Grading the Mariners

The Seattle Mariners are 46-42 heading into the Allstar break. They are in 3rd place in the American League West, and 4 games out of first behind the streaking Los Angeles Angels. Before the season started, many people predicted the M's to be in 3rd in the West, but few thought they'd be 4 games above 500. Let's take a look at why the M's are having success this year.

Starting Pitching: A-/B+

This would have been an A if it wasn't for Carlos Silva's six starts and a 1-3 record with an 8.48 ERA. More atrocious than Silva's record is the Mariners eating his behemoth 12,000,000 dollar salary for 09. O.k., enough, lets stop with Silva before I punch a hole my wall and kick my defensless dog while he's asleep.

Felix Hernandez has been lights out. Washburn is having a career year, which a 6-6 record doesn't reflect. If Washburn got any run support he'd easily have 9 wins this season. More impressive is his 112 innings pitched only halfway through the season, and his sub 3 ERA at 2.96.

Bedard has been fairly dominant despite a few injuries keeping him off the mound. Jason Vargas has done extremely well with his 3-3 record and 3.82 ERA. Garrett Olson and Chris Jakubauskas have been mediocre in spot fill in roles. All in all, the Mariners have one of the best rotations in baseball.

Bullpen: B

The emergence of David Aardsma as the Mariner closer could not have come at a better time. Morrow was struggling with his location and confidence without a clear cut reliever to replace him. Aardsma stepped right in and dazzled. He's saved 20 out of 22 games and has a 1.96 ERA. Those are Allstar numbers.

Mark Lowe has been a consistent arm and someone to count on in late innings. Sean White has a sub 3 ERA at 2.63. Even Miguel Batista has been quietly good with a 6-3 record and 3.33 ERA. Just don't put Miguel in the late innings where he's 0-3 in save opportunities.

Roy Corcoran has been struggling in long relief. Despite his 2-0 record, he's got a 6.88 ERA and a 16-6 BB to SO ratio. Shawn Kelly has struggled at times too going 0-2 in save opportunites and a 5.93 ERA.

It's safe to say without Aardsma the Mariners would 5 to 6 games under 500. No one else seems to have the stuff to be on the mound in the ninth inning.

Offense: D

The Mariner offense is laughable. I would rather watch an entire Seattle Storm game than watch the M's hit 1 through 9. Despite the best efforts of Ichiro, Branyan, and Gutierrez, the rest of the line-up stinks.

The Mariners have the worst catching duo in baseball with Kenji Johjima (BA 254) and Rob Johnson (BA 203). Jose Lopez has decent power numbers with 12 home runs, but is only batting 250. Griffey's batting 22o and Cedeno isn't even above the mendoza line.

The Mariner offense has only scored 348 runs in 88 games for an average of less than 4 runs a game. This is one of the lowest run totals in all of baseball. The team average is a pitiful 261 with an on base percentage of 317. It's a good thing Mariner pitching has been lights out, because this offense could not sustain a winning record.

Coaching: B-

Coaching is a tough grading category, because not too many people get to see what goes on behind the scenes. So far Wak has done a good job. I don't have many complaints about the way he's managing the club. This grade is based purely on a few questionable calls by the skipper on handling his bullpen and not going to his bench enough past the 7th inning. For example, not getting Chavez into the game after the 7th for defensive purposes.

Rick Adair has handled the pitching staff to perfection. On paper, our bullpen looks like a bunch of guys were just thrown together. No one would predict a bullpen with the likes of Jakubauskas, Kelly, White, and Bautista would be one of the strongest in baseball. Rick Adair deserves recognition for the influence he's had on this young bunch of guys.

Front Office: A

Seattle is loving Jack Zduriencik. Since coming to the Mariners Jack Z. has been wheeling and dealing. He first trade sent J.J. Putz packing for the Metz and in return got Franklin Gutierrez (who's turning out to be a stud in Center Field), Endy Chavez, Mike Carp, Aaron Heilman, and minor leaguers. Jack Z. then ships Heilman to the cubs for Ronny Cedeno and Garrett Olson, who are both helping the club on a daily basis. I think Ronny has a bigger upside than his sub 200 average suggests. We'll just have to be patient with him.

