Will Phillies snap their postseason drought before Mariners?

Who will snap their postseason drought first, the Phillies or Mariners?

With the National Football League’s Cleveland Browns recently snapping their 18-year playoff drought, that advanced the Philadelphia Phillies into having the top-five longest such droughts among the four major American professional sports.

Following Major League Baseball’s Seattle Mariners (19 years) are the Sacramento Kings (14) and Phoenix Suns (10) of the National Basketball Association, the NFL’s New York Jets (10), and the Phillies (9) — who are also tied with the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres (9).

The Phillies finished one win shy in the National League as part of the 2020 expanded postseason format, whereas the Mariners were five wins shy in the American League. When asked Tuesday on MLB Network as to which of the two MLB teams would snap their drought first, Chris Russo was quick to predict the Phillies.

“I think the Phillies will break it first. I think the Phillies have much better resources than Seattle does,” Russo said. “I like the manager better [in Philadelphia], and I think there is more motivation.”

Considering the Phils added two-time World Series champion executive Dave Dombrowski to their front office this offseason as their first-ever president of baseball operations, on paper, they seem extra motivated to snap their postseason drought before the Mariners. On Tuesday, Dombrowski acknowledged the team’s bullpen, catcher, and shortstop positions as their top three areas of need that they have to address. Having solid relievers, and potentially Didi Gregorius and/or J.T. Realmuto on the roster would go a long way to helping them notch a National League East division or Wild Card berth.

The last time Red October engulfed the atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park was in 2011, when the organization won a franchise-best 102 games — before losing in disappointing fashion to the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Division Series. Ryan Howard‘s career-changing injury from the last play of that series is still engrained in the minds of fans. Perhaps, 2021 will be the year that helps to erase those memories.