MLB Notes for July: Can The Mariners Reach Their 1st Post-Season in 20 Years?

The Seattle Mariners have not been to the post-season since 2001 when they tied the MLB record for regular season wins with 116. 

Should the Mariners reach the post-season it will most likely be via an AL Wild Card berth as they are currently 8 games back of the Houston Astros in the AL West. The Astros now own the best record in the AL. The Mariners and New York Yankees are both 2.5 games back of the Oakland A's for the second AL Wild Card berth. 

Yet there are many Mariners players who are unsure if their own GM Jerry DiPoto is committed to winning when he traded their closer Kendall Graveman - to the Astros. Indeed, several Mariners players feel "betrayed" by the trade. DiPoto subsequently acquired Tampa Bay Rays closer Diego Castillo, but surrendering a walk-off HR to the Texas Rangers, who now own the AL's worst record thanks to a 12-game losing streak which began prior to the All-Star Break, does not inspire confidence. Nevertheless, the Mariners do have a chance to catch the A's who went 11-13 in July. Although the A's have added bats in the form of Starling Marte, Yan Gomes and Josh Harrison. 

Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon can claim Shohei Ohtani is AL MVP hands down, his team remains an underachiever in the AL West and will be lucky to have a .500 season. The Angels are underachievers while the Mariners may be underserved. 

The Chicago White Sox end July with an 8 game lead over the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central who will be managed by DeMarlo Hale for the rest of the season as Terry Francona takes a leave of absence for health reasons. Hale will have the distinction of being the last Indians manager before the team is reborn the Guardians next year. The Indians are otherwise non-descript.

Don't look now but the Detroit Tigers have enjoyed three consecutive winning months after an awful 8-19 April. They won't go to the post-season, but they do have a chance to finish 2021 over .500. The same cannot be said for either the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins.

The Tampa Bay Rays are back atop the AL East with a half game lead over the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees are very much in the AL Wild Card hunt and have added both Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo to their lineup. The Toronto Blue Jays also have a shot at the AL Wild Card and added Jose Berrios from the Twins to their starting rotation and Brad Hand from the Washington Nationals to the bullpen. All the Baltimore Orioles can do is play spoiler.

While both the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers made huge splashes with the additions of Kris Bryant and Max Scherzer/Trea Turner, respectively the dynamic in the NL West probably hasn't changed much. The Giants, Dodgers and San Diego Padres will all very likely be playing baseball in October although the Padres did slip a bit in July and the Cincinnati Reds are four games back of San Diego for the second NL Wild Card berth. 

Much to the shock of everyone, the Colorado Rockies did not trade either shortstop Trevor Story or top starter Jon Gray. The Rockies plan to extend qualifying offers to both players. Given how everything has gone in Denver over the past couple of years I'm not sure what Rocky Mountain High hasn't gone into their front office. After going a combined 8-48 in May and June, the Arizona Diamondbacks managed to win 11 games in July and nearly had a winning record for the month.

The Milwaukee Brewers have maintained a 7 game lead over the Cincinnati Reds in the NL Central, but the Reds do have a legitimate shot at the NL Wild Card as mentioned earlier. The St. Louis Cardinals are a .500 club but have nevertheless gone for broke in adding veteran southpaws J.A. Happ and Jon Lester although both are well past their prime. Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs have finally done their fire sale trading Rizzo, Bryant, Javier Baez and Craig Kimbrel. The Cubs will once again become lovable losers as they can at least look down upon the last place Pittsburgh Pirates.

The New York Mets are the only team with a winning record in the NL East but the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies are only 4 and 4.5 games out, respectively. The Braves added bats in Jorge Soler, Adam Duvall and Eddie Rosario while the Phillies added pitching in Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy. The Mets did add Baez from the Cubs but it remains to be seen if that will hold off either the Braves or Phillies.

What a difference a month makes. A month ago, the Washington Nationals were 2 games back of the Mets after a 19-9 June. In July, the Nats went 8-18 and Max Scherzer, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Daniel Hudson have been sent packing. As with the Cubs, the Nats' only consolation is looking down upon the Miami Marlins. 

Where will be come September 1st? Will the Mariners still be in the AL Wild Card hunt? Can the Tigers have a fourth consecutive month over .500? Will either the Yankees or Jays make a move on the Red Sox or Rays in the AL East? Can the Mets hold off the Braves and Phillies? Will the Reds be focused on the Brewers or on the Padres? Can Max Scherzer help the Dodgers knock the Giants out of first place?