After nearly two weeks in Arizona watching the Mariners go through the rigors of spring training, I am much more optimistic about their 2020 outlook.
I now think they will lose only 96 games instead of 104.
OK, I’m being snarky. But not untruthful. I’ll say it one more time: Brace yourselves. This will be a rough season from a wins-and-losses standpoint. It can’t help but be. There is simply too much youth, too little depth and far from enough healthy, major-league-ready pitching.
But — stick with me here — I can also see the road map out of this parched desert with more clarity.