When it's all said and done, are the Mariners better as they head into 2024 season?

We will be looking at the ways in which our beloved Mariners have changed from ‘23 to ‘24. However, this will not be an overview position by position. If you’re reading this you probably already said your goodbyes to guys like Eugenio Suarez and Teoscar Hernandez. I don’t need to tell you that they won’t be here and who will probably be playing their positions in 2024.

Rather, this will look at things from a 30,000 foot view. A 54% view if you’ll excuse my sprinkling salt. What about the construction of this team and the staff around them is different this year? Why should even the most “same old Mariners” fan have a piece of that hope springs eternal nonsense going into 2024? One fan takes a stab at answering.

The Mariners core identity hasn't changed... and that's good

The 2023 Seattle Mariners were dominant at one thing and one thing only. That thing is pitching. The Mariners ERA of 3.74 was the best in the American League last year. That’s miles above the league average of 4.28, coincidentally the league champion Texas Rangers had the exact same ERA of 4.28. We walked very few men with another AL-leading 2.6 BB/9 clip. Starting pitching was especially dominant, a 5 man rotation that has thankfully not been changed going into this season.

It’s easy to forget however that there was a time last year when Woo and Miller weren’t on this squad. In fact, 8 men other than the current 5 started a total of 23 games last year. It cannot be understated how important it will be to have Castillo, Kirby, Gilbert, Miller, and Woo for a full season if they are able to stay relatively healthy.

As good as our pitching was last year, we are primed to see something even more spectacular unfold at T-Mobile Park. Refusing to trade from the existing rotation reinforces that the core value of the 2024 Seattle Mariners is to outpitch every other team in the league.