Reason #1: The drought is over
For the first time in 20+ years, we don't have to sit here and fret about the playoffs. The Mariners have broken the streak of missing the playoffs, and it's one less thing that the Mariners have to worry about. Sure, there are new worries that pop up, but this was a massive proverbial monkey on the back, and it's gone.
No more hearing about "Back in 2001". No more listening to stats related to last Mariners pitcher to have a playoff win, or last one to hit a homer, last one to score... none of that. Well, at least when we hear them now, you get names like Luis Castillo, George Kirby, and Julio Rodriguez thrown out there instead of guys who have been out of the game for 15+ years.
It's hard to explain how nice it is going to be to not have to worry about breaking the streak. Big Dumper Drought Buster saved the day, and now we get to worry about starting a playoff streak instead of making it there for the first time in decades. I think it is going to take a lot of weight and worry of the players, especially during any rough stretches of the season, or in September when Magic Numbers and playoff odds start popping up.
The Mariners are a playoff contender, and I love it.