SEATTLE -- Two years ago, the Seattle Mariners went into the final weekend of the regular season with a chance at the playoffs.They missed the postseason but winning 87 games under a first-year manager provided optimism and the expectation that the Mariners were a club on the rise. They tanked the following year, losing 86 games and forcing an overhaul of the entire front office, coaching staff and a majority of the roster.This brings the Mariners to the end of the 2016 season. Once again, Seattle was in contention for the playoffs heading into the final weekend, only to fall short. Once again, there is a buzz and optimism that Seattle could be on the cusp of being a breakout team next season.Why would this be any different than the last time Seattle was in this place two years ago?Were not the same old Mariners. Were not, Seattle manager Scott Servais said. I think if people watched us closely this year, and the personalities of the team, got to see the team, theyd realize that this is a different group. ... We laid a foundation and well build upon that, but it is not the same old Mariners.Seattle heads into the offseason still with the longest playoff drought in baseball -- now at 15 years -- but the belief it will be ending soon. Seattle was equal parts entertaining and infuriating in posting an 86-76 record that put them on the outside of the AL playoff picture.It was a roller coaster of a season. Consider that between April 24 and the end of the season, Seattle spent only one day under .500. But it took until game No. 160 for Seattle to get any better than 10 games over .500.The Mariners lived in the space between contender and average. But the late surge that put Seattle into contention validated for Servais the processes he put in place and the changes that were made from the previous regime.I wish it was easy as just putting it all on paper, Servais said. Its not. Players change, seasons change, and you just have to wait and see, but I feel great about our team, I really do.Other things to know as the team looks toward 2017:MEN IN THE MIDDLE: Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager combined to post three of the better seasons for any position players in the American League. Cano showed the injuries he played through last year truly were impacting his performance at the plate, rebounding to hit .298 with a career-high 39 home runs and 103 RBI. Cruz posted his third straight 40-homer season with 43 homers and 105 RBI. And Seager reached 30 homers for the first time in his career and finished with 99 RBI.RECLAIM THE THRONE: Felix Hernandez was far from kingly in 2016. Hernandezs most inconsistent season ended at 11-9 with a 3.82 ERA, his highest since 2007. He was slowed by a calf injury that cost him two months and Seattles rotation never fully recovered. Servais was blunt on the final day that Hernandez needs to be in better shape for 2017 and continue his evolution as pitcher. Hes not a high-90s strikeout machine anymore but Seattle needs him to return to being the ace of its staff.YOUNG STARS: Young closer Edwin Diaz emerged this season as a minor-league call-up who ended up becoming crucial to Seattles run. Who will it be next year? Maybe outfielders Ben Gamel and Guillermo Heredia, who give Seattle the athleticism it wants defensively in the outfield but need to be better at the plate to become regulars in the lineup. Perhaps its time for minor-league slugger Tyler ONeill to finally get his chance in the majors.One name to watch: first baseman Daniel Vogelbach. Acquired from the Cubs, Vogelbach could be primed for a major role in Seattles lineup going into next season.WIN THE WEST: Servais was thrilled to be in the race in his first season. He was bothered it was for the wild card and not the AL West. The Mariners led the division into late May and by the end of June, the wild card was the only option left. With the talent that Texas and Houston have, the Mariners have quite the task if theyre going to reach the top.Everyone has the feeling that we can make it, Cano said. I hope everyone goes and prepares themselves not to play just 162 games. Spain Rodri World Cup Jersey .Y. -- Jayna Hefford scored the winning goal Friday as Canada survived a scare with a 4-3 win over Sweden at the Four Nations womens hockey tournament. Spain Iago Aspas World Cup Jersey . 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It became so hot that the PGA of America ended up having to syringe some greens with water to keep them alive. Our guest caddie today is a smart aleck, which is one of the reasons I love the guy.Hes also honest, which is why youll love him. Enjoy!Collins: What was the toughest part of Round 1? Caddie: Keeping my mans palms dry (said a bit tongue in cheek because everyone in the caddie area was sweating profusely). Collins: On the PGA Tour heat scale, where does this rank? Caddie: Ive never been to Malaysia so I cant compare there but ... its (the PGA Championship) No. 1. The only other thing I can compare it to is Congressional (in 2012). Remember that year when we got that big giant storm, when Coop (caddie Don Cooper) went down (with heat stroke)? Its just as hot as that.Collins: What hole was the hardest to caddie? Caddie: Hmmm. There werent really any hard holes to caddie. No, wait. Maybe 9. Yeah, probably 9. Collins: What made it difficult? Caddie: Right pin on a right tee; I work for a guy who hits a draw. That was the hardest hole for me.Collins: There was zero wind today. Does that change how you caddie or approach the round? Caddie: No, I dont think so. Its still a major. Same mindset. Collins: The talk around the clubhouse was about this course giving up a 62 or 63 with no wind. Caddie: (Laughing like a madman) Thats pretty funny. Collins: Ill take that as a no chance.Collins: Whats the one thing on this golf course you must avoid at all costs? Caddie: The port-a-potties! Theyre way too hot. Collins: For golf shots? Caddie: The one thing you must avoid at all costs? I dont know if there is one, to tell you the truth. Miss on the right side, if youre out of position. Miss on the right side. Collins: So dont short-side yourself. Caddie: (Laughs) Yeah, easier said than done.Collins: Which was the toughest green on the coourse? Caddie: Theyre all hard to read for some reason.dddddddddddd They are hard to read. Collins: Why? Caddie: I think theres just a lot of subtleties. A lot of putts dont look like they (break) a lot, but youre trying to find something. Make sense? Youre trying to find something. Collins: Ive heard the rule of thumb is, since the clubhouse sits on top of the hill, everything breaks away from the clubhouse. That hold true? Caddie: For the most part, yes. Except, and I learned the hard way, except on the middle right pin on 15 if youre dead below it or dead behind it. Then its schneaky (yes, he pronounced it like that). It almost pulls back into the hill a little bit. Whooda known? (Said like a cartoon character.)Collins: Now that youve seen the golf course in major condition, what should people know about it? Caddie: That its long. Its long. (He fades off saying it again.) Maybe four of the toughest par-3s that we see all year long. Yeah, theres no letup on these par-3s. Collins: What makes them so tough? Caddie: I think distance and the size of the greens. Theres no letup. Its like every (par-3) is between 200 and 230 (yards). ... And theyre small greens! F---, (No.) 9 is tiny! (And) 16 is tiny! (And) 4s got a bunch of H2O in front of it! Theyre kinda spooky. (said with a high-pitched kids voice)Collins: Whats it like for the caddie to finish with two par-5s? Caddie: (Sarcastically) Not good for this one today! (He laughs hysterically. OK, so did I.) It means theres always a light at the end of the tunnel when theres two par-5s at the end. Its obviously different, but its pretty cool. Even though 17 isnt really hittable (in two). Anything can happen on 18, though, cant it? You could be 3 (shots) back and still get it done on 18, I would think. Or youre gonna have a mathematical chance at it. Its pretty cool. I enjoy it. China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Stitched Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Authentic Jerseys ' ' '