We keep looking for signs that the 2021 Mariners are showing up. The team with the rock-solid bullpen. The team that got just enough (usually clutch) hitting. The team that might lose by a ton every so often, but dominated enough in one-run games to prevail 90 times in a 162-game season.

THAT team would’ve won their series against the Twins. Probably in a 2-1 fashion, but maybe even a sweep.

There was, for instance, the 3-2 loss on Monday. That’s probably a game we would’ve won in 2021, right? Flexen goes 5 innings, gives up the 2 runs, and keeps you in the game. The Twins, meanwhile, run through six relievers and we managed only one run against them (after getting only one run vs. their starter). Real missed opportunity there.

Tuesday’s 5-0 shutout win went more or less according to plan. But, that’s because we had Logan Gilbert on the hill, who pitched six of those shutout innings, giving up 4 hits and a walk, while striking out 6. Suarez and France each had a 2-run homer, and Sam Haggerty had an RBI double to add a little insurance.

But, then there we were on Wednesday with a 5-0 shutout loss. It didn’t have to be that way, of course. Marco Gonzales went 6.2 innings and gave up just the one run (an inherited baserunner that – YOU GUESSED IT – Paul Sewald gagged away. From there, the D-Squad bullpen gave up the other four runs (though, at this point, they’re all the fucking D-squad; they fucking stink).

Now we get four games against the free-falling Angels, who have already fired their manager. If we can’t win 3 out of 4, then what the fuck are we even doing here? I have nothing else to say.