Why Vladimir Guerrero Deserves a Spot on the Mount Rushmore of MLB Postseason Greats

The Mariners vs. Guerrero: A Game 7 Showdown

As the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays prepare for Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, the stakes are higher than ever. The Mariners face numerous challenges. They haven’t been hitting well, striking out nearly twice as often as the Blue Jays. Their record shows that when they don’t hit home runs, they struggle to win. They’ll have to play in a tough environment—Canada’s Rogers Centre, known for its enthusiastic fans.

But there’s an even bigger hurdle: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Guerrero’s performance this postseason has been remarkable. His hitting has been so explosive that the Mariners may need to rethink how they pitch to him. Seattle’s pitchers might have to avoid him altogether when it matters most. After all, Guerrero is in a zone that’s hard to ignore.

In a recent victory, Guerrero made quite the impression. Teammate Dalton Varsho noted that Guerrero even joked about hitting the ball twice. That’s a sign of a player who’s incredibly confident and in sync with the game.

The Mariners had success against Guerrero in the earlier games, managing to keep him hitless. But since he made a minor adjustment to his hitting technique, he’s been a different player. In just a few games, he has a batting average of .588 with six home runs and has reached base 13 times.

His recent stats are incredible: Guerrero has not only hit big, but he also boasts a postseason slugging percentage of 1.000. This makes him only the second player in history to hit six home runs in a postseason with fewer than three strikeouts. This feat hadn’t been achieved since Albert Pujols in 2004.

Guerrero’s approach at the plate has evolved. He’s managed to encounter pitches—no matter where they’re thrown—and is making contact over 84% of the time. It raises a crucial question for Seattle manager Dan Wilson: “What to do about Vladdy?” The potential answers don’t seem promising.

Wilson’s response was cautious yet truthful—“He’s someone that you have to take note of.” And indeed, trying to manage Guerrero could determine the outcome of this pivotal game. The Blue Jays are counting on him to perform under pressure, especially after signing him to a hefty contract earlier this year.

The Mariners have never won a pennant. With a historical weight of 81 years between the two teams without a championship title, the stakes couldn’t be higher. It’s anyone’s guess if they can finally break that curse, but to do so, they’ll need more than just good pitching. They might need to hit a couple of home runs and get their starting pitchers through the lineup to keep their bullpen fresh.

In this climactic moment, all eyes will be on how the Mariners tackle Guerrero. It’s a high-stakes game that could change the fortunes of both franchises forever.

For a deeper look into Guerrero’s performance and the dynamics of this series, visit the MLB Statistics page.

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