Seattle Mariners: Making sense of the M’s 5-5 Start
Some fans might be questioning the job that Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais has done to begin the year and the team’s overall success. PNWS’s own Statis wizard digs into the numbers at the beginning of the season.
The Seattle Mariners are currently sitting at .500 on the young season with a 5-5 record. They recently wrapped up their home-opening series, an intra-division set against the defending division champs from Houston.
Seattle took they took two of three from the defending American League Champions. Some fans might have expected better and questioned the job M’s manager Scott Servais has done to begin the year.
Is Servais Overusing the Bullpen?
I don’t think so. In fact, I think Servais has done an outstanding job with the Seattle Mariners bullpen. The average use of top relievers is typically 65-80 games. Here is the current pace: (Drew Steckenrider = 64 games, Paul Sewald = 48 games, Andres Munoz = 64 games, Diego Castillo = 64 games, Erik Swanson = 48 games, Matt Festa = 64 games).
The most appearances any M’s reliever has made are four games in the first 10. None of the pitchers listed, except for Festa, have gone back-to-back in 2022. If anything, the starting pitchers all getting into the sixth inning or more has saved the bullpen from overuse this early in the season. Especially in Robbie Ray‘s last start when that outing could have easily overloaded the bullpen.
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Andrés Muñoz struck out his 9th consecutive batter to open the 8th inning, setting a new club record (via @EliasSports). pic.twitter.com/HiVWpNbKr7
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 18, 2022
What do you think of Servais’ overall managerial efforts?
So far, Servais has managed the Seattle Mariners brilliantly. Sticking Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez at the end of the order is working. Not giving up on Adam Frazier at leadoff paid off outstandingly in the Houston series.
He’s even nailing the right catchers to use for both pitchers and hitting purposes, as well. Servais also moved J.P. Crawford up to take advantage of how hot he’s been. Subsequently, that’s helped turn the line-up over more often.
I’d like to see a little more Dylan Moore, But where and when?