Mariners Mid-Season Report Card

Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Left Field: Seth Smith, Grade: A

Seth Smith has received 94% of his plate appearances against right handed pitching.  That’s good.  That played to his strengths and enabled him to put up 1.7 WAR in the first half.  That ranks as 4^th best among AL left fielders (where he has amassed most of his playing time).  His defense isn’t great, but he more than makes up for it with his bat.

Center Field: Austin Jackson, Grade: C+

Austin Jackson’s .9 WAR ranks 14^th among AL center fielders.  His bat has been sub-par, but his defense has been his saving grace ranking 3^rd among his peers in the outfield.

Right Field: Nelson Cruz, Grade: A

Nelson Cruz’s game is all about his bat.  But that hasn’t stopped the M’s from running him out to take the majority of the reps in right field.  And luckily for us the value of his bat has far outpaced his deficiencies in the field.

Overall Grade: B+

Now let’s take a gander at the King and his retinue.

Next: Starting Rotation