Smiles.

Tonight’s article is a little different, because this team is a little different. On a night where everything went off script, the Mariners pushed through and did just enough to get the win.

Seattle 3, NY Yankees 2

When: 7:05 PM ET, Thursday, May 16, 2013
Where: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
Temperature: 75°
Umpires: Home – Greg Gibson, 1B – Hunter Wendelstedt, 2B – Jerry Layne, 3B – Alan Porter
Attendance: 35392
BOXSCORE | NWSB GAME DAY RECAP

The play of the game came off an error, excluding one reliever the entire bullpen pitched tonight, and manager Eric Wedge finally got tossed from a ball game this season.

First, let’s start with the happiest Mariner. Right fielder Michael Morse has brought an energy level to this team that is bringing joy to the dugout. Even during his dreadful stretch at the plate due to a broken pinky finger, his attitude remained the same.

No one is more excited for a big hit, and the team responds just as well when Morse hits a home run, as he did tonight.

Morse’s line drive shot to center proved to be the game winner Thursday night. Morse has 4 multi-hit games in a row.

Starting pitcher Aaron Harang was ruled out with a back injury, forcing Noesi to start the game

Second, Kendrys Morales made the best defensive play of the year, and the ball wasn’t even hit to him. With runners on second and third, Yankees 2B Robinson Cano grounded to SS Brendan Ryan, who tried to make a miraculous play instead of just eating the one run.

The ball was way off target, and Morales dove as far as he could towards right field to make the game saving play. His snag kept the ball in the infield and the tying run at third.

Third, starting pitcher Aaron Harang was ruled out with a back injury, forcing Hector Noesi to start the game. If anyone had something to prove in the Bronx, it was Noesi, who was included in the Michael Pineda-Jesus Montero trade from New York.

Even though he only made it into the fifth, it was exactly what the Mariners needed, a chunk of the game taken care of when the team essentially needed 9 innings of relief.

The relief team tonight allowed 8 hits but only 1 earned run, while recording 10 strikeouts.

Fourth, Wedge will oftentimes walk out of the dugout and show the umpires his disappointed face. I hate this face and so do you-and the umpires hate it the most, nothing ever changes.

But tonight, in the middle of the second inning, Wedge finally ranted and raved like a real Mariner’s manager and got himself tossed.

Smiles all around.

The Mariners won their first series in New York in a decade (last 2004). Seattle has not lost a series since that dreadful April series in Houston. The team still sits a game below .500, but expect a sweep somewhere this month.

In closing, Tom Wilhelmsen proved why he should be an all star this season. Some nights, pitchers don’t have their best stuff. Don’t get me wrong, the bartender can still throw 98 MPH, but his location was off and his pitches were missing up in the zone.

That usually spells trouble for closing pitchers.

After allowing Brett Gardner to single to left, steal second, and steal third, Wilhelmsen calmly settled in, struck out Jason Nix, and kept Cano guessing until forcing a 6-3 groundout.

Ball game.

Smiles.

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Seattle 6, Oakland 1

When: 4:10 PM ET, Sunday, May 12, 2013
Where: Safeco Field, Seattle, Washington
Temperature: 68°
Umpires: Home – Dan Bellino, 1B – Mike DiMuro, 2B – Ted Barrett, 3B – Alfonso Marquez
Attendance: 27599
Boxscore 

Happy Mother’s day indeed, the northwest has reason to celebrate. All three Cascadian MLS teams won, the Mariners win another series, and the Canucks advanced to the second round Chris Hansen still has hope for the Sonics in Seattle.

Try not to tell anyone, but the Mariners have won 9 of their last 13 games as they head to New York for a series beginning Tuesday. Felix Hernandez will take the mound because manager Eric Wedge moved Aaron Harang back two days so the King and Hisashi Iwakuma could pitch on normal rest. Golf claps all around Seattle baseball, golf claps indeed.

Sunday’s game concluded a good series for the Mariners, as the scored 6 runs twice and 15 runs overall. The offense is coming into form slowly but surely as the responsibilities/burden of carrying the offense is being shared by different players every game.

Here is the love and hate from Sunday.

