Mariners manager Scott Servais optimistic going into 2021 season.

Seattle Mariners Scott Servais believes the team has the tools to compete for a postseason berth in 2021. A bold statement from a man who is on the back end of guiding his team through a three-year rebuild.  This will be Servais ( 348-360) seventh year with the M’s and the final one of a three-year contract. The club has an option to pick up next year. Was   Servais this is the year mantra a desperation call, blind optimism, or true belief in a process that is ready to bear fruit? Only time will tell but there are signs the good ship Mariner is headed out of its proverbial tailspin.

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER

Servais met with local media last week as part of the teams  Virtual Bash and was convincing when he presented his  case for the Mariners being a legitimate postseason contender.

“Really, it’s the first time coming to spring training as a group where it’s really nice to have the core of our group (remain) the same,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of turnover (in past seasons) as we’ve looked to get better in different areas. This is a group that we are really excited about. It’s a group we can grow with.”

The belief that this year’s Mariners team can compete for a postseason berth is something Servais started preaching towards the end of the 2020 season. The Mariners finished last year’s Covid-19 shortened season with a 27-33 (.450) record which was good for 3rd place in the AL West. The optimism stems from the team’s record down the stretch going 22-22 (.500) in the final 44 games and 19-14 (.576) over the last 33 games. The performances of Kyle Lewis ( Al rookie of the year), Evan White, and J.P. Crawford who were both  Golden Glove Award winners left much room for optimism.

OPTIMISTIC ABOUT BULLPEN

The Mariners pitching staff will be its strength in 2021. Marco Gonzales proved he is a legitimate ace. Gonzales lead the American League with a 9.14 strikeout to wall ratio and was tied for second with seven wins one behind leader Shane Bieber of Cleveland. Continued improvement from starters Justin Dunn, Justus Sheffield, Yusei Kikuchi, and Nick Margevicius and consistency from the bullpen could see the Mariners in serious contention for a  postseason berth.

For the moment the Mariners spring training report date is Feb 17^th.