When we first came up with this series idea, the Mariners hadn’t yet stomped the Angels in a three-game sweep, Garrett Richards wasn’t on the DL, and I had recently published this piece about how the Angels and Mariners were set up to enjoy a good old-fashioned rivalry last seen in PST when the Seahawks went toe-to-toe with the 49ers. With Houston’s core of young, controllable talent and world-beating pitching, it seemed like the Mariners and the Angels, owners of the Best Player in Baseball and the Generational Talent Two-Way Player, were set up to battle for second place for a while in the division.
Threat Assessment: The Oakland Athletics
