Seattle Mariners Second Half Preview: Fan Expectations
By Todd Pheifer
For the first time in many years, the Seattle Mariners have expectations going into the second half of the season. Granted, longtime fans probably don’t have unrealistic hopes. The team is good this year, but certainly not dominant.
There is the possibility that young fans who just saw the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl might think that championships are relatively easy to come by. They will learn soon enough.
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Are you hopeful? Cautiously optimistic? At best, the Mariners might make a trade or two, get hot down the stretch and ride a dominant pitching staff into the playoffs. Any team with Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma on the hill has the capacity to do some damage. Robinson Cano is a star, Kyle Seager is his wingman, and the Mariners do have a solid young hitters like James Jones and Mike Zunino.
At worst, the Mariners will not make a deal, experience some injuries and some slumps, and fade back into the middle of the pack. Fans hope that this is not the case…again.
Realistically, the Mariners may fall somewhere in the middle. They may make a deal or two, though it would not be a shock if they were minor upgrades that consisted of aging veterans that are trying to recapture their hitting stroke of a few years ago. Based on how the team played in the first half there seems to be enough talent to grind out a playoff spot, though that outcome is hardly a sure thing.
So, based on what you have seen thus far, what are your expectations for the rest of the season?
Let us know why you made your selection in the comment section. Enjoy the second half!