Saturday, September 20, 2003
AMAZING
Just when it looked dire, the Seattle Mariners are now only 3 games back of Oakland.
Now, I noted earlier this week that the M's are notorious for going on their mini-runs in September when they are pretty much "out of it". But who knows, 2003 could be different. It's not impossible to think that the M's could win the AL West.
That would mean that they would have to play lights out baseball in the final week of the season. But it can be done. Look, if it so happens that the M's were to make it to the playoffs and get beat in the first round, that would be a hell of a lot better than not making the playoffs at all.
But let's think about it here. The American League is for anybody's taking. There is not a dominating team in the league this season. New York's bullpen other than Mariano Rivera is shaky at best. Boston's bullpen is even worse. Minnesota is being helped by the fact that the AL Central is mediocre at best. And this Oakland team is their worst of the millenium, even with their clutch play as of late, until this weekend.
This is why David, myself, and a few others around the land are always harping on the M's front office to improve this team, as well as wishing that the current lot of players play better ball. As far as I'm concerned, if the Mariners can get to the postseason, they have a shot. Their bench is not too good, but out of all of the starting rotations the M's have trotted out there in past Octobers, the 2003 version is the best one out of them all. That could be a key factor if the M's are to have any postseason success, if they get there at all.
Am I drinking the Optimism Kool-Aid? No. I'm just being realistic. Hell, I'm always realistic. Gil Meche vs Rich Cy Young Harden tomorrow. 3 PM for me on ESPN 2. I'll have the TV on, sound off...and listen to the Rams/Seahawks on NFL.com's Field Pass (7-day trial, I'll cancel my subscription this week so there won't be any charges accessed). Life is good, for now. And for ONE WEEKEND, the Mariners AND Seahawks will both win on the same day.
As for next weekend? The M's host the A's in Seattle and the Seahawks have a bye. So the theory goes out the window. Thank god for that.
Anyways, there's hope. Not a lot of hope, but Lloyd Christmas had a one in a million chance of bagging Mary Swanson in "Dumb and Dumber".
Now, I noted earlier this week that the M's are notorious for going on their mini-runs in September when they are pretty much "out of it". But who knows, 2003 could be different. It's not impossible to think that the M's could win the AL West.
That would mean that they would have to play lights out baseball in the final week of the season. But it can be done. Look, if it so happens that the M's were to make it to the playoffs and get beat in the first round, that would be a hell of a lot better than not making the playoffs at all.
But let's think about it here. The American League is for anybody's taking. There is not a dominating team in the league this season. New York's bullpen other than Mariano Rivera is shaky at best. Boston's bullpen is even worse. Minnesota is being helped by the fact that the AL Central is mediocre at best. And this Oakland team is their worst of the millenium, even with their clutch play as of late, until this weekend.
This is why David, myself, and a few others around the land are always harping on the M's front office to improve this team, as well as wishing that the current lot of players play better ball. As far as I'm concerned, if the Mariners can get to the postseason, they have a shot. Their bench is not too good, but out of all of the starting rotations the M's have trotted out there in past Octobers, the 2003 version is the best one out of them all. That could be a key factor if the M's are to have any postseason success, if they get there at all.
Am I drinking the Optimism Kool-Aid? No. I'm just being realistic. Hell, I'm always realistic. Gil Meche vs Rich Cy Young Harden tomorrow. 3 PM for me on ESPN 2. I'll have the TV on, sound off...and listen to the Rams/Seahawks on NFL.com's Field Pass (7-day trial, I'll cancel my subscription this week so there won't be any charges accessed). Life is good, for now. And for ONE WEEKEND, the Mariners AND Seahawks will both win on the same day.
As for next weekend? The M's host the A's in Seattle and the Seahawks have a bye. So the theory goes out the window. Thank god for that.
Anyways, there's hope. Not a lot of hope, but Lloyd Christmas had a one in a million chance of bagging Mary Swanson in "Dumb and Dumber".
/ Click for main page
