Mariners Insider Blog
Miscues cost Mariners again in loss to Houston as Taijuan Walker makes return
July 25, 2020, 4:06 PM
Seattle Mariners news and analysis
Seattle Mariners news and analysis
Seattle Mariners news and analysis
Seattle Mariners news and analysis
How did Paxton get that nickname?
More than a nickname, it’s a way of life. pic.twitter.com/KKYqBHyZQo
— Mariners (@Mariners) March 14, 2018
Players admire the work of pitcher Felix Hernandez.
With Félix painting and Zunino framing, the results are beautiful. pic.twitter.com/W5dMlPSa7E
— Mariners (@Mariners) March 14, 2018
The opponent consults Robinson Canó regarding the best way to pitch to the all-star.
Some of the six visits to the mound are more productive than others. pic.twitter.com/lL3gsWNz9M
— Mariners (@Mariners) March 14, 2018
Ben Gamel teaches Kyle Seager the finer points of hair flipping.
Kyle Seager realizes Flipping the Flow isn’t right for everybody. pic.twitter.com/eZ4XFyARk8
— Mariners (@Mariners) March 14, 2018
Craig Hill: 253-597-8497, @AdventureGuys
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The rumored reunion of the Seattle Mariners and one of baseball’s most prolific hitters is now a done deal.
The Mariners and Ichiro Suzuki, 44, agreed to terms on a contract, the team announced Wednesday morning.
“The addition of Ichiro gives our team another versatile and athletic outfielder,” said Mariners General Manager Jerry Dipoto. “His incredible work ethic, preparation and focus will enhance our environment in many ways. He’s truly one of the great players in the history of the game and his unquestionable presence is a valuable addition, both on the field and in the clubhouse. We’re very glad to bring him back home.”
Details of the contract were not announced, but the agreement was expected to be a for a one-year deal.
Ichiro played the last six seasons for the Florida Marlins and New York Yankees. In recent years he has served primarily as backup outfielder and pinch-hitter. An injury to outfielder Ben Gamel could make Ichiro’s presence more valuable. A strained oblique is expected to sideline Gamel for up to six weeks.
Ichiro, who has said his goal is to play in the majors until he is 50, is the MLB active leader with 3,080 career hits. Combined with his 1,278 hit during nine season with the Orix Blue Wave in Japan’s Pacific, Ichiro is one of nine players with more than 4,000 hits as a professional. He currently ranks 21st in MLB history, 30 hits behind Hall of Famer Dave Winfield and 35 behind Alex Rodriguez.
His 27 pinch-hits last seaon were one short of John Vander Wal’s MLB record set in 1995 when he played for Colorado.
Ichiro started his MLB career in Seattle in 2001, when he helped the Mariners win 116 games and won the American League MVP, Rookie of the Year, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. He and Boston’s Fred Lynn (1975) are the only Rookies of the Year to also win the MVP. He had 10 consecutive 200-hit seasons including a record 262 in 2004.
Ichiro ranks first in Mariner’s history in hits (2,533), batting average (.322), at-bats (7,858), triples (79) and stolen bases (438).
Craig Hill: 253-597-8497, @AdventureGuys
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The team everybody loves to hate might have some new fans after it sent a large flower wreath to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department in honor of slain deputy Daniel McCartney.
The 27-time world champion New York Yankees sent the flowers and a handwritten card to the department days after McCartney was shot and killed while responding to a drug-related incident in Frederickson on Monday.
“Around here it's not very often that we are surprised,” the department posted on its Facebook page, “but we have to admit that when this wreath arrived at our headquarters we all were quite surprised. We also have to admit that we all might just be Yankees fans after this (gulp!) ...”
The Yankees aren’t exactly beloved in the Northwest. The Yankees beat a 116-win Seattle Mariners team in the 2001 American League Championship Series. It was the last time the M’s made the playoffs.
The Yankees make similar donations to departments who’ve lost officers in the line of duty. The team’s NY logo was first created by Tiffany & Co. in 1877 for a medal honoring a New York City police officer shot in the line of duty. The team adopted the logo in 1909.
The card reads, “With our deepest sympathies, our thoughts and prayers are with the entire McCartney family and the family of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department - The New York Yankees.”
“Truly a class act by a world class organization,” the department posted Saturday on Facebook. “We tip our caps to you!”
A service for McCartney is schedule for 1 p.m. Jan. 17 at Pacific Lutheran University’s Olson Auditorium.
Craig Hill: 253-597-8497, @AdventureGuys
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Edgar Martinez came up 20 votes shy of Hall of Fame enshrinement on Wednesday and it’s not sitting well with many fans and players.
Martinez played 18 seasons for the Seattle Mariners and hit .312 with 309 homers. He won the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award five times. When he retired the award was renamed the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.
If that sounds like a Hall of Fame career to you, you’re not alone. On Thursday morning, #EdgarHOF was trending on Twitter with the majority of people favoring adding Martinez’s plaque to Cooperstown.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays outfielder Steven Souza, an Everett native, tweeted at Tampa Bay Times baseball writer Marc Topkin, who did not vote for Martinez.
“You are hereby on probation from interviews until my childhood hero, Edgar Martinez is rightfully voted in to the Hall Of Fame,” Souza tweeted. “This may seem unprofessional and unfair, but I say to you ‘My oh My’. Yours Truly, Longtime Mariner Fan.”
Topkin posted a compilation of responses to his ballot on Thursday morning. His readers were unimpressed and expressed their displeasure in a variety of creative ways including a gif of a pooping rhino.
Here’s a look at what people are saying on Twitter:
\n\nDear @TBTimes_Rays,
— Steven Souza Jr. (@SouzaJr) January 23, 2018
You are hereby on probation from interviews until my childhood hero, Edgar Martinez is rightfully voted in to the Hall Of Fame. This may seem unprofessional and unfair, but I say to you “My oh My”.
