Seattle Mariners Week 8 takes: Once again bats disappear
It was another bad week for the Seattle Mariners. Their offense has disappeared, and it’s getting embarrassing.
Oh boy! Not the week Seattle Mariners fans were expecting. After taking three of four from the Cleveland Indians, the three-game Detroit Tigers series was looking promising. Sadly, the Tigers unleashed their claws on the Mariners. Then San Diego had their way with the M’s.
Upcoming is a three-game series against Oakland, right before a four-game series against Texas. It will be challenging this week. M’s fans may need to reset their 2021 expectations. This is the first year where the accumulated talent arrives in the majors. That means lots of peaks and valleys.
Jarred Kelenic isn’t walking anywhere
He has so much energy that he is dying to unleash it on the game and opponents. Unfortunately, Jarred Kelenic only has two walks to seven strikeouts. Not ideal, but not alarming… yet. Rookies tend to be aggressive at the plate when they get called up. It takes time to better learn how to work counts and draw walks.
Batting leadoff for the Seattle Mariners, he’s failing at the first job of a leadoff man, getting on base. Everyone loved watching Kelenic in his second MLB game. After drawing his first walk, he stole his first base as well. Abilities like Kelenic’s make him so much fun to watch.
Looking deeper at Kelenic, we find that he’s striking out on 23.3 percent and only walking 3.3 percent. It might be time to temper his aggressive approach a bit.
Mariners Offense is Offensive
Where to start with this beast? Recently, I suggested that hitting coaching Tim Laker needs to be gone. Feedback on that is about 50/50 on whether he should stay or go. The overwhelming thought is that it’s the players who aren’t applying Laker’s teachings.
That’s certainly a possibility. The Mariners are batting .197 and are the only team hitting below .200. The next closest is Cleveland’s .212. Coaches can only do so much. If they make the right move, but the player doesn’t execute, it’s not the coach’s fault.
The Word is that Laker is teaching the players to keep the bat in the strike zone longer. In theory, this should help the bat contact the ball. That’s not happening, which leads me to think that maybe the coaches need a shuffle up. What’s Ichiro doing right now?
Where are all the Hits
Speaking of the lack of hitting and another knock against Laker. The Mariners were no-hit by Detroit’s Spencer Turnbull in Game 2. That makes twice in 14 days that the Mariners went hitless. Very challenging to win games when bats don’t connect with the ball.
There have been seven no-hitters this year already. Corey Kluber of the Yankees was the most recent. It came against the Texas Rangers. The Rangers and Indians are the other two teams who have been no hit twice this. No team has ever been no hit three times in a season. The way Seattle’s been (not) hitting, that record might fall.
Offense Solution?
So MLB is looking into moving the mound back. They consider this to help the hitters do their job. Obviously, it gives the batters more time to recognize and pick up the pitch. However, I’m curious to see how it affects pitchers and their breaking balls.
A couple of possible solutions. First is teaching and encouraging hitters to use all parts of the field. This would combat the defensive shifts and provide more action/entertainment. Home runs are great but not accompanied by so many strikeouts. Also, stop financially rewarding players for their poor production. Since 2005 strikeouts (6.3) have been on the rise to this year’s 8.99. Subsequently, walks haven’t changed.
Better days ahead
The Mariners can only go up from here. Every young team and player has peaks and valleys. This is just one valley that will happen this year. Once Kelenic finds his footing, Kyle Lewis gets his groove back, and Dylan Moore and Ty France come off the IL; this team’s offense will be fun to watch. A very bright and sunny future is close at hand.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.