I don’t know what to tell you. The fans are demoralized. The players are demoralized. The coaches are demoralized. The Mariners are a half game out of last place in the entire American League. With the collection of hitting talent on this team, that’s not supposed to happen. But, that IS what happens when you run out a AAA pitching staff. That’s what happens when you gut your farm system on the way out the door (Jackie Z) trying to save your own job. That’s what happens when you continuously rob Peter (pitching) to pay Paul (hitting), because you fail time and time and time again to field a legitimate Major League lineup.
This isn’t a This Year issue. This isn’t really even a Jerry Dipoto problem. It’s ingrained. It’s longstanding. It’s institutional.
This dates back to 2015, 2008, 2004, 2000, 1998, 1996, all the way back to the start of the franchise. The Mariners are who we thought they were. They’ve always been the caretaker at the Overlook Hotel.
A Jean Segura throwing error in yesterday’s game helped lead to 4 unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning. A fleeting 1-0 Mariners lead in the top of the first became a 5-1 deficit after the second inning add-on RBI by the Nationals; the score would remain unchanged to the bitter end.
Be honest: when the Mariners took that 1-0 lead, how many of you thought, “Well, the Mariners got their 1 run; I guess they’re done now!” Because, that’s exactly what I thought.
On the plus side, Cano had three hits, Heredia had two hits, and a smattering of hits up and down the lineup, but of course the team was only 1 for 7 with RISP. That’s not going to get you more than one run a game very often.
In Everyday I’m Shufflin’ … Players Between Seattle & Tacoma news: Emilio Pagan was rewarded for his 4 shutout innings of relief of Christian Bergman the day before by being sent back down, with Rob Whalen getting the call-up. He could be a long reliever, or he could be a spot starter as we continue to wait for Paxton’s return. Yay.
Morning game today, unless it gets rained out. At this point, I’m praying for rain outs for the next month, if that’s possible. However long it takes until guys start coming back.