Yours Truly,
Longtime Mariner Fan
\n\n"So close! Though he wasn’t elected today, without a doubt @11EdgarMartinez belongs in the Hall of Fame. Any sports writer who feels their #HOF vote was miscounted can contact my office” - BF #EdgarHOF pic.twitter.com/HvEFTgTvE4
— WA Attorney General (@AGOWA) January 25, 2018
\n\nEdgar, you spent seven years in the minors busting perceptions and breaking through barriers. You will bust even more in Year 10 to get into the HOF you deserve @Mariners #EdgarHOF https://t.co/Fl2kebxaRv
— Brock Huard (@BrockESPN) January 24, 2018
\n\nOf all the Edgar stats, this may be my favorite one. #edgarhof2019 https://t.co/8wACGywcAt
— Robert Wickwire (@rwickwire) January 25, 2018
\n\nNo Hall of Fame vote can change how we view Edgar Martinez: the game’s greatest designated hitter and a Pacific NW sports icon. #EdgarHOF pic.twitter.com/cBSmNnOP41
— Tacoma Rainiers (@RainiersLand) January 24, 2018
\n\nThe designated hitter has been part of baseball since 1973. So if the greatest designated hitter of all time is not in your “Hall of Fame” than your HOF, is fraudulent. #EdgarHOF #DinosaursWillDie
— Jarod J-Rebel Winkel (@Jarod_JRebel) January 25, 2018
\n\nI am struggling to grasp the logic behind voting someone into the Hall of Fame who often is asked to get three outs while penalizing Martinez for primarily being a DH. Per @baseball_ref, Martinez produced 68.3 WAR, while Hoffman finished at 28. #EdgarHOF
— Chris Chancellor (@outofwritefield) January 25, 2018
\n\nLet’s get @11EdgarMartinez in there! We have 364 days to campaign on his behalf, although his numbers speak for themselves. #EdgarHOF
— Deb B (@debsb57) January 25, 2018
\n\nIf baseball writers' excuse to not let #EdgarHOF in because he didn't play enough as a DH...then why do you let closers in? Best closers threw ~65 innings last year. That's about 200 PAs. Edgar had 500-600 PAs per year.
— Sergey K. (@thatSergey) January 25, 2018
\n\nNo matter what happens today, @11EdgarMartinez will always be in our Hall of Fame. #HOF pic.twitter.com/5v403jqCcG
— Sound Transit (@SoundTransit) January 24, 2018
\n\n\nTo the numbskulls who didn't vote Edgar to Cooperstown... #BaseballHOF #EdgarHOF #EdgarMartinez #EdgarHOF2019 pic.twitter.com/gky9URTudS
— Christian Bockla (@ChewBockla3) January 25, 2018
Five former Mariners have made the Hall of Fame: Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Gaylord Perry, Ricky Henderson and Rich “Goose” Gossage. Former Mariners manager Dick Williams is also in the hall. Of those, only Griffey is depicted in a Mariners cap on his plaque.
Craig Hill: 253-597-8497, @AdventureGuys
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The Mariners have signed pitcher Christian Bergman to a minor-league contract, reports Chris Cotillo of SB Nation.
Bergman, 29, pitched 13 games for the Mariners last season, going 4-5 with a 5.00 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 54 innings. The 29-year-old right-hander spent most of his time in Triple-A Tacoma where he was 9-4 with a 5.34 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 86 innings.
He also played three seasons for the Rockies. He has a career record of 11-14 with a 5.58 ERA.
Craig Hill: 253-597-8497, @AdventureGuys
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Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano says his favorite day of the year is Jan. 6, Three Kings’ Day.
On Saturday, he made the holiday a little more special for thousands of children in the Dominican Republic.
Cano was in the Dominican Republic helping distribute more than 2,400 toys to children in more than 18 communities through his charity, the RC22 Foundation, and Medicines for Humanity.
Cano posted pictures of children holding dolls and toy trucks on his Twitter and Facebook pages.
“Feliz día de Los Reyes!” Cano tweeted with a video with the children.
Three Kings’ Day marks the end of the Christmas holiday for many Christians. Cano, who was born in the Dominican Republic, has made an annual tradition of partnering with other foundations to distribute gifts to needy children on the holiday.
\n\nMy favorite day of the year!! Feliz día de Los Reyes! Happy Three King’s Day pic.twitter.com/uDgjjn4eOO
— Robinson Cano (@RobinsonCano) January 6, 2018
\n\n\nFeliz día de Los Reyes! pic.twitter.com/FGI7J9Zx2e
— Robinson Cano (@RobinsonCano) January 6, 2018
Craig Hill: 253-597-8497, @AdventureGuys
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Jim Brower has toured plenty of minor-league ballparks across the United States the past six seasons as a pitching instructor.
But the Seattle Mariners are giving him more a permanennt home.
On Tuesday, the organization hired Brower, 44, as a general assistant coach under manager Scott Servais for next season.
Brower spent the past two seasons as the Chicago Cubs’ minor-league pitching coordinator.
The Minnesota native had a nine-year career in the big leagues with eight different organizations — the last being the New York Yankees in 2007.
Kansas City gave Brower his first coaching job in 2011 as the pitching coach for Single-A Kane County. He later joined the Royals’ Double-A affiliate in Northwest Arkansas.
It isn’t entirely clear what Brower’s exact role will be as a general assistant, but he will likely serve in some pitching capacity.
Seattle has yet to fill its bullpen coach job, which was vacated by Mike Hampton right after the All-Star break last July.
Todd Milles: 253-597-8442, @ManyHatsMilles
","template_type":"","story_teaser":"","owner":"Tacoma","allow_comments":true,"topic_tags":[],"image":""},{"id":"182614626","url":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/article182614626.html","asset_type":"story","state":"published","title":"Mariners claim a shortstop (no, not THAT shortstop) from Cincinnati Reds","publication":"thenewstribune","layout_option":"none","home":"/web/v1/sections/26374","home_section":{"name":"Mariners Insider Blog","url":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/"},"modified_date":1509761187,"allow_index":true,"allow_follow":true,"meta_description":"Seattle scoops up Zach Vincej, who was put on waivers this week after being stuck behind Zack Cozart and Jose Peraza in the Reds’ organization","published_date":1509741315,"thumbnail":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/mh7o57/picture182614621/alternates/LANDSCAPE_768/Zach%20Vincej","authors":[{"name":"Todd Milles","email":"tmilles@thenewstribune.com"}],"access_tags":["matbasic"],"additional_sections":["26374","26329"],"credit":"","dateline":"","summary":"Seattle scoops up Zach Vincej, who was put on waivers this week after being stuck behind Zack Cozart and Jose Peraza in the Reds’ organization","content":"
While most of them have been minor transactions, the Seattle Mariners are still staying busy so far in free agency.
The Mariners claimed infielder Zach Vincej (pronounced VINCE-ee) off waivers Friday from the Cincinnati Reds, pushing their total to 37 players on the 40-man roster.
Vincej was part of the Reds’ logjam at shorstop, stuck behind Zack Cozart (whom the M’s were rumored to be interested in the past two seasons) and Jose Peraza.
Who is he: Vincej is a 26-year-old shorstop, and California native who spent six seasons with the Reds organization. He played collegiately at Pepperdine University, and was a 37th-round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft.
2017 statistics: .111 batting average in nine games as a September call-up with the Reds; .270 BA with 36 runs, 21 doubles, three home runs and 38 RBI in 110 games with Triple-A Louisville.
Why do the Mariners need him: Are there any other defensive-minded infielders occupying spots on Seattle’s 40-man roster? In 2016, Vincej’s .991 fielding percentage led all minor-league shorstops, and he was awarded the Minor League Rawlings Gold Glove Award because of it.
