Let’s talk a little about the last time the Mariners made the postseason. It was 2001, and their closer was Kazuhiro Sasaki. In his first three MLB seasons, he racked up 119 total saves for the Mariners and was a part of their playoff teams in 2000 and 2001.
Unfortunately, Sasaki put an exclamation on the 2001 playoff collapse by allowing a walk-off homer to Alfonso Soriano. With that, the Yanks took a 3-1 series lead and eliminated the Mariners one game later. Goodbye season and goodbye postseason for another…Well, we’re still waiting.
Sasaki pitched two more seasons before retiring from the MLB.