Voters Speak: Fan Still Unsure Of Mariners Future Playoff Chances
![Sep 20, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma (18) sits in the dugout after being relieved against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fourth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fsodomojo-com-2Ffiles-2F2016-2F11-2F9554848-hisashi-iwakuma-mlb-toronto-blue-jays-seattle-mariners-850x560-d68e616bbf82d8678e80fe078ed58356.jpg)
Over the past few months, we have been asking Mariners fans, and baseball fans in general, if they feel the M’s will make the playoffs in the next few years. Having compiled all the data from after the Segura trade, but before the Heston trade, here is what you think about the M’s future playoff chances.
As an immediate explanation for what you’re about to read, remember that this is an incredibly small portion of M’s fans that are worldwide, so take your fellow peers votes with a grain of salt.
And, next time, if you think what this segment of fans voted was absurd, you should vote next time. It is your civil duty to vote.
Our initial poll on election day asked fans whether or not they thought the Mariners would make the playoffs in the next three years.
As of that day, the biggest move the Mariners had made so far was trading Carlos Ruiz in exchange for Vidal Nuno. It was noteworthy, though, that they had also recently activated Nathan Karns from the DL.
But those were the key additions, they also significant loses including Nori Aoki, Drew Storen, and Dae-Ho Lee to name a few. With a complete overview of the Mariners transactions at that point, check out this link.
And, Here are the exact results of what the fans thought of the M’s playoff chances by November 8th.
Its #electionday Your vote matters, so what do you think? Will the #Mariners make the #Playoffs in the next three years #Seattle #MLB
— SoDo Mojo (@SodoMojoFS) November 8, 2016
On the most important day that comes every four years, the fans made a clear statement that it was going to take a lot of change to make the Mariners a playoff contender.
Fans were undeniably unsatisfied with missing out on the playoffs, not just this year, but for the past fifteen years, so they must feel skeptical things if things will change in the next few years.
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To provide some reassurance to those fans, that’s what Dipoto has brought over the past month. Revamping so much of his roster on both sides of the ball, the Mariners are a totally new team.
With young guys in left like Ben Gamel, Guillermo Heredia, and Tyler Motter, Mitch Haniger as the backup in right, and Dan Vogelbach as the backup at first on offense, then James Pazos, Dan Altavilla, and Rob Whalen in the bullpen, Dipoto if making a shift to rebuild this team with raw talent.
Mix them with newly acquired Jean Segura at short, and Danny Valencia at first now matched with the all-star caliber regulars in Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz, and Kyle Seager, the Mariners have a newly transformed team.
So, with those moves made, and so many others, how did that impact fans hopes for the playoffs. Here is the polling data for you to see.
How have the #Seattle #Mariners moves helped the team's playoff chances for 2017?
— SoDo Mojo (@SodoMojoFS) December 2, 2016
A quick note: less than -0-7% meant a decrease of more than 7% to make the playoffs.
With that said, the fans had very different opinions, nearly giving equal votes to each of the options.
We won’t know if the Mariners do indeed make the playoffs over the next three years for maybe three years. On top of that, during the season and in future off-season’s, Dipoto will definitely make more moves if things aren’t working.
So we’ll have to wait and see what happens in the coming years, but for now, we can all at least hope that the Mariners do make the playoffs in the next three years.
To see highlights from last year’s outstanding run, check out the video below.
Next: Dae-Ho Lee Is Grateful For His Time With The Mariners
After all, isn’t about time to start making the playoffs like the Seattle Sounders and Seattle Seahawks have done quite regularly over the past several years?