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

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Jun 5, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) reacts to grounding out with the bases loaded to end the seventh inning while Tampa Bay Rays catcher Bobby Wilson (46) looks on at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to another edition of the Mariners Market, and I’m incredibly sorry for those who are deeply invested in this market like I am myself. I deem this week to be the Great Depression of the Mariners Market, as the M’s have just about crashed. But hey, I guess the good news is that it can only go up from here? Heck, who knows, but for all those who bought into this team in the off-season like I did, they, like me, are paying the price now.

The Mariners had one of the most disappointing weeks that I can recall in quite some time, not only because of their performance, but the magnitude of this week if they wanted to turn it around. They finished off this abysmal week by going 1-6, getting swept by the Yankees and salvaging one of four against the Tampa Bay Rays thanks to Felix Hernandez and Austin Jackson.

I could make you relive this week, but in order for me to do that, I’d have to relive it and I just simply don’t want to. So instead, I’ll give you a couple nuggets from this past week that summarizes their issues.

In the last seven days, the M’s have taken over or kept last place in these statistical categories:

Only 195 runs scored and 181 RBIs (AL)

A batting average (.212) and on base percentage (.301) with runners in scoring position (AL)

Only 130 runs scored with runners in scoring position (MLB)

Only 150 total bases with runners in scoring position (AL)

Only 117 RBIs with Runners in scoring position (MLB, next worst is Philadelphia with 134)

Simply put, this team can’t hit. But, without any further wait, I’ll get to the individual performances in the past week, including who’s hot and who’s not, as well as a move I would love to see the Mariners make.

Next: Austin Jackson

Jun 6, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Austin Jackson (16) runs around the bases after hitting a solo-homer against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Up: Austin Jackson

Hello Austin Jackson, how ya been? It’s beautiful to have you being the player the M’s thought they were going to get at the trade deadline last year. He was on my “stock down” last week, and he’s the only hitter worth buying into this week. He’s hitting .429 on the week, but more impressively he’s got four doubles, a triple, and a homerun. He’s scored twice in the past seven days, and while that doesn’t sound impressive, if you take into account that the M’s only have 15 runs the past seven days, that’s pretty good.

Austin Jackson has been getting on base for the 2-3-4 hitters to do some damage, but they just haven’t gotten it done. You can blame a ton of people for this 1-6 week, but Austin Jackson simply isn’t one of them.

Next: Robinson Cano

Jun 5, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) adjusts his jersey after grounding out to end the seventh inning with the bases loaded against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Down: Robinson Canó

I’m just going to keep picking on him until he turns this around, because his performance this year has been pitiful. He’s 4-for-31 (.129) in the past seven days, and has no extra base hits. I don’t know what to attribute it to at this point, because you can’t put it on him “pressing”, I just don’t buy that. What it looks like is he’s simply rolling that right wrist of his, causing him to ground out to the right side as he has done so much recently.

Look, there is no denying that this team is going to go as Robinson Cano goes. And with his worst week of the season, the M’s have theirs, and that is simply no coincidence. Lloyd McClendon has tried to do everything to get him going, giving him some rest like he did today against the Rays ace in Chris Archer, and moving him from the three hole to the two hole.

Whatever the case may be, the M’s better hope this is just an extended slump, because if this is the start of a decline for Cano only in his second year of his ten year contract, the Mariners be in a world of financial trouble.

Next: Carson Smith

Jun 6, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Mike Zunino (3) shakes hands with pitcher Carson Smith (39) following the final out of a 2-1 Seattle victory against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco Field. Smith earned his first career MLB save in the game. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Up: Carson Smith

M’s fans have been asking, no scratch that, they’ve been pleading for it, and the M’s faithful finally got it as Carson Smith closed out the only M’s victory in the past week. The rookie has been lights out for the Mariners all year, and he hasn’t disappointed in the past week. He’s got a 2.25 ERA in the past week, but in his last three appearances he’s been perfect, allowing no hits or walks to opposing batters. His ERA for the season is just above one, and he has simply given Lloyd McClendon no other choice but to make him the closer. I’ve thought he’d be the closer of the future, but with Fernando Rodney as poor as he has been this year, he is now the closer of the present.

