As crazy as it sounds, Mariners can still make a second-half run

Robinson Cano's apparent resurgence is one reason to not count out the Mariners just yet. (AP)

I woke up Wednesday morning feeling hopeful about the Mariners. I woke up this morning feeling the same way. And I’m guessing that won’t change Friday morning.

It’s probably because the Mariners will have gone almost five days without playing a game. I’m sure on Saturday morning, after the Yankees drill the Mariners Friday night, I won’t be as optimistic. And by Sunday night, after the Yankees sweep the Mariners, I’ll laugh at myself for being such a fool.

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But right now, I feel like they still have a chance to get the second wild-card berth or heck, they might have a better shot at winning the division. They’re seven games back in the wild-card race and 7.5 behind the Angels in the American League West.

Besides Kansas City at 52-34, I see a bunch of AL teams that aren’t that great. I know, the Mariners aren’t, either. In fact, they’re closer to terrible than great, but still, I don’t look at anyone in the West as uncatchable, and do you really think Minnesota, at 49-40, will keep up that kind of pace?

The Astros have lost six in a row and are 49-42, still good enough to earn the second wild card if the season ended today. They’re playing at a pace to finish 87-75, exactly what the Mariners’ record was last year when they ended up one game out of the playoffs.

The Mariners (41-48) would have to go 46-27 to get to 87 wins this year. Can they do it? To be honest, after writing that sentence and looking at the numbers, I don’t think they can. They’re more apt to go 27-46 than 46-27.

It’s even worse when you think about the Mariners’ record against good teams and teams that are at least halfway decent. They’ve gone 12-4 against two crummy teams, the A’s and Rangers. So in the rest of their games, they’re 29-44.

For whatever reason, I pin my hopes on the following things:

• That the Twins and Astros will be closer to .500 than they are right now, turning it into a free-for-all for the two wild-card spots in September. The Astros are already coming back to the pack, and I’m guessing Minnesota will, too. The Twins have more games on the road in the second half than at home, and they’re 18-24 on the road.

• The Mariners’ rotation gives them a chance to win every single night if the offense can perk up just a little – not even a lot – led by the resurgent Robinson Cano.

• I know it’s ridiculous, but
I still like to think that Jesus Montero will be a storybook hero, the spark that turns this season around. I picture him in the victory parade down Fourth Avenue after the Mariners win the World Series. If I keep writing paragraphs like this one, you’ll picture me at Emerald Haze – the pot shop that just opened in my neighborhood – smoking too much of whatever they sell in there.

I hope those factors outweigh a big negative. Lloyd McClendon talked about changes he needs to make, and I don’t know if they involve personnel or his own managerial approach.

I wish he’d quit tinkering with the lineup so much, and I certainly hope he doesn’t try to be someone he’s not. I don’t blame him for being frustrated, but changing his personality and managing style would worsen matters and lessen his chances of keeping his job.

If I were a betting man – and I guess I am – I’d bet that the Mariners have a new general manager and manager next year. But with 73 games left, and so many so-so teams ahead of them, they still have enough time to salvage the season.