The vibes are good in Seattle right now, thanks to the Mariners' aggressive approach to the trade deadline and only further enhanced by taking the first two games of their crucial home series versus the Texas Rangers. At the same time, fans know the likelihood is that the M's pursuit of the postseason will go down to the wire, just the same as the previous two seasons.
The question is, what will be different and what will it take for the Mariners to secure a playoff spot this time around? Let's take a look at five storylines which will define their season post-trade deadline.