There's only one more day to go until the Seattle Mariners can finally begin their playoff quest. And when they do so, they'll have a status that they haven't had since 2001: World Series favorites.
It's one of those labels that elicits both excitement and caution. Excitement, because this team really does look that good. Caution, because pride is notoriously what comes before the fall. Many Mariners fans know that all too well from what happened in 2001, when a 116-win team didn't even make it to the Fall Classic.
It will nonetheless be a huge disappointment if the Mariners don't at least make it past the Detroit Tigers in the American League Division Series.