Seattle, WA
Mariners’ Paul Sewald: T-Mobile Park had different feeling before clincher
The Mariners’ drought-ending, postseason-clinching win on Friday night time was a second anybody who was at T-Cellular Park will all the time bear in mind.
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That’s definitely the case for veteran Mariners reliever Paul Sewald, the group’s chief in saves with 20 this season.
“It’s a second in a season I’ll always remember,” Sewald instructed Seattle Sports activities’ Wyman and Bob on Monday. “I haven’t been part of the 21-year drought, however I felt it as a lot as anyone final yr and I’m excited that we ended it this yr.”
However there’s one thing else from that day that stands out to him.
“The second I obtained to the sphere, this entire place simply felt in a different way,” Sewald instructed Seattle Sports activities’ Wyman and Bob on Monday. “There was like an eerie sense of silence earlier than all people obtained there, (and) you might really feel it the second you walked out for the anthem.”
That maybe made the occasions of the ninth inning, and the celebration that went on for hours after on the ballpark, all that rather more particular.
“I really feel like all of us had the identical disbelief, that in fact that’s the best way it occurred,” Sewald mentioned about catcher Cal Raleigh’s pinch-hit, walk-off homer that clinched the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2001. “That’s the best way the Mariners do it, proper? After all we’re going to do it on a walk-off. Who higher than Cal Raleigh this yr to do it? Only a storybook ending that, you already know, not even Hollywood may write.”
The followers sticking round of their seats, celebrating and ready for the group to come back again out on the sphere after popping champagne within the clubhouse, was one other Hollywood-esque second of the night time.
“They had been there hours after that final hit, and so it was it was fairly enjoyable to share with the followers,” he mentioned.
The group’s relationship with the followers is one thing taken to coronary heart by Sewald, who resurrected his profession after 4 seasons with the Mets with a breakout 2021 after becoming a member of Seattle on a minor league deal. Particularly when contemplating how lengthy the M’s followers have waited for a return to the postseason.
“I simply can’t be extra grateful for the Mariners followers and the folks of Seattle welcoming me with open arms and simply being extremely supportive of all people on this group always,” he mentioned. “You already know, 20 years of ache is a very long time to go with none kind of hope and any type promise, and that didn’t cease all people from packing T-Cellular Park what appeared like each weekend all season lengthy. Even within the darkest days of late Could and early June when our playoff odds had been virtually nothing, the followers had been nonetheless on the market, nonetheless supportive.
“They’ve been reaching out on social media for months saying how nice the whole lot has been and the way excited they’re for this group, and the flood of appreciation from followers the final couple days has been fairly particular.”
The Mariners nonetheless need to wrap up the common season this week, and there’s a likelihood they may sneak into the highest wild card spot from the American League earlier than opening the playoffs on Friday. As soon as they get there, whether or not it’s as the highest wild card or one other of the three whole spots, Sewald expects the group’s trademark chemistry to shine by way of.
“That’s what makes us such a fantastic unit, that’s why there’s a distinct hero each night time, as a result of everybody is aware of that they’ve a job on this group and that’s what obtained us up to now of going to the playoffs,” he mentioned. “And if we’re going to do any harm within the playoffs, it’s gonna be the identical factor. It’s gonna be a distinct man each night time. Everyone is aware of that.”
You may hearken to the total dialog with Sewald when the podcast is made obtainable at this hyperlink earlier than the Mariners’ collection opener in opposition to the Tigers on Monday night time.
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