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After opening the season 2-0, the Mariners have dropped 13of 18.
They lost a series at home to the team with the worst 25-man roster in the American League.
The traditional strength of their team, pitching, is no longer there. If Iwakuma wasn't playing over his head right now, this pitching staff might have the worst ERA in the American League.
Another Traditional, Safeco-era strength has been defense. But, defense has also been showing some cracks in the seams as players are beginning to take their offenses struggles onto the field with them.
Seagar, Saunders, Smoak, Montero, Ackley - the 'core five' as I call them. They aren't one-year rentals. The longterm success of the team is living or dieing with these five guys. Saunders has arrived. I'm not worried about him. Seager is legit too. He had a 7-game stretch where he couldn't do anything, but he's snapped out of it. Montero is horrible. A guy who can't run and can't defend, has to hit. Montero can't do that either. He's starting to sprinkle in a few more singles, but his power is gone. Ackley still looks overmatched at the plate. Smoak still looks overmatched as well. Ackley's future is probably as a versatile utility guy and pinch runner...on a different team. He's probably best suited for the NL. I don't think he'll ever be good enough to be a starter again, once he has lost his job here (which will be sometime this year). Smoak can be a late inning defensive replacement at first base and a pinch hitter. But, like Ackley, once he loses his job as a starter (sometime this year), he won't get it back again.He is also better suited in the NL.
Saunders - looks like he's going to be a product of Safeco Field. I'm guessing he finishes with a 3.50 ERA at home and 5.50 ERA on the road. He's here one year. He won't be back, and he could be gone before August.
Morse - Over-anxious at the plate. The total sucker for pitches beneath the strike zone and breaking balls hanging just beyond the outside plate. He'll hit 30 homeruns this year, but his productiveity will depend on whether he can discontinue the bad habits he currently has t the plate. He could hit 30 homeruns, knock in 80 and bat .240. Or, he could hit 40 homeruns, knock in 110, and bat .290. It will depend on whether he gains some plate discipline or not.
Morales - Pitchers are afraid of him. His HBP/walk total is in the top 10 in the AL. I'd like to see him get re-signed. He's the best DH this team has had since Edgar retired.
Ibanez and Bay - They are pretty much what most of us thought they would be: slightly better than horrible.
Iwakuma - playing over his head. Can't see him maintaining this all year long. We'll see how he does his second time through the league. But I still like him.
Maurer - Has looked better the last two times out, but I'm still not a believer as far as 2013 goes. I think he ultimately ends up in AAA. I just hope this experience does not wreck his confidence because I think he has a great future.
Wedge - We need more fire from this guy. Players are getting sloppy in the field, out batters have been hit the second most of any team in the AL, the pitchers are not getting the from the homeplate ump that the opponent pitchers are getting. We've had more than our share of bad calls on the base paths. Wedge needs to start getting in people's faces.
Dave Hanson - the Dave Hanson project clearly is not working.
They lost a series at home to the team with the worst 25-man roster in the American League.
The traditional strength of their team, pitching, is no longer there. If Iwakuma wasn't playing over his head right now, this pitching staff might have the worst ERA in the American League.
Another Traditional, Safeco-era strength has been defense. But, defense has also been showing some cracks in the seams as players are beginning to take their offenses struggles onto the field with them.
Seagar, Saunders, Smoak, Montero, Ackley - the 'core five' as I call them. They aren't one-year rentals. The longterm success of the team is living or dieing with these five guys. Saunders has arrived. I'm not worried about him. Seager is legit too. He had a 7-game stretch where he couldn't do anything, but he's snapped out of it. Montero is horrible. A guy who can't run and can't defend, has to hit. Montero can't do that either. He's starting to sprinkle in a few more singles, but his power is gone. Ackley still looks overmatched at the plate. Smoak still looks overmatched as well. Ackley's future is probably as a versatile utility guy and pinch runner...on a different team. He's probably best suited for the NL. I don't think he'll ever be good enough to be a starter again, once he has lost his job here (which will be sometime this year). Smoak can be a late inning defensive replacement at first base and a pinch hitter. But, like Ackley, once he loses his job as a starter (sometime this year), he won't get it back again.He is also better suited in the NL.
Saunders - looks like he's going to be a product of Safeco Field. I'm guessing he finishes with a 3.50 ERA at home and 5.50 ERA on the road. He's here one year. He won't be back, and he could be gone before August.
Morse - Over-anxious at the plate. The total sucker for pitches beneath the strike zone and breaking balls hanging just beyond the outside plate. He'll hit 30 homeruns this year, but his productiveity will depend on whether he can discontinue the bad habits he currently has t the plate. He could hit 30 homeruns, knock in 80 and bat .240. Or, he could hit 40 homeruns, knock in 110, and bat .290. It will depend on whether he gains some plate discipline or not.
Morales - Pitchers are afraid of him. His HBP/walk total is in the top 10 in the AL. I'd like to see him get re-signed. He's the best DH this team has had since Edgar retired.
Ibanez and Bay - They are pretty much what most of us thought they would be: slightly better than horrible.
Iwakuma - playing over his head. Can't see him maintaining this all year long. We'll see how he does his second time through the league. But I still like him.
Maurer - Has looked better the last two times out, but I'm still not a believer as far as 2013 goes. I think he ultimately ends up in AAA. I just hope this experience does not wreck his confidence because I think he has a great future.
Wedge - We need more fire from this guy. Players are getting sloppy in the field, out batters have been hit the second most of any team in the AL, the pitchers are not getting the from the homeplate ump that the opponent pitchers are getting. We've had more than our share of bad calls on the base paths. Wedge needs to start getting in people's faces.
Dave Hanson - the Dave Hanson project clearly is not working.
