Seattle Mariners: 2021 Year-End Review
Chris Phillips
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The 2021 Seattle Mariners season was a roller coaster ride. Filled with some highs and lows. This was not the year to break the playoff drought. However, that streak’s days appear to be numbered.
The 2021 Seattle Mariners season was a roller coaster ride. Starting off with some little hills, then progresses to a big loop before finally making a strong push for the playoffs. Unfortunately, this was not the year to break the playoff drought. However, that streak’s days appear to be numbered.
Mather Report
The 2021 season could not have gotten off to a more inauspicious start for the Seattle Mariners. Former CEO and team president Kevin Mather, unprovoked, told a local Bellevue Rotary club that top prospects Jarred Kelenic and Logan Gilbert would not start the year in the Majors due to financial reasons. He also shared his racist thoughts about current and former players. The Seattle Mariners went into damage control and dismissed Mather.
Tip of the Iceberg
The Seattle Mariners farm system is one of the tops of the MLB. Mariner’s fans got to see the farm’s top prospects in Seattle, Kelenic, and Gilbert. Kelenic’s first taste of the majors did not go as planned. After earning the call up, he was eventually sent back down to the minors during a 0-42 hitless streak.
Kelenic righted his ship after his return. So much so that he was a key contributor to the Seattle Mariners post-season push. Gilbert was mostly consistent all year. He did encounter a rough patch, which is to be expected. Both players are expected to build on their rookie years in the 2022 season.
Toro Trade
So here’s the big loop on the roller coaster ride. The in-season, and in series, trade to Houston to acquire Abraham Toro and Joe Smith. The cost for the Seattle Mariners, Kendall Graveman and Rafael Montero. When this trade occurred, it sent the Mariners into a loop. To put it nicely, many players did not like this deal. The fan base was divided.
GM Jerry Dipoto told everyone to wait till the end of the week, and everyone would see his plan. In two separate deals, he acquired relief pitcher Diego Castillo and starting pitcher Tyler Anderson. Both players made a major impact on the Seattle Mariners during their playoff run.
AL Manager of the Year
The Seattle Mariners, unfortunately, came up a couple of games short of making the playoffs in two decades. However, the team finished with a record of 90-72 second best in the AL West. And way better than almost everyone predicted. All this led to Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais being in consideration for the AL Manager of the year. Most Mariner fans believe Servais should have won the award based on the fact nobody saw this coming, and the team was within two games of the playoffs despite having a minus 51 run differential. Add in the team was +91 in fun differential.
Seattle Mariners Hall of Famer Retirement
Finally, Seattle Mariner fans recently learned that longtime great, Kyle Seager, is retiring from baseball. Seager spent his entire career in Seattle. He got to play with a few other Mariners greats, Felix Hernandez and Ichiro Suzuki. Unfortunately, for both King Felix and Seager, neither player ever made it to the playoffs. Cheers to an incredible career for Kyle Seager, and here’s to hoping he has a wonderful retirement.