Should Mariners Fans Be Worried About Hisashi Iwakuma’s Control?

Last season, the Mariners saw a steep decline in starter, Hisashi Iwakuma’s, control. After his spring training, it appears that he may be in for similar walk and WHIP totals to 2016.

During his 2013 Mariners season where he finished 3rd place finish in the AL Cy Young voting, Iwakuma began to show off his masterful control.

His BB/9 (1.72) was the 3rd lowest in the American League and his WHIP (1.01) was the 2nd lowest in the AL that year.

That kind of success with those numbers was just the beginning of would be some of the most accurate throwing in the game.

In 2014, Iwakuma dropped his BB/9 to 1.06 which was good for the 2nd best in all of baseball. It also helped his WHIP stay near 1.00 -it would finish at 1.05.

The following season he kept up these spectacular figures despite an early season lat muscle injury. His BB/9 were slightly higher at 1.46, but his WHIP was on par with the last two years at 1.06.

Related Story: Is There A Mariners World Without Hisashi Iwakuma?

In each of those three seasons, there was a strong correlation between Iwakuma’s spring numbers at Mariners camp and his numbers during the regular season.

In 2013 and 2015 when Iwakuma pitched during the spring -it should be noted that in 2013 he also skipped the WBC to work on his craft-  he posted WHIPs of 1.03 and 1.05 respectively.

This past season there was a huge drop off when it came to BB/9 and WHIP. His BB/9 was over 2.00 for the first time since his rookie campaign in 2012 (2.08) and his WHIP was much higher sitting in at .133 which was 52nd best in the league that year.

More from SoDo Mojo

• 2023 Steamer Projections: Teoscar Hernandez could see a drop in Seattle
• Could the Mariners Acquire AL Batting Champion, Luis Arraez?
• Steamer Projections: Julio Rodriguez to enter rarified air in 2023
• What if the Mariners traded FOR Tyler O’Neill this time?
• Mariners starting pitching is being overlooked by MLB

During a very short -12 innings- spring season in 2016, Iwakuma’s WHIP 1.67 which is the highest it has ever been.

Having skipped the WBC this year and gotten to spring camp earlier than all other pitchers, the presumption would be that Iwakuma would have more time to work with the pitching staff to hone his craft and bounce back from a subpar season.

Despite his efforts from early February on, his 2017 spring numbers would some of his worst ever. This was the first spring that Iwakuma didn’t have an outing in which he didn’t give up a hit or a walk.

He walked at least one batter in four of his six contests and two of those times he allowed more than one free pass, today’s outing being the worst (four walks). Because of those four walks and three hits he surrendered today versus the Los Angeles Dodgers, his WHIP finished at it’s highest mark ever in spring camp (1.75).

Next: Mariners Ace Just Finished His Best Spring Ever

If this four-year trend continues, Iwakuma is in for a long 2017. A year in which the Mariners arguably need him to perform at his best more than ever.