Seattle Mariners Opening Day: Pros and Cons of Expectations
By Todd Pheifer
Mar 30, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (32) pitches against the Los Angeles Angels at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Opening day is upon us. The smell of fresh-cut grass and hot dogs is in the air and hope springs eternal throughout Major League Baseball. Everyone has a chance to win the World Series. Well, not everyone.
How about our beloved Seattle Mariners? A number of “experts” are suggesting that the Mariners could win the American League West. Others are predicting a pennant, and even a World Series win.
Are all of the experts jumping on the Mariners bandwagon? No. However, the Mariners are predicted to be far from cellar-dwellers.
Expectations are a funny thing in sports. It can be very exciting to have a team with potential, particularly when that franchise has struggled through a number of seasons in order to reach this point.
At the same time, potential brings with it the strange and contrasting emotions of hope mixed with a fear of being disappointed at a higher level. Seattle fans just experienced that in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks were (and are) a great team, but that was a crushing moment for fans. No one wants to reach a championship game and then lose.
Granted, most fans will tolerate that risk of disappointment rather than suffer through another long season of rebuilding…again. Baseball, in particular, can be unforgiving in that way simply because there are so many games. The Mariners have been in “rebuilding” mode for several seasons, and now there are a number of signs pointing to a contending season. At least, that is the hope. Much can happen between now and October.
Expectations are a funny thing in sports.
Are you excited for the new season? There is certainly reason to be optimistic about the 2015 Seattle Mariners. Will the M’s live up the hype? Or will they simply bring the Emerald City a more advanced level of disappointment?
After months of anticipation, opening day is finally upon us. Enjoy the ride…and go Mariners!