Mariners Analysis: Who's Hot and Who's Not

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May 30, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Roenis Elias (head down) gets pulled in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to week three of the Mariners market, where I will be discussing how the Mariners have preformed this past week, who’s stock is rising, as well as who’s stock is falling. And at the end, I will discuss one trade that I would like to see the Mariners make between either their affiliates, or another organization.

Well, week three of the Mariners Market brought the same thing that the past 50 games have brought, up and down baseball with right around .500 baseball. The M’s went 4-3 this week, starting off the week by ending their road trip with a very nice three game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays. They then came home and gave those games right back by losing three of four to the Cleveland Indians. The Mariners came into this week seven games back of the Houston Astros, sitting in third place in the AL West. This week they are finding themselves 6½ games back, but now stand in fourth place as the Texas Rangers have jumped them.

But, without further ado, the Mariners Market is all about individual performances,I’ll look into who’s been hot for the Mariners in the past week, and who has not. Also, make sure to check out the proposed trade at the end, it includes a very familiar name!

Be sure to cast your vote on the final slide regarding if you think the M’s should make that trade, I’m very interested!

Next: Seth Smith

May 29, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners designated hitter Seth Smith (7) is greeted in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Cleveland Indians during the sixth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Up: Seth Smith

Seth Smith has been a steady presence in the M’s lineup, and has had a bigger impact than what the M’s faithful could’ve asked for. On the year he is hitting .261 with five HRs and 13 RBIs. But, in his last seven days he picked that up a little bit. He has been hitting a nice .286 (8-for-28) for the Mariners, but more importantly, of his eight hits, four of them have been doubles, and one of those eight is also a home run. He also sports three RBIs as well as three walks in the past week, and has been patient for the Mariners in the two hole spot.

One other stat worth noting for Seth Smith, is that when he is on base he is finding ways to score. Of his eleven times on base in the past week (eight base hits and three walks) he has scored five of those times. I think you can attribute that to his four doubles this week and his .536 slugging % in the past week.

Next: James Paxton

May 23, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher James Paxton (65) delivers a pitch against Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Down: James Paxton

Well, sometimes you just can’t catch a break and it seems to be one of those years for the Mariners. First, Hisashi Iwakuma going down was a blow to this starting rotation, but I would argue that losing Paxton to the DL is a bigger blow. Paxton stock was rising after last week, he had two dominant outings, one against the Red Sox where he went eight innings while giving up no runs and allowing just five hits. Then he went back to his homeland of Canada, and pitched six solid innings against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Pax looked to continue his hot streak against the Cleveland Indians this week, but was only able to pitch 4 2/3 innings before going down with a finger injury that has landed him on the 15 day DL. In that start, he didn’t pitch great either as he gave up four runs, three earned, and eight hits. But, like I said earlier, I think this is a bigger blow to the Mariners than when they lost Iwakuma because of the timing.

Their pitching rotation is already stretched thin, and when Paxton was just starting to heat up, they have to put him on the shelf and let him recover. This was a huge blow to the Mariners, and hopefully Paxton can recover quickly and get back to the M’s shortly.

Next: Logan Morrison

May 27, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Seattle Mariners first baseman Logan Morrison (20) singles during the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Up: Logan Morrison

Well, LoMo is back in the Mariners Market, and I think you’ll see him here a lot the rest of the year because he is such a streaky hitter. Thankfully for the Mariners, his stock has been going up in the past week. In the past week he has raised his season average from a poor .220 to a more respectable .240, hitting .360 this week with nine hits and four walks. While his power numbers aren’t there, with all of his hits this week being singles, the M’s quite frankly just need to get players on base and LoMo is doing that for them. When he is hitting, this lineup is exponentially better and tougher for pitchers to pitch to.

If the M’s can get Robinson Canó, Nelson Cruz, Kyle Seager, and Logan Morrison going all at the same time, I think you’re talking about the best middle of the order in the AL West, and one of the best in baseball. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened yet this year, but hopefully as LoMo is getting hot and Seager and Cano showing some life, maybe we can see that in the near future.