Love ‘em

1. Safeco Joe

Safeco Joe was once again stellar at home. (Elaine Thompson/AP)

Please, do not confuse this with Away-from-Safeco Joe, that is a different person that is not a very good pitcher, but Safeco Joe is fantastic. In the second inning, Saunders gave up only his third earned run in four games at Safeco this season, earning his third win of the year (all at home).

6.1 IP 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K’s

2. Walls

DH Kendrys Morlaes has been ok at the plate lately, but his power numbers have been inconsistent at best and nonexistent lately. All that changed in the first inning. Moving down to 4^th in the lineup, Morales smacked a 3-run tater to give Saunders the only lead he would need.

Why do I love the walls? Because a year ago, Morales’ first inning blast doesn’t make the warning track, but this season, it cleared the LF wall by a few feet.

3. Jason Bay and Kyle Seager

Wedge is always tinkering with the lineup, which has become a constant hot topic for me on the weekly Mariners podcast. Why not leave Seager hitting second when he is crushing in the 2-hole? Why move Bay up when he is good where he is? Why play Raul Ibanez when he plays the outfield like a lost kid in a giant playground?

Well, Wedge continues to tinker, and Kyle Seager and Jason Bay continue to produce. Seager has been doing it by getting on base, once today without a hit, and remaining consistent. Bay only started once this weekend (today) despite playing very productively the last few weeks, but he just did his job with two hits including a late home run that sealed the deal for the M’s. Kudos to these guys playing well wherever Wedge puts them.

Hate ‘em

1. Andino and Ryan

It is hard enough to swallow one of them hitting .150 and hitting 9^th in the order, but playing both at the same time is nauseating. Sunday they were a combined 0 for 7 with 2 KO. It actually could have been a lot worse. Also, you rarely see this; Andino, Ryan, and Justin Smoak have higher OBP (on-base percentages) than slugging percentage-more walks than extra base hits is not good unless you walk every single time.

2. Schedule

The schedule has sucked for Seattle so far. 30 games in April, then 4 straight Mondays/Thursdays with a day off to start May, and then the team plays 29 of the next 30 days starting Tuesday. Feel like someone should have noticed this earlier.

3. Depth

Just a note from Saturday, the Mariners played well enough to win, but fell short because of depth. I think Saturday’s game may be a microcosm of the season to come.

Amazingly enough, this team has the pitching to keep them in every game despite a terrible back end of the rotation. Then, the offense is good enough to score three runs and generate realistic scoring opportunities throughout the game, as the M’s did in the 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th inning Saturday without scoring the tying and winning run.

If players like Endy Chavez, Andino and Ackley are being asked to deliver the final blow with the game on the line, this team will fall short, but perhaps soon the team will have good bats throughout the 25-man roster that make Saturday’s game even more winnable. That will be a good sign for the M’s taking that step towards the postseason, a place they are just short on now.

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Seattle 2, Pittsburgh 1

When: 12:35 PM ET, Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Temperature: 67°
Umpires: Home – Paul Schrieber, 1B – Chad Fairchild, 2B – Jeff Kellogg, 3B – Eric Cooper
Attendance: 18877
Boxscore

Felix Hernandez (5-2, 4^th straight W) put in another fantastic performance, ending a mini two-game losing streak for the Mariners with a 2-1 win.

Hernandez: 8 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 5 K’s (under 100 pitches for the 4^th start in a row, which is great news for the Mariners)

Aside from the most amazing pitcher in the world and king of Seattle, there are other things to love (and hate) about the M’s two-game series against the Pirates.

Love

1. The Condor

His defense alone is making this team better, add to that fact that Michael Saunders is hitting just below .350 the last week and reached base 3 times on walks in Wednesday’s game – his presence is being felt.

The Mariners have lacked speed (last in AL in stolen bases), but Saunders is affecting the pitchers by himself, and getting on base is the most important thing.

His strikeouts are still high, but his average is far improved from last year with increased production.

Stay healthy Michael!

2. #MonteroMash

The Mariners came to play Wednesday morning behind Felix. (Photo: Google)

Catcher Jesus Montero has seen his playing time dip this season and his production fail to reach expectations thus far.

Hopefully, Montero is learning to control what he can and, as was the case on Wednesday, that meant smacking a home run to deep centerfield.

AJ Burnett had been pretty much untouchable to the M’s all morning, but Montero got a hold of one in the 7^th, which gave Felix the lead he needed.

