THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Keep an eye on the M's — and the scoreboard — this weekend
Two new sports have taken hold in the Northwest.
Yes, NHL hockey has arrived, with the Seattle Kraken opening their regular season schedule on Oct. 12 in Las Vegas.
And the second sport?
Obviously…
It’s scoreboard-watching, and anyone with the slightest fire for the Mariners is caught up in it.
Like, now.
The M’s sudden and unexpected run at an American League wild-card playoff spot has fans checking phone apps every few minutes.
Seattle, as I’m sure you know, is locked in a four-team race for two wild-card spots.
It was five teams until the Mariners completed their 12-game victory sprint over longtime nemesis Oakland, eliminating the A’s — and doesn’t that sound nice?
Adios, Moneyball.
This weekend begins with just three games remaining in the regular season for the Yankees, Boston, Toronto and the red-hot Mariners (10 wins in the past 11 games), with just about any result still possible.
IF I WERE a betting man — and I am — I suspect I’d lean toward a couple of teams needing a 163rd showdown game to sort out the final order.
The Yankees have a tiny (one game) bit of wiggle room over the rest of the pack, and Boston finishes up with three games at woeful Washington.
In fact, the final six games on the Sox’ schedule turned up Baltimore and the Nats, teams that have combined to lose 200 games so far.
And yet…
This is baseball, where almost anything can turn over an apple cart.
Boston might be cruising if not for a midweek shutout loss to the Orioles, with ace Chris Sale taking the defeat. That brings us full circle, where we find the surprise entrant from Seattle.
The Mariners are playing better (and having more fun) than any of the usual favorites.
Following Wednesday night’s thrilling 4-2 victory win over Oakland, rookie outfielder Jarred Kelenic borrowed a big sign from a fan that said: “BELIEVE” — then waved it toward every corner of T-Mobile Park.
Kelenic also sounded a lot more influential than a normal 21-year-old kid hitting .177, as he grabbed a microphone and implored fans to come out and make an insane racket for these final three games.
However this wild-card thing plays out, Seattle has found the next face of the franchise.
IT’S SURELY possible for the Mariners to grab one of the wild-card spots — thus breaking that dreary, two-decade absence from postseason play.
Just as they’ve been all season, though, Seattle is an underdog.
To seize one of the coveted spots, the Mariners basically have to sweep the Angels and then see what’s happened with the rest of the contenders.
Baseball’s analytics people are still discounting Seattle, sniffing at the M’s negative run differential (minus-48), which could turn into a historic number, since the record for a team making the playoffs while being outscored is minus-42 turned in by the 2005 Padres.
Seattle has reached this spot — and an 89-70 record — with a solid rotation, timely hitting, excellent defense and an often spectacular bullpen.
The Mariners have an almost unbelievable 71-24 record when scoring four or more runs.
Just…four…runs.
The pen has also helped them to a 33-18 record in one-run games — best in the major leagues.
“We’re used to playing those games,” said shortstop J.P. Crawford. “We’re more comfortable in situations like that.”
Still…
One weekend, three games each for the four teams, and only two playoff spots available.
So, yeah.
Keep an eye on the scoreboard.
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Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
He also writes Zags Tracker, a commentary on Gonzaga basketball which is published monthly during the offseason, and weekly beginning in mid-October.