Until Wednesday, I liked the Mariners chances of ending Major League Baseball’s longest playoff drought. And darn it, I still like their chances.
But when the news broke that left-handed pitcher Drew Smyly had been scratched from his final spring-training start, it reminded me how quickly baseball emotions can swing from sky-is-the-limit optimism to uh-oh, look-out angst.
It’s possible the discomfort Smyly felt during a recent bullpen session will be determined a minor concern. Then again, we’re talking about somebody who makes his living as a pitcher. With pitchers, there are no such things as minor concerns.