigers, the next team below us in the 3 spot.

Heading into the final week, we have 3 games against the Rockies and 3 against the Dodgers. It's set up well for us as we're at home, where we've played very well this season, the Rockies are out of the hunt and the Dodgers will likely clinch their division and be frozen with the #3 seed in the NL by the time they arrive in Seattle this weekend with no way for them to improve on it or lose a slot, meaning that we're not likely to see their best pitching. We rested our closer, Andres Munoz, in last night's win and everyone gets a day's rest with today being an off day.

One of the concerns is Bryan Woo, the ace of our staff. He left Friday's game against the Astros after having pitched 5 scoreless innings. He has a strained right pectoral muscle and is day-to-day. He's currently scheduled to start Thursday's game against the Rockies.

[trents]

A dose of reality is good. The only time to get excited is when the last game of the World Series is finished with a W...if that should happen, then we can get excited.

I disagree. You don't have to win the world series to get excited about your team. Getting past the first round in the playoffs would do it for me. We have an improved team this year but there are a number of teams that we could encounter in the playoffs that are more balanced. Our starting pitching, except for Woo, is not as reliable as it has been the past couple of years and especially in the five spot with Miller. Middle relief can be shakey. We hit with power but team batting average is not great. Too dependent on the long ball.

[River Dog]

A dose of reality is good. The only time to get excited is when the last game of the World Series is finished with a W...if that should happen, then we can get excited.

I disagree. You don't have to win the world series to get excited about your team. Getting past the first round in the playoffs would do it for me. We have an improved team this year but there are a number of teams that we could encounter in the playoffs that are more balanced. Our starting pitching, except for Woo, is not as reliable as it has been the past couple of years and especially in the five spot with Miller. Middle relief can be shakey. We hit with power but team batting average is not great. Too dependent on the long ball.

I'm with trents on this subject. It's been over 20 years since I've been able to get excited about the Mariners, and the long drought has caused me to lose interest in baseball as a whole. I'm going to take this opportunity to get as excited as a 70-year-old can get, and if I suffer a letdown, then so be it. I'm going to enjoy this moment for as long as I can, and I'm not going to cheat myself by trying to reign in my emotions.

[Aseahawkfan]

I disagree. You don't have to win the world series to get excited about your team. Getting past the first round in the playoffs would do it for me. We have an improved team this year but there are a number of teams that we could encounter in the playoffs that are more balanced. Our starting pitching, except for Woo, is not as reliable as it has been the past couple of years and especially in the five spot with Miller. Middle relief can be shakey. We hit with power but team batting average is not great. Too dependent on the long ball.

I don't feel that way. I don't get excited until its won. Mariners have been far too disappointing to get excited over anything less than a trip to the World Series and a win. That will only be confirmed with a W on the last game of the World Series.

Same with the Seahawks. I won't start amping until they are real contenders for a Super Bowl reaching the Conference Championship and winning or pushing the other team to the brink. I could care less if they win a wild card or divisional game. Been there, done that many years.

I don't get too excited at this point in time unless we're real contenders. Last time I got excited for just progress was in 1995. Then the following six years with that amazing batting lineup, Ms could not punch a ticket to the world series. Then they let Randy Johnson go.

This team's starting pitchers are getting older and going to be looking for new contracts which our Mariner ownership likely won't want to pay. So if they can't take a real shot at the World Series this year, they probably going to start falling apart with ownership doing nothing to keep them together. They are more focused on doing enough to remain profitable and keep stringing the fan base along just enough to keep the Mariners in the black.

[Aseahawkfan]

I'm with trents on this subject. It's been over 20 years since I've been able to get excited about the Mariners, and the long drought has caused me to lose interest in baseball as a whole. I'm going to take this opportunity to get as excited as a 70-year-old can get, and if I suffer a letdown, then so be it. I'm going to enjoy this moment for as long as I can, and I'm not going to cheat myself by trying to reign in my emotions.

70. Get excited.

Man, we all been posting together for 20 plus years now. Crazy. I still remember debating about Bush Jr and talking Seahawks under Holmgren. Now you and c-bob are retired. I'm feeling old now in my 50s.

Time flies.

[River Dog]

I'm with trents on this subject. It's been over 20 years since I've been able to get excited about the Mariners, and the long drought has caused me to lose interest in baseball as a whole. I'm going to take this opportunity to get as excited as a 70-year-old can get, and if I suffer a letdown, then so be it. I'm going to enjoy this moment for as long as I can, and I'm not going to cheat myself by trying to reign in my emotions.

70. Get excited.

Man, we all been posting together for 20 plus years now. Crazy. I still remember debating about Bush Jr and talking Seahawks under Holmgren. Now you and c-bob are retired. I'm feeling old now in my 50s.

Time flies.

I turn 71 next month. This November will mark the 8th year since I actually did a day's work. And yeah, some of us have been together since the mid 2000's in the old PI forum. I started posting in 2005, the year the Hawks went to the Super Bowl. I remember complaining about Darrell Jackson, a.k.a. DJack, or D-Drop, and his dropped passes. then laughing my guts out when someone called his dropped passes "pre-mature D-Jackulation". That's not something you read in a sports column.