Montero even helped throw out a stealing base runner to end the 8^th inning! Sure, Starling Marte tripped, but Montero still had to throw the ball!

3. Bartender

Credit where credit is due. When a team’s closer is quietly doing his job when called upon, that means the team has a great closer.

Maybe Tom Wilhelmsen will keep this up and earn a trip to his first All-Star Game after going to 9 for 9 on save opportunities.

Hate

1. Runner on third, less than 2 outs, no runs

This has not been a common trend this season, but for everyone that has been a Mariners fan for the last three years, you are sick of this too.

In the 6^th inning, Saunders walked, stole second, and Jason Bay moved him to third with a groundout.

Kyle Seager stepped to the plate and with the go ahead run 90 feet away, Seager grounded out sharply to the second baseman playing in, holding Saunders, and ruining the M’s chance at a run. (This proved to not be the only run scoring opportunity, but it felt like it would be).

Seager may have just had a bad day, going 0 for 4 with 3 K’s, but Seattle needs to score regularly in this situation with a sacrifice fly or grounder through the holes in the infield.

2. Manager’s decision

Why are the Mariners resting Michael Morse?

Yes, he has been struggling and his pinky finger hurts, but baseball players are weird and like getting into a rhythm.

A day off for Morse is a great idea, but not before the Mariners have an off day (Thursday) and two days after a different off day (Monday)!

Morse needs 3 days of rest in 4 games?!

Morse is one of the Mariner’s best power bats, power players need at bats to get power numbers, rest doesn’t equal power, consistent plate appearances lead to a groove and power stroke.

Why is Bay hitting second after performing well hitting fifth? Why did Seager move to third in the lineup in Pittsburg after crushing in the 2-hole? Manager Eric Wedge is beginning to frustrate me.

3. 1^st inning runs against

3 games in a row, the last game in Toronto and two games in Pittsburg, the Mariners starting pitcher have allowed a run in the 1^st inning.

It is not a great way to start the game.

Even though opposing lineups orchestrate their lineups to have success the first time through, it is better for the Mariners to keep the scoring down early to give the offense a chance.

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Seattle 4, Toronto 0
When: 7:07 PM ET, Friday, May 3, 2013
Where: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Temperature: Indoors
Umpires: Home – Jim Joyce, 1B – Ed Hickox, 2B – Lance Barksdale, 3B – Cory Blaser
Attendance: 23779
Boxscore

Felix Hernandez is the king of Seattle baseball, but going into the night, Felix was second on his team in ERA to “prince” Hisashi Iwakuma. That would end Friday night.

The king went 8 strong innings without giving up a run, giving up 5 scattered hits while striking out 7 Blue Jays. Whenever Toronto wasn’t succumbing to a third strike changeup, slider or two-seam fastball, they were grounding out to Kyle Seager, who seemed to be a part of every defensive play.

If defense is no longer enough to earn a paycheck in Seattle, then let me introduce you to young Kyle Seager, who is the actual hope for the future of Seattle. After a 3 for 4 evening with a home run (4) and two RBI (15), Seager raised his numbers to .304/.365/.513.

The surprise of Jason Bay has been incredibly delightful

The breakthrough from Seager and re-addition of Michael Saunders has invigorated a Mariners offense that was sputtering because of injuries. Since Saunders returned from injury and handed the leadoff spot, he has reached base 6 times and scored 6 runs and the Mariners are 3-1 in that time.

The Mariners one loss this week? Saunders was 0 for 5.

Bats Heating UP

M’s fans are receiving a rare glimpse of what it looks like to have good pitching alongside good hitting. With the top 5 hitters in the lineup playing at major league levels (yes that was a crack at some of the Mariners lineups the last few years), the team is beginning to look like a solid team.

Michael Morse new power streak means that his finger finally feels better, and Kendrys Morales continues to be an above average producer (even with a low BA at .259) getting on base at a .355 clip.

It would be great if Morales could stop grounding into double plays, of which he leads the league.

The surprise of Jason Bay has been incredibly delightful, after hitting a home run Friday, his .279/.375/.475 splits have been a difference maker for the offense. If Dustin Ackley can continue to (quietly) hit and get on base, this offense may indeed make the improvement anticipated all offseason.

