SEAside Thoughts: WE'RE BACK BABY!

“The fans are always great. Obviously, it’s been a lot of ups and downs, but to know that they got my back is super rewarding, and I’ll never be able to tell each and every one of them how much I appreciate it. But that’s the stuff that, I’ll never forget that.”

-Jarred Kelenic 

After Tuesday, the Seattle Mariners were battered, bruised, and beaten. Sitting at 4-8 with three straight horrific losses and an overworked bullpen. Fast forward to today and your Seattle Mariners are 8-8, are playing great, and are being led by potential Cy Young and (can't believe I'm saying this) MVP contenders at the 10% mark of the season.

Kelenic for MVP?

I'm joking, but pretty soon I may only be half joking, that's how incredible Jarred Kelenic has been through 16 games. In 45 AB's, Kelenic is hitting .345 with 16 hits (5 2B's and 4 HR's). The shift ban helped him get off to a good start, but his power and ability to deliver are what's elevating his game to a special new level.

While Chicago was a disappointing series loss, it was a historic performance for Kelenic. The young slugger crushed home runs in 3 straight games, including a game tying blast in the 9th inning to force extra innings. While that ball went a long way, it pales in comparison to the legendary bomb he crushed in game 3's victory. Kelenic's 482 foot blast to deep center field not only helped Seattle break their three game losing streak, but it was the longest home run at Wrigley Field in the Statcast era.

Coming home and in need of a series win over Colorado, Kelenic continued to roll, going 4/10 with a home run, and the game winning hit in the 6th inning on Sunday to sweep the Rockies.

Kelenic so far is putting up a ridiculous 214 OPS+ with a .9 WAR in just 16 games. He's stolen 2 bases and has played Golf Glove defense, snagging a diving catch late on Sunday to preserve the shutout. He won't play like this for the whole season, but his progression and possible jump to being not just a good player, but a great player that puts Seattle squarely in the World Series picture. Expect Kelenic to be in the hunt for not just some April awards, but on some all star ballots as we move into the summer. It is time to believe.

La Piedra is unstoppable 

I'll say this again for anyone that missed it earlier, Luis Castillo is the best starting pitcher Seattle has had since Felix Hernandez. On Sunday, Castillo had perfect game level stuff going. 7 dominant innings giving up only 2 hits while striking out 9 on just 91 pitches. Castillo was perfect through 6 innings and may have matched Felix's magical perfecto if not for two of the weakest hits you'll see in baseball all year. 

Castillo is now 2-0 with a 0.73 ERA. Luis has struck out 26 hitters in 24.2 innings pitched while walking just 4. His stuff looks better than ever, combined with elite control, and ultimate confidence, Luis Castillo is a walking Deathly Hallow right now.

In what is already looking like one of the greatest trades in franchise history, Castillo is not just pitching like an ace, but he looks like the best pitcher in baseball so far. I can only imagine the roar he'd receive from T-Mobile if he got the nod to start the all-star game.

Keep it up La Piedra!

On Deck

We've been talking about it on the SEAside Thoughts for a couple of weeks, but the schedule will get right back to being tough after the nice Colorado reprieve.

Corbin Burnes, Jesse Winker and the 11-5 Milwaukee Brewers come to town for what should be a fun and intense series. Both teams are thinking about the Fall Classic and hoping to continue their hot play. Burnes, a former Cy Young winner who's not in the best of situations with his current club, will get the ball game 1. 

I'm fascinated to see how the crowd and players treat Winker. A lot was made about the highs and many lows of his 1 season in Seattle, and while he seems to acknowledge his mistakes and is ready to move on, are the fans? While we'll always have him kicking Anthony Rendon's ass and eating pizza in Anaheim, Winker was a terrible player last year and apparently a clubhouse cancer. I fully expect him to dominate this series by the way…

After the Brew Crew leave, the St. Louis Cardinals and their fans will storm through T-Mobile Park. The Cardinals are loaded with talent, but have underachieved so far in 2023, going 7-9. Expect Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt to be desperate to get the machine rolling.

A big sweep and a big week ahead during this 9 game homestand. Can't wait to see what's in store.

Go M's!