In order for the Seattle Mariners to secure the first pick in the draft here on the last game of the season, the Washington Nationals would have to win and Seattle would have to lose.

Well, it’s not looking good.  The Philadelphia Phillies tried to make it easy on the Nationals, electing to rest their ace Cole Hamels in favor of one of the worst starters in baseball this season Kyle Kendrick and keeping Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and company on the bench.  Unfortunately, the Nationals’ lineup is full of guys I’ve never heard of and is built to loose.  As Seattle begins play for the 162nd time this season, the Nationals are trailing the Phillies 3-8 in the 9th.

The only good news about the Nationals losing today (assuming they stay the course) is that I can root for my Mariners to win on the last game of the season against the rival Oakland A’s.  Obviously that isn’t as good as being guaranteed the best prospect in the draft, but at least it’s something.

Now, there is still a chance that Seattle can get the coveted Stephan Strasburg with the second overall pick.  The Nationals don’t have as much money as Seattle does, and Strasburg and agent Scott Boras could command as much as $10M, which is as big of a paycheck as it gets for draftees.  The Nats could pass on him and go after someone that would be easier to sign, especially after having failing to ink their 2008 first round pick Aaron Crow.  That said, Strasburg is the undisputed top talent in the draft and the Nationals will have a tough time passing on him, and the Nats blogs are certainly looking forward to him.

We’ll discuss other guys Seattle could pick over the offseason, but I think it comes down to USC SS Grant Green and NC CF/1B Dustin Ackley.