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Mariners Weekly Rundown: Who’s Hot & Who’s Not
The Seattle Mariners went 3-3 this week and are tied for third place in the American League West, just 1.5 games behind the Texas Rangers for top spot.
For the second consecutive week, the Seattle Mariners were a difficult team to predict. The M’s won two games at the start of the week to run their losing streak to 5 games. It was doom and gloom in the Emerald City, but Seattle ended the week winning 3 of 4 and sit just 2 games under .500 midway through April.
The week began with a pair of losses to the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field. The M’s dropped the series opener 7-3, and they were laughed out of the stadium losing 8-0 on Tuesday night. However, Seattle won the series finale 4-2 thanks to a Dae-ho Lee walk-off two-run homer. Many fans in Seattle were ready to waive the white flag on the 2016 season, but the players in the Mariners clubhouse showed plenty of fight this past Wednesday.
The dramatic win over the Rangers on Wednesday gave the Mariners a much needed confidence boost, and they carried that momentum into their weekend series in New York against the Yankees. The M’s took the first two games of the set by a combined score of 10-3. Seattle fell 4-3 in the series finale on Sunday, but it was encouraging to see them play so well.
Overall, the Mariners went 3-3 this week and sit tied for third place in the American League West. Seattle scored an average of 3.33 runs per game, and allowed an average of 4 runs per game.
Now that we have covered how the team fared this week, it is time to focus on which Mariners stood out. We will begin by discussing Nelson Cruz, who had a very productive week at the plate for Seattle.
Next: Cruz is Cruising
Cruz is Cruising
Nelson Cruz surpassed even the most hopeful expectations during his debut season in Seattle last year, and he was once again one of the M’s most productive hitters this week. The 35-year-old went 8 for 24, good for a .333 batting average across 6 games. Cruz doubled five times, homered once and drove in 4 runs. He struck out twice and walked 3 times this week.
Cruz is off to a fine start in 2016 with Seattle, slashing .277/.358/.532 in 47 at bats. He has 6 doubles, 2 home runs and 5 RBI through the first two weeks of the season. The M’s need Cruz to keep hitting if they hope to contend this season, and his start has been very promising.
Next: Seager Disbelievers?
Seager Disbelievers?
Kyle Seager had a miserable week at the plate, going 2 for 20 and posting a .100/.217/.150 slash line. Seags hit 1 double and scored 3 runs, but he failed to connect on any home runs or drive in any runs. He struck out 3 times and worked a pair of free passes. The former gold glover also committed his second error of the season at the hot corner.
The All-Star third baseman is having a tough time offensively through the first couple weeks of the season. Seager is hitting a meager .119 with 2 doubles, 1 home run and 5 RBI across 11 games. He has registered a .245 on base percentage and slugged .238 in 42 at bats. Also, his .917 fielding percentage is the worst mark on the team.
Seager remains one of the top players on the Mariners, but his start has been underwhelming at best. Hopefully he can turn things around in the near future.
Next: King Felix is Royally Good
King Felix is Royally Good
Felix Hernandez had a historic week for the Seattle Mariners. The 30-year-old right-hander went 1-0 while registering a 0.75 ERA across 2 outings. He struck out 14 and walked 8 through 12 innings. The making history part came this weekend against the Yankees when he tied Randy Johnson for the most strikeouts in Mariners history.
Hernandez is having a bit of funny season thus far. He is 1-1 with a 1.00 ERA through 3 starts, but his 20:13 strikeout to walk ratio is far worse than his career average. The opposition is hitting just .138 against the King in 2016, but he is allowing 1.22 walks/hits per inning. Felix has had trouble locating his pitches, but he has done a nice job working out of danger.
I expect Hernandez to be even more dominant once he gets his command issues sorted out.
Next: Miley's Struggles Continue
Miley Continues to Struggle with Seattle
Wade Miley was roughed up in his lone start this week against the Texas Rangers. The veteran southpaw allowed 6 runs to cross the plate through 6 innings of work en route to earning his first loss as a Mariner. He struck out 7 and walked 0, but Texas hit .400 off Miley.
This week’s outing was the second consecutive poor showing for Miley against the Rangers. On the season, he is 0-1 with a team worst 8.25 ERA. Miley’s 14:0 strikeout to walk ratio is perfect, but the opposition is hitting .340 against him in 12 innings. This leads one to believe that his pitches are catching far too much of the plate this year.
