Last year, the Seattle Mariners overachieved their expected stats and run differential to finish with a 90-72 record, which was almost good enough to make the playoffs as a Wild Card team in the American League.
This year, the M’s are underachieving, with a disappointing 17-25 record that already has them 10 games behind the division-leading Houston Astros.
Those who expected the Mariners to challenge for a postseason spot should know that it’s still early, but the landscape is not looking good.
Both the Astros and the Los Angeles Angels (1.5 games behind the Astros with a 26-17 record) look considerably better than Seattle, and the M’s have a flawed roster by virtue of some unexpected underperformances.
For example, they signed reigning Cy Young winner Robbie Ray, and he is currently sporting a 4.77 ERA.
They expected Jarred Kelenic to build upon a strong finish of the 2021 campaign, and he is now on the minors after slumping through the first month.
Does Seattle Need To Make Some Changes?
Seattle reporter Adam Levine is voicing his frustration.
“In 12 seasons as a GM in MLB, Jerry Dipoto has made the playoffs once, and never in his 7 yrs in Seattle. This could be his 8th. If they don’t produce results, he’ll be in the same category of every other #Mariners GM who has tried to sell us a bag of goods. Still, patience..?” he tweeted.
In 12 seasons as a GM in MLB, Jerry Dipoto has made the playoffs once, and never in his 7 yrs in Seattle. This could be his 8th.
If they don't produce results, he'll be in the same category of every other #Mariners GM who has tried to sell us a bag of goods.
Still, patience..?
— Aaron Levine (@AaronLevine_) May 22, 2022
Levine’s rant continued: “If things don’t turn around soon, we’ll inevitably see the hitting coach or bench coach or some other second-tier coach fired as a scapegoat for the team’s problems, when the buck needs to stop closer to the top. I am still far from calling this thing a complete failure. Farm system rebuilt, great young prospects. But I am becoming sympathetic to those who may have lost faith and even those who believe changes from ownership down need to happen.”
All Seattle fans need is patience… and some really good coaches, especially on the hitting side.
They developed a strong pitching core (George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, and soon Emerson Hancock) and some good hitting prospects (Kelenic, Julio Rodriguez, and soon Noelvi Marte) to complement existing MLB talent.
Young players need to try, fail, and adjust.
They will be fine if they have the right guidance; but 2022, in the end, may not be their year.
NEXT: Julio Rodriguez Is Mirroring A Mariners Legend