Jack Z. kept the trade bug going by getting rid of Yuniesky Bettencourt for a couple minor league pitchers in Danny Cortez (only 22 yrs old) and class A pitcher Saito. Cortez is supposed to be one of the Padres better pitching prospects. Jack Z has also traded for Jack Hannahan and sent minor league pitcher Souza packing to the A's. Jack Hannahan was the starter for Oakland, but struggled at the plate and was sent down to AAA. I've got a good feeling we got a steal for Hannahan, who is a much better player than what he was showing for the A's.

Overall: B

I am extremely happy with the Mariners at the break. Despite a lacking offense, the club has a desire to win and are doing so with great pitching. I have complete confidence in Jack Z. and like all the moves he's been making thus far. We are just a few more trades and draft picks away from being competitive for the pennent every year.

Mariner Optimism

I am and always have been a Mariner optimist. Before every season, even with a lack of talent, I believe through some sort of wizardry the Mariners can win the American League West.

Don't ask me why I feel this way, especially in the years when Jamie Moyer was our staff ace. You shouldn't expect to make the playoffs when your best pitcher is only a 10-15 game winner every season. Still, I expect to see a new banner hanging every year in the best stadium in America. Safeco Field!

Halfway through the season, the Mariners are fighting for every win and find themselves just a few games back in the West. Am I an optimist to believe the M's can make the playoffs? Beltre is out for 6-8 weeks and being replaced by an aging veteran, Chirs Woodard, and a guy who never sees first base in Cedeno. The bottom of our lineup is plagued with guys hitting barely 200. We have some of the worst hitting catchers in the league in Jojima, Johnson, and Burke.

Nonetheless, I still believe the Mariners can make the playoffs. Bedard can come back and give the rotation a shot in the arm. Olson can pitch the rest of the year like he did in Dodger Stadium. Griffey can get hot and hit a few more homers. Jose Lopez is crushing the ball and will end the year around .280-.300. as usual. In other words, anything can happen.

I am leaning towards the Mariners buying come July 31st trade deadline if we are still in the playoff picture. But I want the M's to buy smart. I am not willing to trade away the future for a run at the playoffs today. We just don't have the pieces to do that yet.

I'm proposing we add a bat for cash. Most teams in the Major Leagues want to dump payroll come trade time. The Mariners can take advantage of the current market, add a bat for cash, and not give up any prospects. Instead of trading Washburn and Bedard for below average prospects, since MLB "insiders" don't believe teams will give up much come the deadline, the M's can stockpile draft picks by letting their class A and B prospects leave in free agency.

The Mariners have options, and July is going to be a fun month for baseball in Seattle!

Wishy Washy Washburn

What is important to Jarrod Washburn? Let me rewind, what is important to all athletes? Money! So I guess Jarrod is no different than any other player between the foul lines. Before all you Washburn fans get your panties in a twist, I'm not here to hate on wishy washy himself. I just want to know why it's so easy to "flip a switch" and be great pitcher again like it was 2002 in Angel Stadium?

Money is the ultimate motivator. It's infuriating watching athletes put up big numbers in a contract year (Washburn are you listening). After cashing in on a 4 year 37.5 million dollar contract with the Mariners, Washburn has put up an ERA of 4.67 in 2006, 4.32 in 07, and 4.69 in 08. Even worse, Washburn's record was a dismal 23-43 in that same span. At least he was consistent right.

I do not want to hear the mumbo-jumbo reasons for Washburn's recent success: I switched my mechanics, worked out extra hard in the offseason, learned how to throw a new pitch, etc... People who believe that nonsense should really consider finishing their G.E.D. and shooting for the stars in Community College.

Money is the reason for Washburn's 2.68 ERA and dominance over hitters in 2009. The same reason why he was 18-6 in 2002 with an ERA of 3.15 with the Angels. It's not hard to guess which year is a contract year for Washburn. Just look at the numbers.

Very few ball players these days care about their legacy. Just ask Manny Ramirez, who doesn't give a rats ass about his suspension or reputation in L.A. I'm disgusted by players who get their big payday and no longer give a shit about playing hard, helping their team win, or laying everything on the line for the game they're supposed to love.

I'm disgusted by watching Washburn walk to the bump this year. While most fans are clapping and cheering on ol wishy washy for finally wanting to compete and win, I'll be cursing him for not earning his paychecks the last 3 years.