The Seattle Mariners were unable to make the playoffs this year, their 21st time missing the playoffs in 22 seasons. Last year, the team made the playoffs for the only time in that span. This sparked hope within the dedicated fanbase of what they had to look forward to in the future.
But missing the playoffs by just a few games this year left fans disappointed and wondering if they are about to face another streak of playoff-less seasons. Longtime Mariners fan Gretchen Coe, who has been attending games since the 1990s, explained her thoughts on this season’s end.
“I am optimistic as long as the M’s add an impact player or two. The team played their hearts out this year and could have made the playoffs with just a tiny bit of help,” Coe said.
Their biggest impact player this year was All-Star outfielder Julio Rodríguez, whose 17 hits over a four-game span in August set an MLB record. Still, Seattle’s combined on-base percentage of .321 and run total of 758 were both right at league average. With the lack of definitive hitting star power, some might be concerned about the resilience of the fanbase.
However, Mariners fans have proven that there is more to the game than winning. In Seattle, fans are seen wearing their jerseys year-round no matter how their squad is playing.
“Baseball is an act of optimism that begins in April. We start each season with hope. More often than not, our hearts are broken by September. Still, we return each spring with renewed hope,” Coe said.
Mark Padilla, a first-year biology major, and Harrison Limbaugh, an undeclared first-year, both Seattle University students, attended the Sept. 30 Mariners vs. Rangers game. The game ended 6-1 for the Rangers, ending the Mariners playoff hopes.
“Being my first-ever professional baseball game, it was such a great atmosphere. I really enjoyed the Mariners fans even as they were fighting a losing battle,” Padilla said.
The loss hit the fans hard. This kind of disappointment wasn’t expected because the Mariners had won 8-0 the night before.
“Everyone came to the game with high hopes but by the third inning we were losing, it was pretty disappointing,” Limbaugh said.
But the experience in the stadium echoed Coe’s sentiments of hope. Michelle Lee, an employee with the Mariners’ guest experience staff, explained her experience with fans this year.
“People were happy, hopefully, excited to be at the ballpark. The chatter about the standings was a constant topic of discussion, no exaggeration,” Lee said. “The anticipation was palpable and so exciting to be hopeful about Mariners baseball.”
That excitement was warranted—the Mariners were in first place in their division in August. But they were unable to keep that momentum into September and eventually lost out on the playoff opportunity. The abrupt change was obvious in the crowd, as some fans became discouraged about the future of the team.
“Pretty much the common grievances were everything you heard on talk radio and social media: all of the should’ve, could’ve, would’ves. More money, different lineups, different trades, better hitting…,” Lee said.
There is no concern over whether the fans will be there to support their team. But will the Mariners be able to reward their fans with the successful season many think they deserve? As Coe said earlier, many fans are frustrated with the lack of star -power on the team. The Mariners are lacking in their ability to score runs and be a threat offensively. Only seven players have a batting average higher than .250, and none meet .300, which is considered excellent.
Whether the team is winning or losing, the Mariners staff wants to provide the best experience possible for their fans. As a result, fans come back year after year with a renewed sense of hope no matter what the results of the season before were.
“Fans are so important to the game and experience. We show up to work and hope fans will also show up to watch,” Lee said. “The players commented numerous times this season and last how important it was to them that the fans showed up and supported them, the energy in the stadium makes this job so much fun.”
The Mariners’ fan experience is not dictated by the team’s play, for better or for worse. For decades the Mariners have drawn in a dedicated and optimistic fan base. A fan base that is not going anywhere in the near future, what’s left now is for the Mariners to achieve their goals and thank their fans for their dedication with a successful playoff run.
