Seattle Mariners Rant Week: Looking Back at 2018 – Herb Nightingale

Good Stuff

The highlight of the first half was James Paxton’s no-hitter threw against the Blue Jays in Toronto. The next best thing was trading with the Tampa Bay Rays for Alex Colome and Denard Span in May.

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More excitement came from the number of times Edwin Diaz saved one-run games, which helped him tie for the second most saves in a season with Bobby Thigpen at 57. The Mariners record in one-run games was 36-21 while at the same time went 14-1 in extra-inning games.

I hope in a few weeks many of the Mariners fans will appreciate this season. We haven’t seen them win 89 games since 2003. This season can be a springboard to better things. I have heard some say they should break up the team and start over. Although it sounds good in a way, it’s hard to do at the same time. I am sure G.M. Jerry Dipoto will have some ideas, while fans look forward to February and spring training.

Final notes: I would like to find players with competitive juices flowing who are talented and consistent. Among the younger players, Mitch Haniger and Edwin Diaz are the type of players Seattle needs more of.

Another thing I want is for the players to know and execute the fundamentals of baseball, such as the hit and run, bunting, and sacrifice flies. A key reason I was frustrated was that the Mariners loaded the bases so many times and didn’t score a run. They need more team speed to go along with their contact hitters.

I look forward to next season and the changes Dipoto will make to improve the team.