What will his projected role be next season: Could be a bench piece for the Mariners, but likely will open as the Rainiers starting shortstop.
Todd Milles: 253-597-8442, @ManyHatsMilles
","template_type":"","story_teaser":"","lead_media":{"id":"182614621","url":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/mh7o57/picture182614621","asset_type":"picture","state":"published","title":"Zach Vincej","publication":"thenewstribune","layout_option":"","home":"/web/v1/sections/26374","modified_date":1509741339,"allow_comments":false,"allow_index":false,"allow_follow":false,"published_date":1509741314,"thumbnail":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/mh7o57/picture182614621/alternates/FREE_1140/Zach%20Vincej","href":"/web/v1/content/182614621","access_tags":["matbasic"],"additional_sections":["26374"],"credit":"","dateline":"","is_mugshot":false,"text_alignment":"Default","summary":"","byline":"","kicker":""},"owner":"Tacoma","allow_comments":true,"topic_tags":[],"image":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/mh7o57/picture182614621/alternates/LANDSCAPE_768/Zach%20Vincej"},{"id":"182569186","url":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/article182569186.html","asset_type":"story","state":"published","title":"Nobody has spent more time in the Mariners dugout than this guy","publication":"thenewstribune","layout_option":"none","home":"/web/v1/sections/26374","home_section":{"name":"Mariners Insider Blog","url":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/"},"modified_date":1509735488,"allow_index":true,"allow_follow":true,"meta_title":"Mariners trainier Rick Griffin to retire from daily duties after 35 years with team,","originating_url":"http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/article182569186.html\n","meta_description":"Head athletic trainer Rick Griffin logged 5,577 games with the ballclub over 35 seasons, and is retiring from day-to-day duties","published_date":1509734972,"thumbnail":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/jdcmcn/picture182571626/alternates/LANDSCAPE_768/griffin","authors":[{"name":"Todd Milles","email":"tmilles@thenewstribune.com"}],"keywords":"Seattle Mariners, Rick Griffin, trainer, Felix Hernandez, King Felix","access_tags":["matbasic"],"additional_sections":["26374","26329"],"credit":"","dateline":"","summary":"Head athletic trainer Rick Griffin logged 5,577 games with the ballclub over 35 seasons, and is retiring from day-to-day duties","content":"
Remember the guy who breaks out in a short-striding jog from the Mariners dugout every time Felix Hernandez winces on the mound?
Well, he won’t be doing that anymore.
That is because after 35 seasons with the team, head athletic trainer Rick Griffin is retiring from day-to-day duties. He will continue to serve in an advisory role.
“(It’s been) a tremendous experience that has allowed me to create amazing relationships with players and staff members,” Griffin said in statement released by the ballcub Friday moring. “I value those friendships more than I can say.”
No replacement for Griffin has been named.
Griffin was hired in 1983 as the second head athletic trainer in club history. He was on site for 5,577 career games during the regular season and American League playoffs.
Twice, Griffin and his crew have been given athletic-staff-of-the-year honors around major league baseball (1999, 2013). He has also been part of four AL staffs for the All-Star Game.
In 2016, Griffin was inducted into the Washington State Athletic Trainers (WSATA) Hall of Fame.
Prior to joining the Mariners, Griffin worked four seasons (1977-81) with the Eugene Emeralds (Single-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) of the Northwest League.
A Utah native, Griffin will continue to live in Bothell with his wife, Rachel.
Todd Milles: 253-597-8442, @ManyHatsMilles
","template_type":"","story_teaser":"","lead_media":{"id":"182571626","url":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/jdcmcn/picture182571626","asset_type":"picture","state":"published","title":"griffin","publication":"thenewstribune","layout_option":"","home":"/web/v1/sections/26374","modified_date":1509735486,"allow_comments":false,"allow_index":false,"allow_follow":false,"published_date":1509735486,"thumbnail":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/jdcmcn/picture182571626/alternates/FREE_1140/griffin","href":"/web/v1/content/182571626","access_tags":["matbasic"],"additional_sections":["26374"],"credit":"AP","dateline":"","caption":"Seattle Mariners catcher Steve Clevenger, center, is helped to his feet by manager Scott Servais, left, and trainer Rick Griffin in 2016. Griffin, who has been with the team for 35 years, is retiring from day-to-day duties.","photographer":"Elaine Thompson","is_mugshot":false,"text_alignment":"Default","summary":"","byline":"","kicker":""},"owner":"Tacoma","allow_comments":true,"topic_tags":[],"image":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/jdcmcn/picture182571626/alternates/LANDSCAPE_768/griffin"},{"id":"182192306","url":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/article182192306.html","asset_type":"story","state":"published","title":"Offseason major-league baseball dates to remember for rest of 2017","publication":"thenewstribune","layout_option":"none","home":"/web/v1/sections/26374","home_section":{"name":"Mariners Insider Blog","url":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/"},"modified_date":1509577639,"allow_index":true,"allow_follow":true,"meta_description":"After the World Series ends Wednesday night, the world of transaction activity begins Thursday morning with the first day of free agency","published_date":1509577614,"authors":[{"name":"Todd Milles","email":"tmilles@thenewstribune.com"}],"keywords":"World Series, MLB, baseball, free agency, reserve, lists, 40-man roster, non-tender, winter meetings","access_tags":["matbasic"],"additional_sections":["26374"],"credit":"","dateline":"","summary":"After the World Series ends Wednesday night, the world of transaction activity begins Thursday morning with the first day of free agency","content":"
There are two certainties about major league baseball over the next 24 hours.
* The World Series ends Wednesday night.
* Free agency begins Thursday morning.
The Seattle Mariners’ offseason of deals, arbitration and signings will be upon us before you know it, so here are some of the important dates in the near future to know:
Players’ filing for free agency begins at 6 a.m. PT, and Seattle has five players on the 40-man roster who are eligible — first baseman Yonder Alonso, utility man Gordon Beckham, outfielder Jarrod Dyson, catcher Carlos Ruiz and first baseman/outfielder Danny Valencia.
If the Mariners want to negotiate with any of these players, the organization has exclusive rights for the next five days.
Also, up until Monday, the Mariners can use their club option to retain pitchers Yovani Gallardo and Hisashi Iwakuma. If they do not pick up the club option, both pitchers will become free agents.
This is a route the Mariners can take with any of their free agents in order to gain compensation if a player signs elsewhere.
The total amount available this year for qualifying offers is $17.4 million. The deadline to make an offer is 2 p.m. PT.
Any Mariners free agent given a qualifying offer has 15 days after the World Series ends to accept or reject the deal.
This is also the date the organization has to return any player on the 60-day disabled list to the 40-man roster. The Mariners have three such candidates — Iwakuma, starting pitcher Drew Smyly and relief pitcher David Phelps.
This is an important date for the Mariners to solidify their 40-man roster just weeks prior to the Winter Meetings.
