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3 Changes the Seattle Mariners Must Make to their Lineup
The Seattle Mariners are dead last in the MLB in team batting average, the only team in the show currently hitting below the Mendoza line. The team also resides at the bottom of the league in other offensive categories like OBP, OPS, and total hits.
Those are the ingredients for a complete disaster offensively, and it’s starting to trend that way now, unfortunately, with four straight losses and counting. Haggerty is hitting .183. Kelenic is hitting .139. Tom Murphy is slashing .133, and Seager has cooled down to a .234 clip.
The fact that this team is still afloat in the American League with their extensive offensive struggles should press the issue even more; Scott Servais needs to make changes to the batting order right now. So, what changes specifically should be made to shake this lineup around and hopefully start to throw this team into a rhythm offensively?
Seattle Mariners Lineup Change #1: Move Jarred Kelenic out of the leadoff spot
Jarred Kelenic led off again in the opener versus the Padres after the travel day. Unfortunately, nothing changed. A lot of credit has been given to Kelenic in the past for his advanced approach in the minor leagues, and rightfully so. But, it’s growing increasingly obvious that Kelenic may take a little bit more time and adjusting to consistently mash big-league pitching.
His hands are lightning-quick, compact, and his swing is incredibly pure. The way he carries himself day-to-day as such a young kid reminds me so much of watching an early-career Bryce Harper from my couch. But Jarred Kelenic is hitting a mere .139 through his first week with only a pair of walks and a home run, and needs to descend down the order in favor of someone who is getting on base and in scoring position consistently.
Given the Mariners’ current offensive issues, it’s understood that there may not be many other options, but it’s time for a change. J.P. Crawford should be given the chance to lead off. It’s pretty puzzling as to why he hasn’t gotten more of an opportunity at the top-of-the-order. He doesn’t strikeout a lot, is one of the fastest and most aggressive baserunners on the team, and he also owns one of the only somewhat respectable slash lines on the team: at .247/.314/.312.
J.P. isn’t hitting for a lot of power at all right now but that is no issue. He has the right approach every at-bat and will attempt to set the table every time the lineup flips over with his patience at the plate.
Seattle Mariners Lineup Change #2: Middle-of-the-order depth
Moving the Gold Glove shortstop to the leadoff spot essentially moves everyone down a spot in the order, creating a feeling of more depth and fullness within the starting lineup. If manager Scott Servais were to follow that with, say, Kelenic, Lewis, Haniger, and Seager, that allows Mitch to hit every day from the cleanup spot with the opportunity to drive in even more runs.
Mitch has been playing like an All-Star so it only seems fitting to have him behind some patient approaches of the three hitters who would theoretically come before him. Protecting Haniger with Seager would carry over the same benefits it already brings, but to a higher degree due to the likelihood of there being runners in scoring position from the four batters prior.
Seager is currently hitting an absurd .467 with runners in scoring position, so we want to see him hit with runners on base as much as we can. Moving him behind guys who can get on base can do that for him.
Mitch Haniger is also doing his part with runners on base. Haniger has a .333 batting average with runners in scoring position along with a 1.084 OPS. Despite not hitting in the typical RBI collecting spots, he leads the Seattle Mariners with 31 RBI.
It is also not to be forgotten that this lineup will grow even deeper with the upcoming returns of Ty France, Evan White, and Jake Fraley.
Seattle Mariners Lineup Change #3: Calling up Cal Raleigh
The offensive production the Mariners have gotten out of their catchers this year has been unfortunately nothing short of embarrassing. The good news is, the Seattle Mariners may have a switch-hitting answer for their issues residing in Tacoma right now.
Related Story. The Seattle Mariners Need to Promote Catcher Cal Raleigh. light
Cal Raleigh has gotten off to an intriguing start for the Tacoma Rainiers. He’s currently slashing .315/.500/.610 with two home runs, eight doubles, 11 RBI’s, and two stolen bases. These numbers are almost begging for the 24-year-old to make his Major League debut as soon as possible. Raleigh held his own against Major League competition this spring, and if he is able to translate those numbers to the majors, that would be a major upgrade.
Raleigh is also looking good behind the plate so far in Tacoma, with a limited sample size of course. He’s thrown out 5-of-13 runners and is yet to make an error or allow a passed ball behind the plate. Offense has always been Raleigh’s calling card, so seeing progress behind the dish after a long offseason and summer camp is very encouraging.
Cal Raleigh will not be in Triple-A much longer if the Mariners’ catchers continue to hit the way they have so far this season. I would like to see him inserted into the lineup much sooner rather than later for the Seattle Mariners.
Next. Mitch Haniger won’t be cheap in a trade. dark