Seattle Mariners: Second Half has Playoffs Insight
Why this might be a different second half than the ones, we have known in the past. A look at what the team might be.
Why did we use a picture of a smiling GM, Jerry Dipoto? The Seattle Mariners are finally in a playoff race. It’s been a few years since that’s been the case. This 2021 team is reminding me more and more of the 1995 team.
There are some, if not many, Seattle Mariner fans who think they will fall during the second half. They took two out of three from the Angels, followed by splitting the two-game series with Colorado. The Mariners could have taken both had they not gone with the bullpen day. Against the Oakland A’s, the Mariners took three out of four. The trading deadline will end on Friday, July 30. So, how the Mariners do the rest of the season may come from who they pick up.
Kids Growing Up Fast
The Seattle Mariners have Jarred Kelenic and catcher Cal Raleigh, another top pick in 2018, for the second half of the season. Kelenic hasn’t done much better than he did in the first half. However, the team expects him to continue to improve. An important note is he isn’t at the top of the order. The bottom of the batting hasn’t done well for most of the season.
So, it’s ok to have Kelenic there anyway. Also, Raleigh got off to a slow start as well. However, he did hit some good balls. He now has his first hit and home run out of the way. I expect Kelenic will continue to get better during the second half. How much better is anyone’s guess. Raleigh has shown he has done well behind the plate especially blocking balls and working with the pitchers.
Cal Raleigh, Tacoma Rainiers.