Some say this season is over.
Some say there's still hope left.
Baker says the team needs to take three of four from Texas.
Dave says there's only Five Days.
And Jeff has both sides covered.

I have one that tops them all.

May 19th.

What's so special about this day?  Doesn't seem like anything.  It's a just Mariner off day.

It's the days surrouding that off day that mean something.

From today till May 19th the Mariners face:

2x Texas
3x Chicago White Sox
3x @Texas
3x San Diego
------------------OR--------------------
5x Texas (14-20)
3x White Sox (15-16)
3x San Diego (12-21)

This is a cake schedule.  Sub .500 teams, struggling teams, teams that have no shot at winning.  Good time for the team to right the ship.  They can get the bats going, fortify the bullpen, and sharpen up defense....and hopefully, have enough to withstand the regression/progression of the starting rotation.

Well, at least they better because after May 19th the Mariners face:

3x @Detroit
3x @New York Yankees
3x Boston
3x Detroit
3x LA Angels
3x @Boston
3x @Toronto
------------------OR--------------------
6x Detroit (14-20)
6x Boston (22-13)
3x Yankees (17-17)
3x Angels (22-13)
3x Toronto (16-18)

Nine games vs. the top teams in the AL (Boston, LA Angels). Six games vs. a potentially dangerous offense (Detroit), a potentially dangerous pitching staff (Toronto), and a team we couldn't beat when they were mediocre (Yankees).

Holy Granola, Batman!

Sure the Mariners need to win this series against Texas.  Sure they need to come away with a winning homestand to stand a chance.  The team says there is a sense of urgency but they're not panicing yet.

They must not know what's coming.

Every feasibly fixable issue must fixed by May 19th.  This team will still have flaws but they HAVE to be playing better than they have been.  Because if they don't, the season is not only over.....it's going to get real ugly real fast.

If this team isn't ready to endure the stretch between May 19th and Friday the 13th (June)....well, this team is completely finished.

Finished I say.