Monday Morning Mariber is a collection of thoughts on the Mariners week that was, with a focus on the weekend games. Today’s column is a plea for the Mariners to not just win, but to win with style.

Let Us Roar

I want to be clear up front what this column is not, before I discuss what it is. This is not a column re-hashing the trade that sent Edwin Diaz to New York. It’s four+ years ago. I didn’t like the trade at the time, I don’t like it now. But I do understand why it was made. I’m overjoyed for Diaz to be having the success he’s having and, while they are largely an answer to the question “what if we run a live electrical wire through the Jets fanbase?”, Mets fans are about as relatable as east coast baseball fans can be for Mariner fans. 

This is not a column against change. I do recognize at 40 years old that my thoughts will be increasingly tempted by Back In My Day-ism, and I would like to think that recognition will keep the temptation largely at bay. This is not about looking backward, it’s about looking to the present. Look at this damn present:

Major League Baseball in 2022 is defined, crafted, and run by one underlying principle: Efficiency. Every single decision made today – how many innings a young pitcher throws, where a shortstop lines up on defense, the spin rate on a fastball, the launch angle of a flyball, etc. The modern game is built upon the principle of “work smarter, not harder”. Thanks to the various levers and pulleys of capitalism this has morphed into “work smarter, save harder”. 

I get it. I really do. As a business or a baseball team why would you *intentionally* do anything less than your best to profit and/or win games? These are the bedrock ideals of any enterprise, regardless of how I or anyone else feels about them. However, just as an undergrad philosophy major will be forced at some point to reconcile that all of creation is not going to magically Do The Reading, decide that Foucault is the new Jesus, and create a new philosophy-oriented world order in which he is uniquely suited to both lead and be considered “extremely cool”, businesses and baseball teams do not get to pursue efficiency and profit in a hermetically sealed lab away from outside cultural influences. The game needs fans, and fans like a show.

The Mariners are equipped with a deep, strong bullpen, and I get it. The game today dictates your best relievers are used in the most high leverage situations, be that the 9th, 7th, or whatever inning it may occur. By and large Scott Servais has managed his bullpen well, and it is a strength of the team. In my heart of hearts though, I find it boring. 

Give me the Closer back, Mariners. Please. The drama and spectacle of an elite reliever, trotting out to an elaborate Pro Wrestling-style production, is among my very favorite things in the game. Hell for context-free baseball drama you can’t do much better than an elite closer at the peak of his ability facing down the greatest hitter of all-time with the game on the line. It’s not necessarily the best way to manage a bullpen but with elite arms it has and, as 2022 Edwin Diaz proves, can very much still work on a winning team.

The sport of Major League Baseball has never, ever, had as much talent as it does today. There are young, energetic, charismatic superstars doing things that would seem impossible even 10 years ago. But as the sport has veered ever closer to “solving” its own ruleset many of the things that make it an extremely entertaining sport to follow are drifting further and further away. The Mets and Edwin Diaz prove that winning and entertainment can still co-exist, and I want the Mariners to follow suit. Give us a closer, Mariners. Give us a show. Let us roar.

Three Up

Speaking of Closers

On June 10th Bobby Dablec thwocked a dinger off Andres Munoz in a 4-3 Boston win. The home run pushed Munoz’s ERA to 5.03. Since that time here are a collection of Andres Munoz stats:

21 appearances, 23.2 IP, 9 hits, 3 runs, 81 batters faced, 41 K, 5 BB, 0.76 ERA, 0.41 FIP, .325 OPS against

Perhaps more shocking than that line is that Munoz ever really struggled as much as he did in the first place. The man throws a baseball 103 miles and hour, and has a 90 MPH slider that snaps through a few different laws of physics between hand and glove. 

He’s young at 23, but he’s by a fair margin the relief ace of this staff. If the Mariners are to ever have a closer again, I’d bet money on it being Munoz. He’s the best reliever they’ve had since……Edwin Diaz.

Mitch’s Last Ride

Let the hills echo with beautiful music:

There’s a lot here. Mitch Haniger’s acquisition was one of the shrewdest of Jerry Dipoto’s tenure. Haniger was a legitimate star in his first full season in 2018, and should have been one for all the years since until now. He hasn’t been, primarily due to a frustrating injury history.

Due to those injuries, the effect they’ve had on his mobility, and a somewhat frosty relationship between Mitch and the Mariners front office, I imagine this will be the last stretch we see of Mitch Haniger – Seattle Mariner. During his time here, few players worked harder to get on the field, and few performed better when they were on it. I hope he has a hell of a stretch run, and makes that Players Tribune article a reality.