Next: Austin Jackson

May 30, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Austin Jackson (right) reacts to getting tagged out at second base by Cleveland Indians shortstop Jose Ramirez (11) in the first inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Down: Austin Jackson

Austin Jackson just came back this week, being called up from Triple A as he finished his rehab stint. He hit exceptionally well down there in Triple A Tacoma, hitting .310 with a couple doubles. But since being back with the Mariners at the beginning of the Tampa Bay Rays series, he just hasn’t put it together. He’s hitting a frustrating .214 (6-for-28) with no extra base hits and just one RBI. I was hoping and expecting for Austin Jackson to come in and provide a boost for the M’s at the top of the order, but he just hasn’t done it. He hasn’t been the player he was with the Detroit Tigers, and the M’s need him to recapture his form. It’s imperative that the M’s get that table setter at the top of the lineup, someone who can start off the game right and get things going, and Austin Jackson needs to be that guy.

Next: Charlie Furbush

May 30, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Charlie Furbush (41) throws out a pitch in the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Up: Charlie Furbush

Charlie Furbush had a good week, going a strong 2 1/3 innings pitched while giving up just one hit. And while those numbers don’t seem too impressive because of the small sample size in innings pitched, if you take into consideration the month that Charlie Furbush put together, he is well overdue for his first showing on the Mariners Market.

In the month of May, he pitched seven innings out of the bullpen giving up just one hit. Let me say that again, in a month he gave up just one hit! He’s got a 1.42 ERA on the year, and the last time he gave up a run was April 21^st against Houston. He’s been as good as you could possibly be out of the bullpen, and I would love to see Lloyd McClendon go to him more. I know Furbush is known to be a lefty on lefty specialist, but anytime you go a whole calendar month without giving up a run, and just one hit, I think you have to be rewarded for your efforts.

Plus, right-handed hitters are actually hitting worse off Charlie Furbush this year than lefties are. Righties are hitting just .100 (2-for-20) off of him, where lefties are hitting .160 (4-for-25) off of him. Charlie has been phenomenal, and he needs to see his role increased as he had a phenomenal month of May.

Next: Chris Taylor

May 24, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Seattle Mariners shortstop Chris Taylor (1) hits a single in the fifth inning against Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Down: Chris Taylor

Well, Chris Taylor was given a chance to be the M’s everyday shortstop once he got healthy and came off the DL, but he hasn’t been able to put it together. He’s 0-for-12 in the past week, and that usually gets you sent down. The Mariners’ have given him plenty of opportunities, but he hasn’t been able to take the bull by the horns and leave his mark.

Mike Montgomery is about to be called up to pitch on Tuesday (if all the speculation is to be true) and with Chris Taylor still having some minor league options left, I think you’ll see him sent down. Hopefully he can find his swing a little bit in Triple A and come up sooner rather than later, but the University of Virginia alum obviously hasn’t been the guy the Mariners’ hoped he would in 2015.

Next: Stock Trader

May 27, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Miami Marlins pinch hitter Ichiro Suzuki (51) at bat against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the ninth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Trader: Dustin Ackley for Ichiro Suzuki

Imagine an Ichiro Suzuki reunion in Seattle, and imagine the type of energy that would bring to Safeco Field. I know it seems like a pipe dream, as he was an absolute fan favorite in Seattle, but I think it makes a lot of sense for both the Marlins and the Mariners.

The Miami Marlins sit at 21-30, currently 8.5 back from the Washington Nationals. Meanwhile, the M’s still sit just 6.5 games back, but more importantly, they are chasing a team in the Houston Astros that I just don’t believe can keep this up. The Marlins aren’t quite ready to sell and call it a lost season, so I wouldn’t look for a trade like this to happen this week, but if the Fish are unable to turn things around, I don’t see why this trade could not happen.

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