The Mariners got stomped by the Yankees last night. They’ve now lost 16 games in a row. The final was 10-3. It’s another hapless night for the team, as the only offensive contributions put forth have been by the two hitters on the team worth a damn: rookie Dustin Ackley, and second year player Justin Smoak. Smoak is struggling as of late, but there are extenuating circumstances, most notably a thumb injury and the death of his father. Ackley is a promising rookie who is making a late push for AL Rookie of the Year honors, with the door opened due to teammate Michael Pineda’s struggles lately. Ackley has an .856 OPS in a month’s worth of games this year. He’s the future in Seattle, and it’s good he’s getting a chance to show the league what he can do.
But the rest of the offense is an absolute horror show. Ichiro Suzuki, normally one of the most consistent hitters in the league, has a .630 OPS and looks nothing like he once did. The left side of the infield, Brendan Ryan and Adam Kennedy, are guys who have been glove first their entire careers and have never hit worth a lick. Franklin Gutierrez is another gifted glove in center field, but has five extra base hits on the season. Catcher Miguel Olivo, who has never walked a whole lot during his career and is fresh off of a career year with the Rockies, has a .258 OBP for the club. It is not a real pretty sight right now in Seattle.
The team as a whole has a .624 OPS. Let me say that again for emphais: a .624 OPS. Think about an entire team of Jason Bartletts. That is the Seattle Mariners as a whole right now. They are a ghastly sight to behold. The teams contracts are a mess too. Ichiro is making $17 million this year, and the same amount this year. I didn’t mention Chone Figgins or Jack Wilson at all. Figgins is due $17 million total in 2012 and 2013, and has a .476 OPS this season. Wilson is making $5 million this season as a bench player since Ackley was recalled. Gutierrez is due $12.5 million in 2012 and 2013 for essentially his glove. Olivo is still under contract for $3.5 million next season. The team just can’t let these contracts expire this offseason and walk away….they’re stuck with most of these awful hitters for another year, unless they can find a team to dump one of the contracts off on. Oh, I forgot to mention the $12 they’re owing Milton Bradley this year to irritate fans and OPS .669 in 28 games before being released.
It’s a shame, because Seattle’s pitching staff is actually really good. Felix Hernandez, Doug Fister, Jason Vargas, and Michael Pineda have all thrown at least 120 innings, and have ERAs under 4.00. Fifth starter Erik Bedard has an ERA right at 3.00 in 90 innings, missing a month to injury, but coming back on Friday to start against the Rays. Their bullpen has been solid as well, with Brandon League, Aaron Laffey, and David Pauley all holding ERAs of 3.26 or under.
If you gave the Mariners pitching staff an even competent offense, they’d be contenders in the AL West. But at the end of the day, they’ve scored nearly 200 less runs than first place Texas while allowing 30ish less. Sometimes, life isn’t fair. But Jack Zduriencik brought this one upon himself by not bringing in at least ONE impact bat. And now, the Mariners and their great pitching staff are screwed.