I Have an Opinion on Who the Mariners Best Young Starting Pitcher Is

Look Logan Gilbert you’re cool. Emerson Hancock alright alright alright nice to see you getting some good shine. Matt Brash I don’t know if you’re good but your pitches do very evil things after you let them go. All that said look y’all:

The only real question George Kirby has to answer before he becomes an Extremely Good Major League Pitcher is the ability to handle workload. He’s been shut down with shoulder soreness not once but twice. If he can consistently start 25+ games a season he’s absurd. There’s a reality in which the Mariners 2023 rotation has Robbie Ray as its number four starter. George Kirby could flame out due to injury or brain spiders or whatever it is that turns seemingly limitless potential into disappointment, but he could also be the best Mariners pitcher by 2024. That is pretty rad.

Three Down

The Dumps Are Getting Smaller

There’s every reason to think that the Mariners have overworked Cal Raleigh, and every reason to understand why they’ve done so. While Julio Rodriguez is obviously the best story on the 2022 Mariners you can make a case that no single player has been as crucial to the season’s success thus far than Big Dumper. 

Given that he has been the only catcher on the roster ever since Tom Murphy was injured the team has had little choice but to play him practically every day. To their credit the Mariners obviously know this, and Curt Casali’s acquisition should solve that issue. And not a moment too soon as Raleigh is already showing signs of wearing down, with only a .545 OPS since the All-Star Break.

The Mariners have gotten borderline-elite production from Cal Raleigh for a few months, and it has saved their season. It’s time for him to take a rest now. Welcome, Curt Casali.

The Unbearable Likeness of Being a Designated Hitter

I feel like I have to always preface comments like this so let’s do it: I love Kyle Lewis. My God what an awesome dude. What a load of smelly farmhouse manure that a Single-A catcher blocked the plate and robbed him of likely stardom. It’s unfair, and I hope he wakes up tomorrow with a knee that feels brand new and pain free, both for his playing career and his quality of life.

That said, barring that miraculous outcome, I don’t think he’s long for the big league roster. In Jesse Winker, Mitch Haniger, Luis Torrens, and Carlos Santana the Mariners already have a bevy of players that don’t belong playing defense in the major leagues. Lewis needs to really hit to justify a roster spot, and a 59 wRC+ isn’t going to cut it. Admittedly that’s in a paltry 61 PA but, well, now we’re into a whole other Kyle Lewis issue.

Hope he gets healthy. At this point more for him than the team. He deserves a career.

Curveballs, Mother F-er, Do You Hit Them?

Speaking of talented outfielder I like who make me sad, Jarred Kelenic returned to the big leagues this week. He hit a home run in Yankee Stadium and has otherwise done a whole lot of nothing, striking out seven times without walking, and generally still looking completely overmatched and bewildered by big league pitching.

It’s not a question of talent. I don’t think it ever has with Kelenic. There’s a lot of baggage both self-packed and heaped on by the circumstances surrounding his promotion (and that promotion’s delay). Additionally he’s reportedly a bit of a quiet, introspective kid with a penchant for beating himself up. At this point, if he is going to have a big league career (which I think is very possible) it’s becoming less and less likely it’s in Seattle. It’s also getting to a point where I’m ok with that. It’s no fun watching someone struggle like this, regardless of when or where it’s happening.

The Weekly “Mariners Tweet that Made Me Laugh Most Embarrassingly in Front of My Family” Award

*****

The Mariners are settling back into the rhythm of a “normal” baseball season. The 14-game winning streak has faded into the typical ups and downs of playing a baseball game every day for six+ months. After splitting a series with a unceasingly hilariously bad Angels team, the Mariners welcome a suddenly soggy-ass New York Yankees team. This series resembles the Mariners last quality opponent for a few weeks, with ample loads of Angels, Rangers, and “Athletics” on the horizon.

Win this series, boys, and go on another run. All I want is a home playoff game, and WC1 is the clearest path to that reality.

You all have a great week. Stay cool, stay hydrated. Goms.

You can follow Nathan on Twitter at @nathan_h_b. Additionally he appears on the Ian Furness show on Mollywhop Mondays on KJR 93.3 FM every Monday at 1:10 PM with Chris Crawford and Kevin Shockey. Please be nice, he is doing his best.