Seattle Mariners: The Bats Are Still in Arizona
By Nick Lee
While the 0-3 start by the Seattle Mariners is understandably frustrating, there are still some positives to take away from the opening three games.
This has been a less than stellar start for the Seattle Mariners, as they have dropped the first three games of the season with a total of four runs. Pitching has been above average, but the bats are nowhere to be found.
The Mariners have mustered 16 hits in three games. They are an abysmal one for 27, with runners in scoring position.
Mariners’ fans know all too well the team struggles to hit, when it means the most. That narrative has been a common theme for the last few years. It is a maddening way to lose.
Let’s not lose our heads here though, folks – there are 159 games left and the bats will come alive. They have to. This lineup is too good.
More from Seattle Mariners
- Seattle Mariners trade James Paxton. Deja vu or re-imagining?
- Seattle Mariners: November mailbag – Face of the franchise and more
- Seattle Mariners: Zunino part of 5 player swap. What it means for the M’s.
- Seattle Mariners: Mitch Haniger, and Edgar Martinez headed to Japan
- Seattle Mariners: Trading for Joc Pederson from L.A. – 3 scenarios
I feel the offense is like a raging river being held up by a little dam, that is about to break. Once the Mariners get five or more runs on the board in a game, it will come in bunches.
The Mariners may be playing tight right now. They need to loosen up the hinges a bit and let it fly. This does not look anything like the team that finished third in the Cactus League with 19 wins.
Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma and James Paxton all pitched good enough to get a win. Where have we heard this before?
Perhaps facing Joe Musgrove on Thursday will be the remedy the Mariners’ ailing offense needs. He has only made 10 major league starts and has allowed nine home runs.
One bright spot has been Jean Segura. The new Mariner has four hits including a two-run home run. There is no one cure-all way to fix this.
Another good sign was in the 13th inning of Wednesday’s frustrating loss, when the Mariners showed patience in getting the bases loaded. However, they left several runs on the table and kept the door open for a Houston walk-off win.
No one should be panicking yet. It is frustrating, sure, but this lineup cannot be held back for long. It will be the games against the Astros and Texas Rangers that determine how this season goes for Seattle. So far, so not good.
Next: Is it Worth Bringing Doug Fister Back?
Where are you at as a Mariners fan, after these opening three games? Are you still confident, taking a wait-and-see approach, or is your sporting world starting to fall apart? Share your thoughts in the comments section.