Mariners Progress Report: The Seattle Rainiers
By Nick Lee
The Mariners injury woes continued this week, with a roster full of AAA pitchers, Seattle couldn’t keep runs off the board, and struggled to score without Robinson Cano.
This has been a tough stretch for the Mariners. In the last two weeks, they have gone 5-8, including a four-game sweep at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays. They finished up a 3-4 homestand against the Athletics and White Sox. Nothing can be said to ease the pain of losing by a combined 26-3 over the weekend in three straight games to Chicago.
Let us not forget, these are not the Seattle Mariners. These are the Seattle Rainiers. Or the Mariniers. Injuries have absolutely decimated this team and there is still a stretch in front of them that they must weather without being at full strength. That will be tough against the likes of the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox.
Let’s take a look at the progress report for this past homestand:
Hitting: C-
Even with star Robinson Cano out of the lineup with a bum quad, the Oakland series was successful at the plate.
Then the White Sox came to town…
At least Thursday was fun. Jarrod Dyson of all people went deep along with Jean Segura and the game ended in the bottom of the 9th with a walk-off single by Guillermo Heredia. Segura had 3 RBI and Dyson had two stolen bases and scored the winning run with his blazing speed.
Friday through Sunday was a nightmare offensively. They mustered three runs on 12 hits in those three horrible games. Friday was a disaster as the M’s drummed up one measly hit against starter Jose Quintana and struck out nine times. Saturday was a massacre mostly due to pitching but the offense didn’t help, with only one extra base hit and 10 men left on base.
Pitching: F
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There is no other way to put it. The Mariners pitching was absolutely atrocious this week and especially this weekend. The pitching staff combined for a 6.05 ERA during the homestand. It is amazing to think that this was also the week of Christian Bergman’s fantastic outing. Squashed in the middle of all the carnage, Bergman went 7 1/3 innings on Wednesday night, striking out 9 and earning the win in a 4-0 shutout victory.
It is quite an accomplishment that the Mariners went 3-4 in a week where only their fifth starter in the original rotation remained uninjured, and he, being Yovani Gallardo, would allow 13 total runs, 12 earned in two starts this week. The Mariners had the likes of Chase De Jong, Sam Gaviglio and Chris Heston starting games. All three of those pitchers were a part of the Tacoma Rainiers staff in April.
The bullpen was even worse. Edwin Diaz lost his closer role after blowing saves last week and nearly blowing another one this past week. The Mariners now have the worst bullpen in the entire league with a 5.44 ERA. They also lead the majors with 11 blown saves. Then there’s the undressing of the M’s that was Saturday’s 16-1 loss. That led to utility infielder Mike Freeman pitching the last inning. There is only one direction this pitching staff can go and it’s up.
Defense: B+
The Mariners committed two errors leading to two unearned runs this week. However, they were mostly inconsequential as both games were blowouts anyway. The Mariners rank highly in defensive efficiency, especially with Dyson out in center field. Seattle is now at +6 Defensive Runs Saved which is a big jump from -3, where they were two weeks ago. This continues to be one of the lone bright spots.
Next: Robinson Cano Set to Return in DC
Player of the Week-Christian Bergman: 1 W, 7 1/3 IP, 9 Ks, 0 ER, 2 H