Generally, college players out of the 2014 MLB Draft, and high school players from of the 2013 MLB Draft who are not on the 40-man roster will be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft at the Winter Meetings in December.
Any player essentially not on a multi-year deal must be offered a contract by this date, or he becomes a free agent.
The Seattle player to monitor at this time is Smyly, who is eligible for arbitration after making $6.85 million last season. It seems unlikely the Mariners would hold on to a player such as this even at a discounted rate that will not be pitching for them next season, either.
Other arbitration-eligible players include pitchers James Paxton, Erasmo Ramirez, Shae Simmons, Nick Vincent and Phelps, and catcher Mike Zunino.
This is certainly a place (this year, it is in Orlando, Florida) where rumors surface, trades are talked about and ultimately deals get done.
Also, the Rule 5 Draft is set the day before the meetings conclude.
Todd Milles: 253-597-8442, @ManyHatsMilles
","template_type":"","story_teaser":"","owner":"Tacoma","allow_comments":true,"topic_tags":[],"image":""},{"id":"181949621","url":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/article181949621.html","asset_type":"story","state":"published","title":"Mariners GM on Chris Taylor trade: ‘One we’d like to take back’","publication":"thenewstribune","layout_option":"none","home":"/web/v1/sections/26374","home_section":{"name":"Mariners Insider Blog","url":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/"},"modified_date":1509553013,"allow_index":true,"allow_follow":true,"originating_url":"http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/article181949621.html","meta_description":"Jerry Dipoto says if you make enough baseball trades, you are going to be on the losing end of a few deals — and the one that sent the former Seattle shorstop to the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitcher Zach Lee looms as arguably the worst during his tenure","published_date":1509485024,"thumbnail":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/rttst1/picture181969136/alternates/LANDSCAPE_768/chris%20taylor","authors":[{"name":"Todd Milles","email":"tmilles@thenewstribune.com"}],"keywords":"Chris Taylor, Taylor, Dodgers, Jerry Dipoto, Dipoto, Mariners, Zach Lee","access_tags":["matbasic"],"additional_sections":["26374","26329"],"credit":"","dateline":"","summary":"Jerry Dipoto says if you make enough baseball trades, you are going to be on the losing end of a few deals — and the one that sent the former Seattle shorstop to the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitcher Zach Lee looms as arguably the worst during his tenure","content":"
In the baseball trading game, you win some and you lose some.
And Seattle Mariners’ general manager Jerry Dipoto lost badly on dealing away utility man Chris Taylor.
Once considered the shortstop of the future, Taylor — then 25 — was dealt by Dipoto in 2016 to the Los Angeles Dodgers for right-handed pitcher Zach Lee, a former first-round draft pick.
How did that deal pan out?
Taylor is leading off for the Dodgers in the World Series, and has posted a.403 on-base percentage during the major-league playoffs. In 50 postseason at-bats, he also has three home runs and 12 runs scored.
That production comes on the heels of a stellar first season of regular duty — 21 home runs, 72 runs batted in, 85 runs scored with a .288 batting average and .354 on-base percentage.
And Lee? He is out of professional baseball.
“Boy, Chris is one we’d like to take back,” Dipoto said Monday.
It is understandable, at the time, what Dipoto was trying to do. Even though Taylor had posted an on-base average of .390 or higher in five of his six seasons in the minor leagues of the Mariners’ organization, it never translated to much production in the big leagues.
Dipoto knew the ballclub needed pitching help, and decided to take a gamble on a former big-time pitching prospect in Lee, who had never seemed to be given much of an opportunity to pitch for the Dodgers stuck behind higher-end teammates Julio Urias, Grant Holmes and Jose De Leon.
So, in June of 2016, Dipoto pulled the trigger on the one-for-one deal.
Lee flamed out. He went 0-9 with a 7.76 earned-run average in 14 starts with Triple-A Tacoma. The Mariners designated him for assignment six months after the trade, and he was claimed and released again by San Diego.
And after Taylor sought the services of private swing instuctor Craig Wallenbrock, who is credited with helping to turn outfielder J.D. Martinez’s career around, the former infielder’s career has flourished.
“(Taylor) has put together a terrific season.” Dipoto said. “Does it aggravate me when I watch TV? Not at all. I root for Chris. I have to convince myself he is a different player.”
Todd Milles: 253-597-8442, @ManyHatsMilles
","template_type":"","story_teaser":"","lead_media":{"id":"181969136","url":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/rttst1/picture181969136","asset_type":"picture","state":"published","title":"chris taylor","publication":"thenewstribune","layout_option":"","home":"/web/v1/sections/26374","modified_date":1509489258,"allow_comments":false,"allow_index":false,"allow_follow":false,"published_date":1509489258,"thumbnail":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/rttst1/picture181969136/alternates/FREE_1140/chris%20taylor","href":"/web/v1/content/181969136","access_tags":["matbasic"],"additional_sections":["26374"],"credit":"The Associated Press","dateline":"","caption":"Chris Taylor rounds the bases after a home run for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Houston Astros during the first inning of Game 1 of the World Series last Tuesday. Taylor has hit three home runs in the postseason after hitting only one home run during his time as a Seattle Mariner.","photographer":"Matt Slocum","is_mugshot":false,"text_alignment":"Default","summary":"","byline":"","kicker":""},"owner":"Tacoma","allow_comments":true,"topic_tags":[],"image":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/rttst1/picture181969136/alternates/LANDSCAPE_768/chris%20taylor"},{"id":"171464357","url":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/article171464357.html","asset_type":"story","state":"published","title":"Three takeaways after Mariners waste six no-hit innings from Miranda in loss to Houston","publication":"thenewstribune","layout_option":"none","home":"/web/v1/sections/26374","home_section":{"name":"Mariners Insider Blog","url":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/"},"modified_date":1504761160,"allow_index":true,"allow_follow":true,"meta_title":"Houston Astros at Seattle Mariners score, story, September 5, 2017","meta_description":"A quick look back at Tuesday’s game.","published_date":1504679071,"thumbnail":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/qsarmn/picture171464352/alternates/LANDSCAPE_768/AP_17249144931546","authors":[{"name":"Bob Dutton","email":"bdutton@thenewstribune.com"}],"keywords":"Mariners, Seattle, Astros, Houston, score, final, Tuesday, game, September 5, baseball, takeaways","access_tags":["matbasic"],"additional_sections":["26374","26329"],"credit":"","dateline":"SEATTLE","summary":"A quick look back at Tuesday’s game.","content":"
It’s not completely dark yet for the Mariners’ postseason hopes, but it’s getting there. Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to Houston is just one more example in a season filled with too many not-quite-enoughs.
Ariel Miranda more than matched the Astros’ shiny new weapon, Justin Verlander, by pitching six no-hit innings. And it wasn’t enough.
