Do the Seattle Mariners have a shot at the playoffs this year? Why/Why Not?
457698
I think they do have a shot.  The AL West isn't that great this year.  If we can play the Angels tough all year, we might have a shot.  \nI like the M's line-up, but how bout giving Felix some run support, eh!  \nIf we are in it at the all-star break, I think they will need to go out and get a starter (like Zito) and a long middle reliever. \nGo M's!!!!!
1117028
With the team hitting the way the are and if A.J. Burnett can come back healthy, probably better than a lot of people will give them credit for.  However, they need to surpass the Yankess and/or Red Sox just to make the playoffs and I don't see that happening, not this year at least.
465243
I think so. They got a great pitching staff, good bullpen(jenks). Then their hitting lineup aint too shabby. Thome, and konerko carries the load. Crede is getting better by the year. iguchi and posednik can get on base and steal some too. overall, solid team all around. Got a good shot, better than any other team.
51114
They should have a shot. They came very close this year,but came one win short of winning their division. They have good recievers and great running backs, and with the New England lose to the Broncos in the playoffs, i think they'll be atop their division come 2006 season.
361198
Yes they have a lot to play for. Although they have clinched a playoff spot, it's possible for them to move up to 5th place depending on if they win and a couple of other teams lose. I hope they can move up. They've been playing really well over these last games.
576120
no. they dont have the depth at the moment and i doubt that kitna can do anything for them at this moment. they might win a few more games than last year but not by much.
483970
Last year they talked about the NL "worst", this year it's starting to look like the AL "worst". Hey I'd like to see the Dodgers and the Angels in the series but I don't think it'll happen this year. I guess it's still early enough in the season that anything could happen. However, in order for the Angels to even get to the playoffs, they'll have to change the way they're playing. Right now I'd put my money on the A's in the AL west and either of the Sox or the Cards to win the Series.
420665
They won't win the division but I think they are definitely contenders for the Wild Card this year.  I wish they would.  I love Ned Yost.
301796
Yes. The way baseball is now teams that can spend a lot of money, and do it wisely, stand a much better chance of being competitive. I expect that both teams will be in the playoffs this year and I'd give it a 1 in 4 chance that there will be one this year.
209620
im a huge mes fan, and although they have the best team in the NL ( besides the Cards) on paper, they still have to prove to me that they can styep it up when it counts. Ive been heart-brokemn too many years in a row to get my hopes up before the seasoon starts. In the words of omeone close to me: " The braves will win the division untill they switch divisions". But tlets hope hes wrong  :-)
290049
They've had solid starting pitching for most of the last decade, but that doesn't mean much in the playoffs. They need guys who can put it together for a few games in a row during a short series. You can have the best pitching in the world during the regular season, and that by itself doesn't guarantee a championship. I think they can win their division again, but the playoffs are a total crapshoot.
431693
Seattle is a good team and I want to see them do good so Ichiro can get a lot of ppostseason experience. But them switching I don't think will happen because there is 14 teams in the AL and 16 in the NL, so switching leagues would make the AL smaller, and the AL West would only have 3 teams, so talk about an easy division (Texas, Oakland, Los Angeles).
476762
Technically every team has a chance of winning, the Red Sox have a leginament chance but because the player in a power division i doubt they may even make the playoffs. The AL East is loaded with teams that can easily win any other divison. Back to the Sox, Yes they have some of the best pitching and once they get Foulke on a roll they will be unstopable. But they arent very good fielders. Manny isnt very fast, Crisp is hurt and Nixon has had his moments so they dont have much luck in the outfield. Loretta is a decent 2B and Varitek is great but overrated. Lowell their other infielder is slipping from his Marlin days and isnt a productive of a hitter anymore. The Sox dont have much hitting anymore. Ortiz and Rameriz and well thats it. Ortiz is supposably on steriods not because he just got good but he has been hitting double the homers since his twins days and ever since i checked isnt not that easy to hit over the green monster. Even though they are in first now they play in the hands down best divison and there are over 100 games left, i dont think they will hold up.
441748
Well, I think they will win the division. But this year, the mets are really threataning. They have power in Delgado and Floyd, speed in Beltran and Reyes, and great pitching in Martinez and Wagner. While I'm not so sure the brave's streak will end, the mets offseason moves have put it in more danger than ever before.
244498
I think they will get into the playoffs, but by the wild card.  They have good new talent, but the team never really worked together, so they will not be too good at the beginning of the season, but will be great by the end to the season!  And I think that Brian Roberts will be able to play on opening day too!  I think that they will be able to beat the Red Sox, but probably not the Yankees with all their new talent :(:(:(:(:(:(!
1056329
Hey BroadwayPhil, tough loss today for the M's losing in x-tra's to the Rockies, so 14-4 is great against the NL.  But the NL West is horrible, but then again the AL West has had it's problems too.  The AL has really been ripping the NL to shreads.  My BoSox just finished 16-2 against the Senior Circuit.  Seattle would be a top 5 team in the NL, but not in the AL.  The Mariners have been playing a lot better as of late, but I guess we will find out soon when the Mariners get back to playing the AL Teams.  The team that they have to worry about most is the A's, Rich Harden is due back soon from injury.  But Joe Blanton and Danny Haren has been very ordinary and very inconsistent.  Zito has been their best pitcher so far.  The Mariners have to hope that they continue to get good performances from Ichiro which is a given, but Lopez and Johjima have been pleasent surprises for them.  Ibanez just very quietly go about his business, he's so underrated, a good steady outfielder.  Gil Meche has been pitching much better this year which is a plus.  Moyer has done very well, isn't he about 50 now?  God bless him, he's still doing it at his age.  They really need Washburn and Pinero to get better consistency.  King Felix can just flat out dominate when he's on.  So are they in it for the long haul?  Could be, but just as you said the AL is murderers row this year with Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, and New York.  You really don't catch a break with teams like that.  Mariners just have to care of business against the under .500 teams and see how it will play out.  They have a chance to win the AL West!!!\n\nPS. - I have Ibanez, Lopez, and Ichiro on my fantasy baseball team, so they are OK by me   :)
1114508
I think it's possible, but in order just to get to the playoffs, the Dodgers are going to have to win the NL West, and it's probably the toughest division in baseball.  Right now, they're a half game ahead of the Padres and only 3 games in front of Arizona at the bottom of the division.  And you know that every team in the NL West is going to do something to upgrade their rosters by the trade deadline!\n\nI do think that the Dodgers have the depth to stay on top though, especially with all of the talented rookies that have been called up and performed better than anyone could have expected.  They definitely need to bolster their rotation and possibly their bullpen, in case Gagne doesn't come off the DL.  My solution:  Find someone who'd be willing to make a deal for Jae Seo.