More Felix

Felix won his third game in a row and has four wins already this season. His ERA was lowered to 1.60, just beating out Iwakuma’s 1.67. Unfortunately, the Mariners third best starting pitcher’s ERA belongs to Joe Saunders at 5.25.

Felix last 4 starts (Det, Hou, LAA, Tor): 30 IP, 20 H, 2 BB, 2 ER, 35 K’s. That is awesome. The Mariners recorded their 5^th shutout of the season behind Hernandez and Tom Wilhelmsen in the 9^th.

Mariners won their 7^th game to start a series this season, they are searching for their third series win tomorrow and Sunday.

Mariners play early next two games, 10 AM starts!

Go M’s.

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Seattle 6, Baltimore 2
When: 10:10 PM ET, Monday, April 29, 2013
Where: Safeco Field, Seattle, Washington
Temperature: Indoors
Umpires: Home – Alan Porter, 1B – Greg Gibson, 2B – Hunter Wendelstedt, 3B – Mike Estabrook
Attendance: 9818
Boxscore

The Mariners came into Monday’s game full of confidence after winning their first series of the year and have now won three in a row for the first time this season. Things are looking better for the M’s, both in plate production and the final on the scoreboard. Imagine the possibilities if we could beat Houston.

Seattle has now won 6 opening series games, and yet winning the series has proven difficult. This series will be a good measuring stick to see where the Mariners are after one month of baseball.

Love ‘em

1. SafeCo Joe

Please pitch Joe Saunders in SafeCo only! SafeCo Joe is amazing at home, with only one mistake in the 4^th (a Matt Wieters two-run home run), Saunders ended up going the distance giving the bullpen a much-needed rest.

9 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K’s

2. Michael Saunders

Yes, he crushed a home run in the first inning off a left-handed pitcher. Yes, he played great in CF, adding something Endy Chavez just can’t (an extra foot of height). But the best part of having Saunders back was the speed. On Kyle Seager’s first triple of the season, Saunders scored from first.

The Mariners are last in SB’s so far, hopefully Saunders can steal some bags at the top of the order.

3. Hits

Going into the game, the Mariners were 7^th in hits in the AL, adding 11 more Monday. Resurgent play from Kyle Seager and a renewed Jason Bay (who added 3 hits and an RBI) has helped get the M’s on base. This team seems to lead the league in leaving the bases loaded, but unlike years past, the team provides multiple scoring opportunities in a single game.

Yes, he crushed a home run in the first inning off a left-handed pitcher.

Hate (these are less from Monday’s game and more from April as a whole)

1. Stolen Bases

Did you know the Mariners were last in the league in stolen bases? Did you know that only 4 players have stolen bases? One of those players is Carlos Peguero. This team is built on power now, and that power has been ok but not great yet.

Saunders will help with the speed of the team, but it would be good to get more players into scoring position.

2. 5 Days from now

Please, please, please don’t pitch Saunders in Toronto on Sunday. This is a serious plea. Eric Wedge needs to think outside of the box and skip one of his starts and allow him to pitch at home against Oakland May 10, 11, or 12.

I would even take a start from Hector Noesi or Blake Beavan than Saunders on the road!

3. Schedule

The Mariners have had one day off in April-just one. This makes Saunders complete game so vital for the improvement of the team. Rest goes a long way for both the pitching staff and a young group of players trying to find their way. Thursday is the teams second off day of the year, which should bode well for the team heading east.

Notes:

Monday’s win was the first game at SafeCo Field with less than 10,000 people in attendance.

In AAA, Mike Zunino recorded his first hit at home this season (a triple).

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Seattle 6, LA Angels 0
When: 10:10 PM ET, Thursday, April 25, 2013
Where: Safeco Field, Seattle, Washington
Temperature: 66°
Umpires: Home – Marty Foster, 1B – Scott Barry, 2B – Wally Bell, 3B – Mike Everitt
Attendance: 13000
Boxscore

Behind strong performances from young studs…

A beautiful day in Seattle could only be followed by an amazing night on the diamond, but the moon shot in the third inning surprised everyone. In his first plate appearance of the season, OF Carlos Peguero hit the third-longest home run in SafeCo history (estimate 452 ft), giving the M’s a lead they never relinquished.

