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3 reasons why the poor start shouldn't worry Mariners fans
Heading into 2023, hopes were high for Mariners fans. The team had a bit more experience under their belt, the rotation was supposed to be one of the best in baseball, they'd added some good pieces on offense (on paper), and were looking to build off of their first playoff appearance in 20+ years. Baseball was back in Seattle... and people are already acting like the season is over after an 4-8 start to the 2023 season.
Maybe it's just the vocal minority of the internet. People tend to get loud when they're upset, whereas those that are content (or reasonable) seem to stay quiet. It can make for a rough mental day when you go online and see endless streams of "This team sucks, the season is over"... "Fire Servais, Hollinger, and Dipoto"... "Julio isn't good enough"... and "The Mariners are done".
That being said, it's amazing how quickly people can forget what happened in 2022. No, I'm not talking about the amazing win streak, fighting the Angels, or the great run they had in the second half of the season. I'm talking about how they started 11-6 and then proceeded to lose 10 of 11 games. Teams go through rough stretches. It happens. That's baseball. It just hurts a bit more and gives you a worse feeling when it's the start of the season.
It's a long year. We've had some bad games and dumb decisions. 12 games are just 7.4% of the season. Things aren't over yet. Yes, it's tough to hear things are okay after the embarrassing loss to the Cubs and blowing that massive lead, but it also makes it the best time to talk about it. Here are three reasons why we need to take a step back and remember that things are going to be okay.
Reason #1: The Rotation is going to keep us in plenty of games
Yeah, yeah. I know this is a weird one to start out with when we just blew a 7-0 lead early with a veteran starter on the mound who was replacing a former Cy Young winner. I still stand by my point. Flexen will throw out a massive dud once or twice a year. Does anyone remember the start against the Padres?
Flexen is going to be fine and still sports an ERA under 4 since joining the Mariners. Marco holds up the back of the rotation and is a great number 5 to have for now. (Yes, I know he started as the 4, but if you think he is better than Kirby you deserve to be benched). We still have La Piedra, Walter, and Mr. Control. Side note - Kirby needs a nickname.
Those guys are all easily capable of going 6 strong innings, and they've shown it time and time again since donning Mariners uniforms. Kirby can fire his way through innings, mowing guys down with efficiency as he peppers the zone. Castillo is straight-up nasty, and Gilbert chews through innings with a workhorse mentality.
Robbie Ray is set to start soft toss this week, still in line with throwing and being re-evaluated at 2 weeks, and hoping to be back after 4-6. Even with the stinker from Flexen, this rotation is still really good.
Reason #2: The Offense has plenty of firepower
Look, I know that people are worried about the offense. It's a reasonable qualm to have. However, I think we have seen enough glimpses in 2023 combined with a nice track record from the players on the team to think that things are going to be fine. No, I'm not saying they are incredibly deep 1-9, or don't have any holes in the lineup. That would be farcical. Shoot, there aren't many teams in baseball (even WS teams) that can say they don't have a hole.
Kolten Wong is going to be fine. It would be weird if he completely forgot how to hit. He should end up with his HR and SB totals in the mid-teens and has been a .269/.346/.421 hitter over the last four seasons. Teoscar hit .283 over the last three seasons, with 25+ HR in each one (16 in 2020 comes out to 43 in a normal season). Dylan Moore should be back soon (we hope), Kelenic is hitting well, Julio is a legit stud, and Geno has been getting on base without hitting HRs.
When the bottom of the order has Murphy, Haggerty, Wong, Hummel, and they're all struggling, it looks bad. It's going to get better though, and if it doesn't? Well, that brings us to reason #3.
Reason #3: Dipoto isn't going to stand put
If things are going bad for the Mariners, still, by the end of May... do you really think that Dipoto is going to stand pat? He's shown time and time again that he has a willingness and ability to pull off trades that no one saw coming. Suarez and Winker last March? Castillo? Teoscar? No one had any real idea that any of those were going to happen.
Dipoto has made 1 million trades... checks notes... yup, 1 million trades since coming to the organization. (it's actually around 130). The guy can't go more than a month or two without making one. MLB Trade Rumors should have their own section for the guy.
I can't see any situation where Dipoto doesn't make a deal. Mariners are 12-32? Rebuild. Mariners are hovering around .500? Maybe a rental for cheap to bolster depth. Mariners are fighting for the division lead? Impact piece to push them over the top.
There really aren't any scenarios you can have surrounding Dipoto that seem unrealistic. The guy has his hands in everything, and it makes it both fun and stressful as a fan. Things are going to be okay, Mariners fans.