Time To Turn Things Around Guys

Before the season started the media and fans expected the Seattle Mariners to compete for the division title of the American League West along with the league, possibly play and win the World Series.

So far the Mariners have not competed for either the division or the league championship. If it were not for the Oakland A’s they would be dead last in their division.

In April the season started out where the team could not win because the pitching was bad. They were scoring at least four runs a game almost every game out but neither the starting nor relief pitching was working.  Finally in May the starting pitching was on a roll working just fine.  Before May was over the relief pitching was doing well except Danny Farquhar who was sent down to Triple A.  Two other relief pitchers were sent down as well who both have been traded away.  The only relief pitcher is having trouble now is closer Fernando Rodney who on last Friday June 5 gave up a home run to Tampa Bay in the ninth inning  which cost the Mariners another game losing 1-0. Now Rodney is no longer the closer for the time being until he gets his mechanics fixed.

Going into the last home stand that ended on Sunday June 7 the Mariners were able to get back to .500. Everything looked like they had a chance to get into second place, and possibly take over Houston; however, something happened where they only won two games on this eleven game home stand.

The pitching was good in the eleven games except the few times that Rodney pitched but scoring runs for the Mariners were rare. They did get runners on base. In fact several times had runners on third base with less than two outs and could not get them home.  They had bases loaded as well with no outs and could not get any runners out. I could not believe it at all. I thought even if they hit into a double play they would at least get one run.

Since his return from the disabled list and his ankle injury Austin Jackson has been playing some good baseball. On Saturday night June 6 a game I attended Jackson hit a home run to win the game 2-1. A few games earlier he was on base six times and I believe he scored only once.  The Friday night game that Rodney gave up the home run Jackson actually was on third base where the Mariners could have at least tied the score but he was left stranded.

One of the local newspaper columnists yesterday June 8 called the Mariners brain dead.  A friend of mine at the local coffee shop thought the writer was cruel but he was telling the truth.

Now the Mariners start a road trip in Cleveland. We can only hope things will get better; however, they start off facing last year Cy Young Award winner Kluber tonight June 9. They are on a eight game road trip before coming home for another eight games. Besides Cleveland they face Houston over the weekend followed by two games against the San Francisco Giants. They come home for two more games against the Giants followed by another weekend series against Houston followed by three games against the Kansas City Royals.

I would really like them to win five of the eight games in both of those series.  It will not be easy but if the pitching continues to be good and the hitting improves just a little bit the possibility is really there. The Mariners need to do well the rest of June and into July. I would really hate to have to spend more time on the Seahawks during the summer like the last several years.

Jackie Z brought in some good players especially Nelson Cruz who has done a better than expected job. In fact without him the record would be worse. Last we he traded for Mark Trumbo. So far he has not done well but I expect him to pick it up. With the acquisition of Trumbo the Mariners have improved the bottom of the batting order by moving down Logon Morrison and putting Brad Miller back full time at shortstop.

For the Mariner to get back into contention for the race Robinson Cano will need to get out of his funk. He shows without hitting at his normal rate the Mariners are not scoring runs with runners in scoring position. The Mariners do not have to big things just do the small things that will score runs.

Though I enjoy the Seahawks I want my focus on the Mariners until at least the regular season starts in September. In fact I prefer the Mariners to be at the fore front until November. Of course I will watch the Seahawks but they would not be my major passion. I would love to see the Mariners make the playoffs at the very least and the Seahawks going to another Super Bowl.  With the pitching of the Mariners the playoffs would give them a very good chance to make the World Series. Yes I still have hope; however, there is a possibility that Jack Z may have to pull off another trade. The most important thing is that Cano has to start working with Cruz and Seager. Go Mariners!