The Houston Astros were the team the Mariners wanted to beat and the team the Mariners wanted to be in terms of on-field success.
The winners of the American League West Division the past three seasons and 2017 World Series champions, the Astros seemed to lack weaknesses and showed no signs of regression thanks to a seemingly endless pipeline of talent in the organization.
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That’s why general manager Jerry Dipoto persuaded Mariners ownership that a “step back” plan to rebuild and restock talent was the only way to compete with Houston.