Mariners' J.P. Crawford forced into even deeper slump by umpire's incompetence

The Seattle Mariners have now dropped back-to-back series. While the standings may not reflect full-blown panic, there's no hiding the fact that this team is in the middle of a frustrating offensive funk. Power has been in short supply, timely hits are even scarcer, and one of the most telling signs of the current rut is the slump of shortstop J.P. Crawford.

Crawford, who started the season slowly, had seemingly turned a corner while hitting out of the nine-hole. His approach at the plate improved and his on-base percentage climbed. And shortly after Victor Robles went down with an injury, he was bumped up to the leadoff spot and still continued to show signs that 2025 could be a strong bounce-back campaign.

But lately, the spark has flickered. Since taking over the top of the order, Crawford is slashing just .227/.330/.320. His bat has cooled and his timing has been off. Like a good chunk of the Mariners’ lineup, he is struggling to find consistent rhythm. Normally, Seattle is a team that stays level-headed — rarely reacting publicly to adversity. But Thursday night, Crawford let the frustrations boil over.

Frankly, it may have been exactly what the Mariners needed.

Mariners' patience wearing thin as J.P. Crawford unloads on umpire

In a game marred by inconsistent umpiring, the tipping point came in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs and a runner on, Crawford took a fastball from Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore — a pitch that missed the strike zone by what appeared to be a full foot. Somehow, it was called strike three. Crawford, usually composed, erupted. He turned to the umpire and unleashed a tirade that earned him an immediate ejection. And he didn’t stop there.

Crawford continued the verbal barrage, delivering what could only be described as a scorched-earth exit. So much so that if there was any soul left in the home plate umpire afterwards, it didn’t show. For a team that usually plays it close to the vest, this was a flash of raw, unapologetic emotion — and it was impossible to ignore.

The frustration wasn’t limited to Crawford. The umpiring was a story all night, with both dugouts expressing their displeasure. Nationals reliever Jorge López and Mariners slugger Rowdy Tellez both had pointed words for the strike zone in the same at-bat in the seventh inning. By the end of the game, it was clear that the umpire was losing control, and the players were done holding their tongues.

Yet, in all the chaos, there was a pulse — something that’s been hard to find in past Mariners’ struggles.

This isn’t a call for the Mariners to start racking up ejections. But it is a sign that this team isn’t content to sleepwalk through a slump. Between Crawford’s fire, manager Dan Wilson’s own ejection in the previous series, and a roster full of players who know they’re capable of more, Seattle is showing a different kind of edge. They’re not here to play it safe or just ride things out. They’re here to compete, to claw, and to hold themselves and the opposition accountable.

For a team fighting preparing to stay in the postseason conversation, maybe this moment will flip the switch. The Mariners don’t need a meltdown. They need a wake-up call. And J.P. Crawford just might have delivered it.