Mariners' Cal Raleigh offers tearful 'failure' admission after ALCS loss

The Seattle Mariners, for the first time in franchise history, were just one win away from advancing to the World Series. However, after taking a 3-2 lead with two games in Toronto, the Mariners lost Games 6 and 7 to the Toronto Blue Jays, ultimately being eliminated from the playoffs.

It was a brutal loss to end their incredible season. A George Springer three-run home run in the seventh inning put the Blue Jays up late, and the Mariners couldn't muster up the runs in the final two innings.

After the game 7 loss, Mariners' catcher Cal Raleigh spoke with reporters in the clubhouse. King 5 News Seattle shared a teary-eyed Raleigh making a tough admission, describing the Mariners' 2025 season as a "failure."

Cal Raleigh makes brutal Mariners admission after Game 7 loss

"I hate to use the word failure, but it's a failure," Raleigh said. "We expected to get to the World Series and win the World Series."

The 2025 Mariners made it further than any Mariners team in franchise history. One win away from making the World Series. No team has ever gotten that close before.

But, they didn't make it, getting eliminated so close to having a chance for the team's first World Series title. While Seattle's 2025 season was an incredible one, featuring some amazing performances, the outcome ultimately saw Seattle come up short.

It's a significant improvement from their previous seasons, and it's one of the best years in Mariners history. But there are no guarantees in such a long season like baseball, and next year could see the Mariners come up short in the ALDS, or even miss the playoffs entirely.

More: Mariners' Cal Raleigh somehow isn't a finalist for an AL Gold Glove at catcher

Making it this far into the playoffs is far from normal, and while the Mariners will have Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, and plenty of others on the roster next year, it's still going to be a tough task to get back to being one win away from a World Series.

This is a tough loss for the Mariners, but Raleigh's admission, made through tear-stained eyes in the clubhouse after the Game 7 loss, is a sign that the Mariners aren't satisfied.

Yes, it was a great year, but the clubhouse leader of the Mariners, who has a chance to win the AL MVP this season, isn't satisfied. Seattle can make it back to the playoffs and go on another run, and it'd likely be led by Raleigh once again.

While the Mariners' magical 2025 season might've ended in "failure," it was a positive season overall. But for Raleigh, it's not enough. The Mariners are contenders, and Raleigh is far from satisfied after they were eliminated one win away from the World Series.

More Mariners News:

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