Mariners Swept Badly

There is not much to say when the Mariners get swept and it ends with a 14-1 crushing by the team you are chasing in your division along with the fact that your best pitcher gives up five runs in the fourth and final inning he pitches including a grand slam homer.

I would expect that at some point Felix would be taken advantage by another team giving up a lot of runs having been doing well after coming off the disabled list. The problem is though it came at a poor time for this to happen when the team could use another good outing after winning only one game on the current road trip.

It is amazing that the Mariners had such a good road record and a terrible home record through May and now things have been reversed. The Mariners have a record of 4-11 against the Texas Rangers with four remaining in the season happening in Seattle next week. We hope that they can rebound starting Friday in Seattle against the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels along with the A’s who they play against later in the month are two teams in the division they have done well against while the Rangers and the Astros they have done badly against. It would be nice if the Mariners could have had at least two or three wins go their way against the Rangers. Though they would still be a losing record at least it would be more presentable.

 It would have nice if the bullpen could have kept the Mariners in the game but sometimes that happens too. At least only three relievers used in the game and Thursday is an off day so helps the bullpen to be rested. The Mariners did have eight hits but nothing was accomplished except the one run homer by Kyle Seager.

On Wednesday during the game the Mariners picked up a left handed bat in the outfield from the New York Yankees in Ben Gamel for a couple young minor league pitchers. Whether he is an everyday player to be or not at least Dipoto is looking to upgrade in the outfield. He did say he wanted to get more athletic in the outfield and Gamel fits the bill. It will be interesting to see what he will do this month of September for the Mariners. It will give Dipoto more of an idea what he will have to do during the off-season to upgrade the outfield. It is tough when your outfield is made up of a very good defensive centerfielder who is still looking to improve in his hitting while the two corner outfields need improvement for sure. Seth Smith and Franklin Gutierrez are adequate but the other position is far from being good.  I am sure Scott Servais will look at platooning Gamel and Heredia in left or right field for September. This will give them a good idea for next season whether to go out and get a regular outfielder.

I am sure the Mariners will be looking at several relievers bringing up as well in September to showcase themselves for next season. I still have a little hope that the Mariners will make the playoffs but they will have to start winning the rest of the way. They have twenty-nine games to go in the season and they have to win close to twenty of them to make the playoff which is hard to do but they are capable of doing so. It is a team that has shortcomings which has led to going on some losing streaks. At least these shortcomings can be fixed during the off-season to be contenders next season. So Friday night they go against the Angels and it has to be a game that must be won or you could say it is all over this season. Go M’s.