A tribute to the 2022 Seattle Mariners
They gave Houston all they could handle, and gave us everything we could have ever asked for.
Since the final out of a game that lasted over six full hours, words have been hard to find. It is hard to explain what Seattle felt like Saturday afternoon, and what this team has meant to this city.
Walking into T-Mobile Park had a different vibe to it, an indescribable buzz of anticipation. The Postseason signage that decorated the concourse was a foreign but exciting sight. Félix Hernández was in the building as well as just about every other Seattle icon, adding to the pressure that this team certainly should have been feeling.
When the game started there was plenty of buzz in the stands, rally towels flying, and boos raining down on the visiting Astros. Somehow the Mariners didn’t feel the pressure, or at least it didn’t appear that way. They played exactly how they have every single day this entire summer, and just fell short of their goal.
Their pitching staff gave every ounce of everything they had, led by rookie stud George Kirby and bounceback performances from Andrés Muñoz and Paul Sewald. They just didn’t quite have the bats to get it done, although the man who will be named American League Rookie of the Year in the coming weeks missed a home run by a matter of feet.
As the final out was fell into the glove of Mauricio Dubon, the T-Mobile crowd had a shocking reaction. After about 3 minutes of silence, “Let’s Go Mariners” chants rattled the walls of the stadium.
Yes they got swept, but it was one of the more even sweeps I have ever seen in my life. This team gave it everything they had, sometimes you just get outmatched or just flat out unlucky.
T-Mobile Park erupted in appreciation for what they had just seen. The crowd had every right to be upset, especially after waiting 21 years to only see one game.
This game was different. Although the season was over there was no feeling of finality to this playoff run. This team is going to make noise, and a lot of it. Shannon Drayer put it very well in a tweet on Monday afternoon, calling the team’s chemistry their superpower.
The 2021 team had an identity, and it was fair to question whether they could conjure up enough mojo to repeat an identity based around winning close games. The 2022 team was just as special, showing resilience and the ability to respond when they got punched in the mouth.
This is the culture this group has built, and after two years with this core it has become the standard. Under manager Scott Servais a culture has been formed that is the catalyst for the turnaround. Anybody who has been in this clubhouse understands, this group is unselfish and plays for each other.
A perfect example of this is catcher Cal Raleigh. Raleigh just set the record for home runs for a Mariner catcher as well as hitting one of the biggest home runs in franchise history. He could have been satisfied with his season, yet he caught 18 innings with a broken thumb and torn ligaments.
Their chemistry showed up with their play on the field, exhibiting a joy on the field you could feel through your television. Seattle fans will always remember the summer we were introduced to Big Dumper blasts, Eugenio Suárez walk offs, and being introduced to a superstar named Julio Rodríguez. They brought the postseason back to Seattle.
Nobody thought they could go this far, especially after a slow start to the season. They responded with a brawl, 14 wins in a row, and one of the best summers in Seattle baseball history.
Even though the season ended in disappointment, this group gave us everything we could have ever asked for. With 20 years of failure behind them, this team is now here to stay.