Mid-season report: Mariners

sweaver · 06-24-2003, 11:54 AM

The Mariners came into the year an old team, looking ripe for the plucking. Many fans, including around here, looked for a fall from grace for the boys in Seattle. Instead, the Mariners are 49-25, keeping a solid Oakland team at bay, and look like a lock for the playoffs.

Even playing in as good a pitchers' park as there is in the majors, the Mariners have a terrific offense. Bret Boone is enjoying yet another career year, while Edgar Martinez is simply having his typical 900+ OPS. Ichiro Suzuki has rounded into form after a slow start, and Mike Cameron has recovered from last season's slump to join him over 800 OPS. John Olerud and part-time catcher Ben Davis are close to that mark, and would be over it in nearly any other park. A six-man offense tends to be hard to shut down. Carlos Guillen has been all right, but Randy Winn has not hit well, and neither have 3B Jeff Cirillo (again), C Dan Wilson, or supersub Mark McLemore, who may have finally gotten old.

The Mariners put a tremendous defense on the field, especially in the outfield. Cirillo has struggled in the field as well as the plate, with a rapidly dropping range factor, and the Mariners have to be looking for a replacement. Third base is the easily identifiable trouble spot here.

Pitching has been deep and effective, with fine work from starters Jaime Moyer, Gil Meche, Joel Piniero, and Ryan Franklin. Freddy Garcia has picked up after a slow start, giving the Mariners five good starting pitchers. The bullpen has been shaken up by Kaz Sasaki's injuries, but Arthur Rhodes and Shiggy Hasegawa have been well nigh unhittable, and Jeff Nelson has kicked in as well. Giovanni Carrara has been knocked around and relegated to garbage relief.

If the Mariners pick up a respectable third sacker, they could be unstoppable down the stretch. It's hard to pick up a weakness otherwise.

Wolf Hopper · 09-15-2003, 07:14 AM

M's have gone 37-38 since starting off 49-25. What happened?

sweaver · 09-15-2003, 11:32 AM

The rotation hit a snag, with several slumping at once.

gyb13 · 09-15-2003, 12:04 PM

standing pat syndrome

06-24-2003, 11:54 AM	#1
sweaver Netshrine Cleanup Hitter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Mountain State Posts: 8,883	Mid-season report: Mariners The Mariners came into the year an old team, looking ripe for the plucking. Many fans, including around here, looked for a fall from grace for the boys in Seattle. Instead, the Mariners are 49-25, keeping a solid Oakland team at bay, and look like a lock for the playoffs. Even playing in as good a pitchers' park as there is in the majors, the Mariners have a terrific offense. Bret Boone is enjoying yet another career year, while Edgar Martinez is simply having his typical 900+ OPS. Ichiro Suzuki has rounded into form after a slow start, and Mike Cameron has recovered from last season's slump to join him over 800 OPS. John Olerud and part-time catcher Ben Davis are close to that mark, and would be over it in nearly any other park. A six-man offense tends to be hard to shut down. Carlos Guillen has been all right, but Randy Winn has not hit well, and neither have 3B Jeff Cirillo (again), C Dan Wilson, or supersub Mark McLemore, who may have finally gotten old. The Mariners put a tremendous defense on the field, especially in the outfield. Cirillo has struggled in the field as well as the plate, with a rapidly dropping range factor, and the Mariners have to be looking for a replacement. Third base is the easily identifiable trouble spot here. Pitching has been deep and effective, with fine work from starters Jaime Moyer, Gil Meche, Joel Piniero, and Ryan Franklin. Freddy Garcia has picked up after a slow start, giving the Mariners five good starting pitchers. The bullpen has been shaken up by Kaz Sasaki's injuries, but Arthur Rhodes and Shiggy Hasegawa have been well nigh unhittable, and Jeff Nelson has kicked in as well. Giovanni Carrara has been knocked around and relegated to garbage relief. If the Mariners pick up a respectable third sacker, they could be unstoppable down the stretch. It's hard to pick up a weakness otherwise.

09-15-2003, 07:14 AM	#2
Wolf Hopper NetShrine Creator & Curator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 6,191	M's have gone 37-38 since starting off 49-25. What happened? __________________ Steve, Forum Administrator POSTING TIP FOR THE DAY: When composing a post, think about what you would say if the intended recipient was an individual who was actually sitting just two feet in front of you, in person, rather than just some far away and anonymous audience who only can identify you as text on a PC screen - - and then write your post in that manner. It makes for remarkable and sincere discourse.

09-15-2003, 12:04 PM	#4
gyb13 NS Omnipresent Brasilian Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Crazy George's playground Posts: 10,903	standing pat syndrome __________________ Gustavo NDF Moderator Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
All-time Team Teams Season #2!!!!	BravesWin!	2003 Seventh Inning Stretch Archives	14	06-08-2003 12:12 PM
More pitchers and catchers report	nyy26wc	Around The Majors Reports	0	02-12-2003 11:01 AM
Mariners T-Shirt Ejections	moose	2002 Hot Baseball Chatter Archives	12	05-10-2002 09:05 AM
Seattle M's Set Season Win Record	NetShrine	2001 Hot Baseball Chatter Archives	27	10-14-2001 02:07 PM
Around the majors reports--Aug 1	nyy26wc	Around The Majors Reports	11	08-01-2001 10:33 PM

09-15-2003, 11:32 AM	#3
sweaver Netshrine Cleanup Hitter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Mountain State Posts: 8,883	The rotation hit a snag, with several slumping at once.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)