The Mariners enter this weekend's series at 0.5 games back of the Rangers in the American League West.
The Seattle Mariners enter this weekend's critical series against the division-leading Texas Rangers at 51-52 overall and 0.5 games back of the Rangers in the American League West.
While some, including ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney, don't believe that this series is an ultimate determinant of the season, I believe it plays a significant factor in how the last two months of the season go for the Mariners.
For me, if the Mariners lose three-of-four or all four and fall to 3.5 or 4.5 back in the division, plus Texas having the tiebreaker? That feels like a backbreaker, coupled with the lack of momentum the team would have heading into a brutal three-game series against the Dodgers and an absolutely dreadful month of August.
If the Mariners are going to earn at least a split - or actually take this series - they'll have to exact every single ounce of grit and toughness they have, and they'll have to do things that they don't normally do. That's how important this series is, and I discussed it further on the most recent 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast.
Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson (6) speaks with a team staff member in the dugout during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at T-Mobile Park. Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images"To me, this series needs to be played like a playoff series. This series needs the mentality of a playoff series, and this series needs to be managed like a playoff series.
And if that means that Dan Wilson has to go to the bullpen in the 6th inning when he doesn't want to, or in the 5th inning when he doesn't want to because he needs Gabe Speier to get a big out on Friday night, then that is how it needs to be managed.
If he needs two innings from José Ferrer because he used Gabe Speier early, then he needs two innings from José Ferrer. If he needs to bring in Andrés Muñoz for a 4-out save, this is the time to do it. If he needs to bring in Andrés Muñoz for the ninth and the 10th inning, but he only threw 8 pitches in the ninth and they need him for the 10th, this is the time to do it.
This series needs to be played aggressively, it needs to have an aggressive mentality, and it needs an aggressive managerial mindset."
Beyond that: This is the time where you could, and should, see a reliever go three days in a row if they have to. Everything that everyone has been saved for all season materializes into right now.
You might think that is hyperbole, but it isn't. This is four games against the team you are directly battling with. Win this series, and you could overcome a decent amount of frustration from the first half of the season. Lose this series? You could be looking at a final two months that don't really mean a whole lot.
The attitude of the players - and the coaching staff - needs to reflect the urgency of the situation.
Of note
The newest edition of the 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast is out, and it features M's Insider Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710. You can listen to the episode HERE, or you can watch in the YouTube player below.
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