I am sure many fans are disappointed of the Mariners though
they won 89 games.
They weren’t able to get into the playoffs for the first time
in 17 years although when July started it really looked like they were going to
get in. The unfortunate part the Oakland A’s got hot and were able to get into
the wild card. On Tuesday though the A’s season ended fast losing to the
Yankees in the one game playoff; I wouldn’t be surprised the same fate happens
to the Mariners if they had made the wild card instead of the A’s.
Does show Jerry Dipoto and his staff have work to do during
the off-season to become a better team next season. Not only acquiring players
but the remaining players dedicated to become better as well.
I begin looking at the starting pitching. The rotation
primarily was made up of James Paxton, Marco Gonzales, Mike Leake, Felix
Hernandez and Wade LeBlanc. Also Erasmo Ramirez made several starts late in the
season along with Roenis Elias who the Mariners reacquired in May.
James Paxton was expected to be the ace of the team. He
pitched like one when he was healthy. I wonder if he will ever be fully
healthy. He did have a record of 11-6 with 3.76 in 28 starts. It would have
been nice he could have pitched in 33 games. I am sure several of the starts he
made wasn’t totally healthy either. He had been healthy in all the starts I see
an era of 2.76. A full run off of his season ending era; the highlight of his
season of course was the no-hitter against the Blue Jays in Toronto on May 9.
Grade A-1
Marco Gonzales was one of the surprise pitchers in the
starting rotation. He ended up with a record of 13-9 with the highest win total
on the Mariners staff. His earn run average turned out at 4.00 because he had
injuries late in the season and had to go on the disabled list. I wouldn’t be surprised he had stayed healthy
he would have had an era of 3.00. The Mariners could have had at least one or
two more victories to their total if he had been healthy all along. I have to
say the same for Paxton. Grade B+
Mike Leake had the season the Mariners may have expected
where he would pitch not missing many starts. In fact he started 31 games the
most on the staff with an era of 4.36 and a record of 10-10. Though he did
start throughout the season with no injuries he was inconsistent. At times he looked
real good but he looked bad at other times. In the games where he had no
decisions showed he gave the Mariners a chance to win and I am sure the
Mariners won a few of them as well because I do remember a few times where they
won after they were tied when he left the game. Since he was able to make over
30 starts I give him a grade of C+.
Wade LeBlanc I am sure was the surprise outside of Gonzales
in the rotation. He ended up with a record of 9-5 with the lowest era among the
starts at 3.72. He did well most of the season though he looked like he tired
out near the end of the season. He was second on the team in giving up home
runs with 24. Like many starters his trouble was having one bad inning. He is
solid as either a number four or fifth starter. I see him in the same spot next
year. I hope he is a number five starter so the Mariners will have added on
another starter to the rotation. Grade B
Felix Hernandez I am sure the most disappointing of the
Mariners starters. We were expecting him to be the second starter behind Paxton
however he had a record of 8-14 with an era of 5.55. He led the staff giving up
27 home runs. Many of those home runs were early in the games. He averaged five
and a third-innings per start. Only thing positive he was able to start 28
times compared to 16 times in 2016. The Mariners moved him to the bullpen however he only
pitched once when he relieved Paxton in the first inning in mid-August because
he was hit by a line drive in the first inning. He actually pitched well in the
game. He did show at times being effective but a bad inning was his undoing
especially in the first inning. Manager Scott Servais took him out early
without hesitation in his last outing of the season late in September but I
think Servais should have done the same several other times as well. Since
Felix has one year left with a contract over $25 million. Some feel Mel
Stottlemyre Jr. was fired at the end of
the season because of how Felix pitched. I am sure we will never know the truth
of Stottlemyre’s firing. One thing we do know Felix will have to show he can
rebound to being an effective starting pitcher in spring training. I am sure he
won’t be in the bullpen at all next year. Likely they will release him if he
isn’t able to pitch effectively. Certainly be a sad way to see the best pitcher
in Mariner history to go out that way. Grade D
Erasmo Ramirez spent most of 2018 on the disabled list. He
did spend some time on rehab assignments primarily in Arkansas double A and
Tacoma Triple A before being activated on Aug. 12. He took over Felix spot in the rotation. He
look effective at times especially in his first couple starts but become
ineffective as well. He started ten games with a record of 2-4 with an era of
6.50 pitching 45 and 2/3 innings. Not great stats for sure. Will be interesting
to see if he has a spot at all in the rotation, be sent to the bullpen where he
comes in early as a long reliever and be a spot starter as well. Dipoto could
decide to trade or release him as well. I am sure we will find out soon enough.
Grade D.
Roenis Elias made most of his appearances out of the bullpen
though he made 4 starts. In 23 games he had a record of 3-1 with an era of 2.65
and he gave up only 1 home run on the season. According to manager Servais the
Mariners will look to find a permanent role for Elias whether it is as the 5th
starter, long reliever with some spot starts or a bigger role in the bullpen.
One thing for sure Elias has a chance to have a spot on the Mariner’s 25-man
roster when 2019 begins. Grade B.
Overall I give the starting rotation a grade of B. They did
better than expected though they do have a chance to improve next season. This
will depend on whether the Mariners pick up another starter or not.
The bullpen had plus and minuses over the season. I am sure
everyone can figure where the plus primarily comes from along with the minuses.
Edwin Diaz had an outstanding season ending tied with second
most saves in the major leagues with 57 saves. He should be named Fireman of
the Year. He was so dominated he struck
out 124 batters in 73 1/3 innings while walking 17 batters the same amount of
runs he gave up. Grade A+
Alex Colome the Mariners picked up from the Tampa Bay Rays on
May 25 along with outfielder Denard Span. He had been the closer for the Rays
however the Mariners plan to be the eighth inning setup man for the Mariners. He
was a little erratic when he came over in his new role however in 47 games for
the Mariners he had 30 holds. Grade A-
The middle relievers for the Mariners had their ups and downs
all season long. Many bullpens this does happen and the Mariners were not much
different.
Juan Nicasio the Mariners signed during the off-season to be
the eighth inning setup man before getting Colome had trouble early on giving
up leads along with the rest of the bullpen. One of the reasons the Mariners
had so many one run wins. They often were ahead by three or more than the
opposition got back into the game. On June 8 he was placed on the disabled list
with right knee effusion which likely why he was having trouble pitching. He
did get back 10 days later however he again had trouble pitching. On August 3
he placed on the disabled list again with the right knee inflammation which in
the end cost him the rest of the season and he had to have surgery. The Mariners
are hoping he will be able to get back to being the pitching they wanted when
they signed him to a two-year free agent contract. When he returns likely he
will be the seventh inning setup man to get the Mariners to Colome and Diaz.
Nick Vincent originally was the seventh inning setup man
before changing role until Nicasio was injured was another with up and down
season. Hard to know where he is planned for use in next season’s bullpen. The
Mariners had issues with the left handed specialist as well. Rzepczynski had
trouble before being released by the Mariners. They went without one for a
couple months before picking up Zach Duke before the trading deadline but he
didn’t turn out to be the answer either. Most likely he won’t return next year
as he will be a free agent and the Mariners probably won’t go after him. James
Pazos had a good season but wasn’t used in the lefty specialist role however
with his second year under his belt for the Mariners they could move him into
the role unless they are able to pick up someone else. I give the bullpen a
grade of B because of the work of Diaz and Colome. We hope Nicasio can return
to form and other pitchers can do a good job so the Mariners will raise the
grade to a B+ or A- next season.
Next post I will look at the position players. Go M’s.
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