The comebacks started before a pitch was thrown in the 2021 season. And before “Believe” became a thing at T-Mobile Park, there was belief in themselves when most others didn’t.

The Seattle Mariners co-opted the Ted Lasso meme “Believe” as their slogan for the stretch drive, and rode it all the way to Game 162. The M’s really did follow the television show’s script to the letter. Remember, AFC Richmond — Lasso’s fictional team — also fell agonizingly short of its goal, losing the season’s final game to Manchester City to ensure relegation out of the Premier League.

There are two ways to view this Seattle Mariners season and what it means for the team and the city. Two ways to process the unforeseen playoff push that ultimately extended the organization’s 20-year postseason drought. One is the sentimental way. The other is the realistic way.

There had never been a day like this before at T-Mobile Park.

The Mariners are young, talented and seemed to have changed the narrative about their future after an unexpected 90-win season.

Even if they had been brilliant or even better than they were on Sunday afternoon, the Mariners season would’ve ended with the 162nd game of the season.

Haniger delivered the biggest hit of his career, ripping a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning off Steve Cishek to put the Mariners ahead for good in a 6-4 come-from-behind win.

The frustration couldn’t be hidden from their faces. The disappointment could be felt with every tossed bat and spiked helmet in disgust. The belief that they would come back had a time limit. And with every wasted opportunity, the anxiety grew threefold in the stands packed full with fans waiting to explode for just one big hit, one game-changing moment and that memorable and much-needed victory.

The Mariners announced that Friday night’s game is officially a sellout.

In this season of over-achievement in Seattle, one in which the Mariners are defying metrics and logic, who is their Most Valuable Player?

In the words of the late, great Dave Niehaus, “It just continues.” If you have to pinch yourself today, you’re not alone. The Seattle Mariners kept their playoff dreams very much alive Wednesday night with a 4-2 over the A’s in front of a crowd of 17,366 (that sounded more like 40,000) at T-Mobile Park.