Examining every missed Mariners opportunity in 2022 ALDS

Oh, man. I still don’t know how to feel. It’s been a couple of days since the Mariners lost Game Three of the ALDS to the Astros, going down 1-0 in the 18th inning. There are so many emotions, thoughts, and feelings that it is hard to figure out truly how you feel.

Pain, at being swept by the Astros. Of all teams, it had to be them. Walkoffs and Go-Ahead’s included.

Sorrow, at the season being over.

Despair, because it’s so easy to fall into it as a Mariners fan.

Yet…

Joy, at finally watching playoff baseball again in Seattle.

Wonder, at how much this team can still grow and improve

Appreciation, at seeing a team full of love for baseball, and seeing a town start to care and love for the Mariners again.

It’s definitely a two-sided coin.

We will have a lot more out through the rest of the offseason examining players, the team, and our thoughts. A lot of positivity. There is so much to be happy about, and I truly do believe that the good part of it FAR outweighs the bad part.

For now, though, I want to look at the missed opportunities that the Mariners had in each game, and remind us all how close we were to playing more baseball against the Astros. Each opportunity likely would’ve changed future ones, but they are still worth looking at individually. This isn’t to draw scorn at how badly we failed but instead is designed to provide hope at showing how close we came to pushing them to their limit.