Rodney is Out Who is Next?

On Saturday night the Seattle Mariners lost another game in the late innings.  They continue down a spiraling case, and is there any good news on the horizon. I have to say sort of because the Mariners announced after the game they designated for assignment Fernando Rodney. We all could say about time, and even Rodney was not surprised by the move. Not sure whose decision it was or it was a joint effort of Jack Z and Lloyd. I am sure Lloyd was tired of throwing Rodney out there to sink or swim or Jack was finally tired of it. Whatever the case is Rodney is no longer a Mariner. No more shooting the arrow that we haven’t actually seen in a while.  No more excuses about tipping the pitches or that Rodney can’t spot them anymore.  Whatever the case Rodney is gone the sad part he is actually very nice man, and he has never cause the Mariners any trouble at all off the field but his best days are behind him.

Another move the Mariners made on Saturday night was sending Danny Farquhar back to Tacoma.  After Carson Smith blew the save in the ninth inning they sent out Farquhar out in the tenth inning where he could not get any one out and the Mariners lost 6-3.  His problem is basically the same as Rodney’s but he could still have a future in Seattle if he can straighten things out.  Farquhar is not being paid the big bucks of Rodney and he won’t be a free agent after the season unless the Mariners decide to release him.  He could be an option for being the closer if he can make things right.

Speaking of the closer Carson Smith is just not ready to be one. He is better as a set up in the Mariner’s bullpen right now. I have mentioned before that he can get right handed batters out with his slider but can’t get left handers out on a regular basis as of yet. He either has to improve the slider or get another pitch to get out lefties. Until then other teams will throw out as many left handed hitters they can.

What other answers do the Mariners have for a closer?  I would say not much at this time; however, since they are out of the race unless 1995 miracle happens they might as well audition other pitchers or go with someone from the past like Tom Wihelmsen. I am sure the bartender will do an Ok job or we see other candidates.

The two pitchers the Mariners brought up to replace Rodney and Farquhar are Roenis Elias and Logan Kensing.  Both pitchers will start out in the bullpen; Elias could move back into the starting rotation. He hasn’t had a good season pitching for Tacoma but I like his attitude on the mound as long it hasn’t changed since he was sent down.  What I mean is that he likes going right after hitters, and that is crucial for a reliever.  He could pitch one inning, multiple innings, and my idea is he could be tried as a closer.  Why not we could find a gem right there, and another possibility is Nuno who has the same attitude as Elias but having a much better season.  In fact he pitched very well in relief before switching to starter when the Mariners traded J.A.Happ to the Pirates at the end of July.  Kensing I don’t know much about but I am sure the Mariners will try to see where he will fit in the bullpen. One thing for sure neither Elias nor Kensing can do worse than who have been in bullpen or can they?

We are not sure who the Mariner’s will have in the bullpen in 2016 but we do know that the pitchers there right now are auditioning for a spot. We can only hope pitchers like Wihelmsen or Farquhar can turn things around because the Mariners do need some veteran presence in the bullpen.  I would like to see both Elias and Nuno as two lefties in the bullpen, and we can only hope that Charlie Furbush can return.  Carson Smith could return as the closer or be the setup man in the eighth inning like he was before Rodney went bust.  It is amazing how things change in a year after the Mariners had one of the best in 2014. Like they say that’s baseball.  Go Mariners!