Mariners and Blue Jays: Where It All Went Wrong

A year ago, the Blue Jays and Mariners were about a month away from capping the ALCS with a memorable Game 7 that was decided on George Springer’s epic homer off Eduardo Bazardo.

Springer’s drive to left field sent the Blue Jays into their first World Series since 1993 and made them a participant in probably the most memorable Fall Classic since the Cubs outlasted the Guardians for the 2016 title and ended an historic 108-year drought.

Going into the offseason, thinking the Blue Jays and Mariners could meet again for the pennant was a popular pick. They certainly were trendy or popular in late-March when I penned AL previews teasing that possibility and popular in other places since ESPN’s baseball preview placed the Mariners as the top threat to the Dodgers and the Blue Jays as the third-biggest threat to the two-time World Champions.

How I perceived the Mariners before the season

In my Mariners preview, I asked the question with a tone that hinted at a belief this was the year they ended their 50-year drought and became the last team to reach the World Series. It was written with the belief that the Mariners might head into the season ticked off about losing a difficult Game 7 in the same vein the Yankees were angered about losing Game 5 in the 1997 ALDS at Cleveland and followed it up with 114-win seasons and a dominant World Series title

It was written with the belief that Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez and Josh Naylor would augment a strong young rotation with more production at the plate. It was not written with the belief Raleigh was going to slug 62 homers but certainly optimistic about the lineup, even though warning signs existed with the .244 average and high amount of strikeouts in an offense with 238 homers in 2025.

The trio are in their primes with Raleigh and Naylor heading into their age-30 campaigns and Rodriguez only 26, but how things unfolded is leading fans to wonder if this is the trio who will get Seattle to the grand stage of the World Series.

The preview on the Mariners was written with the view they would win the AL West and lose a lengthy ALCS series to the Yankees, who face their own treacherous path through the wild-card and possible division series meeting with the Rays.