Mariners Win at Oakland

The Seattle Mariners started the last road trip in Oakland against the A’s. Going into the game their record was 75-81 so they have to win all six remaining games to end the season with an even record. The chances of that happening are not great but it is doable.

What we know about the Mariners regardless what the record ends up being that they have been inconsistent all year long. We know most of the year it has been the lack of good starting pitching because of the injuries. Going into September it looked like they would have a winning record or at least an even record but went for a slide. Most of the regular lineup didn’t show up.

Although we are all disappointed because we were hoping finally that they would make the playoffs after not doing so in the last sixteen years I can say that for the most part they have been an exciting team to watch and the future looks good at this point.

Monday night Felix Hernandez pitched and looked the best he has over the season. Of course we all know that he had been out for a while with injury. He was able to go six innings since he was on a pitch count as well. He threw exactly seventy pitches in the game giving up just two hits and a run. The run you can guess was a solo homer.

The Mariners were able to get three home runs in the game. The first one was a three-run blast by Mike Zunino in the second inning to make the lead 3-0 at the time. Mitch Haniger who has had a hot bat in September had a homer as well along with Yonder Alonso. They accounted for five of the seven runs the Mariners scored in the 7-1 win. I call Zunino the poster child for Mariners inconsistency over the season. I am sure that there are others that fall in that category as well.

James Paxton will be going for the Mariners on Tuesday night. At this point not sure which Paxton will show up. The one that pitched so well going into August or the one who has pitched since coming back from the disabled list; I wonder with his history of being injured how much longer he will pitch for the Mariners? I am not sure where Jerry Dipoto figures in that line. We have seen Paxton at his best which is pretty good but the Mariners need to count on him to pitch for a whole season instead of going on the disabled list every so often. Since the team has had a major overhaul since  Dipoto arrived two years ago wouldn’t surprise me if he is traded.

In the next few days it will be time to get onto the end of the year report card and then move on to football with the Seahawks, Huskies and Cougars. We wish the best for them all.