Third baseman Josh Rojas (4) of the Seattle Mariners tags out Bryce Harper (3) of the Philadelphia Phillies in a run down between third base and home plate during the fourth inning at T-Mobile Park on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Seattle. STEPHEN BRASHEAR TNS Aug. 5-Unless you’re the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Philadelphia Phillies – teams dripping with talent and teeming in payroll, a drawn-out drought is inevitable. This is basic math playing out in a league in which the best teams win about 60 percent of the time and the worst 40. The law of averages practically mandates an extended losing spree in Major League Baseball, and the Mariners had theirs. And they’re still in first place. Yes, part of this is due to a surprisingly weak division that harbors the oft-mighty Astros and defending World Series champion Rangers. But it is also the result of the M’s boasting a 3.48 team ERA, which is tied with Atlanta for the best in baseball. The only thing that’s prevented Seattle (59-54) from running away from its American League West counterparts is an offense that went from 12th in runs last year to 27th this year.
But that offense has seemed to have woken up. Which means this division is the Mariners’ for the taking. After losing nine out of 10 series – which was capped by a sweep at the hands of the lowly Angels – the M’s have won six of their past nine games. Most impressive was this recent series win over Philadelphia, which began Monday with the best record in the National League. But it wasn’t immaculate pitching that has vaulted the M’s lately – although it has helped. It’s a lineup that has produced 57 runs over the past nine games. That’s an average of 6.3 runs per contest, which would lead the majors if spread out over a season. And that’s with the (understandable) bagel the Mariners posted against NL Cy Young candidate Zack Wheeler on Sunday. It has also come with two-time All-Star Julio Rodriguez (ankle) and leadoff hitter J.P. Crawford (pinkie) out of the lineup the past two weeks.
Additionally, while the Mariners didn’t land THE BIG BAT that everyone around here was hoping they would before the trade deadline, they did improve the lineup. That All-Star starter-type hitter simply never became available, but Randy Arozarena may have been the best hitter available, and the Mariners nabbed him. Veteran and two-time All-Star Justin Turner coming aboard helps, too. This isn’t pure rah-rah for the home team. It’s recognizing what Seattle is capable of – particularly when everyone comes back. Frankly, the brass has done its part to put this team in a position to succeed. If they don’t, it’s on the people in the dugout and bullpen – not the suites. At some point, you have to put the onus on the players. That isn’t to say that the Mariners’ front office has been blemish-free when it comes to this year’s team. Additions such as Mitch Haniger and Mitch Garver have been busts, and though Jorge Polanco has started to come around, he was mired in sub-mediocrity for far too long this season.
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