Seattle Mariners: Three Stars of Week 14 after M’s go 4-2
Star #1 – Jake Fraley
.375 avg, 1.224 OPS, 2 HR, 2 SB, 4 RBI
Jake Fraley is the reason Seattle Mariners are okay with Jarred Kelenic getting more seasoning at AAA. He’s the reason that Taylor Trammell is riding the pine. Finally, Fraley is the reason I believe in superpowers.
After the bearded wonder made the superhuman home run robbery against the Tigers last month and turned it into a double play, he accelerated to the top of my list of favorite Mariners. He’s also moved to the top of most Seattle Mariners fan lists as well. His hair, that beard, and the effort with which he plays, we’ve come to expect the impossible from him.
This week was a good example of his excellence. He hit home runs, made diving catches, stole bases, knocked in runs, and got on base often. His .479 OBP led all Mariners this week and his OPS was easily the leader as well. Unsurprisingly, Fraley also led the team in diving catches made (there isn’t an official stat for this, but if there was he’d lead it). Dare I say, he is the Mariners version of Chuck Norris.
While it would help him if his strikeout rate dropped (currently 31 percent), his walk rate is absolutely through the roof (30 percent). His .437 OBP leads the Seattle Mariners for batters with at least 100 plate appearances. Only Crawford is within 100 points of that number at .348.
On the season, he is also the clutchest of the clutch. Fraley has a .360 average with runners in scoring position, but that’s not all he’s good at. He’s batting .385 when the game is tied, .500 after the 6th inning with the game within 3 runs, and a sizzling .667 in extra-innings. For good measure, he also destroys relievers to the tune of a .968 OPS. That’s clutch.
Final Thoughts – All-Star Game
The All-Star team was announced this week, the Mariners’ lone representative is Yusei Kikuchi. There are good arguments for Paul Sewald, Drew Steckenrider, J.P. Crawford, Kendall Graveman, Chris Flexen, and Mitch Haniger (in that order) to join him. I live on the East Coast, and totally believe that East Coast bias is a thing when it comes to coverage and All-Star selections. The Seattle Mariners deserved to have at least one more represent them in the mid-summer contest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaEdooxlz0g
Joe Swenson is a lifelong Seattle Sports fan, Author, Playwright, Director, and Producer.