The number eight is going to linger in the heads of Seattle Mariners fans for quite some time.
Eight outs was all that separated the Mariners from winning Game 7 of the American League Championship Series and making their first-ever trip to the World Series. But one fateful swing by George Springer changed that in an instant and ultimately sent the M’s back to Seattle to watch the Fall Classic from home.
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It was a painful way to end a historic season that saw the franchise win its first division title in 24 years and go as deep as it has ever gone in the postseason.
It’s hard to take much solace in what the Mariners accomplished or find silver linings the day after the most devastating loss in team history. But there is reason to believe it won’t take another 24 years for this club to put itself in a similar position again. It should get back much sooner, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
During his weekly conversation with Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk, Passan had a message to deliver to the Mariners fans following the heartbreaking end to the season.
“I think this is a really important thing for Mariners fans to hear today. This feels like a beginning, not an end,” Passan said. “And we have seen teams that have dynastic aspirations reach this point and go backward. I don’t see that with the Mariners, though. I see this being the beginning of the best run in the history of this franchise.”
A big part of Passan’s belief that this is just the start of a sustained run of success is what Seattle has brewing in its farm system.
The Mariners have eight players ranked in both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects, some of whom could help out the big league club as soon as next season.
“There are going to be some guys who succeed and there are going to be some guys who fail, but the sheer number of really good prospects that the Mariners have lead me to believe that they’re going to be in this position again,” Passan said. “And I’m not saying every year it’s going to be the Mariners in the ALCS the same way it’s been every year the Astros are in the ALCS, but I think they’re going to have, within the next five years, multiple cracks at it.
“And it’s going to happen. I know it doesn’t feel good today. I know it’s hard to even think about when there’s pain, but it is going to happen. This team is too well set up for it not to.”
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As for what’s next for the Mariners?
“Three-quarters of their infield are free agents, right? So they need to figure out who’s going to be the first baseman, who’s their third baseman. I suppose you could slide in Cole Young at second base, or maybe (prospects Colt) Emerson or (Michael) Arroyo emerges at that spot,” Passan said.
“But they’re going to need to add at least one power bat, and I don’t know if that’s re-signing Josh Naylor, re-signing Eugenio Suárez or re-signing both. If you ran this team back with a little bit extra help in the bullpen, I feel pretty (darn) good about things.”
Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Listen to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
More Seattle Mariners coverage
• MLB Network’s Jon Morosi: Two decisions stand out from Game 7 loss
• What They Said: Seattle Mariners after losing ALCS Game 7
• Seattle Mariners’ Dan Wilson backs Game 7 bullpen decision
• Stacy Rost: What to point to from Seattle Mariners’ Game 7 loss
• Heartbreak: Seattle Mariners sunk by Blue Jays in ALCS Game 7
