How the Seattle Mariners connect to 2019 World Series

The 2019 season came to a wacky ending. Our Mariners start 13-2 and win only 55 the entire rest of the year. The Astros failed to win their second title in three years, and in front of the home fans as well. They then insult their own injury and become exposed as a cheating organization, management included. Their reputation will never be the same for a while.

Bryce Harper signs with his former division rival to the tune of a lot of years and money. His first season in Philadelphia is mediocre at best. But what’s more impressive is how his old Nationals, in his face, storm from 12 games under .500 to an improbable title quest.

They reached, not one, but two unprecedented achievements: The first pennant in franchise history (sorry Expos fans) and the first Fall Classic winner (in seven games) to claim all four road contests.

The Mariners have an interesting connection to both of last year’s World Series participants: being completely owned. Since the Astros realigned into the West, they have had the Mariners’ number. Even those several seasons where they absolutely stunk themselves, the Mariners never had their number.

The Astros’ finish as top seed last year was definitely helped by our Mariners. They finished with 107 wins. They, sadly for the Mariners, almost “season-swept” them with an 18-1 finish. Even if Seattle just splits with Houston, they’re not winning 100 or more games.

Interleague play isn’t that often but what many fans may not know is that the Mariners can’t solve the Nationals either. Long before the Bryce era, they got the brooms on them. 2005? Swept at the old RFK Stadium during the Nats’ first year in DC. 2008? Swept at home despite the Nats also losing 100+ games that year as well.

2011? Swept at Nats Park with two of them by the walk-off. And in the first game of that series, the bullpen lost a gut-wrencher. They couldn’t even put the Nats away up 5-1 with two outs in the ninth!  While playing the Nats again in 2014 and 2017, we weren’t swept either time yet still lost the series.

Once again, we don’t have to worry about the Nats due to playing them once every three years. So whether it’s a 2-13 franchise record against Washington or a 1-18 run against Houston, the Mariners kneel down to 2019’s World Series teams.