Seattle Mariners 2021 Grades: Part 1 – Infielders
Now that the Seattle Mariners 2021 season is over, it’s time to evaluate the team. In Part 1 we grade the infielders.
The Seattle Mariners had a fantastic 2021 season winning 90 games and barely missing the postseason. After taking a little time to let the season sink in, the PNWS staff analyzed and graded each position group. We begin with one of the league’s best infields.
We used several factors to evaluate the Seattle Mariners infielders. They are offensive production, defensive production, and intangibles. The intangibles are a subjective list of items, including clubhouse presence, leadership, clutch factors.
Overall the Mariners infield ranked as one of the best defensively in the Majors, with three of the four positions ranking in the top ten for Defensive Runs Saved. Second base was just outside the top ten at 12th. It would be easy to argue that the Mariners had the #1 defensive infield in the Major Leagues, with the Astros coming in second.
First Base
Games Played: Ty France (106 games), Evan White (30 games), Jose Marmolejos (14 games), Jake Bauers (13 games), and three others.
Featuring: Ty France
Offense: B+
Ty France finished the season 12th at first base for offensive WAR/Games Played at the position.
Defense: A+
France was ranked by Fan Graphs and Baseball-Reference as the top defender at this position.
Intangibles: B+
France turned in a career year in his first full season of MLB action and spent time at three infield positions. The amazing thing about Ty France is that he was a 34th round selection in the 2015 MLB Draft out of San Diego State University. Not only is France a plus offensive threat, as it turns out, but he’s also a plus defender. In addition, France is part of the reason the Mariners clubhouse stays loose.
Featuring: Evan White
Offense: F
Evan White’s offensive numbers were worse in 2021 than they were in 2020. Though he primarily played during the “Great Offensive Depression of 2021” and wasn’t given a chance to hit lower spin rate balls, he still struggled incredibly.
Defense: A
Coming off of a Gold Glove season in 2020, he turned in a strong performance in 30 games at first base.
Intangibles: F
The injury that cost him the season also cost him the opportunity to be a clubhouse presence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_vs-_k8e6c