They are saying a Canadian winter will be harsh … October is seemingly extra so.
After a magical season, an electrifying playoff run and a Recreation 7 that held the complete Pacific Northwest in suspended disbelief, the Seattle Mariners headed residence. To not the World Sequence. To not a parade. Simply … residence. Their season, which shimmered with a lot hope, resulted in a shocking, nearly surreal loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.
It hurts. And in case you’ve been a Mariners fan lengthy sufficient, it hurts in a well-recognized approach.
This wasn’t speculated to be the 12 months it ended like this. The pitching employees was elite. Cal Raleigh was transcendent. Town was buzzing with perception in a approach it hasn’t since 2001 — the final time we got here even remotely this shut. And but, right here we’re once more, nursing the injuries of what may need been.
Recreation 7 will probably be dissected for years. The late-inning collapse. The questionable bullpen administration. The missed alternatives on the plate with runners in scoring place. The eerie silence that fell over T-Cellular Park within the closing inning — in a stadium that had spent all night time getting ready to eruption — was the sound of 47,000 hearts breaking in unison.
However this loss isn’t nearly one sport. It’s about many years of being advised to attend. Many years of rebuilding, retooling and reimagining. It’s about Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar, Ichiro — legends who by no means bought to hoist a trophy right here. It’s concerning the promise of “subsequent 12 months,” a chorus that has grow to be a merciless lullaby for this fan base.
And but — by some means — we hold displaying up.
That’s the half the nationwide media by no means fairly understands about Seattle. They’ll speak about our droughts and our collapses, however they miss the loyalty. The packed stadiums in April. The children in Julio jerseys. The assumption that lives right here, regardless of all the things.
This group was totally different. They usually should be. The core is younger. The expertise is actual. However make no mistake: Alternatives like this don’t come typically. This Recreation 7 will linger. It would hang-out. And it’ll outline how we measure the subsequent steps this franchise takes.
The entrance workplace owes this metropolis greater than apologies and platitudes. They owe us urgency. Aggression in free company. A refusal to be glad with “nearly.” As a result of this fan base? We’re bored with “nearly.” We’re prepared — greater than prepared — for a parade down Fourth Avenue.
So sure, mourn this loss. Really feel each ounce of heartbreak. However don’t confuse ache with pessimism. Seattle baseball is alive once more, and this metropolis received’t accept one other 20 years within the shadows.
To the Mariners: Thanks for the experience. Now go end the job.