The bearded hurler has had trouble with the big inning through his first two starts, and hopefully he can get on track against the Cleveland Indians this Tuesday.
Next: Dae-ho means Walk-off in Korean
Dae-ho means “Walk-off” in Korean
The Mariners signed Dae-ho Lee this offseason after he spent 15 seasons in Asia to platoon with Adam Lind at first base, and Lee is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Seattle. He went 3 for 9 this week with 1 home run and 2 RBI in 5 games. The rotund slugger’s walk-off homer was arguably the biggest hit of the season for the M’s, and hopefully will viewed as the turning point come October.
Lee has done a decent job through his first two weeks in the Major Leagues, slashing .250/.294/.625 in 9 games. He has homered twice and driven in 3 runs. Lee has shown plenty of power, but hopefully he will show more patience as the season progresses. He has yet to work a walk across 16 at bats in 2016.
Next: Marte's a Partay-Pooper
Marte is a bit of a Partay-Pooper
Ketel Marte continued to struggle at the plate this week for the Seattle Mariners. The electrifying youngster posted a .200/.238/.200 slash line across 20 at bats. Marte failed to tally an extra-base hit and did not drive in any runs. His 7 strikeouts were second worst on the team this week, and he nursed just 1 free pass.
The 22-year-old shortstop was fun to watch last season, but he is off to a slow start in 2016. Marte is hitting just .195 with 1 RBI, 1 stolen base and 3 runs scored in 11 games. He has whiffed 9 times and walked twice in 41 at bats. He has also committed a pair of errors, and has a disappointing .953 fielding percentage.
It was a rough week for Ketel, but he did show signs of life on the base paths. The speedster stole a base, and scored all the way from first on a Robinson Cano single to center field on Saturday in New York. Marte was moving on the pitch, but few players in the game have the wheels and base running ability to score on a play like that.
Next: Cishek gets First Save of the Year for Seattle
Cishek gets First Save of the Year for Seattle
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Steve Cishek had a great week for the Seattle Mariners, hurling 4 shutout innings and recording his first save of the season. He struck out 4 and walked 1 through 3 appearances. The opposition hit just .143 against Cishek this week, and he allowed just 0.75 walks/hits per inning.
There were high hopes for Cishek when he signed with Seattle this offseason, but also some trepidation. M’s fans have been burnt badly by closers in the past, and Cishek had his worst season as a pro in 2014. However, he has done well so far with the Mariners, going 1-1 with 1 save and a 1.5o ERA.
Unlike Fernando Rodney, Steve Cishek throws strikes consistently. Sometimes the other team is going to hit what you’re throwing, but at least Cishek doesn’t beat himself.
Next: Monty Disappoints
Monty Disappoints
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- 2023 Steamer Projections: Teoscar Hernandez could see a drop in Seattle
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It was not a good week for Mike Montgomery. The 26-year-old southpaw allowed 4 runs on 6 hits across 2 appearances this week. Monty struck out 1 and walked 2 through 3 innings of work. The opposition hit .429 against him, and he allowed 2.29 walks/hits per inning.
Montgomery’s issues this week were surprising given the fact that he hurled 3 shutout frames last week for Seattle. Overall, Montgomery has registered a 6.00 ERA through 4 appearances this season. He has struck out 6 and walked 3 in 6 innings.
I’ve always been a fan of Monty’s game, but he needs to step it up this week if he hopes to stay with the Mariners in 2016.
Next: Karns Dominates Yankees
Karns Dominates Yankees
Nate Karns had a rough first outing with the Mariners last week, but he rebounded in a big way on Friday night against the Yankees. The 28-year-old right-hander earned his first win of the season after allowing 1 run on 5 hits through 5 innings. He struck out 7 and walked 4 in his only start of the week.
The Texas Tech alum is now 1-1 on the season with a 4.50 ERA through 2 starts. Karns has struck out 13 and walked 5 in 10 innings. The opposition is hitting .293 off him, and he has allowed 1.70 walks/hits per inning.
Next: King Felix Ties Randy Johnson on M’s All-Time K List
Karns has not been great this season for Seattle, but hopefully this week’s outing will get him going in the right direction.