With the Mariners, it's two steps forward, one step back

There have been many sports columnists who have driven the final nail into the Seattle Mariners’ playoff chances this season. Just as many columnists have flipped the hammer over and used the claw feature to pull out a few of those nails, giving a bit of life to alleviating Seattle fans 16-year postseason drought.

I’ll be one of the latter here, but first, that postseason drought. Sure, it’s a long time, but how about a little perspective.

First, postseason droughts. Up until their run to the American League championship series in 2015, the Toronto Blue Jays last postseason appearance was 1993 — 22 years.

I don’t think the M’s will wait that long, even if they fall short this year.

And while we’ve never been to the World Series, think of the teams that did make it, won and then spent virtual eons waiting to return. The Boston Red Sox, 85 years, broken in 2004. The Chicago White Sox, 87 years, ended in 2005.

And the longest of all, the defending world champions Chicago Cubs, 107 years.

Currently, the Cleveland Indians have the longest World Series win drought of 68 years, last winning the fall classic in 1949.

So, stop whining, Seattle fans. Believe me, as somebody who experienced the M’s run in their first-ever appearance in 1995 — still have my hoped for World Series tickets — I’m near the top of the list in wanting to see us playing again in October.

It’ll come, and there’s still hope for this year. It is, however, a slim hope.

Seattle’s September schedule is against its fellow AL West rivals, including six with last-place Oakland, six with the Angles and seven with Texas — two teams running neck-and-neck with Seattle in the mediocrity race for the final wildcard spot.

Fifteen of those 27 games will be at home. Right now, Seattle is 24-29 against the AL West, but 7-6 vs. Oakland and 8-4 against the Rangers, 5-1 at home.

Also, in two of the last three years the M’s have made solid September runs at the postseason, but yes, falling short. On the flip side, those runs were in even-numbered years.

We’re in an odd-numbered year.

It would look more promising if some things changed. As of this writing, Seattle is once again below .500 at 66-67, with one game remaining on the road against a hot-hitting Baltimore club. Would be nice to come up at .500 again.

Things might look better if we could get just a small amount of starting pitching back. James Paxton should return, and at 12-3 has been the bright spot in the projected rotation.

The return of long-time staff ace Felix Hernandez would also help. It’s possible he could be back early in September.

Both additions would go far to improving the M’s chances.

But, if anything, baseball is all about hope. Hope comes at the beginning of each season, it fades at various points through the long summer campaign, and if you’re team is lucky, returns as the air begins to cool.

Seattle is at that point right now, and despite a mediocre record, is mediocre at a good time in the American League because with the exception of league leaders Boston, Cleveland and the Houston Astros — and wait-until-next-year White Sox — mediocrity is still in the postseason hunt.

So, keep the faith and remain optimistic. But, you might want to also turn that hammer back around.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.