Mariners Lose It at KC

Right when we hope that the Seattle Mariners will get going and move ahead in the standings they lose once again back down to five hundred or even on the season if you like it that way.

This has all become so familiar over the season for the Mariners. At this point we might as well leave it at the fact they are not a good or bad team. We are hoping at some point that the pitching and the hitting can work together over several game stretch.

The good thing whether the Mariners make the playoffs or not at least they have been more entertaining than some of the teams in the last sixteen years; injuries have made a big part why the team is even at this point. They lost Jean Segura a couple times and now Mitch Haniger three times over injuries not counting the pitching staff. Outside of Iwakuma and Smyly the pitching staff has been healthy over the last month or so.  James Paxton had his lumps in June however rebounded for a great July where he went 6-0 and was named AL pitcher of the month.  Felix Hernandez has had his moments but hasn’t done well as of late. For the Mariners to have any chance to make the playoffs he has to pitch better over the next two months.

The good news is that Paxton will be pitching on Friday night in Kansas City after the Mariners lost on Thursday 6-4. This was a game they had a chance to win but blew a couple leads. Again they gave up home runs which are getting old as well. Yovani Gallardo had another game where he pitched well for three or four innings but had one bad inning. He seems to be a guy who should be in the bullpen. He is like most fifth starters though not good at all.

The Mariners bullpen has been good most of the last couple months however Thursday was not one of them. We hope that they get back to where they have been for the rest of the season. Paxton will be on the mound on Friday night so if he can pitch like he has for the last month it will help out the bullpen tremendously. 

 

The electricity went out for a few minutes fortunately I saved my work here so now I am back again to complete my work.

The offense and the defense has been the entertaining part of the season for the Mariners. This is especially true of the outfield. All the guys seem to be able to catch anything they can. Other than Leonys Martin who had a horrible month in April and Mitch Haniger recently before his recent injury being hit in the face the outfield has hit well during the season and then they are able to run well to though they have made some mistakes on the base baths.

Jean Segura has been a good surprise playing steady if not spectacular defense and his hitting either leadoff or second has been very good as well and such a surprise that the Mariners signed him to a five year contract early in the season.

Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano both have been hitting home runs and driving in runs despite having injuries. Mike Zunino who was sent down for a period in May had a really good June but so so July. He is adequate for his hitting and his defense has been solid. His pitch selection is hard to know though I am not sure what the pitchers are doing especially giving up so many home runs.

Danny Valencia has played solid defense at first base though he was expected to platoon and his hitting has gotten better after a poor April. Kyle Seager is the one that hasn’t played up to par this season. You can’t expect anyone to have a good season every year. His defense has been good on the most part but the hitting has not been good. He looked poor striking out in July though at the end of the month and the start of August he has been hitting a lot of doubles. I think he does better when he isn’t looking to hit home runs. The Mariners need him along with the starting pitching to have any chance to make the playoffs. Now Mariners do your job in Kansas City and Oakland before coming home for a short stay. Go M’s.