It Hurts

To be one game away from our first World Series appearance... it hurts.  We had not one but two shots at clinching our first ever pennant, and we blew it both times.  We had a chance to even clinch on our home field, if we could just win 2 of 3 at home, but we couldn't.  As a lifelong Mariners fan, you wonder if it will ever truly be your year, your time to shine, and your chance for happiness.  The Mariners have now played 49 seasons.  At most, they've played with 14 other American League teams, so the law of averages would state they would be the final AL team about 3 times so far in their history.  Nope.  Not even once.  The Mariners have now been one step shy of the World Series four times, and all four times have failed.  I think I can begin to relate to how Buffalo Bills fans feel, how they were one step short of a Super Bowl win four times and failed all four times.  It doesn't seem remotely likely, yet it happened.  

I have to remember that after barely missing the playoffs the last two seasons, expectations were tempered for 2025.  Heck, even heading into September this year, the Mariners were at best expected to be a wild card.  But they went out and won the division for the first time in 24 years.  That was one milestone this team was long overdue to accomplish.  And, when they weren't expected to, they went out and did it.  

Now comes a crossroads for this team.  Will they continue to try to improve and take a step forward, or will they take a step back?  This may be the most important offseason in Mariners history.  Expectations are likely going to be high for this team in 2026.  Anything short of back-to-back division titles will likely be a disappointment.  

I think one of the most crucial factors that will determine this team's success next season, and their overall long-term success, is how they handle this heartbreak mentally.  Will they let it haunt them, or will they use it as motivation?  Cal Raleigh is now this team's vocal leader, so he'll need to lead by example, which he has so far done as a big league catcher.  In my mind, he's the MVP for that reason.  

But we have to continue to temper our expectations for the next season.  We expect too much, and disappointment becomes ever more likely.  I want to say this team will continue where they left off in 2025, but we have seen collapses before.  After the Seahawks lost Super Bowl XLIX, they could not handle it all too well, and they struggled out of the gate the following season and still to this day have not even returned to the NFC Championship game.  

But we can also be optimistic.  But I would advise caution.  This is a team that would rank near the bottom in MLB in terms of success vs. the age of the franchise.  They play their 50th season in 2026, and the question is, will it be a memorable one?  I would wager to say yes.  But will it be memorable for the right reasons?  That remains to be seen.