But against the backdrop of all that cheer was a painful truth: that these current Mariners are a long way from great. Last year the Mariners’ middling spending habits got a pass as they conquered the AL West and fell one victory shy of reaching their first World Series. The teams in the World Series were first and fifth, respectively. The year before, the World Series participants were first and third. They spend their hard-earned money to go out to games, and have to be wondering why ownership can’t spend more itself.