Today, for the second time in its nearly 50-year history, the Seattle Mariners will play a game to go to the World Series.

Right, because we lost last night, 6-2. It was another of those constipated games where we kept getting guys on base and couldn't bring them in. We didn't have a baserunner until the third inning (J.P.'s leadoff walk), and no hits until an out later (Leo Rivas's single), and then Julio walked as well, bringing up 60-homer man Cal Raleigh with the bases juiced and one out. 

Double play.

Next inning, now down 4-0, Josh Naylor singled to center, Randy Arozarena beat out an infield single, and Suarez walked, loading the bases for team leader J.P.

Double play. 

On social media, Sarah Langs promptly posted the following stat about multiple bases-loaded one-out double-plays in a postseason game:

“The good news?” I said to the crowd at Tim's. “All those teams lost.”* 

OK, so I knew both the '47 Dodgers and '02 Angels lost the World Series in seven, but I didn't remember how the '03 Giants did in that NLDS. I'm not that crazy. I just knew they didn't win the pennant. But yes, they lost that series, too, three games to one to the Marlins.

Blue Jays' scouting of opposing pitching feels excellent in the postseason. They've just clobbered No. 1/2 starters (against us and NYY) but suffer against someone like Bryce Miller, who, because of injuries this season, was an afterthought in the post. Makes you think starting a kid like Trey Yesavage, like the Blue Jays keep doing, isn't a bad way to go. Throw in the unknown quantity. Keith Hernandez once wrote most players would rather face an All-Star starter than a September call-up, because hitting is timing and that's upsetting timing.

None of that for Game 7. Tonight's game is a rematch of Game 3, George Kirby vs. Shane Bieber, which we lost 13-4 in Seattle. One assumes if either starter gets in trouble they won't last long. Let's hope our scouting can pick it up a notch. It takes a village to get to the World Series. 

* Actually we didn't have that going for us. Why I thought the Angels lost the 2002 World Series I don't know. But of course they won it in seven over the Giants.