Can the M's make a deep playoff run? Manager Dan Wilson encourages club to stay loose

If you’ve been feeling a little lighter, noticing a spring in the step of your neighbors — it might be because of the Seattle Mariners.

Long-suffering fans will remember the M’s haven’t won the American League West in 24 years. They also haven’t qualified for the playoffs since 2022, which followed a 20-year playoff drought.

But this year they’ve done both under the leadership of a familiar face. The team’s manager is former Mariners catcher Dan Wilson. He played on the 2001 team that last won the American League West.

While fans are still wondering about the status of star pitcher Bryan Woo, some things are certain.

The Mariners learned today that they will play the Detroit Tigers in the divisional series this weekend.

Soundside host Libby Denkmann spoke to Wilson ahead of their first game on Saturday. His answers are edited for length and clarity.

Five questions with Mariners' Manager Dan Wilson

Libby Denkmann: How's Bryan Woo? (The star pitcher is recovering from a pectoral muscle injury)

Dan Wilson: As far as we know, Bryan is doing great. He’s been working a progression back to getting on the mound. Things have gone pretty well, and we'll probably get another bullpen session, likely today, and again, we'll have a better idea of how it's continuing to feel. We’re obviously not wanting to rush him back too quickly, but also understanding where we are in the season, and he understands all of that as well. And what an incredible season for Bryan. He has been such a model of consistency on the mound for us all year long. And you know, he has been a big part of where we are in the standings, as all our guys are.We have such a great pitching staff, and that is one of the key components of our club, and Bryan was certainly a huge part of that.

Why are the Mariners scrimmaging at T-Mobile Park during their week off?

You know, this is a bye week. And, it's very controversial whether that's helpful or not. I think in our case, the way our guys pushed toward the end of the season, how hard they pushed physically and mentally, it was something that I think is a little bit more advantageous for us at this point, but also understanding that the rest is important. Also staying sharp is important. So that is what our guys are trying to do as best they can to see pitching, continue to run through game situations and yes, occasionally we manufacture a few, you know, base runners on base and yell out situations so that we can practice certain things that we may come up against in playoff baseball.

What is the role of Ichiro Suzuki and how is he helping the team prepare for the playoffs?

I think when you look at the tremendous career that Ichiro had, he continues to give back to the game. He is there every home game, with the team, answering questions, offering advice, whatever we need. So, with this scrimmage coming up, I thought it was very appropriate to ask if he wanted to play. And of course, he wants to play right field. So just seeing him out there playing alongside Julio [Vargas], it's just incredible to see them together out there. He's still in great shape and you know what? What a tremendous sight it is to see him out there patrolling right field.

What's it like to watch Cal Raleigh’s record year and say what he means to the team?

It's been a front row seat to history. He has just done an incredible job. Cal Raleigh is a winner, and that's where it all stems from, his desire to win and to help this team win. He's become such a leader on that club and to see all of this development grow from his first days as a new draft in 2018 and now to where he is today, it's a marvel to look at what he's able to do. I can understand the physical and mental toll that catching takes on you. I can't understand what hitting 60 home runs is like. I mean, for him to be able to do what he does, both offensively and defensively, is incredible. The foul tips, the blocking the ball, you know, helping pitchers through a game, all the things that you do behind the plate as a catcher, as a Gold Glove, Platinum glove, catcher does. And then you add on to that, the offense and the position he had, hitting second in our lineup for most of the season, driving in runs, hitting home runs, to have that kind of weight on his shoulders all the time. It takes someone very special to bear that. And Cal Raleigh is that guy.

What have you learned in your first full year as a manager?

I really look at every day as a learning experience. Now we're into the playoffs, so a lot more learning ahead as well. You can't go through this experience without a lot of help. You look at hitting coaches — Edgar Martinez and what he has meant offensively for us, along with Kevin Seitzer and Bobby Magallanes. These guys have done this for a long time. They know offense and what they have brought has been incredible. And you look at some of the coaches on our staff, you know, Manny Acta, the bench coach, who has been in this game a really long time, has managed in this game. You just try to learn as much as you can. One of the things I have learned is that you can't do it yourself, and you need to rely on other people and I can't thank this group enough for being available and being able to rely on them as much as we have.

Bonus Q: How did the Mariners manage to lock in during September?

We went through a difficult time, and we went through a couple of road trips that were tough — a tough stretch in our season, in our schedule. It got to a point where the guys really just needed to let loose. You get tight in those situations. It’s tough to play this game when you're tight. I think the ability to let loose was something that has turned our team around. These guys have an incredible ability to play focused, to play with intensity, to play with an edge, but they also have learned how to play loose, even in difficult situations. I think that bodes really well for this postseason, because that's where you find yourself in tough situations. But our guys have really found the ability to perform under that. It's been a great stretch to get here. I’m really looking forward to what lies ahead.

Jason Burrows produced the broadcast conversation with Dan Wilson. Hans Anderson and Gabrielle Healy produced the digital version.