Mariners Play Badly

Actually to say the Seattle Mariners played badly on Sunday was an understatement. In his post-game press conference manager Scott Servais said it was the worst game they had played all season long.

I am not sure whether anyone played worse than Kyle Seager did as he had two errors early in the game and struck out twice with the bases loaded. His first two at bats were with the bases loaded and on the first one he actually hit a ball that looked like it could be a grand slam however it went foul before he struck out. If I recall he struck out at least a third time in the game. So this was a game that Seager will soon forget.

Mike Montgomery pitched five innings giving up four runs with three them earned. I am not sure he really deserved to be charged for three runs but you can’t blame the guy for pitching poorly because of the defense. Actually in the first inning he got out of it with the Mariners only giving up one run to the Astros and then in the second he gave up no runs despite continued problem with the defense.

Nathan Karns had a poor outing giving up four runs in his one inning of work after Tom Wilhelmsen came in after Montgomery. At that point the game likely was lost anyway. Benoit and Dave Rollins each followed off pitching an inning each without giving up a run.

The Mariners are now even on the season and they now go against the Chicago White Sox in a three game series before heading to Toronto for a weekend series against the Blue Jays. The first game the Mariners face White Sox ace Sale. So not a good way to start off the series however they will have their left handed platooned lineup in; we will probably see Franklin Gutierrez in right field as Nelson Cruz DH. With a tough lefthander Leonys Martin could have the day off. So we could see both Daniel Robertson and Shawn O’Malley in the lineup. Chris Iannetta will be back into the lineup after taking both Saturday and Sunday off.

The Mariners will need to play their A game to beat the White Sox. Actually nothing new because I see the only chance the Mariners have to win most games they have to be at their best especially against the teams ahead of them.

I have read some from some whether the Mariners should be buyers, sellers or holders. I would like them to be buyers when it comes to getting someone who will help them this year and at least next year. Being sellers would be to trade those who are not in the plans for next season. I don’t see them as holders because they do lack some places on the twenty-five roster.  I see being a buyer and seller in combination. For example if they can trade Adam Lind who will be a free agent at the end of the season and likely won’t be resigned by the Mariners along with Aoki who I don’t see either returning in a package deal. There could be a contending team that could use a first baseman or designated hitter along with an extra outfielder. In this case likely the Mariners would get prospects back in return. The only other player the Mariners could trade as a seller would be Seth Smith if the Mariners have no plans for him next year. The question here will they get any value for him. I would say most likely not so trading him not a good idea. Nelson Cruz why would they even think about trading him if the Mariners plan to compete next year; again he would only bring back some prospects. Chris Iannetta could be a choice to trade to a team that needs a catcher whether starting or backup. In this case likely only get prospects in return unless the Mariners do a package deal. The Mariners could trade Mike Zunino in a good package deal but I don’t see that happening.

Continue being sellers the Mariners could trade Steve Cishek out of the bullpen or Wade Miley to a contending team that needs another starter. Again what will the Mariners get in return? Being a seller you get more during the off-season. I would see the Mariners going more for as a buyer because they will get more value that way instead of sellers. I am sure Dipoto is looking at teams below the Mariners especially to see what they have on their rosters to unload as sellers. Hard to say whether the Mariners will go for another starter in the rotation, a reliever or an outfielder. The next two weeks will be interesting leading into the trade dead line most on how they will do on the field in these two as well. Anyway let’s go M’s.

P.S. Just saw that the Cleveland Indians starting catcher is going on the DL and not expected to return anytime soon.  So maybe Dipoto is talking with them about one of the Mariner catchers. Not only Iannetta or Zunino they could discuss Jesus Sucre who the Mariners likely would not get much for though.