Seattle Mariners now own longest postseason drought
Thanks to the Cincinnati Bengals comeback victory to push the Buffalo Bills into the postsesaon, the Seattle Mariners now own the longest playoff drought in American professional sports.
It may be a new year, but it is the same old story for the Seattle Mariners.
Once again, the Mariners are heading into the season hoping that something will change. They have drastically overhauled their roster in the past couple of years, seeking to become more athletic while hoping to find their way back into the postseason. While that return to the playoffs had yet to occur, Mariners fans could at least take solace in the knowledge that they did not have the longest postseason drought in American professional sports.
Well, so much for that. On Sunday, the Buffalo Bills returned to the postseason for the first time since the 20th century and the days of Flutie Flakes. After dispatching the Miami Dolphins, the Bills got to party like it was 1999 when the Cincinnati Bengals actually managed to win an important game, dispatching the Baltimore Ravens.
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Back in 2001, it hardly appeared as though it would be the last time the Mariners made the playoffs. They had one of the greatest regular seasons in baseball history, posting a 116-46 record, only to fall to the Yankees in five games during the ALCS. However, although the Mariners won 93 games in each of the following two seasons, they were unable to return to the playoffs. Even the SuperSonics have been to the postseason more recently than the mariners.
The beginning of last season held a great deal of optimism. Seattle was one of the winners of the postseason, having revamped their pitching staff and outfield. Instead, the 2017 campaign ended just as every other season since 2001 – with disappointment and watching the postseason from their couch.
Maybe this year will be different. Trader Jerry Dipoto has been relatively quiet, with the acquisitions of Dee Gordon and Ryon Healy his only major moves. The pitching staff still needs work, but with plenty of options available in free agency, those issues may be addressed. Maybe this will be the year that everything changes, and the Mariners return to the postseason.
Next: Edgar Martinez, the wiffle ball, and the Hall of Fame
The Seattle Mariners now hold the longest postseason drought in American professional sports. At some point, that will change. Maybe it will even be this year.