OAKLAND, CA - MAY 27: Russell Branyan #30 of the Seattle Mariners bats against the Oakland Athletics during the game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on May 27, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
It’s time to show some love to Russell the Muscle.
Despite the well-noted failure to end their playoff drought that has since continued for another decade, the Mariners had a couple good teams towards the end of the ’00s. In 2007, the M’s finished six games out of a playoff spot at 88-74, then won 85 games in ’09.