It. Wasn’t. Enough.
\"We need to score more runs,\" designated hitter Nelson Cruz said. \"That’s the bottom line. Two runs (Tuesday in a 6-2 loss) and one run (today) are not enough.\"
Houston didn’t get its first hit Tuesday until the Mariners were on their third pitcher. But when it came, it was loud. Cameron Maybin crushed a full-count fastball from Emilio Pagan for a two-run homer in the seventh inning.
Maybin’s 388-foot drive came after Pagan replaced James Pazos, who exited after issuing a one-out walk to Brian McCann. Pazos (4-5) replaced Miranda to start the inning.
\"It was too much in the middle of the plate,\" Pagan said. \"I think it was a nine-pitch at-bat. That deep in the at-bat, you’ve got to make quality pitches because he’s seen everything I’ve got.
\"I didn’t make a quality pitch, and he made me pay for it.\"
The loss dropped the Mariners under .500 at 69-70 and leaves them three games behind the Los Angeles Angels in the race for the American League’s final wild-card berth. The Angels jumped past Minnesota, which lost at Tampa Bay.
The margin isn’t insurmountable for the Mariners, but time is growing tight. They have just 23 games remaining and need to make a run. Wasting six no-hit innings from a starting pitcher doesn’t help.
\"I’ll take our chances with our club,\" manager Scott Servais said. \"If we continue to compete like that every night, we’re going to be in this thing all the way to the end. It just hasn’t happened the last two nights.\"
To be fair, Verlander (11-8) was in top form, too, in his first start since joining the Astros from Detroit in an Aug. 31 trade. He limited the Mariners to one run and six hits over six innings while striking out seven and walking one.
Joe Musgrove and Ken Giles protected Houston’s lead over the final three innings. Giles struck out the side in the ninth inning for his 29th save.
As for Miranda, he threw a career-high 112 pitches and walked six while allowing one run. It was a rocky ride at times.
Miranda turned his right ankle in the third inning and, not coincidentally, walked three batters before a sacrifice fly by Alex Bregman produced a run.
\"I just slipped a little bit and rolled the ankle,\" Miranda said. \"I lost a little bit of control there. I lost some concentration and rhythm. Fortunately, I was able get it back.\"
With two outs in the fifth, Miranda reached out barehanded for a Bregman grounder with a runner at first. Miranda deflected the ball to second baseman Robinson Cano, who tagged second for the force.
Miranda also barehanded Carlos Correa’s one-out hopper in the sixth inning. This time, Miranda made a clean grab and threw to first for the out.
The Mariners then had a chance to position Miranda for a victory after Cano opened the sixth with a liner that appeared to strike Verlander in the midsection. The ball caromed toward the third-base line for a single.
Cruz followed with a single that moved Cano to second, but Kyle Seager, who tied the game with a homer in the fourth inning, grounded into a first-short-pitcher double play that moved Cano to third.
Verlander broke immediately for first base to take the throw from Correa for the second out. The inning ended when Mitch Haniger took a third strike.
\"You do need to have a clutch hit here,\" Servais said, \"a big rally and put a crooked number up there.\"
It didn’t happen, and it’s getting dark.
THREE TAKEAWAYS:
***Cano times three: Want a silver lining in what was otherwise a pretty dismal offensive performance? Cano had three hits in four at-bats and is 9-for-17 in his last four games.
It’s hard to see the Mariners mounting any kind of run over the final three-plus weeks without a productive Cano.
***Barehanded grabs: Miranda twice reached for ground balls with pitching hand. Once, he deflected the ball to Cano, who turned the play into an out. The other time, Miranda caught the ball cleanly and threw to first for the out.
Asked what drill in PFP (pitchers’ fielding practice) calls for a pitcher to use his pitching hand to grab a grounder, Miranda smiled.
\"It was just a reaction play,\" he said. \"My glove was a little farther away, so the closest thing to it was my hand. So just go with that.\"
Asked if he plans to keep doing it, Miranda said: \"There’s always a glove, but there’s a possibility of using my (bare) hand or even my teeth if I have to.\"
***God protect our island: With the impact of Hurricane Harvey still being assessed, and Hurricane Irma bearing down on Puerto Rico and the Florida coast, Mariners closer Edwin Diaz sent out a heartfelt tweet prior to Tuesday’s game.
It was in Spanish: \"Dios proteja a nuestra isla\" followed by two emojis of hands clasped in prayer.
God protect our island.
Bob Dutton: @TNT_Mariners
","template_type":"","story_teaser":"","lead_media":{"id":"171464352","url":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/qsarmn/picture171464352","asset_type":"picture","state":"published","title":"AP_17249144931546","publication":"thenewstribune","layout_option":"","home":"/web/v1/sections/26374","modified_date":1504679071,"allow_comments":false,"allow_index":false,"allow_follow":false,"published_date":1504679071,"thumbnail":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/qsarmn/picture171464352/alternates/FREE_1140/AP_17249144931546","href":"/web/v1/content/171464352","access_tags":["matbasic"],"additional_sections":["26374"],"credit":"AP","dateline":"","caption":"Ariel Miranda pitched six no-hit innings Tuesday for the Mariners against Houston.","photographer":"Ted S. Warren","is_mugshot":false,"text_alignment":"Default","summary":"","byline":"","kicker":""},"owner":"Tacoma","allow_comments":true,"topic_tags":[],"image":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/qsarmn/picture171464352/alternates/LANDSCAPE_768/AP_17249144931546"},{"id":"163220268","url":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/article163220268.html","asset_type":"story","state":"published","title":"Mariners erase early deficit, but lose 6-4 to Yankees in series finale","publication":"thenewstribune","layout_option":"none","home":"/web/v1/sections/26374","home_section":{"name":"Mariners Insider Blog","url":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/"},"modified_date":1500932624,"allow_index":true,"allow_follow":true,"meta_title":"New York Yankees at Seattle Mariners score, July 23, 2017","originating_url":"http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/article163220268.html","meta_description":"Seattle’s bullpen - and an inert offense for roughly half of the game - flubbed this one, as three runs in the top of the sixth helped the Yankees to a 6-4 victory before a crowd of 38,503 at Safeco Field.","published_date":1500852305,"thumbnail":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/k2tgdp/picture163224773/alternates/LANDSCAPE_768/APTOPIX%20Yankees%20Mariners%20Baseball","keywords":"Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Yovani Gallardo, Aaron Judge, Ben Gamel","access_tags":["matbasic"],"additional_sections":["26374","26329"],"credit":"","dateline":"SEATTLE","summary":"Seattle’s bullpen - and an inert offense for roughly half of the game - flubbed this one, as three runs in the top of the sixth helped the Yankees to a 6-4 victory before a crowd of 38,503 at Safeco Field.","content":"
Yovani Gallardo gave up three home runs to the New York Yankees on Sunday afternoon. Yet the Seattle Mariners right-hander stood to earn the victory when he departed after pitching five innings.
