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The Mariners show up to Chase, just about holding on to the fringes of the wild-card race in the American League. They currently sit four games back of the Boston Red Sox for the second WC, but Fangraphs give them only a 3.3% chance of the post-season. That unlikely feat would end their playoff-less streak at 20 years. The last time they made it was 2001 - Seattle outfielder Jarred Kelenic was aged two - when they went 116-46 and still didn’t make the World Series. Still, even if they don’t, if they go 18-12 down the stretch, they will get their first 90-win season since 2003. The six games against the Diamondbacks between now and next Sunday, likely represent their best chance to get a running start on that mark.
Right now, the Mariners own the longest playoff drought in any of the four main pro sports, at 19 years. With the Suns having ended their decade-long absence, in no uncertain fashion, there’s now only one team which is even longer than 10 years - the NBA’s Sacramento Kings have not made the post-season in 15 consecutive years. The NFL’s New York Jets are at 10 years, and could be joined there at the end of this campaign by the Phillies, unless they can reel in the Braves, whom they trail by two games, in the NL East. Of course, the Kings’ run may be more impressive, given how relatively easy it is to make the post-season in the NBA, compared to MLB.
Torey Lovullo notes
- Tomorrow’s starter is still TBD, and Torey said he’d let us know after the game
- Kole Calhoun took 7 live AB’s, but still no running out of the box.
- Merrill Kelly threw 51 pitches, 3 IP worth of live AB’s today as well. (Kole’s AB’s came off Kelly. He will pitch in an AZL game on Wednesday.
- Caleb Smith’s hearing on his suspension for foreign substance on his glove was postponed until September 7th due to the flooding and tragedy in New York.
- I asked what his expectations were for Stuart Fairchild, who is in the lineup tonight. Pretty generic answers. I just want to point out that when Fairchiled was called up July 6th he only got to start two games over a 19 day period, and those games were spaced 12 days apart, with a smattering of PH at bats in between. He didn’t help himself by not getting vaccinated and contracting COVID-19. Hopefully he’s fully recovered with no after effects and is able to take advantage of whatever meager opportunities he’s afforded this month. There are so many left handed outfield bats in this organization, they really need a right handed bat to step forward.