I can't put a finger on my optimistic attitude with the Mariners. I've been a confirmed Debbie Downer with the Seahawks for quite some time. I believed all the training camp hype coming from the beat reporters covering the Hawks only to be let down when the season began, so it caused me to look at everything with a "show me" attitude.

But it's something else with the Mariners. Baseball was my first love, and it's been missing out of my life for 20 years. So now that I've finally got a horse in the race, it's caused me to get excited again. That and I truly think that this year is different than previous years. This is a much better team with a solid lineup.

[NorthHawk]

For me, there is no real dominant team like the Yankees or Dodgers were but the Dodgers are still dangerous. Maybe the Blue Jays and Brewers are close but they can go into a slump just as easily as any other team that will make the playoffs.
That doubt might be good for baseball this year and maybe a few years to come.

[Aseahawkfan]

Good day for the Ms. They comeback against the Rockies. Detroit and Houston lose. What does that mean? Two or three more wins or more losses for our opponents and we get the bye?

[River Dog]

Good day for the Ms. They comeback against the Rockies. Detroit and Houston lose. What does that mean? Two or three more wins or more losses for our opponents and we get the bye?

Our magic number for winning the AL West is now 1. The only way we can't win it is if we lose all 5 remaining games while Houston wins all 5 of theirs, so we've virtually clinched the division. Houston is in danger of missing the playoffs altogether, something that hasn't happened since 2016. We could be witnessing a changing of the guard in the AL.

Cleveland and Detroit are tied for the AL Central, both with an 85-72 record. At 88-69, we have a 3-game lead plus we own the tiebreaker over both with 5 to play. That means we need to win 2 more games, or those two teams have to lose two in order for us to clinch the tiebreaker.

Cleveland and Detroit play each other tonight and again tomorrow night, so one of those teams is going to win. We can clinch a first-round bye with sweep of the Rockies. That would make the final regular season series vs. the Dodgers virtually irrelevant. The only other matter in question would be home field advantage through the playoffs, and we're two games behind the Blue Jays and one behind the Yanks, both playing in the same division.

I heard where Woo is skipping his scheduled start on Thursday due to a strained pec muscle. We need him for the playoffs.

[trents]

Suarez and Nailor signed one year contracts and there are some starting Mariner pitchers whose current contracts are expiring at the end of this season. So, there will be some difficult decisions after this season from a financial standpoint. I doubt if we will resign both Suarez and Nailor. Nailor is a better all around player and younger so I'm guessing Suarez will not be retained. Crawford might be traded as he has slipped down to the #9 batting spot, age and lost some speed. He has a year left on his contract. Garver, who has been a bust, will be let go and replaced with Harry Ford as DH and catcher sub. There will likely be some movement in the bullpen as well as I'm thinking. Bryce Miller in the starting rotation is also a question mark in my mind. He's lost something since his rookie year when he was getting a lot of whiffs on that high fastball.

[River Dog]

Suarez and Nailor signed one year contracts and there are some starting Mariner pitchers whose current contracts are expiring at the end of this season. So, there will be some difficult decisions after this season from a financial standpoint. I doubt if we will resign both Suarez and Nailor. Nailor is a better all around player and younger so I'm guessing Suarez will not be retained. Crawford might be traded as he has slipped down to the #9 batting spot, age and lost some speed. He has a year left on his contract. Garver, who has been a bust, will be let go and replaced with Harry Ford as DH and catcher sub. There will likely be some movement in the bullpen as well as I'm thinking. Bryce Miller in the starting rotation is also a question mark in my mind. He's lost something since his rookie year when he was getting a lot of whiffs on that high fastball.

What happens at the end of the season is the last thing on my mind. Right now, I'm enjoying the moment.

[Aseahawkfan]

Mariners won the division. Now time to see if they can get the bye. Then the real progress needs to occur. Ms have never won an ALCS and gone to the World Series. Can they all step up at the right time to get to a World Series? Wouldn't that be something.

[River Dog]

Mariners won the division. Now time to see if they can get the bye. Then the real progress needs to occur. Ms have never won an ALCS and gone to the World Series. Can they all step up at the right time to get to a World Series? Wouldn't that be something.

Our "magic number" for winning the first-round bye is one. All we have to do is to win one out of our last 4 games, or for Cleveland to lose one of their last 4, and the first-round bye is ours.

We also have an outside chance of posting the best W/L record in the American League, which would earn us HFA through the playoffs. That isn't as big of a deal as it is in the NFL as it's a 7-game series, but it's worth keeping an eye on. We're one game behind both the Yankees and Blue Jays and both those teams own the tiebreaker over us, so it's essentially a 2-game lead with 4 to play for both teams, so it's a long shot.

There's a good chance that the Dodgers will have nothing at stake when our 3-game series with them starts tomorrow night, meaning that we likely won't be facing their best pitching.