Yes, those dingers accounted for half of the Yankees scoring. But it was Seattle’s bullpen — and an inert offense for roughly half of the game — that ultimately flubbed this one, as three runs in the top of the sixth helped the Yankees to a 6-4 victory before a crowd of 38,503 at Safeco Field.
Left-hander James Pazos took the loss because he issued two walks, allowed two hits and yielded three runs after facing a total of five batters to start the sixth inning. New York departs Seattle after winning three of four games in the weekend series.
“It kind of came down to a battle of bullpens today,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said, “and theirs was a little bit sharper than we were in the sixth inning.”
The Mariners (49-51) scored all of their runs in the bottom of the fourth after loading the bases with nobody out against Yankees starter Caleb Smith. The bases were still loaded with two outs when left fielder Ben Gamel stepped to the plate, his team still trailing 3-0.
The long-haired left-hander prolonged the inning with a sharp single that scored two runs. Guillermo Heredia followed with a two-run double, Gamel scoring from first base to put the Mariners ahead 4-3. That was the final batter for Smith, who was chased after throwing only 56 pitches in 3 2/3 innings.
The comeback was necessary due to a trio of homers that staked New York (51-46) to an early lead. First it was Brett Gardner, the Yankees’ leadoff hitter, who saw exactly one pitch from Gallardo before yanking the second one over the right-field fence for a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Gallardo didn’t have a problem with the location: “I’m not going to beat myself up about the second pitch of the game. Not much you can do about that. I made the pitch I wanted to make, and he just hit it out of the ballpark.”
Didi Gregorius, New York’s shortstop, smacked two dingers of his own, one in the second and one in the fourth, both to right field, to make it 3-0. Gallardo conceded those pitches were mistakes.
But while Gallardo wasn’t brilliant, he wasn’t bad, either, and that’s worth noting for a guy making his first start since being demoted to the bullpen last month. He lasted five innings, allowing three runs and five hits, and he struck out five batters with two walks. He threw 78 pitches. His final inning was his best; Gallardo retired the Yankees in order in the fifth, and struck out Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez back to back.
Servais said Gallardo lacked the aggression he had shown in four bullpen outings since his last start, but was happy the Mariners got out of him what they did.
“Give him credit,” Servais said. “He did hang in there. We needed to get five innings out of him, and he did it on 80 pitches or whatever, which is about the right number for him. He hadn’t been out there in a while (as a starter).”
Pazos took over in the sixth and faced New York’s 6-7-8-9-1 hitters: groundout, walk, walk, single, single. One run in, one out, bases still loaded. So out he went, and in came right-hander Tony Zych, who promptly yielded a two-run double to Clint Frazier that gave the Yankees a 6-4 lead.
“Pazos was not real sharp,” Servais said. “The walks came back to hurt a little bit, and (he) just couldn’t shut the door there in the sixth inning to work to some of our other guys.”
The Yankees nearly added another run in the ninth, but pinch-runner Jacoby Ellsbury was thrown out at the plate — right fielder Mitch Haniger to second baseman Robinson Cano to catcher Carlos Ruiz — on a two-out double by Chase Headley.
New York’s relievers were mostly impenetrable: Chad Green (the winning pitcher), Dellin Betances and David Robertson retired 13 consecutive batters to set up a save situation for closer Aroldis Chapman in the ninth. He allowed a leadoff single to Nelson Cruz, though pinch-runner Taylor Motter was immediately picked off of first ... right before Kyle Seager hit a double to center field.
Servais described Motter’s blunder as a “mental mistake,” and, well, yeah.
“I know Taylor’s not out there every day, but when you’re in that role, you’ve got to be mentally sharp and understand the situation,” Servais said. “That run – you’re down by two. It’s not like it’s the tying run. Really no need to get picked off there. Mental mistakes happen, and they certainly hurt.”
Seager moved to third on a passed ball, but Haniger popped out to second base and Gamel struck out to end the game.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Frazier’s one-out, two-run double that broke a 4-4 tie in the sixth inning and provided the winning margin for the Yankees.
PLUS: Heredia, filling in at center field for the injured Jarrod Dyson, made a diving catch in the fourth and drove in Seattle’s final two runs with a two-out double in the fourth. … The sixth was a mess, but Mariners reliever Emilio Pagan pitched three scoreless innings and struck out four.
MINUS: The inability of the Mariners’ bullpen to hold the lead in the sixth inning was especially damaging because of how effective they knew the Yankees’ relievers to be. … Seattle didn’t have a baserunner in the first, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth innings.
STAT PACK: Pagan has allowed only one run in his last 18 1/3 innings, a stretch that spans six appearances. … Gamel’s hitting streak is now at 10 games. … The Yankees have won 13 of their last 15 games in Seattle.
QUOTABLE: “They’ve got a good club. We’ve got a good club. Today was a big game. Would have been nice to hang on to that lead and get out of here with a split. But we’ve got to get back to winning series. That’s been the focus here in the second half – win the series, keep winning series, and see where we’re at once we get into August. Unfortunately we didn’t get it done, but we’ll get back after it tomorrow.” – Servais
Christian Caple: 253-597-8437, @ChristianCaple
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It might be a couple more days before the Seattle Mariners regain the services of their starting center fielder.
Jarrod Dyson sustained a hyperextended toe when he crashed into the fence during the fifth inning of the Mariners’ 6-5 victory over the New York Yankees on Saturday. Mariners manager Scott Servais said Dyson, who left the game at the conclusion of that inning, will likely need a couple days to recover.
He wasn’t in the lineup on Sunday, replaced in center field by Guillermo Heredia. Servais said Dyson might be available in a late-inning, pinch-hit role, if needed. But it seems more likely that he will sit for a couple games, considering his injury and the fact that Boston, which begins a three-game series on Monday at Safeco Field, is slated to start left-handed pitchers in each of those games (Dyson bats left-handed), Servais said.
“Still like to have him available late in the game for what he brings speed-wise, but I’m not sure that’s going to be the big tool it’s always been for him,” Servais said Sunday morning. “He’s going to need a few days.”
Dyson is batting .236 this season with a .316 on-base percentage and 22 stolen bases, and has made a handful of highlight-reel catches since taking over full-time center-field duties in late April after the demotion of Leonys Martin to Triple-A Tacoma.
