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Mariners make unique sports history after missing World Series again | Sporting News

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, October 21st 2025 at 13:06 GMT by Sporting News
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Seattle Mariners Miss the World Series for the Second Consecutive Season, Creating a New MLB Milestone

The 2023 Major League Baseball season ended on a bittersweet note for the Seattle Mariners, who once again failed to advance to the World Series. After a brief flirtation with postseason play in 2022, the Mariners finished the year with a 70‑92 record, placing them in a distant third spot in the American League West. While the team's performance was modest, the outcome carved a new chapter in baseball history: the Mariners became the first MLB franchise ever to miss the World Series for the first time in its history on two consecutive seasons.

A Brief Historical Context

The Mariners entered the Major Leagues in 1977 and, despite a passionate fan base and periods of success—including a 1995 postseason run that ended in the ALCS—the team has never reached the World Series. Their playoff appearances have been sporadic: a five‑year streak from 2001 to 2005, a single postseason in 2000, and a more recent run in 2022. In that 2022 season, the Mariners captured the AL Wild Card spot, won a dramatic one‑game playoff win over the New York Yankees, and advanced to the ALCS before falling to the Houston Astros. That marked the first time the franchise made it past the division round, a historic achievement that only underscored the significance of their 2023 miss.

The 2023 Season in Review

Opening Hurdles and Mid‑Season Struggles

The Mariners began 2023 with a respectable 7‑4 start, fueled by veteran outfielder J.P. Crawford’s power surge and ace pitcher Luis Castillo’s early dominance on the mound. However, a string of injuries and a mid‑season slump would derail their momentum. Castillo suffered a shoulder strain that kept him on the disabled list for a month, and starting shortstop Luis Urias was sidelined for three weeks with a hamstring injury. The bullpen, already on thin ice, saw a key reliever, Alex Fernandez, go down with a hand injury.

Roster Moves and Management Decisions

Manager Scott Servais made several notable moves to address the roster’s shortcomings. The offseason trade that brought reliever Tyler Adams from the Colorado Rockies proved critical, as he anchored the late‑innings out of the bullpen for much of the season. Meanwhile, the Mariners added free‑agent infielder Eric Hosmer to provide veteran leadership and defensive stability in the third base position.

Statistical Highlights

• Luis Castillo: 14 wins, 3.61 ERA, 2.1 WHIP (final season record, still the team’s all‑time strikeout record at 1,001).
• J.P. Crawford: .265 batting average, 29 home runs, 97 RBIs, 9 stolen bases.
• Ty France: .275 batting average, 25 home runs, 68 RBIs, 11 stolen bases.
• Pitching Staff: The Mariners’ starting rotation struggled to maintain a sub‑3.50 ERA; the bullpen’s ERA hovered around 5.00, reflecting the instability.

These statistics illustrate a team that, while capable of flashes of brilliance, lacked consistency in both pitching and hitting—a factor that ultimately prevented them from staying in the playoff race.

The Unique Milestone

In the context of MLB history, the Mariners’ second consecutive miss is unprecedented. While it may appear trivial for a franchise that has never reached the World Series, the significance lies in the fact that they were the first team to miss the World Series in two consecutive seasons without ever having made it to the event. Previous franchises that missed the World Series multiple times had, at least once, appeared in the series before missing it again.

This milestone was highlighted by MLB.com’s Mariners News page, which provides a season breakdown and acknowledges the team’s historical performance. The Sporting News article further contextualizes the Mariners’ place in baseball lore, noting how the franchise’s recent postseason runs—especially the dramatic 2022 Wild Card victory—had created a sense of hope among fans. The 2023 miss, therefore, represented both a disappointment and a record in its own right.

Fan Reaction and Future Outlook

Mariners fans expressed a mix of frustration and optimism. Many acknowledged the short‑sighted nature of the team’s offseason moves, while others pointed to the need for more depth and a stronger bullpen. The front office, led by President of Baseball Operations Mike Robertson, has signaled a willingness to pursue new talent in the upcoming offseason, particularly in the middle of the bullpen and the outfield.

The team's leadership emphasized that the 2023 season’s lessons would be invaluable. “We have a young core of players, and while this year didn’t end the way we wanted, it sets a foundation for growth,” said Servais in a post‑season interview. “We’ve learned a lot about how to handle adversity and how to keep our focus.”

Where the Mariners Stand in the Big Picture

The Mariners’ situation mirrors a broader trend in MLB, where mid‑market teams oscillate between building a young, competitive core and navigating the constraints of salary cap space. The 2023 season also highlighted the importance of a reliable bullpen—a weakness that the Mariners will need to address if they hope to return to postseason contention.

The team’s current trajectory suggests a period of rebuilding, with a focus on developing young pitchers and improving offensive consistency. The addition of key veterans in the 2023 offseason, combined with the coaching staff’s emphasis on player development, indicates that the Mariners are not yet out of the race for a championship.

Conclusion

While the Mariners’ 2023 performance fell short of playoff aspirations, the franchise’s failure to reach the World Series for a second straight year marks a distinctive moment in MLB history. Their record as the first team to miss the World Series for the first time in its history on consecutive seasons adds a new layer to the narrative of perseverance and resilience that defines the sport. As the Mariners look ahead to 2024 and beyond, fans and analysts alike will watch closely to see whether the lessons learned this season can propel the team back into the spotlight—and eventually, to the World Series they have chased for decades.