With Mariners collapse, it may be time for team to part ways with Scott Servais

Update: The Mariners have fired Scott Servais as of August 22nd, and you can read more about that here.

Just prior to the halfway point of the season, things were feeling so good as a Seattle Mariners fan. The team had a 10-game lead in the AL West, larger than any other division leader in baseball. They were 44-31 and it felt like we would be able to put an end to Houston's reign atop the division.

That was June 18th. Just over two months ago. Since that date, the Mariners have actually been the second worst team in baseball, posting a record of 20-32 since that hot start. Less than half the wins of the hot start, but one more loss. The pitching hasn't been the problem, as their ERA was 3.43 over that hot start, and has been 3.57 since. As has been the case all season, the Mariners pitching staff has been holding their own and doing a good job despite dealing with a handful of injuries.

It's the offense, pure and simple. They were hitting .222/.302/.372 to start the year. Not good by any means, but still a lot better than the .206/.299/.355 we have seen in this 52-game embarrassing stretch the team has been on.

Scott Servais needs to go for the Mariners to have a chance at the playoffs

Is it all Servais's fault? Unlikely, as I think it is a combination of him and the hitting coach, Jarret DeHart. However, there have been more times than neccesary this year where Servais has mismanaged his lineup, his pinch-hitting decisions, and especially how he deploys his bullpen. It's been his biggest struggle while at the helm of the Mariners, and all I have to do is say "playoffs" for you to know what I'm talking about.

The blame falls on the manager a lot of the time as they are the easiest target. He can't make the Mariners hit, but there have been too many instances where he just isn't putting the team in a good enough position to succeed.

You also have to wonder if maybe the message is stale, and that what Servais is saying just isn't resonating with the team anymore. While it's true that the Mariners had one of the best three-year stretches in their career with 90, 90, and 88 wins, it's seemingly falling short with the roster that Dipoto and Hollander have pieced together with all the budgetary restraints placed on them by the joke that is John Stanton.

Stanton should truly be the one that is let go, but that just isn't going to happen since he owns the team. In lieu of a replacement and the highest level, it is likely going to fall to the Mariners skipper, and it seems like it is time for Seattle to part ways with Scott Servais.