Christian Caple: 253-597-8437, @ChristianCaple
","template_type":"","story_teaser":"","owner":"Tacoma","allow_comments":true,"topic_tags":[],"image":""},{"id":"162670343","url":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/article162670343.html","asset_type":"story","state":"published","title":"Mariners trade four prospects in exchange for Miami reliever David Phelps","publication":"thenewstribune","layout_option":"none","home":"/web/v1/sections/26374","home_section":{"name":"Mariners Insider Blog","url":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/"},"modified_date":1500697131,"allow_index":true,"allow_follow":true,"meta_title":"Mariners trade four prospects for pitcher David Phelps","originating_url":"http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/article162670343.html","meta_description":"The Seattle Mariners have acquired right-handed reliever David Phelps from the Miami Marlins in exchange for four prospects, the club announced Thursday morning.","published_date":1500569763,"thumbnail":"https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-insider-blog/2m9f4g/picture162681623/alternates/LANDSCAPE_768/david_phelps","keywords":"Seattle, Mariners, trade, David Phelps, Brayan Hernandez, Jerry Dipoto, deadline","access_tags":["matbasic"],"additional_sections":["26374","7103","26329"],"credit":"","dateline":"","summary":"The Seattle Mariners have acquired right-handed reliever David Phelps from the Miami Marlins in exchange for four prospects, the club announced Thursday morning.","content":"
The Seattle Mariners have acquired right-handed reliever David Phelps from the Miami Marlins in exchange for four prospects, the club announced Thursday morning.
The Mariners will send 19-year-old, minor-league outfielder Brayan Hernandez, along with minor-league pitchers Brandon Miller, Pablo Lopez and Lukas Schiraldi to the Marlins in exchange for Phelps, a 30-year-old right-hander who is 2-4 this season with a 3.45 ERA in 44 appearances.
Phelps, who began his career with the New York Yankees, has as 28-32 career record in 218 appearances and 64 starts in six seasons.
“David was a target player for us headed into the deadline period,” Mariners manager Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. “The quality of his work, particularly over the past two years in the bullpen, in addition to his versatility (including his background as starter) made him very attractive to us. He fits our roster very well and is controllable through the 2018 season.”
MLB.com ranks Hernandez the No. 6 prospect in the Mariners organization. In 31 games this season with Short-A Everett, he was batting .252 with two home runs and 15 RBI.
Lopez and Schiraldi spent this season in High-A Modesto. Miller was 9-4 with a 3.65 ERA in 18 starts with Low-A Clinton.
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Ten dates for Mariners fans to note during the second half of a season on the brink:
July 15: A Saturday night game in Chicago against the White (Flag) Sox, who this week traded left-handed ace Jose Quintana to the Cubs for a package of coveted prospects. The Mariners should be in position to win this three-game series against a team that’s already surrendered, but they haven’t exactly dominated inferior competition.
Seattle’s first-half record versus clubs that went into the break below .500 was 21-19. That’s called underachieving.
July 20: The opener of a weekend series aginst the Yankees and, more specifically, the legend that is Aaron Judge. It won’t be the slugger’s first visit to Seattle. A few days after his promotion from Triple-A last season, Judge played three late-August games at Safeco Field, where he went 2-for-10 and generally looked like a rookie not yet ready for prime time.
Judge no longer resembles that person. If the weather conditions are right – hot, with a breeze to his back – it is conceivable he could become the first Major League hitter to blast a ball over the left-field bleachers at Safeco.
July 26: The Red Sox are in town, which means the Mariners get to play the role of visitors wearing home uniforms. They’re familiar with the drill, thanks to our dear friends from western Canada.
Last month, the ratio of Jays-to-M’s fans at Safeco Field was, oh, maybe 9-1. Although the Red Sox Nation takeover won’t be quite as pronounced, be prepared for the eerie sound of a crowd in Seattle booing the Mariners pitcher trying to keep a baserunner at first close to the bag.
July 31: The non-waiver trade deadline expires at 1 p.m. PDT. Because the Mariners’ farm system lacks the kind of trading chips the Cubs used to acquire Quintana, general manager Jerry Dipoto isn’t expected to swing a blockbuster trade for an impact starter.
Then again, Dipoto wasn’t expected to swing a blockbuster trade last Thanksgiving Eve, either.
August 1: First day of the most grueling month for the Mariners since their 1992 contract negotiations with some high school player named Alex Rodriguez.
The schedule is calling for a mere seven home games, sandwiched between a nine-game road trip (Texas, Kansas City, Oakland) and a 12-game road trip (Tampa Bay, Atlanta, New York, Baltimore). If the Mariners manage to stay in contention after surviving that obstacle course, all bets are off.
August 12: Edgar Martinez’s No. 11 jersey will be retired before the Mariners take on the Angels. The forecast is calling for a sellout crowd to chant “Hall of Fame! Hall of Fame!”
September 1: Call-up day, when the everyday rosters of MLB teams can be expanded from a maximum of 25 players to 40. For those who’ve put in their time in the minor leagues, a September call-up is the equivalent of Christmas morning.
For clubhouse attendants, it’s not so much of a thrill.
September 9: Bobblehead giveaway night featuring All-Star Game MVP Robinson Cano, recently identified in an ESPN.com headline as “Ex-Yankee Robinson Cano.”
Many Seattle fans saw that and gagged, but I’m inclined to cut ESPN some slack, as it wanted to connect the dots between Cano and home run derby champ Judge. Now, if Marshawn Lynch ever is selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and described by ESPN as “Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch,” those are fightin’ words.
September 10: The most intriguing box-score number from the Mariners’ Sunday matinee game against the Angels will be at the bottom: Attendance.
First pitch is set for 1:10. Fifteen minutes later, the Seahawks will open their 2017 season at Green Bay. I can’t envision a Safeco Field crowd in excess of 25,000, but if the Mariners are approaching a photo finish for a wild-card bid, I can’t envision a crowd below 35,000.
October 1: The Mariners season concludes not where it began, only sorta. They’ll be on the road against the Angels, whose ninth-inning comeback from a 9-3 deficit, on April 9, presaged a journey similar to a lost-in-the-woods trek.
There’s a trail, you take it, and the trail leads to...
Where?
John McGrath: jmcgrath@thenewstribune.com, @TNTMcGrath
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If the Mariners are to mount a postseason push over the next 2 1/2 months, Friday’s 4-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox provided a blueprint.
James Paxton pitched through the sixth inning before the bullpen closed out the victory.
The lineup missed several chances to build a comfortable lead in going 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position, but Robinson Cano provided a sufficient boost for Paxton by hitting a three-run homer in the third inning,
\"Our bullpen really sets up nice,\" manager Scott Servais said, \"if we can get our starter through six. We’ve got a lot of options, and the guys who came out of the pen were right on tonight.\"
Six innings from Paxton looked iffy early on. While he didn’t walk anyone, his pitch count climbed toward 80 through four innings before he found another gear and breezed through the fifth and sixth.
\"An uptick in intensity,\" he explained. \"I need to find a way to get to that earlier in the game, so that I can ride that out longer.\"
Paxton retired the final eight batters he faced before the bullpen took over.
