Seattle Mariners, Evan White.
We now go to your announcers as the Seattle Mariners take the field for this nationally televised Opening Day game.
“It’s a beautiful day here in Seattle as we open up the two-thousand twenty-three Major League Baseball season.” The familiar sound of play-by-play announcer Joe Buck conveys to a nationwide audience. “There is a plurality of things to like about this young and evolving Mariner team, right, Ken?”
“That’s right, Joe.” Seattle icon Ken Griffey Jr. replies. “But first, I’m grateful that my first game in the broadcast booth with Fox Sports will be with you and in the stadium that houses the best fans in baseball.”
“It’s safe to say that Seattle is coming off of another incredible season of growth,” Buck says.
“Growth is too mild of a word for it,” Griffey responds.
“True,” Buck adds, “not one, but two of the top five vote-getters for the Rookie of the Year. That makes two years straight with that accomplishment.”
“Julio Rodriguez nearly did enough to earn the award, but George Kirby came in and blew people away,” Griffey says. “Kirby struck out a hundred and eighty-three against just twenty-five walks with a 3.68 earned run average.”
“Those two are just going to keep getting better, but here in Seattle, the big question is, will they finally end the playoff drought?” Buck asks.
“2022 was a disappointment in that regard; after 2021 put them on the precipice of making the playoffs, they just missed again in 2022.” Griffey answers. “For this young nucleus, though, the question is when not if.”
“For improvement, Mariners Vice President of Baseball Operations, Jerry Dipoto, made some changes.” Buck continues.
“Even with those changes, a lot of fans were enraged at the Scott Servais extension,” Griffey replies.
“I think it’s hard for fans to imagine whether or not getting swept in the final series of the season by the Astros was on manager Scott Servais or a product of bad timing,” Buck says.
“Don’t remind me of that heartache.” Griffey muses.
“It is a new season, and let’s look at the line-up for the Seattle Mariners,” Buck says, pivoting away from storytelling.
J.P. Crawford is coming off of his second gold glove in three years. His lead-off spot is just a place holder until #3 MLB prospect Jonatan Clase claims this spot. Clase is expected to be called up at the end of April. He’s also part of the logjam that’s preventing Marte from being called up. But don’t expect Crawford to give up his slot in the batting order without a fight.
Seattle acquired Jose Ramirez during the offseason from the Indians in a blockbuster trade that moved Kyle Lewis, Emmerson Hancock, and Juan Then. The Mariners plan to resign J-Ram, either before the end of the season, or exercise the team option in his contract and negotiate an extension then.
Jarred Kelenic is coming off of a mediocre season. His continued growth will be important to a successful 2023 campaign. He should improve upon the twenty-seven home runs he hit last season.
Julio Rodriguez’s 2022 was remarkable for a rookie. It wasn’t good enough to win the rookie of the year, but it was good enough to finish third in a highly competitive three-way race that included teammate George Kirby and Adley Rutschman of Baltimore.
5 – Ty France, 2B – .277/.356/.480.
Ty France had a slight downturn compared to his 2021 season. He finished with thirty-six home runs, which led the Mariners. 2022 saw him on the move positionally, only to settle in at designated hitter in September as Seattle made a big push to make the postseason.
Evan White continues to be one of the top ten players in the league for exit velocity but also strikes out a very high percentage. His defense continues to be impressive.
During the 2023 season, Mitch Haniger will spend some time at all three outfield positions when he’s not the team’s designated hitter. He’s in the final year of his contract, and a trade seems imminent to make room for Noelvi Marte so that France can move to DH, and Marte or Ramirez can take over at second.
Cal Raleigh slugged twenty-seven home runs last season and joined teammates Torrens and Murphy to combine for forty-three home runs at the catcher position. He took over starting duties full-time after the All-Star break.
Taylor Trammell is coming off of a disappointing season. A mid-season call-up in 2021, he just doesn’t seem to be developing at a fast enough click. He’s likely to be replaced by Clase in the starting line-up by the end of April.
Logan Gilbert, SP1 – 2.88 ERA 17-10
Gilbert is coming off a season that saw him finish eighth in the Cy Young race in 2021. Gilbert is making his first opening day start for the Mariners, winning that honor over Marco Gonzalez.
Luis Torrens, C – .250/.336/.400
Torrens bat continues to mature, and he’s expected to break out as he enters his age twenty-seven season.
Joe Rizzo, 3B/1B/DH – .303/.356/.441
Joe’s bat is always welcome to the line-up, but his glove is a major liability when he gives a player the day off. He’s also worked on some outfield and is a strong injury replacement at this point.
Kaden Polcovich, IF – Rookie
Kaden makes the big club out of spring training because of his speed and defense. The Mariners hope his college bat and plate discipline arrive as well.
Marco Gonzalez, SP2 – 3.18 ERA 14-11
Marco remains consistent. He threw for over 200 innings again and improved his strikeout total to over 150 for the first time in his career.
Lance Lynn, SP3 – 3.44 ERA 11-11
Lynn was acquired at the trade deadline for Justin Dunn, Jake Fraley, Sam Carlson, and LJay Newsome.
Justus Sheffield, SP4 – 3.82 ERA 12-9
Sheffield regressed a bit to start 2022, but he turned in a solid August and September.
George Kirby, SP5 – 3.68 ERA 14-6
Kirby had a fantastic 2022 that culminated in the Rookie of the Year award. He earned the distinction based on an incredible six-week stretch where he went 6-0 with a 1.17 ERA.
Yusei Kikuchi – SP6 – 4.23 ERA 11-13
Kikuchi still hasn’t turned the corner in the states. He has shown improvement throughout his career, and 2022 was his best year yet.
Munoz is a legitimate closer now. He possesses plus stuff, a three-digit heater, and his strikeouts to innings pitched continues to clear 1.2.
Gerber closes out a fantastic spring with a 1.00 ERA and eleven strikeouts out in eight innings.
Smith, acquired in an offseason trade following the 2021 season, enters his thirteenth season. He is the Mariners lefty setup reliever.
Swanson continues to struggle with giving up the longball. However, he’s doing it more and more without players on base. Last season made it the fifth consecutive season that he gave up more home runs than walks.
Ramirez had his eyes on a setup or closer role, but wildness continues to plague him. It’s not as bad as it was back in 2020, but he still walks at least four batters every nine innings.
Misiewicz has come a long way since his rookie year, and he continues to be a solid source of innings as he mops up or subs in. He’s in the bullpen now, but as long as he continues to progress down this track, he could wind up in a rotation someday. Just probably not the Mariners.
Margevicius was a fan favorite after he came over from the Padres in a trade following the 2019 season. He has decent control but gives up a lot of home runs.
“It was a great game Ken,” Buck says.
“Sure was Joe, Gilbert put on a show, striking out eight,” Ken replies.
“Nine.” Buck corrects.
“Nine in six innings on opening day. That’s great.” Ken says.
“It wasn’t just the pitching; it was an all-around effort. We’ll be back with more as we talk to Julio Rodriguez, who went three for four and was a double away from the cycle after this message from our sponsor. Mariners win on opening day five to two.” Buck announces.
Joe Swenson is a lifelong Seattle Sports fan, author, award-winning playwright and screenwriter, and a director and producer at www.brokenartsentertainment.com.