Post by jmunson25 on Jul 15, 2016 11:59:51 GMT -8
First Half Record: 45-44 (.506) / 3rd Place / AL West
Highs of First Half: The Mariners started April and May 30-21, on top of the division and looking like they might pull a first place finish in the division, something they haven't done in years. Early hitting streaks from Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz helped solidify the offense for a team that has struggled in offense the past few years.
While Kyle Seager started the season with a sub-.200 average, he pulled things around towards the end of the first half, bringing his average to a respectable .287 with 18 HRs and 61 RBIs. While he did not make it to the All-Star Game this year, his numbers definitely justified him returning the Midsummer Classic.
Lows of First Half: Injuries started to plague the team halfway through the first half. Felix Hernandez got injured for the first time in his career, hitting the disabled list and the team its ace. Injuries to Taijuan Walker, Leonys Martin, and Ketel Marte didn't help either.
Chris Ianetta started the first half strong, but ended with a .218 average, which is just above what Mike Zunino did last season. While Ianetta is still a solid player, the lack of offense in the catcher's position is still something the Mariners are facing. Backup Steve Clevenger didn't fare any better, batting .221 in the 22 games he played in.
What to Look for in Second Half: With Felix looking on the mend and the offense continuing to do its part, the Mariners need to stay consistent in order to make it to the playoffs. The starting rotation needs to come around as well, with Iwakuma and Miley both above a 4.00 ERA, something that is troubling for the Mariners. The Mariners need to start relying on players like Seth Smith, Dae-ho Lee and Adam Lind to made big strides in their offense to help back up Cano and Cruz. While it is not impossible for the Mariners to claim a playoff spot, it is starting to look dim.
Scott Servais, who is still in his first season managing, needs to rely less on sabermetrics and rely on some things that make baseball great: streaks, gut instinct, and his team. Sabermetrics, while proving to be successful, have only given the Mariners so-so results this season. While Lloyd McLendon had his own faults as a manager, it seemed like he relied on his team on certain decisions more that seemed to produce more results.
- JM
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