Seattle Mariners 2013 Year In Review

The year is coming to a close. It is time for people to look back at the year that was and look ahead to the coming year. For Mariners fans, the end of 2013 can’t come soon enough.

It appears that regardless of any additional moves the team may or may not make, 2014 should be an improvement over the dumpster-fire that was 2013.

But let’s take a look back at the year that was. For as George Santayana once said;

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

So with that said, I give you the Seattle Mariners 2013 Year In Review.

January

It’s hard to believe that it was a year ago that the Mariners were rumored to be in on several trades that would’ve brought everyone from Justin Upton to Andre Ethier to the Mariners.

A deal for Upton was actually agreed upon by the Arizona Diamondbacks. But because the Mariners were on Upton’s no-trade list, the deal didn’t happen. Upton went to Atlanta and the Mariners traded for Michael Morse. (We all know how that turned out)

Also in January, Safeco Field was undergoing the transformation into a more hitter-friendly park with more fan features like a new HDTV, the largest in the majors. As we know, the new park dimensions worked – the Mariners finished 2nd in the majors in homers.

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

February/March

In February, we learned that Jesus Montero had been linked to the Miami-based Biogenesis. At the time, the Mariners released the following statement:

The Seattle Mariners strongly support Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, and are disappointed any time we hear of any players potentially involved with banned substances. “We are aware of the report which appeared today in The New York Daily News and have been in contact with Major League Baseball to discuss it. “This matter is now in the hands of the Commissioner’s Office. At this time, with no additional information, we will have no further comment until that investigation has concluded, and all other questions should be directed to Major League Baseball.”

We also sent Mike Carp to the Boston Red Sox after he was designated for assignment when the M’s signed Joe Saunders.

Then Spring Training got underway and hope, throughout March at least, sprung eternal.

Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

April

The season kicked off and the Mariners had their only winning records of the season. Their 2-1 record on April 3 marked the last time they were in first place.

On April 9th, the Mariners lost to the Houston Astros 16-9 to fall to 4-5 on the season. They would never get back to .500 again.

On April 11th, the Mariners traded for Aaron Harang to “save their rotation“. Oh, if we only knew then what we know now. We could’ve called up Taijuan Walker or James Paxton earlier and spared us the disaster that was Harang.

By the end of the frustrating first month, the Mariners were 12-17, in 3rd place in the AL West and 6.5 games back of the Texas Rangers.

May

The month of May had some season-highs and lows.

On a good note, the team scored their most runs in one game this past season when they scored 12 against the New York Yankees on May 15th (tied it on July 21st).

On the low note, the team suffered through an 8-game losing streak – their longest of 2013 – May 17 through May 25.

By the end of the month, the Mariners were 24-31 (12-14 in May), were in 4th place and 10.5 games back of the Rangers.

Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

June

In June, the biggest news the Mariners made came off the playing field.

First, the team drafted DJ Peterson with their first pick in the draft. He appears to be the corner infield man of the future for the M’s. But given the recent acquisitions this offseason and the organization’s determination to not give up on Justin Smoak, it remains to be seen how soon that impact can be had.

The Mariners called up Mike Zunino, sparking much debate but also creating a lot of happy fans who had been eagerly awaiting his arrival.

On the field, the Mariners struggled. Players were going back and forth to the disabled list. Inconsistent hitting was salvaged – albeit barely – by amazing pitching (at least by Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma).

When the dust settled, the Mariners were sitting at 35-47 (11-16 in June), 4th in the AL west, 13 games back of Texas. Halfway through the season, halfway to a 70-win season.

July

The month of July provided moments of false hope for Mariners fans. Just prior to the All-Star break, the Mariners swept the Los Angeles Angels.

Then after King Felix and Kuma represented the M’s in the All-Star game, the M’s went back to work with five more wins including a sweep of the Astros.

An eight-game winning streak – the longest of the season – brought the Mariners to within 10 games of the Oakland Athletics, but more importantly, only 8.5 games back of the 2nd wild-card spot and nearing the .500 mark (four games under).

But not all was good news. On July 22nd – the 7th game in the winning streak – manager Eric Wedge was hospitalized after feeling dizzy during batting practice. Turns out he had suffered a stroke and would miss 28 games with the club.

When July came to a close, the Mariners owned a record of 50-57 (15-10 in July), were 12.5 games back of Oakland and 9 games back of the 2nd wild-card.

Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

August

The highlight of August was by far, Ken Griffey Jr being inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame. If you missed the ceremony, it was funny, touching and everything you expected from The Kid.

You can read JJ’s recap of it here or check out the video on MLB.com.

Some would argue that the low-light of the month was when the organization extended the contract of general manager Jack Zduriencik by one year. Some people would still suggest this was a bad idea. I am one. But regardless, he is here for at least one more year.

The Mariners finally gave up on the failed experiment that was Michael Morse and traded him to Baltimore for OF Xavier Avery.

On the field, the Mariners finished the month at 62-73 (12-16 in August), in 4th place behind Oakland by 17 games and the wild-card hopes became a distant memory.

September

The horrific month that is September lived up to the recent trend for the Mariners. September has sucked for far too long as was detailed by Charlie. For those that were hoping the trend would continue, the 2013 M’s did not disappoint.

Brendan Ryan was traded to the New York Yankees to help back up Derek Jeter.

James Paxton hit the scene and gave Mariners fans some hope for 2014.

On September 29, the 2013 season mercifully came to an end with a 9-0 loss to the A’s. A few days prior, Eric Wedge announced he would not be returning as manager in 2014. We’ll learn why later.

The M’s finished with a 71-91 record (9-18 in Sept.), 4th in the AL West ahead of only the Astros, 25 games back of the A’s.