With only a few shopping days before Christmas, it’s now or never to ask for a little help for the northwest sports fan.

In the case of a few teams, it appears that they’ve got everything they need to find their success, and don’t really need anything this year.

Others, maybe not so much.

AFTER WATCHING the Chicago Cubs break through and win the World Series for the first time in over 100 years, maybe 2017 could be the year for the Seattle Mariners.

They’ve got the pitching, with Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma returning to a rotation that seemed to figure out how to close games down the stretch. Maybe the team could add a bat or two, with rumors of the team showing an interest in Jose Bautista for a short term fix.

For what remains to be seen as they’ve already got Nelson Cruz at designated hitter and a platoon of younger guys that appear to be poised to help the team at first base.

And since health is important, maybe find a way to keep most of the players on the field at the same time instead of relying on depth to keep them afloat while they try to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2001.

While we’re at it with the Mariners, maybe this could be the year that Edgar Martinez moves a little closer to induction for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Granted, he played a position that isn’t regarded as one that is as important in many voters’ eyes, but Martinez’s career numbers are good enough to warrant consideration. Especially if they’re going to induct David Ortiz in five years.

AS IT appears now, the Seattle Seahawks will be home for the playoffs, at least their first home game should they wind up with a bye in the wild-card round.

Sure, they beat the Los Angeles Rams at home and looked fine doing it defensively, but they’ll be tested once they get into the playoffs. Barring a miracle, they won’t have quite the boom as they might have a few weeks ago, but they shouldn’t be taken lightly either.

The four major northwest Division I programs — Idaho, Boise State, Washington, Washington State — all advanced to a bowl game this week, with the Vandals kicking off the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Thursday afternoon against Colorado State at Bronco Stadium in Boise.

Fitting isn’t it that the Vandals — in their third bowl appearance — will play on the blue turf, where they have yet to lose in a bowl game.

Two of the other three (Washington State, Boise State) are favored to win?in their final game, with Washington an underdog to Alabama in a national semifinal game in the College Football Playoff.

Regardless of how they finish, just enjoy the ride ride, however long it lasts.

Who knows when it will happen again.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at (208) 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @JEPressSports.