The evening earlier than Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hit his 59th and 60th home runs of his historic season, he went viral for his phrases. Following a dramatic 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies that clinched Seattle a playoff berth, he informed the group they “Would possibly as nicely go win the entire (expletive) factor,” a quote from Nineteen Nineties basic comedy “Main League.”
Mariners followers aren’t used to this degree of uncooked confidence. The 28-year-old is declaring to us — by means of his phrases and profession — that it’s time for the town and its Mariner devoted to regulate our expectations because the staff prepares to host playoff baseball Saturday.
Twenty years of mediocrity have left so many accustomed to disappointment, jaded by failure. Forty-eight seasons, zero World Sequence appearances. Dwelling within the nostalgia of Ichiro, Edgar and the 2001 staff, which posted a record-tying 116 wins within the common season, was nearly as good as issues would ever get, it appeared.
However Cal helps change the calculus.
First, together with his bat. It was Raleigh who blasted a pinch homer on Sept. 30, 2022, in opposition to the Oakland Athletics to end the Mariners’ 21-year playoff drought.
Subsequent, together with his voice. Following the disappointing 2023 season, he took the staff and entrance workplace to process for a failure of ambition. “We’ve bought to turn into a greater staff. Straight up,” he mentioned.
Delivering clear-eyed honesty is what good leaders do. It takes guts. Even below strain to retract a few of his sentiments, he doubled down: “I’m not going to apologize for eager to win. I need to carry a World Sequence to this metropolis. The followers deserve it.”
This yr, it was the switch-hitting Huge Dumper — contemporary off a six-year, $105 million contract extension — who managed to go the place no catcher ever has: 60 dwelling runs in a season. This on high of being a Platinum Glove-winning catcher.
To their credit score, the Mariners’ possession and entrance workplace have parlayed a middle-of-the-league payroll right into a potent farm system — which included Raleigh’s rise — and a willingness to go large within the second to make a postseason run. They took to coronary heart Cal’s 2023 recommendation and have constructed a gritty staff that added the one-two punch of first baseman Josh Naylor and third baseman Eugenio Suarez on the commerce deadline.
Lest our phrases ring unrealistic, it’s at all times price remembering: Baseball is a sport with mercurial gods. Video games are gained or misplaced on one arm, a single swing of the bat. However that is the Mariners’ greatest roster in years: no simple outs from no. 1 by means of 9; a powerhouse rotation and a lights-out bullpen.
And a nascent famous person named Cal who thinks Seattle is prepared for the World Sequence.
It’s a staff positioned for one of the best likelihood in a fickle sport.
“Life’s battles don’t at all times go to the stronger or sooner man,” wrote the poet Walter D. Wintle. “However ultimately, the person who wins is the person who thinks he can.”
Raleigh believes. So ought to we.
