Mariners Roundtable: Can the M’s Make the Playoffs in 2016?

The Seattle Mariners have not graced the postseason since 2001, but there is plenty of optimism playoff baseball will return to the Emerald City in 2016.

Monday was Opening day, and clearly things did not go according to plan for the Seattle Mariners. The M’s failed to generate a consistent attack on offense, and Felix Hernandez issued 5 free passes en route to picking up his first loss of the season. Ultimately, Seattle fell to the Texas Rangers in Arlington.

Opening Day is generally the most over analyzed day of the year for baseball fans, and I’m sure many of the Mariners’ faithful have their fingers hovering over the panic button already. Despite yesterday’s poor result, there was still plenty to be excited about. Robinson Cano clubbed a home run on Monday against Texas, a feat Robbie only accomplished once during the first 47 games of the 2015 season.

The American League in general is very hard to predict this year, and the American League West is even more muddled. The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros shocked the baseball world rising from the AL West basement in 2014 to the postseason last year. Both teams look strong heading into the 2016 campaign, but the new look M’s could present a challenge to their Texan rivals.

Today, the staff here at SoDo Mojo will lay down their predictions for how the Seattle Mariners will fare in 2016. Some believe the M’s will snap their postseason drought, while others still believe Seattle is a year or two away from competing for the AL West crown.

Next: Ben thinks the wildcard is a possibility for Seattle in 2016