Seattle is in the middle of a jumbled picture in the AL where all but three teams are still within 4 1\/2 games of a playoff spot, which includes five teams below .500. It\u2019s a bit different than what\u2019s going on in the NL where the team holding the final wild card spot is nine games over .500 and every team with a losing record is at least 6 1\/2 games back.<\/p>\n
Because of how closely the AL is bunched up at this point, the Mariners have real opportunity on the horizon, longtime ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney<\/a> told Seattle Sports\u2019 Brock and Salk on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cAt the trade deadline, these teams are all so close together in the American League, you can separate yourself with the right deals, with the right moves, at the right time,\u201d Olney said.<\/p>\n The Mariners have a 1 1\/2-game cushion for their wild card spot right now, and they don\u2019t have a long ways to go to catch the teams in front of them. The Blue Jays are only one game in front in the second wild card spot and the Rays 2 1\/2 games up in the first position. Seattle also sits 4 1\/2 games behind the Astros for first place in the AL West.<\/p>\n If the Mariners are able to maintain where they stand or climb further up the standings, Olney likes their chances in the playoffs.<\/p>\n \u201cI do think I share your vision about the Mariners having potential, especially in a short series in October where they could distinguish themselves against a team\u00a0\u2013 whether it is the Yankees, the Rays, the Detroit Tigers \u2013 because of the dominance of the rotation,\u201d Olney said. \u201cAnd again, you have a guy, Cal Raleigh\u2019s adjusted OPS+<\/a> right now is 202 (100 is league average). And to put that into perspective, that\u2019s higher than anything Johnny Bench ever did, higher than (Yogi) Berra, (Roy) Campanella, Gary Carter, Mike Piazza, up and down the line. He\u2019s having the greatest season ever for a catcher.\u201d<\/p>\n Here the full conversation at this link or in the audio player in this story. Listen to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.\u00a0<\/p>\n More on the Seattle Mariners<\/p>\n \u2022 Rost: Cal\u2019s historic season has Seattle Mariners in rare national spotlight<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Bryan Woo approaching Seattle Mariners records with impressive streak<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Mariners\u2019 Julio Rodr\u00edguez has a mentality with Raleigh hitting behind him<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Ahead of trade deadline, M\u2019s fans should be rooting against D-backs<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Passan shares unique factor that may help Cal Raleigh\u2019s MVP case<\/a><\/p>\n
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