3 moments that may have cost the Mariners a chance at the 2024 postseason

Julio Rodriguez with a costly baserunning mistake

While the entirety of the 2024 season will be focused on the Mariners dominance on the mound and the absolutely putrid performance from an offense that couldn't live up to expectations, the team still had every opportunity in the final weeks to stake their claim atop the AL West. Yet, mental mistakes will highlight a team that is in desperate need of some veteran leadership. This team is just too young and inexperienced in big time games and could use more battle-tested guys, like Justin Turner.

That youth and inexperience was on full display in a pivotal series against the New York Yankees last week. Robles, who was a large part of the Nationals 2019 World Series team, has struggled to stick as a regular contributor despite his surge with the M's in 2024. He made a big baserunning mistake in the first game of this series that exemplified this team's biggest weakness.

However, it was no comparison to Julio Rodriguez's laughable and infuriating, baserunning blunder. In extra innings, a Cal Raleigh leadoff single with Rodriguez on second base set the Mariners up with a key chance to at least tie the game. With Arozarena up and runners on the corners, the veteran struck out swinging and the bat flew out of his hands, in the direction of Rodriguez, who was taking a lead off third base. The errant lumber sent the former Rookie of the Year strolling towards the Yankees dugout as he avoided the bat, and it immediately drew the attention of Jazz Chisolm Jr. and catcher Austin Wells.

Wells fired the ball down to Chisholm, who called for it when he saw Rodriguez asleep at the wheel. The Yankees applied the tag, and just like that, the Mariners went from runners on the corners with nobody out to a runner on first with two outs. The lost by one.

One move short...as always

In one of the most pivotal offseasons in recent memory, Jerry Dipoto had no shame in shaking up this roster like we have never seen before. The offense had new starters in every position except catcher, shortstop and centerfield.

He had to get extremely creative in building a competent offense with what sounded like a last-minute budget cut from Mariners ownership. Like the offseason before, it seemed like the Mariners offense had improved, but many fans were hoping and expecting just one more move — one that would push this team over the top and make them a true World Series contender.

As the 2024 season got underway, it was evident that this offense wasn't going to cut it. The additions of Jorge Polanco, Luis Urias, Mitch Haniger and Mitch Garver were all complete duds, while Luke Raley added an up-and-down slugger (though he has proven to be one of their better bats).

As the trade deadline approached, it seemed like the team needed to go and get a few bats: a middle-of-the-order outfielder, a solid first baseman, and a viable third baseman. Dipoto added Arozarena and Justin Turner before stating that the offense was "meaningfully better than we were a week ago." While that may have been true on paper, they were still relying on Josh Rojas at third base, a struggling Jorge Polanco, and a DH grouping of Garver and Haniger.

It quickly became obvious that this offense wasn't "meaningfully better" as the month of August was quite literally the same as the previous 110 games. The offense was still bottom 10 in runs per game. Their 98 wRC+ in August put them behind teams like the Tigers, Nationals, Marlins, and right there with the Pirates. Unacceptable.

The additions of Arozarena and Turner were solid as both have been key contributors down the stretch, but just like the previous trade deadlines and offseasons, they were one or two moves short of really getting to where they need to be, and it likely cost them a chance at a postseason run.