Seattle Mariners: Top 5 Things to Watch This Weekend

3. Kyle Seager Will Be Okay

Apr 14, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager (15) bats during the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Seager has also had a rough start to the season after being pegged by most as the only other sure thing in the lineup, next to Robinson Cano. He has put up two seasons at roughly 3.5 WAR, with little indication that he will regress. His slow start, along with a poor second half of last year has many worried about a guy that was looked at as a guarantee.

The Seaboss himself doesn’t share in the apprehension though. He talked to Brian Abker of 950 KJR today about his struggles, and said “I know everything is going to be alright, you just get into these things over the course of playing baseball for a long time. You hit your highs, and you’ll get yourself a little out of whack a couple times…And we’re continually working on that to get it right so we can turn it around….”

Many looked at the Texas series as the time when Seager would finally break out, citing his .374 average and 14-game hitting streak in Arlington. And while that wasn’t exactly the case as Kyle had just three hits and a walk in 18 PA, he did show some signs of improvement. He only struck out twice in those 18 appearances (11%), and his .278 OBP is decent considering the .188 average.

I think it is only a matter of time before Kyle transforms back into something much closer to what we are used to, and this series seems like as good a time as any, with the seemingly improved approach at the plate, questionable pitching opposition, and non-Safeco/Colisieum/Angels Stadium environment.