Mariners Lose 5 Straight: Glaring Weakness Exposed

The Seattle Mariners and their fans knew this road trip would be tough. We expected some hard fought games. We expected a heartbreak or two. But this streak has exposed a major problem that must be addressed.

The Mariners bullpen is good. Particularly against mediocre competition. However, against the best of the best, IE playoff teams, they are a unit in desperate need of help. Manager Scott Servais has done a poor job of putting his pen in a position to succeed.

But Servais is unlikely to just get magically better (or competent) at bullpen management. If this is the case, then GM Jerry Dipoto has only 1 choice: he needs to give his team a bullpen that is idiot proof.

He already has made strides in this direction, adding Alex Colome a month ago. James Pazos has been outstanding and Edwin Diaz‘s numbers speak for themselves.

However, Colome has struggled of late. The off-season signing of Juan Nicasio has been a major whiff thus far. Nick Vincent has been his usual solid self but has no business entering a game to face JD Martinez in his first outing off the DL.

Seattle has now used Nick Rumbelow 3 times in 4 games. Rumbelow is coming off an extended DL stint, and Servais has really pushed the limits with him. The Mariners have the pieces to have a nice little bullpen.

However, against the elite teams of the American League, nice isn’t good enough. The Mariners need to add impact arms to their bullpen and have no reason not to act ASAP.

The Mariners still find themselves in a great position to make the playoffs for the first time in 16 years. However, if they want to do more than get a 1 game appearance, they have to act. There is no shortage of options for Dipoto to choose from.

We have written profiles on several such arms, including Brad Hand, Kirby Yates, and John Axford. Thus far, the market has been extremely favorable to teams buying bullpen arms. Both Alex Colome and Kelvin Herrera have gone for less than impressive packages.

The Mariners have the prospects and payroll flexibility to give Scott Servais something he might be able to handle: a bullpen filled with closer-quality arms. Between Pazos, Diaz, and Colome, Dipoto doesn’t have far to go. Adding a pitcher like Yates, along with a high-leverage lefty, could give the Mariners a bullpen that can compete in the playoffs.

Speaking of the playoffs, the Mariners are almost certainly going to be headed to Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium. As we have seen, the Mariners bullpen has struggled to pitch in the smaller parks.

Assuming they get by the Wild Card game, they will head to the other AL East teams park for at least 2 more games. And even if you manage to win that series, the Houston Astros likely loom in the ALCS.

Next: Mariners Trade a Day: Danny Duffy

3 hitter paradises in the playoffs. 3 teams with deeper lineups than you. And 3 teams with better pitching staffs than you. The evidence is clear and overwhelming: the Mariners need to add impact, high-leverage arms. If for no other reason, than to protect Scott Servais from himself.