Houston Astros: Mariners push intriguing but, should not be surprising
A Link Between Us & Seattle
It sounds crazy to think of this run the Mariners are on. You can’t help but admire the way they’ve won their games. But you also get the feeling that you know how it will end up. The Mariners might make the playoffs, but they don’t have the experience needed to win it all just yet. We know that feeling because we went through that experience in 2015.
2015 saw the Houston Astros jump from a pretender into a contender to win the American League West. The year started off with an 18-7 record, which included a ten-game winning streak. The Astros got contributions from everyone from Altuve, Colby Rasmus, Springer, Dallas Keuchel, to a rookie named Correa.
It had been 10 seasons since the Houston Astros last made the playoffs and we couldn’t be more excited. We were certain that we would win the division and make a good run. But one team in our division didn’t seem to care for they owned the AL West. You know them as our friends from Arlington. They were right on our heels for much of the season and entering September.
Of course, we were playing well beyond our level that it took us all the way to the middle of September before we relinquished the division lead. Fortunately, we made the postseason as a Wild Card team and might’ve made an ALCS run.
The season was a blessing because while we ended up losing in heartbreaking fashion, it did give us the tools and pieces needed to win in the future and our expectations were set higher.
Meaning?
Seattle has a team that can make the playoffs. But, at this point, I don’t believe they have a team that can win the World Series. They’re going to need a few more pieces to help bolster their roster to contenders. We’ll see how the trade deadline works for them.
Interestingly enough, there is another thing we should take into consideration. The Mariners are hot, but this situation reminds us of 2016 as well.
Related Story: The Astros will be buyers at the trade deadline
2016
We went into 2016 with expectations of reaching the World Series. Instead, the Houston Astros finished third in the division. Blame the poor start, the injuries, and lack of moves at the trade deadline. All despite the team coming within two games of first place.
But, the biggest reason why we didn’t make the playoffs was our 4-15 record against the Rangers. When you’re in a tight division race and you have similar records, wins against division opponents will more often than not determine the outcome of the race.
As of now, we are 4-2 against the Mariners this season. The Astros have thirteen more games against Seattle later on this season. So basically, if the Astros win the majority of those games plus the ones that should be won, the separation should be greater.
Now let’s back towards the Rangers for a bit. They had the American League’s best record in 2016 with 95 wins. But were they the best team then? Sometimes a team with the best record isn’t the best team. Sure the Rangers won their division by nine games, but talent-wise, it’s hard to think they could win the World Series, especially with Cleveland and Chicago on the horizon. And like the Mariners, they were also a one-run team as they have the major league-best 36-11 record in one-run ballgames.
But how did that go for them? They were victims of a division series sweep by the Blue Jays.
Conclusion
You can win as many one-run ballgames as you possibly can just like you can win any type of game. But they can only take you so far to where the postseason comes about and you might run out of luck.
The dog days of summer and August will separate the teams from who wants it more to who’s actually teasing us. For right now, we can’t worry about it.