Another world-terrible and astonishing news: Due to the terrible issues on the ground, a lot of Seattle Mariners players have been suspended disgracefully and in tears.
A number of Seattle Mariners players have been suspended shamefully and in tears as a result of the awful problems on the field.
More than any other sport, baseball can be misleading. The superior team does not always prevail. There are instances when a game’s box score misrepresents how it was played. Occasionally, following a poor homestand, things improve more than the stats may suggest.
It’s common knowledge that a team that appears lifeless is just not hitting. When you aren’t getting on base, it’s difficult to appear like you’re trying; thus, a lack of output is mistaken for a lack of effort. It’s understandable that this criticism drives players and managers insane.
Though they haven’t hit well to begin the season, the Seattle Mariners‘ issues go beyond that. They haven’t played the anticipated level of defense, pitched well, or run the bases reliably. And on Wednesday, just seven games into the season, supporters jeered the team, putting it all on display.
The game was terrible. Even if the 8-0 result was unsatisfactory, it only provided a partial picture. From the beginning, George Kirby was not performing up to par. There were very few bats. The worst part, though, was witnessing eight plays that were on the field but were not made.
Although I regret counting them all, I did. Two ground balls that were booted, two third strikes that were dropped, one misdirected throw, one middle-infielder collision, one throw up the line, and one more groundball hit that appeared to be beyond range. Even though none of them were declared mistakes, they were all playable plays that combined to create a horrible appearance and a lot of irate clients.
Furthermore, it wasn’t the first time this season that the Mariners failed to perform to their full capacity. You could even say that during their first homestand, they only played one excellent, full game. Undoubtedly, there have been some good moments: Julio’s walkoff, J.P.’s home run, a few outstanding outings by the pitcher, and some outstanding work from the bullpen.
However, 17 runs in seven games is not enough, particularly at home. During that time, they only managed four home runs, earning the lowest team OPS in baseball—.550.
Indeed, this hasn’t been the desired beginning for anyone. This is beginning to seem all too familiar, even though it comes with the standard cautions about reading too much into a slow start or any tiny sample size. It would be impossible to ignore the similarities entirely, but I am determined to allow the 2024 crew to tell its own story, free from the constraints of the 2023 version.
People who are observing can easily become agitated. However, there is one individual who must decide how to handle this more than everybody else. Any manager would find this to be a difficult situation, and Scott Servais has dealt with it once more. He has several choices.
He had time to endure it. He has undoubtedly used this strategy in the past. And in the end, it did work. In 2022, he was rewarded for his perseverance with a remarkable winning run and a postseason trip. He had a scorching summer and almost paid it off in September of last year.
However, this season was meant to be unique. To try and remedy the frigid beginnings, they had a plan. In an attempt to alleviate the situation, they brought in players who made more contact, developed a new philosophy intended to aid in the bad weather, and had open discussions about it. They acknowledged that last year’s poor start probably cost them a postseason berth and discussed how victories in April are just as important as those in September.
Perhaps it’s time to try something new? Since there won’t be anywhere else to turn if something doesn’t work, managers usually try not to push too many buttons too early in the season. It could come across as desperate. It also defies all conventional wisdom regarding the duration of the season.
But this isn’t a small sample size for supporters and maybe even some of the key players in the clubhouse. It is reminiscent of Year 3 of the same narrative. This time, it follows an offseason in which Scott had to traverse the globe to see his players and prevent discord in the clubhouse over how the previous season concluded and the offseason began.
Everyone declared they were ready to move on and forgive, and the Peoria clubhouse was back together. However, as I stated in my February writing:
For this team, a lot is at stake. They have Julio, a generational star entering his prime, and a solid core. However, they also have a restless fan base and a dubious bunch of leaders. This sluggish beginning cannot become a protracted downturn.
If I were in charge of this squad, I’m not sure how I would respond to this. There are many good reasons to stick with it, show love and support to everyone around you, and wait for things to eventually return to normal for everyone. Additionally, there’s a compelling argument for demonstrating a bit more urgency than is customary for April. This may entail switching up the starting lineup, holding a team meeting earlier than usual, or even criticizing certain players in public. That carries a great deal of risk, but so does letting a slow start get worse.
I am aware that Scott’s openness has contributed significantly to his success. by approaching and being honest with his leaders. And I do believe that there are some important problems at the moment. Yes, players are aware that it is impossible to draw significant conclusions from a seven-game sample size, particularly when you are 3–4. However, because players can see it on the jumbotron every time they come up to the plate, we’ve seen what happens when batting averages drop and players begin to press.
In the end, a manager can only push so many buttons. You can’t overcome a slow offensive start by yelling, screaming, or making people feel uncomfortable. However, as I recently learned from a knowledgeable baseball buddy, “at a minimum, you must control the controllables.” Improvements are needed in baserunning and defense. There needs to be an improvement in focus. And ideally, the runs, hits, and victories will come later.
After the season’s first homestand, everything may look dire, but keep in mind that we began this conversation with the understanding that baseball can be deceptive. After two series, a 3–4 record shouldn’t be cause for concern. However, the way they have performed should prompt a response of some kind. I hope that happens as soon as possible.
