Seattle Mariners defensive preview: Part 3 – Outfield
Overall, the Seattle Mariners defense was awful last season. In 2020, the M’s fielding will be vastly improved. PNWS finishes our three-part series on Mariners defense with the outfielders.
Any way you slice it, 2019’s Seattle Mariners defense was terrible. Their .978 fielding percentage was dead last in the Majors. The M’s made too many errors, which is one of the big reasons why they had a fifth-worst 5.51 runs per game scored against them. Granted, no one would confuse last seasons pitching staff with the 1970 Orioles. But Seattle wasn’t in a position to give away outs to their opponents either. They only scored 4.68 runs per game.
Advanced statistics reinforce what the fans saw on the field. WAR or wins above replacement is one of the gold standards of advanced stats. It’s a measure of how many wins a team would gain or lose if a player was replaced with someone else at the Major League average. The Seattle Mariners had a -5.6 defensive WAR in 2019. That means had Mariners manager Scott Servais fielded a team of average defensive players, Seattle would have won about six more games. No team can afford to give away that many games in the field and expect to have a winning record.
2020 represents a new start for the Seattle Mariners. They are a rebuilding team. As a result, some of the up and coming, younger players are better fielders than their 2019 counterparts. Sunday, we analyzed the catchers, Tuesday the infield, and today it’s the outfield.
Missing Man
Any talk of Mariners outfielders has to start with Mitch Haniger. Last June, Smith ruptured a testicle when he fouled a ball off himself. That injury plus surgeries to repair a sports hernia and disc in his back have kept him out of action. Had the season started on time, the 2018 all-star would have been on the injured list.
The season is starting late, and he’s still on the IL. That says much about the severity of his injuries. According to GM Jerry DiPoto, as of last week, Haniger had not resumed baseball activities. Any return this season is unknown.
Center of Attention
Mallex Smith is expected to play centerfield to open the season. Last year, he struggled with his west coast adjustment after coming over from Tampa Bay for catcher Mike Zunino. His difficulties both offensively and defensively “earned” Smith a two-week stay in Tacoma in early May.
When he returned, the plan was for Smith to play left with Braden Bishop in center. Unfortunately, Bishop lacerated his spleen, and Smith finished the year as the centerfielder.
The Mariners brass is hoping Smith can get back the player he was in Tampa. Until last year, he was a plus dWAR player. Smith isn’t Ken Grifey Jr. in the field but will cover plenty of ground. He is, however, lightning-fast and a hard worker, he’ll work it out.
Cornermen
Without Haniger, the Seattle Mariners will be going with rookies Kyle Lewis and Jake Fraley in left and right field respectively. Frankly, anyone has to be a better fielder than what they had last year with Domingo Santana. Lewis made a big impact during his September 2019 call up. He can be a force for the M’s at the plate and in the field.
Fraley came to Seattle in the same trade with Mallex Smith. He began last year at double-A Arkansas, where he played in 61 games before his promotion to triple-A Tacoma on June 20. Outstanding in the field, if Smith falters again, Fraley can play center.
Reserves
Dee Gordon is one of several Mariners who can play multiple positions. He will spend plenty of time in the outfield. Tim Lopes, a career minor leaguer like Austin Nola, was brought up from Tacoma on July 23. He made his first start in left field on July 25. Until then, Lopes never played the outfield as a professional. Though he isn’t an outstanding defensive player, he looks to be average at the very least. For now, he’ll back up Lewis and be a right-handed hitting DH. Finally, Braden Bishop is back and in consideration for the 30-man Opening Day roster.
Don’t be surprised if Seattle Mariners top prospect Jarred Kelenic finds his way into the lineup a few times this year. Kelenic s the long term answer in center field and making a strong push in summer camp.
In case you missed the beginning of the series: Part 1 – Catchers is here, and Part 2 – Infield is here.