While clinging to wild card hopes estimated at about 20 percent, the Mariners remain fringe playoff candidates. Despite injuries and seesaw momentum swings, they’re doing their best to fill in the lull that precedes the start of the football season.
And yet, whatever happens in 2017 could pale to what might await in 2018.
The 2018 Mariners are candidates to become the world’s most interesting sports team. It’s a premise requiring money and marketing vision for a franchise that has plenty of both.
The key? Acquire the next Babe Ruth.
His name is Shohei Otani, a Japanese superstar who turns 23 next week.