***Tony Zych struck out two in a one-two-three seventh inning.
***Nick Vincent struck out two in a one-two-three eighth inning.
***Edwin Diaz struck out two in a one-two-three ninth inning.
\"Those guys looked sharp,\" Paxton observed. \"They did a great job today.\"
They’ve been doing a pretty good job for a while now.
The Mariners’ bullpen has a 2.74 ERA over its last 46 games since May 22, which is the best mark in the majors over that span. The key, as Servais keeps stressing, is only requiring them to cover nine outs.
Felix Hernandez starts Saturday against the White Sox, and the goal is simple: six solid innings.
Three takeaways from Friday’s victory:
***Three-way punch: Some numbers on the Zych-Vincent-Diaz relay that closed out Friday’s victory.
Zych lowered his ERA to 2.25 and has 23 scoreless outings in his 30 appearances. In his other seven, he permitted just one run.
Vincent has not allowed a run in 34 of his 38 outings and has an 0.95 ERA in his last 22 games while going 1-0 with 12 holds in that span.
Diaz has a 2.11 ERA while converting seven of eight save opportunities in his last 20 appearances, which roughly covers the period from the point that pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre corrected some mechanical flaws.
***Paxton’s progress: Paxton has won three straight decisions and, at 8-3, has already established a career high in victories — a fact that, more than anything, speaks to his inability to stay healthy in previous seasons.
His 3.19 ERA would rank sixth in the American League if he had sufficient innings to qualify — he’s 3 2/3 innings shy of the standard because he missed four weeks in May because of a strained forearm muscle.
The same goes for his 10.30 strikeouts per nine innings; it also would also rank sixth among AL pitchers.
Paxton is close to being the ace the Mariners need and have long envisioned. He just needs to stay healthy.
***Muscling up but…: Cano has seven homers and 21 RBIs in his last 17 games for a robust .634 slugging percentage in that span. But it’s coming at a cost. He is batting just .267 in those 17 games with a .310 on-base percentage.
Cano’s career slash coming into the season was .307/.355/.498. His season totals this year are .278/.336/.491.
Bob Dutton: @TNT_Mariners
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Robinson Cano brought along his All-Star swing Friday night by hitting a three-run homer that provided the Mariners with a successful launch to their hopes for a second-half surge.
James Paxton also delivered six strong inning before the bullpen closed out a 4-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Cano’s homer came against White Sox veteran James Shields in the third inning on his first swing since hitting a game-winning homer Tuesday for the American League at the All-Star Game in Miami.
“It was really important,” Cano said. “This is the second half when every game means more. We’ve got to win games so we can keep ourselves in the race.”
The Mariners (44-47) limped into the All-Star break on a 4-10 skid, which means any postseason push needs to start now.
“We’ve got to continue to be consistent,” manager Scott Servais agreed. “That’s been our issue. We’ve got to come out (Saturday) and do it again.”
Lockdown pitching helps — and the Mariners got it Friday from Paxton and the bullpen.
Paxton (8-3) gave up two runs in six innings while striking out nine and walking none in a 103-pitch performance. He retired the final eight in a row.
“That’ll work,” he assessed. “I was getting my legs under me a little bit. I started to feel better in the fifth and sixth innings. An uptick in intensity.
“I need to find a way to get to that earlier in the game, so that I can ride that out longer.”
Tony Zych, Nick Vincent and Edwin Diaz each pitched a one-two-three inning with two strikeouts. Diaz got his 14th save in 17 chances.
“Good start to the second half for us,” Diaz said. “We need to keep rolling.”
Shields (2-2) surrendered Cano’s homer but, by escaping a series of jams, allowed only one other run in six innings.
That was enough for Paxton and the bullpen.
“We kept pressure on the whole game,” Servais said. “We didn’t get the big hit to blow it open, but it was a good, complete game.”
The White Sox opened the scoring after Avisail Garcia’s one-out single in the second inning. He stole second with two outs and went to third on a throwing error by catcher Mike Zunino.
Tyler Saladino then sliced a deep drive into the right-field corner that Mitch Haniger couldn’t reach. The ball hopped the wall for an RBI double and a 1-0 lead.
The Mariners answered immediately in the third inning. Zunino led off with a walk and went to second on Jean Segura’s single. After Ben Gamel flied out, Cano cranked a 391-foot drive to right.
It was Cano’s club-leading 18th homer of the season and his sixth in 92 career at-bats against Shields.
Another one-out single by Garcia in the fourth led to Chicago’s final run. He again stole second, this time with one out, and scored easily on Matt Davidson’s double into the left-center gap.
Paxton held the lead by retiring the next two batters, which started a run of the final 17 Chicago hitters being set down in order.
Segura’s leadoff double in the fifth inning helped the Mariners restore their two-run lead. Shields had a chance to escape when he retired Gamel and Cano on grounders but then threw a run-scoring wild pitch.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Chicago shortstop Tim Anderson took a base-hit away from Gamel with a leaping catch to his left for the second out of the seventh inning.
PLUS: Cano has seven homers over his past 17 games (not counting the All-Star Game). … Segura went 2-for-5 for his fifth multi-hit performance in his last seven games. He raised his average to .350. …Diaz has a 2.11 ERA over his last 20 appearances.
MINUS: The Mariners were 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position. … Jarrod Dyson was hitless in four at-bats, although he reached once on a fielder’s choice and stole his club-leading 21st base. …Haniger was 0-for-3 with a walk but made a web-gem catch on Jose Abreu’s leadoff drive to right field in the ninth inning.
STAT PACK: The Mariners won for just the ninth time in 37 games at Guaranteed Rate Field since 2008.
QUOTABLE: Cano is 38-for-92 (.413) in his career against Shields.
“The only difference is you can see the velocity is not the same,” Cano said. “He was a guy who threw 93-94 (mph). When he was in Tampa, he was James Shields. He was a guy who put the ball wherever he wanted it.
“It’s not the same when you (lose) 4 or 5 miles on the gun.”
SHORT HOPS: Two Mariners’ prospects were cited by Baseball America in its weekly Prospect Hot Sheet, which identifies 20 minor-league players who are performing particularly well: Short-A Everett first baseman Evan White at No. 9, and Hi-A Modesto right-handed pitcher Nick Neidert at No. 19. … Garcia went 2-for-4 and is 8-for-20 with five extra-base hits this season against the Mariners. … The White Sox have outscored the Mariners 32-12 in five games but are just 3-2 in the season series. … Chicago’s rotation has only 10 quality starts in its last 46 games while compiling a 5.82 ERA in that span.
ON DECK: The Mariners and White Sox continue their three-game series at 4:10 p.m. PDT Saturday with a matchup of right-handers at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Felix Hernandez (4-3 with a 4.44 ERA) will face Chicago’s Mike Pelfrey (3-7, 4.83). The game can be seen on Root Sports Northwest and heard on 710-AM and the Mariners Radio Network.
Bob Dutton: @TNT_Mariners
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