In true Seattle baseball fashion, the 2024 Mariners season ended without a trip to the postseason. Finishing the season with a 85-77 record, the Mariners missed the postseason by one game – mirroring last season’s tragic ending of falling just short.
While their playoff aspirations were dashed before the contest, Sunday, Sept. 29, marked the Mariners’ last game of the regular season. The Mariners went out swinging, ending a disappointing season with a win – beating the Oakland Athletics 6-4 at home.
The last postseason to feature the Mariners was in 2022. Their previous 21-year playoff drought ended when catcher Cal Raleigh hit a walkoff home run, continuing the season for the ball club. However, since the 2022 appearance, Seattle has been on the hunt for another postseason run.
Fans were sure the 2024 season would be the one, with a leading starting pitching rotation, and added bats to the offense. Overall in the 2024 season, the Mariners had held first place position in the AL West for 107 days. A season high of 13 games over .500 was achieved on June 18 (44-31). Truly, fans were hopeful of October baseball coming back to Seattle.
But a month later on July 19, Seattle had lost the lead to the Houston Astros. With an unsuccessful offense, and slowed down defense, Seattle had to make a plan, quickly.
By the trade deadline, the Mariners had made a meaningful impact to the offense. Acquiring two bats (OF Randy Arozarena and 1B/DH Justin Turner) and strong bullpen arms (RHP Yimi García and RHP JT Chargois). The team had to deal away fan favorite 1B Ty France and number 22 prospect OF Jonatan Clase.
Yet still, after a dreadful two month period, the Mariners were five games back from the AL West title.
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The 2024 Seattle Mariners eliminated from playoff contention.
Longtime manager Scott Servais was fired Aug. 26, with former Mariners catcher, Dan Wilson, being named manager for the remainder of the season, along with hall of famer Edgar Martinez named as hitting coach.
Seattle finally had to make the final push to the postseason. Efforts from players who had yet to show up this season finally started to make a difference. The starting rotation had one last month to show why they were truly the best, but sadly it was not enough.
The 2024 ball club had missed the postseason on Sept. 26 by one game. Needing to rely on wins by the Tampa Bay Rays and Washington Nationals, the team was unable to push through.
Longtime Mariners fan Erin Pearson said, “It was disappointing not to make the postseason since the players have the want and talent to do so. The lack of situational hitting with runners on base was the most frustrating.”
Mariners owner and chairman John Stanton has “promised player payroll will increase for the 2025 season” according to a June interview by the Seattle Times.
As Mariners fans settle in for a long offseason, there is interest to see what else the front office has to give the fans, always with the hope for another postseason run from this team in the future.