It’s Spring Training. The Seattle Mariners won’t be good in the regular season. They don’t have enough power to hit home runs in Safeco (Mariners’ Stadium).
It’s all speculation, pure speculation. Tell me that in previous
seasons and I would have agreed.
But here’s a fact that is actually occurring right now: The Seattle Mariners have won 10 games in a row after losing their first game of Spring Training; pushing them to a 10-1 overall record for spring ball.
Whether you believe in the Mariners or not, that is impressive.
Over the past four years, the Mariners have been collecting their prized prospects, from blockbuster trades and picking high draft picks, waiting for the team to mold. Guys like Justin Smoak (acquired in the Cliff Lee trade), Jesus Montero (acquired in the Michael Pineda trade), Dustin Ackley, Danny Hultzen and most recently Mike Zunino.
Well, it looks like the team is starting to find their “mold.”
One knack that has constantly been on the Mariners’ backs is the inability to hit the ball effectively and hit the long-ball.
General Manager Jack Zduriencik made some key offseason moves to try to bring some power back to Seattle, like trading for power bats Kendys Morales and former Mariner Michael Morse. Zduriencik also gave opportunities to longtime veterans Jason Bay and former Mariner Raul Ibanez.
Seattle has found their power. Over 11 games in Spring Training, the Mariners have hit 24 home runs; leading all other MLB teams.
So the rest of the MLB nation, get off the Mariners’ backs already. While it is Spring Training, the Mariners’ fans haven’t been this excited since their 2001 record-breaking 116-game winning season.
Is that depressing? Maybe. But it’s all
we’ve got.
