Mariners: Don’t call it a comeback, but…

The Mariners are .500 for the first time in 2017.

But the better thing is, they are 9-4 since Haniger and Felix went down in the 19-9 drubbing in Detroit. After that horrible game in Detroit, many Mariners fans thought we were done with season 2017, and the phrase “seasons over” ran through Mariners’ twitter feeds. While the Mariners haven’t accomplished anything other than getting back to .500, I think it’s the way they have done it, they have given us hope.

As fans, all we ask for in our team, is that our team shows us some fight. When things get tough, they dig in and have a crack or show us some backbone. Our team! Our Seattle Mariners are showing us exactly that. In years past, how many times have we tuned off our radios or switched stations when we were down 4-0 in the first inning and even 9-5 after four innings? Again, I say we haven’t accomplished anything just yet but man we are well on the way.

This past week and a bit has been fun. The M’s first big comeback included being down 6-4 against the Angels at the bottom of the eighth and winning 8-7. Also, the boys trailed against Texas 3-0 in the bottom of the seventh and fought back to win 4-3. Though, these were just the warm up acts before Tuesdays performance against the Phillies, coming back not once, but twice when down four runs. The Mariners were down 4-0 after the first and then 9-5 after the fourth but OUR boys showed spirit and courage mentality to win these games.

After yesterday’s two-game series sweep against the Phillies, the M’s now have a May record of 6-2, including wins against the Rangers and Angels. The two losses that we have had this month have been in extra innings, with one of those games coming after using eight pitchers, including three to one batter.

The offense has caught fire this month with the Mariners averaging 7.1 runs per game. Cano and Gamel are leading the way both averaging .438 for the month. Both Cano and Gamel have been clutch late in games showing that ‘never say die’ attitude.

Jerry Dipoto recently stated that both Felix Hernandez and James Paxton could be close to a comeback sometime in the next homestand or shortly after. This news comes as a big relief, as yesterday Hisashi Iwakuma went on the 10 day DL. With that addition, 80% of the Mariners rotation, which we hoped to be the opening day rotation, are now on the DL.

So essentially, we need all the offense we can get over the next stretch. The M’s next 11 games start with a four-game series against the Blue Jays in Toronto, before heading home again with three against the Athletics and four against the White Sox. These three teams have an overall record of 44-55. These games are the sort of games in which we need to show that backbone and keep fighting. We need to win.

Next: Mariners are heating up despite injuries

These comebacks and the fighting spirt over the last eight games is what we all have been wanting and wishing for from OUR team, OUR Seattle Mariners. To the players and staff, you are doing an amazing job. Keep fighting and playing tough baseball. We are 100% behind you, and we couldn’t be prouder.