Seattle Sportsnet

Forget selling.

Forget next year.

It’s 2009, and the Seattle Mariners are in the thick of a pennant race as we near August. Just one game back of second-place Texas, and only four games behind first-place Anaheim, the M’s have a legitimate opportunity to make the playoffs for the first time in eight years. That’s enough to convince me. It’s time this team do it’s best to shut up all the critics, all the naysayers, and all the experts and do the one thing no one ever thought they could do: Win.

Texas is fading due to weak pitching, while Anaheim hasn’t been able to shake the injury bug. With key parts on the disabled list (Torii Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero, Scot Shields, Kelvim Escobar, and Dustin Moseley), the Angels have been winning with smoke and mirrors while desperately trying to prove that they’re for real.

This is the Mariners’ opportunity to put a stop to the Angels’ magic show. With strong pitching from start to finish and the emergence of the offense in recent weeks (mostly in the form of Franklin Gutierrez, if no one else), the M’s are beginning to look like a team that can survive the dog days of August and put up a fight down the stretch.

Of course, the playoffs are no guarantee in this division. With the strong play of the AL East, it’s almost a given that the wildcard team will come from the right coast. Which means that in order to make the playoffs out west, the Mariners will need to secure first place by the final game of the regular season. It’s a daunting task, but one that can be achieved if a few things remain constant over the following two months.

First, the starting pitchers must stay healthy.

This means you, Erik Bedard. Yes, the Mariners have proven that they can win without the likes of Bedard starting games, but it sure makes for a tough go of it. A healthy corps of starters takes the pressure off a weak offense and keeps the bullpen fresh for the games that count in October.

Second, the offense must keep producing at their current rate.

The first three months of the season were abysmal from a hitting perspective. Runs were few and far between and seemingly no one besides Ichiro could get their bat going.

Enter Franklin Gutierrez, who has been the hottest hitter in baseball over the past month. He’s been hitting for average and power and has been a boon to the rest of the lineup around him. His presence alone has created opportunities for the other eight bats in the order, and now it’s time for those other bats to get going, themselves. Even if just one more hitter can step up and be a factor, the M’s, with their strong pitching, will be a huge threat.

Third, the bullpen needs to continue outperforming expectations.

Who are these guys, anyways? David Aardsma, Shawn Kelley, Chris Jakubauskas, Sean White? Most fans outside Seattle might not know our relievers, but they’re among the best in the game right now and worthy of a little credit. With that credit in hand, the bullpen needs to continue to defy logic and mow down opposing batters at an astonishing rate.

These guys are unheralded and don’t know any better, but it’s their time to earn the paycheck right now. They’ve proven themselves capable all year long and we shouldn’t expect any different down the stretch.

Fourth, one or two moves need to be made to shore up the offense.

Shortstop is a problem, as is third base. The hot corner may be revitalized come late August when Adrian Beltre returns from injury, but what about the six-hole?

Ronny Cedeno has a great glove, but isn’t much of a hitter (though, to his credit, he has started hitting better in recent weeks) and there are shortstops available on the trade market as we speak. Pittsburgh’s Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson are the two biggest names that have been whispered throughout Marinerville, and either player would be a significant offense upgrade over the incumbent. Both can be acquired at a reasonable price, as well, which puts the pressure on the front office to get something done.

It’s time.

We’ve been waiting for nearly a decade to see this team play meaningful baseball come October, and we don’t want to wait any longer. We can worry about next year when this year’s complete. Let’s do this thing.