Seattle Mariners: You Want To Talk About Playoffs?

Ah yes, the infamous Jim Mora speech with the Colts. With only 12 games left the Mariners are right in the thick of things when it comes to the playoffs. Yes, your Seattle Mariners are just one game back of the second wild card spot and only two games back of the first wild card spot (going into Wednesday’s games).

It is crazy to think about, the Mariners have a shot of making the playoffs for the first time since 2001. It’s not going to be easy, five more games with the Angels, four with Toronto and three with the Astros. Thankfully, the Oakland A’s have been struggling as of late even though they took two of three from Seattle just last week.

Here is something to think about, the Seattle Seahawks are the defending Super Bowl Champions. The Seattle Sounders just won the US Open Cup last night in a 3-1 win and are looking good to win the MLS cup. If the Mariners could just make the playoffs, Seattle will be one of the best sports cities in the country.

Granted we don’t have NBA (thanks David Stern) or NHL as of right now, with the sports that Seattle does have, they continue to put out good seasons.

The veteran leadership that Robinson Cano brought to this team was absolutely insane. Mix in people like Willie Bloomquist, Endy Chavez, and Kendrys Morales, these guys are great leaders for the younger guys like Brad Miller, Chris Taylor, James Jones, and Kyle Seager.

Not only are the Mariners close to making their first playoff appearance in 13 years, Felix Hernandez is hoping to make his first playoff appearance period. That’s another thing that Robinson Cano brings to this team, playoff experience. We don’t have many players that have been to the playoffs, only two starters that come to mind are Cano and Austin Jackson. They can show this team how to get there not just this year, but for many years to come.

Last Saturday Night, when Felix Hernandez took the mound in front of a sold-out crowd, a tear streamed down my face. I don’t know what it is, sports always makes me emotional. Over 43,000 people were there to watch our Mariners team, play meaningful baseball in September. It was something that I have been waiting so long for.

Not only do the Mariners deserve to be in the playoffs, the city of Seattle and the Mariners fans deserve to be right there with them. From the die hard fans who watch every game, with the optimism that they share every spring, to the new fans who are just figuring out what baseball is about, playoff baseball would bring the city of Seattle closer together.

Whether or not the Seattle Mariners make the playoffs comes down to these last 12 games, win or go home. The margin for error is slim to none, this is the time where teams prove that they are great. See you on the other side M’s fans.