Last game of the year? Part III

"THE MARINERS ARE GOING TO PLAY FOR THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP! I DON'T BELIEVE IT! MY OH MY!!" So said the late great Dave Niehaus thirty years ago, broadcasting the end of the thrilling Game Five of the American League Division Series on the radio. Ken Griffey Jr. had just scored all the way from first base on Edgar Martínez's famous double down the left field line in the bottom of the 11th inning to give Your Seattle Mariners a series victory in their first-ever playoff appearance.

It was a classic game, and I was there, perched in the 300 level of the old Kingdome alongside my friends Erik and Mike and 50-odd thousand strangers.

I was also in attendance last night, again with Erik (Mike was there too, working as ballpark staff), as the M's played another Game 5 of an ALDS, another extra-inning victory and another classic game. Well, in some ways; in other ways it was a really frustrating game of missed opportunities and blown chances. And once again, at its conclusion the Mariners punched their ticket to the Championship Series, which begins tomorrow in Toronto.

This made three consecutive playoff games I've attended, all with Erik, that went extra innings: last night, Game 1 of this ALDS the Saturday before, and Game 3 of the 2022 ALDS, which went 18 innings and saw the M's go down in defeat in a series sweep to the hated Houston Astros. It was also third consecutive Seattle appearance in a deciding ALDS Game 5 that I've witnessed in person with Erik: last night, the classic in 1995, and 2001’s victory over Cleveland. (I was not with Erik for the ALDS win in 2000, I was instead with my late friend Carl in seats near the very back of the upper deck in straightaway right field, but that was a game 3 win that finished a series sweep against the White Sox.)

I won't go into the details of the game itself, all that is available here for anyone who wants it. Suffice to say it was a pitching clinic for the first 5½ innings that the M's amazingly had a lead in (1-0, but still) against the best pitcher around today, Tarik Skubal. George Kirby matched him until he started tiring in the 5th; he got through that frame but couldn't get an out in the 6th and was relieved by Gabe Speier. Who immediately gave up a two-run homer to Kerry Carpenter. (Carpenter was incredible in this game, 4-for-5 with two walks. Amazing they got him out once.) Still, it wasn't a move I objected to, Kirb was clearly done and Speier is your go-to lefty despite how Detroit beat up on him in Game 4.

In fact, the only managerial move I questioned was one that paid off in a big way—with two on and two out against righty reliever Kyle Finnegan, Seattle manager Dan Wilson went to his bench to pinch-hit lefty-swinging Dominic Canzone for Mitch Garver. That was good. Then Detroit went to its ’pen and brought in left-hander Tyler Holton. Then Wilson pinch-hit switch-hitter Leo Rivas for Canzone before Canzone even stepped into the batter's box. That was the move I questioned, I probably would have let Canzone bat. But damned if Leo didn't deliver, lacing a base hit to left to score the tying run. Even Detroit's managerial moves were sound. Going to reliever Tommy Kahnle in the 15th failed dramatically, but what was the  alternative? Rafael Montero again? I think not.

 Anyway, this made four times the Mariners had faced Tarik Skubal this year and in all four games the M's took the win. Talk about defying the odds.

Now it's on to the ALCS, Seattle's first since 2001. Against their expansion cousins the Blue Jays, which is cool. 

I doubt I'll have an opportunity to attend any of those games, though. Others in my season ticket group have my normal seats for those and the asking price for tickets—from MLB, not resale tickets—is several hundred dollars. The MLB single-game price for World Series tickets is over $1,000. Which is insane. I blame Rob Manfred, of course, but it's really a sign of the times when anyone not either made of money or willing to go into debt can afford to go to the World Series. Back in the day it was a little bit of a stretch for us on our retail employee wages to buy extra tickets, but we could do it. Now it's a choice between going to the World Series and paying your health insurance premiums for the year. Which is a whole 'nother issue.

Nevertheless, it's a fun October. I'll enjoy the rest on HDTV.