Mariners Weekly Rundown: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not

The Seattle Mariners were slightly bipolar this past week. It all began with an exhilarating series victory against the Rangers in Texas, and ended with a nauseating series sweep at home against the lowly Oakland A’s. Tonight we will take a closer look at which players stood out over the past 7 days.

Seattle dropped the season opener last Monday against the Rangers, but responded with two consecutive wins to take the series. The Mariners scored with ease against the defending AL West champs, tallying 21 runs across the three games. The series finale last Wednesday featured a remarkable 9th inning comeback that resulted in the M’s winning the game and the series.

The Mariners appeared to build plenty of momentum in Arlington, but that feeling vanished once the team plane touched down at Sea-Tac. The M’s were generous hosts to the visiting A’s, as Seattle let Oakland do whatever they wanted to on the weekend. Oakland swept the Mariners, and Seattle never scored more than 2 runs in a single game.

We will begin this slideshow by taking a closer look at the week Felix Hernandez had.

Next: King Felix reigns supreme

The King is Back!

Felix Hernandez did not get off to a phenomenal start on Opening Day against the Rangers. The 30-year-old right-hander allowed 3 runs (1 earned) on 1 hit with 6 strikeouts and 5 walks across 6 innings of work. However, Hernandez rebounded nicely against the A’s on Sunday. King Felix blanked Oakland through 7 innings while allowing 3 hits, striking out 10 and walking 2.

Overall, Hernandez finished the week with a record of 0-1 and a 0.69 ERA. He recorded 16 strikeouts and issued 7 free passes. Hernandez has allowed 0.85 walks/hits per inning and he has limited the opposition to a measly .089 batting average. Those are downright filthy figures for King Felix.

Felix’s fast start is especially encouraging when you consider that 2015 was not his best season. Hernandez registered an impressive record of 18-9, but his 3.53 ERA was his worst mark since 2007. Hopefully the M’s ace can stay hot this season, as his ability to get hitters out will play a huge role in the overall success of the franchise.

Next: A-Bomb? More like A-Dud

Lindy Flop

Adam Lind has a long track record of success in the big leagues, and he was acquired to be a run producer in the middle of the Mariners order in 2016. However, that has been more of a hypothetical theory through the first week of the season.

The 32-year-old first baseman has gone 1 for his first 15 in 2016, good (or bad) for a .067 batting average. Lind has yet to drive in a run this season for Seattle. Worst of all, he has struck out 6 times and has not nursed any walks, meaning his OBP is a disturbing .067.

Lind is a career .273 hitter, and I fully expect him to get it going. There is a mythical curse about Safeco Field killing good hitters, but I don’t think Adam buys into that too much. He is in a contract year, and there are millions of reasons for Lind to be motivated in 2016.

Next: The 'Cano Show' is worth the price of admission

Robbie Puts 2015 in the Rearview Mirror

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Robinson Cano is off to a remarkable start for the Mariners in 2016. The superstar second baseman is only hitting .240 through the first 6 games, but he has clubbed 4 home runs and driven in 7 runs. He has also posted a .296 on base percentage and slugged .760 in 25 at bats.

The 33-year-old got off to a horrific start last season, so it is a huge relief to see him driving the M’s offense in 2016. Cano is a key figure on the field and in the clubhouse for Seattle, and the team will likely only go as far as Robbie takes them. He is finally 100% healthy, and hopefully Cano can stay that way all season.

Next: The Ketel is definitely not boiling hot

Marte’s Rough Start

Someone needs to tell Ketel Marte that spring training has ended, and the games count now. The young shortstop is off to a miserable start, slashing .190/.280/.190 through 21 at bats. Marte has yet to collect an extra-base hit, and has 0 stolen bases on his stat line. He has also played poor defense, committing a pair of errors.

Regardless of his lackluster start, Ketel remains one of the most exciting young players in the organization. He hit .283 as a rookie in 2015, and he has a chance to be special. Marte is a switch-hitter with electrifying speed. I’m still very hopeful he will find his swing in the near future.

Next: Smitty is on fire

Smitty’s hot streak made the trip from Arizona to Seattle

Pitchers simply could not get Seth Smith out this spring in the desert, and that trend has continued during the first week of the regular season. The Ole Miss alum is off to a fine start, hitting .300 with 1 home run and 2 RBI through 5 games. Smitty has registered a .533 on base percentage and slugged .600 across 10 at bats.

The 33-year-old had a steady but unspectacular debut season in the Emerald City in 2015. Smith hit .248 with 12 home runs and 48 RBI last year with Seattle. Obviously those numbers left a little to be desired, but he is a consistent hitter in the bottom third of the M’s lineup.

Hopefully, Smith’s strong start will translate in a career year in 2016.

Next: Karns Stumbles in M's Debut

Karns Stumbles in M’s Debut

The Mariners acquired Nate Karns this past offseason from the Tampa Bay Rays, and the 28-year-old right-hander beat out James Paxton for the final spot in the M’s starting rotation this spring. Unfortunately, things did not go according to plan during his first start with Seattle this weekend.

Karns allowed 4 earned runs on 7 hits across 5 innings of work en route to picking up his first loss of the season against the A’s on Saturday night. He struck out 6 and walked 1. That is a solid strikeout to walk ratio, but the opposition hit .333 against him.

The Texas Tech alum had a decent debut campaign in 2015 with the Rays, and he should be a productive pitcher for the Mariners working out of the bottom of their rotation.

Next: Zych is becoming a force

You can’t Psyche Out Zych

Tony Zych has been showing glimpses early this season of why he is such a highly thought of young hurler. The 25-year-old right-hander has allowed 1 run on 3 hits across his first two appearances. Zych has tallied 6 strikeouts and walked 1 through 4 innings pitched. He has done a nice job limiting mistakes, as the opposition is hitting just .225 off him so far this year.

The Mariners acquired Zych from the Chicago Cubs last season for just $1. He is providing excellent return on investment, and he has the potential to one day serve as the M’s closer. He should see an expanded role as we get closer to the summer months. It will be interesting to see how he develops moving forward.

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There is no “I” in team, but there is one in Iannetta

Chris Iannetta was an under appreciated signing this offseason for Seattle, and the veteran backstop has been remarkably productive at the plate in his brief M’s career. He leads the Mariners with a .364 batting average, and he has slugged 1 home run while driving in 4 runs in 5 games. Iannetta boasts a .533 on base percentage and a .636 slugging percentage in 11 at bats.

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The 33-year-old is known for consistently getting on base, and that skill should be very useful to the Mariners in 2016. Iannetta is fresh off his worst season as a pro, but it’s encouraging to see him putting some good swings on the ball. It’s unlikely he can maintain his high batting average, but hopefully he continues to be a productive member of the Mariners lineup.