A small tinker without panicking
To be honest, I don't have a ton more thoughts on the week that was. This offense has looked putrid minus a nice inning here or there. Personally, I'd like to see Julio hit lead off and move JP down the lineup. This is not as much a frustration with Crawford’s slow start, but rather looking to get a boost in the lineup using your star player. The Mariners were at their absolute best last year in August thanks to Julio becoming the best player on the planet for a month, in the leadoff spot.
As much as I prefer to see Julio up with RBI opportunities, he may be best suited in that catalyst role, where he's the spark plug for those around him. You got Cal Raleigh and Ty France coming back to the lineup, feels like the perfect time to make a tweak.
Next the next two weeks to be become a cushion period
As frustrating as the start of this season has been, it's early and the Mariners have not fallen too far behind. Remember, this is on paper about as weak of an American League as we've seen in over a decade. I still believe in this roster and the potential for the team to make a legitimate run to and through October.
That being said, the time to wake up starts today. A three game series in Toronto against a Blue Jays squad that is currently disappointing as well. You have your big 3 going on the mound, you need to win this series.
After Toronto, the Mariners come home for a 6 game homestand against the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds, before a road trip begins with the lowly Colorado Rockies. This is a 12 game run where Seattle needs to find a way to win at least 7 games and get back to and over .500.
It's important because it means the Mariners woke up, but it also gives the team a little cushion before a brutal 12 game run that features the Rangers, Diamondback, Braves and Astros. If things don't get better in the next two weeks, the following two could sink the season by mid May.
A small tinker to the lineup, a reboot from Castillo and the horses, and the hopeful return of major bullpen pieces and this team can be right back on track.
Go Mariners!