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Fantasy Baseball: Seattle Mariners Game Number 162
Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Today is the last day of the 2014 regular season. Fantasy Baseball is coming to an end. Game number 162 is typically just a solidifier to the current standings, but for the Seattle Mariners; it means much more.
The Seattle Mariners are one game out of the playoffs. If they win today, and the Oakland Athletics lose; it forces a one game playoff between the two teams for the second wildcard spot. Game 162 has never been more important for the city of Seattle.
Thoughts of the 1995 Seattle Mariners are in the minds of all the fans. Last night during the 7th inning, Safeco Field announced that the Athletics lost to the Texas Rangers. Thirty seconds later, Logan Morrison laced an RBI double into the outfield gap to tie the game. The Seattle crowd lost their minds.
Playoff atmosphere is already here for the Seattle Mariners. The city knows it, the players know it; and the opposing teams can’t escape it. The Mariners bullpen shut the Los Angeles Angels offense down. Just enough time for the Mariners to squeeze out a game winning run in the 11th inning.
Refuse to lose has returned. This is all happening in the city of Seattle, and on the last day of the season. It is that epic. The fans are packing the stadium, towels are waving in the air, and the feeling is amazing.
The Mariners weren’t supposed to be this good. Safeco isn’t supposed to be this loud in September. It’s great to see the city support their team. First it was the 12th man backing the Seattle Seahawks. Now, we are seeing the 10th man existence for the Seattle Mariners.
The Mariners had a strong presence in fantasy baseball for 2014. There were many ups and downs, but a handful of performances from Seattle helped many fantasy managers to the tops of their leagues. It’s time to hand out this year’s awards for the top Mariners in Fantasy Baseball.
Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
BEST PITCHER
This award belongs to Felix Hernandez, and no one else. Not only is Felix the best pitcher on the Seattle Mariners; he is the arguable the best pitcher in the game of baseball. Fantasy owners who drafted The King at the beginning of the year, are most likely tops in their leagues pitching categories.
Felix is currently ranked #6 overall out of all players. And it doesn’t end there. Felix pitches today in game 162 for the Mariners. With the playoffs on the line, you can expect straight dominance from Seattle’s ace.
The King has statistics that could land him his second Cy Young Award. He currently holds a 2.18 ERA, and insanely low 0.97 WHIP. He has a career high 241 strike outs, and that will improve before the end of today. His 14 wins are a sad sign of terrible run support, but that all disappears when he wins game 162.
Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
BEST HITTER
This award comes as no surprise. Robinson Cano came out as the best hitter for the Seattle Mariners in 2014. Fantasy owners who drafted Cano as their number one pick, were not disappointed. Cano is the definition of consistency, and he brought that to Seattle in style.
Going into the last game of the season, Cano is ranked #35 overall in Fantasy Baseball going into the last game of the season. He carries a stellar .314 BA, and leads the Mariners in hits with 186. His power numbers did take a hit with only 14 HR on the year, but a career high 10 SB were a pleasant surprise for his owners.
What Cano brought to the Mariners goes far beyond statistics. His leadership, experience and all-star presence has spread throughout the entire team. Money well spent.
Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
BEST RELIEF PITCHER
Hands down, Fernando Rodney is the best closer in the game. He successfully closed a league leading 48 saves out of 52 opportunities. Those numbers broke the Mariners single season record for saves and tied his career best.
The road was not an easy one. Many would consider Rodney’s ninth inning heroics more like a daily heart attack. He finished the year with 2.85 ERA and 76 strike outs in only 66.1 innings pitched. His WHIP was more like a STROKE sitting at 1.34 WHIP, but he did end up getting the job done in the long run.
Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
SLEEPER PICK OF THE YEAR
Kyle Seager may not have been ranked high going into the season, but he sure ended as one of the best fantasy baseball third basemen in the game.
To say he was a sleep pick this year, would be an understatement. Going into 2014, Seager carried an average draft pick of 140. By the end of this season, the Mariners third basemen finished the year ranked number 54 overall. This lands him as the 7th best third basemen in the game.
Seager had the best year of his career, and his statistics prove it among all five scoring categories. He currently holds a .270 BA (Career Best). He has smashed 25 HR (Career Best). And he has driven in 96 RBI (Career Best). The future for the Mariners looks bright, and we can all expect third base to be locked down for years to come.