The Seattle Mariners 2022 season ended in disappointment. But for 29 MLB teams, that is always the case. However, this 2022 season was remarkable. The Mariners ended their postseason drought of 20 years and finally made it back to the playoffs.
What's even more impressive is the wild card series the Mariners had. They took care of business in game 1, and then in game 2, they came back from a seven-run deficit to win 10-9 in one of the greatest postseason comebacks in baseball history. This was all done on the road in Toronto, a harsh environment to play in. That series showed that this team can never be counted out.
Because of the Mariners' Wild Card Series win, they were able to advance to the Divisional Series against the Houston Astros and play at least one home playoff game. Unfortunately, one home playoff game is all they would get as they got swept in three games. The Mariners lost the three-game series by a total of 4 runs. They just couldn't get luck back on their side.
I said a month ago I'd consider this a successful season if the Mariners got to the divisional round and got to play at least one home playoff game, and that they did. They were in each of the three games against the Astros. They held a lead in the first two, which they unfortunately could not hold. They went 18 innings against the Astros in game 3, only to lose on a fluke home run by the Astros. They were close to winning all three games, yet lost all three.
What seems so disappointing is that this team seemed to be on a run. In game 1, the Mariners held a 4-run lead and seemed to be on their way to their third straight playoff victory and a huge game 1 win. Instead, the bullpen folded, the Astros hit a walk-off homer, and the Mariners could never fully recover. The Mariners only scored 2 runs in the final 27 innings of the series.
The big obstacle in the Mariners' way is the Houston Astros. They have made it to six straight ALCS's, won 5 of 6 AL West division titles, and are always tough for the Mariners to beat. They are the Goliath to the Mariners' David, and the Mariners will either have to best them in the regular season or beat them in the playoffs if they want to do any better in future years.
Maybe the 2023 Mariners can win the AL West outright. That'd certainly seem to be the most straightforward plan. The Mariners are still in a 21-year division title drought. Every other AL West team has won the division since the Mariners last won it.
So let's hope the Mariners' front office makes the right moves this offseason to upgrade the team. Moves need to be made so that this team can finally get past the Astros. A couple bats, and a bullpen arm, and they might just be there. It is imperative that the Mariners make progress in 2023 and not take a step back.
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