Next: Fernando Rodney

Jun 5, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe (11) jogs around the bases after hitting a solo home run against Seattle Mariners pitcher Fernando Rodney (56) to put the Rays up 1-0 in the ninth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Down: Fernando Rodney

Well, I don’t think this is going to shock anybody, as Fernando Rodney has been absolutely terrible for the Mariners. As incredible as he was last year, Rodney has been equally as bad this year. He’s got an ERA of 6.00 this week, which is actually lower than his season ERA of 6.98. His fastball doesn’t have as much life, and his changeup is constantly being mislocated, and hitters are taking him deep and making him pay. I don’t know what the Mariners are planning to do with him, as a veteran closer doesn’t embrace a demotion very well, but replacing him with Carson Smith was absolutely necessary. I think it’s safe to say that Fernando Rodney has shot his last arrow in Seattle, and maybe in his career.

Next: Mike Montgomery

Jun 7, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Mike Montgomery (37) throws the ball against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fourth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Up: Mike Montgomery

Well, I certainly didn’t expect this from the 25-year-old southpaw, but boy am I pleasantly surprised. If he can keep this up, it looks like the M’s might have actually come away a winner in a trade! The former Tampa Bay Rays prospect has been called up because of James Paxton’s injury, and he was phenomenal this week. He sported a 2.08 ERA after allowing just three runs in thirteen innings.

Monty’s strong showing over the last 7 days may give the M’s some intriguing options come the trade deadline. If the Mariners are sellers, I would look for them to put Hisashi Iwakuma on the trade block (if he can get healthy and pitch well when he comes back) to a contender for a young hitter. If the M’s become buyers they could shop Montgomery and see what they could get in return. Either way, he has been very impressive and has exceeded even the most lofty expectations.

Next: Jack Z

Feb 18, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik speaks to the media during MLB media day at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Down: Jack Zduriencik

I’m going to be honest, I think Jack Zudriencik takes way more blame than he should, because he put together a team this off-season that most thought would contend. At the end of the day, that is all you can do as a GM, and his addition of Nelson Cruz has proven to be phenomenal. But his two trades so far this year have me absolutely fed up. First, he trades away Yoervis Medina for a backup catcher, Welington Castillo. Medina was a guy who was key power arm out of the bullpen the past 2 seasons, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he turns out to be a solid closer in the future. Welington Castillo on the other hand, is a catcher who the M’s have already shipped off in their other trade, a trade to get Mark Trumbo.

Mark Trumbo has had a couple good seasons, especially with the Angels in 2011 when he had 29 HRs and 87 RBIs. But since then he has been an average hitter at best, and someone who strikes out far too much. I also chronicled how the M’s have struggled all year with runners in scoring position, and Mark Trumbo certainly doesn’t help in that category. He’s a .302 hitter so far this year with no runners on, but with runners in scoring position he’s hitting an uninspiring .178, and .063 with RISP and two out. The M’s need players who get on base, not players who can hit one out of the yard every once in a while, but fail to make contact more times than not. He doesn’t fit into the Mariners lineup, and this strikeout prone lineup just became all that much more.

Next: Stock Trader

Sep 23, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pinch hitter Franklin Gutierrez (21) rounds 3rd base after hitting a solo home run against the Kansas City Royals during the 8th inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Trader: Call Up Franklin Gutierrez, DFA Rickie Weeks

Franklin Gutierrez is a name all M’s fans know, and he warrants a call-up from Tacoma after tearing up the Pacific Coast League this season. Rickie Weeks has been abysmal for the Mariners, but I am sure that the 32-year-old feels like he has plenty of good baseball left in him. I have trouble believing that, as he is 0-for-8 this week, and has shown no signs of life all year. Gutierrez on the other hand, he’s been phenomenal.

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