Mariners Anaylsis: Despite Sweep, M’s Still in Good Spot

Relax Mariners’ fans, it was only one series.

Don’t tear up your crisp new “Northwest Green” Robinson Cano jersey quite yet. Don’t unsubscribe to ROOT Sports NW or MLB.TV either. Yes, the Mariners were just swept at home by one of the worst teams in the American League but it’s just that…one series.

We were feeling pretty good a few days ago coming off a sweep of the Rays. Letting every series get us really high or really low is bad for our blood pressure. That could take years off of you, let’s simmer down.

The Mariners are still in a good spot, five games above .500 and just 1/2 game out of 1st place to a hot Rangers team. Just three of their next 16 games are against a team with a winning record (which is this week against the Baltimore Orioles). They have an off day on Monday, a 6-game road trip and then it’s back home to Safeco to play three teams in or near the cellar in their respective divisions.

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The M’s sit at 21-16. At this point in the season last year, they were 17-20, four games worse. The Mariners have been playing so well that they gave themselves a bit of a cushion for a slide such like this. Scott Servais even said before this series, “Now, are we going to lose four or five in a row again? Yes…that happens. But this is also the type of team that can win eight in a row. Because of our pitching. That’s the way you win series and put streaks together” per The News Tribune. I doubt he wanted to prophesy the outcome of the pending series but it’s clear he is running the ship with an even keel.

If the players aren’t panicking, we shouldn’t either. Felix Hernandez looked like vintage Felix on Sunday, going 7 1/3 and allowing one run until the 8th inning when he allowed two more runs as he struck out 9. The M’s are still in the middle of the pack in hitting, which is a lot better than being  rock bottom like 2015. They are fourth in the MLB in home runs and 5th in two-out home runs.

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• Taylor Trammell Could Provide Impact to 2023 Mariners
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• What Jerry Dipoto’s trades, comments mean for remainder of Mariners offseason

Despite the collective hiccup that was this weekend, the Mariners bullpen is still 6th in the majors in ERA and number one in batting average against.

These are not the 2015 Mariners. Say it with me, perhaps grab a mirror and look yourself in the eyes, “These are not last year’s Mariners.” They have proven time and time against that they are not. Every team stumbles. Last season the Royals got swept in September by the lowly White Sox at home. This season the Cubs lost a series at home to the San Diego Padres. It’s a long season.

Next: M’s Out-Dueled For Sweep in 3-0 Loss

The Mariners have just finished playing 16 games in 17 days and get a well earned and needed day off before starting another series in Baltimore.