The Seattle Mariners haven't made it easy on their fans this year. They've gone up, down, sideways and even into other dimensions, and there have been times when dreams of a deep playoff run have given way to nightmares of yet another long, depressing winter.
Mercifully, this is not one of those times.
The Mariners enter their final road trip of the year having won nine games in a row, a streak which has secured them sole possession of first place in the American League West and bought them a whole bunch of goodwill among the fanbase.