Contenders or Pretenders: Seattle’s Next 9 Games are Crucial
June 26th, 2009 | by nightmare |“Adversity doesn’t build character, it reveals it.”
If that is true, then the Mariners’ character will certainly be revealed in the next week and a half. Right now, Seattle looks tough. Real tough. They have just won 3 consecutive series with a 7-2 record. The Mariners are back to 2 games above the .500 mark and only 2.5 games behind the division leading Texas Rangers. Trouble is, the opponents in those 9 games were the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks, 2 teams with a combined 61-83 record. Which takes nothing away from Seattle. They had a job to do, and they got it done. But it doesn’t exaclty prove the Mariners are a true contender either.
Now the real challenge begins. Tonight, Seattle begins a nine game gauntlet against 3 of baseball’s best teams and best franchises. 3 games at the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3 at New York against the Yankees, and 3 in Boston could reveal whether the Seattle Mariners are the real deal this year. Of those clubs, Boston is the only one they have met in the 2009 campaign. Seattle won 2 out of 3 against the Red Sox in May. I believe Seattle must win at least of 4 of the next 9. That would keep their record above 500 during a very difficult portion of the schedule. And, the first place Rangers face off against the second place Angels next week which should help Seattle as well.
The upcoming 9 games could also help Seattle’s management decide whether the team will be a buyer or seller during the upcoming trade season. If Seattle can manage a winning record over the next 9 games, they could be set up well for a possible division run.