SP Brandon Maurer (2-3, 5.61 ERA) had his third solid performance on a row and was rewarded with the win.

6.1 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 1 BB and 6 K’s

Maurer’s 7 hits allowed seems like a lot, but no Angel hitter had more than one hit, and Maurer only gave up singles. Maurer got two double plays and used his power best with runners on base, striking out the inning and leaving runners on base.

Carlos Peguero hit the third-longest home run in SafeCo history

After two miserable starts to the season, Maurer has improved immensely and proven why manager Eric Wedge gave him a spot in the rotation.

Maurer’s last 3 starts: 19 IP, 14 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, and 13 K’s

Speaking of improvement, the Mariners threatened early and often Thursday night. Endy Chavez recorded three hits leading off, and the Mariners had 11 hits and 2 walks en route to scoring 6 runs.

The offensive stars of the night were Kyle Seager and Jason Bay, who produced five of the six RBI. Seager extended his hit streak to 14 games with 3 base hits, including a two-run home run.

Bay performed well with the bases loaded with a two-run single in the seventh.

Seager performed well Thursday in honor of his wife’s birthday. If not for Twitter, I would never have known this.

Carlos Peguero was not the unanimous choice for the call up to replace Franklin Gutierrez after he was placed on the 15-day DL. Many people, including this writer, clamored for Eric Thames, loudly.

Although one home run, no matter how monstrous, does not change everything, it was intriguing to see the Angels walk someone that was in AAA days before to load the bases.

Yes, the situation called for it to induce a double-play grounder, but it just as regularly happens that the minor leaguer gets pitched too anyway.

The respect the Angels showed for Peguero’s raw power and easy ability to get any ball lifted (for either a HR or a sac fly) is worth noting in the future if he stays with the club.

Bartender cleaned up the place, even in non-save situations Tom Wilhelmsen has been money in the 9^th for Seattle.

Go M’s

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Houston 3, Seattle 2
When: 8:10 PM ET, Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
Temperature: Indoors
Umpires: Home – Chris Guccione, 1B – Tom Hallion, 2B – Phil Cuzzi, 3B – Ron Kulpa
Attendance: 13929

Despite another solid pitching performance from Hisashi Iwakuma, the errors, walks, and an HBP left the Mariners vulnerable. Three should not feel insurmountable a day after scoring 7 runs, but Tuesday it proved too much even though Iwakuma deserved better.

After recording only his second hit of the road trip, Michael Morse jokingly asked the first base umpire for the game ball in the first inning. This was simultaneously hilarious and hopefully the beginning of good things for Morse, who finished the night 2 for 4.

There were positives and negatives from a game that this team should win, but we’ll look closely for Tuesday’s love and hate.

Love ‘em

1. Kendrys Morales

Morales was 2 for 4 and reached base three times. His home run was his second in as many games and it may have actually left the park, perhaps literally out of the park.

His 8^th inning blast seemed to spark something in the M’s as he gave the team the ‘ol ‘follow me’ stance on the road to a comeback. Unfortunately, no one got on base the rest of the game and the M’s lost.

2. Hits

The team left 7 on base, including the bases loaded in the first, and finished 1 for 5 with RISP. BUT, at least there were players on base. Baby steps, but it is good to see the team hitting and getting on base. Endy Chavez added a double to his work.

3. Perez

Oliver Perez hasn’t given up a run since April 9, which has been his only allowed run in 2013. He has 10 K’s in 10 innings and deserves respect solidifying the bullpen after the M’s lost Stephen Pryor to the DL.

Hate ‘em

1. Raul Ibanez playing OF

Are we sure that Kendrys Morales is worse at OF than Ibanez? Ibanez is really bad defensively, and he cannot play DH with Morales getting hot. Justin Smoak sitting out and Morales playing first is one possible solution, but Smoak is out-hitting Ibanez.

This is bad news for everyone.

This team needs a series win tomorrow.

Ibanez was the E7 that brought the first run to the plate, and allowed Robert Andino to miss a catch in the 8^th when every other LF would have called off the SS and caught the ball.

2. Carlos Peguero over Eric Thames

Carlos Peguero over Eric Thames is stupid. Below are their AAA stats:

• Player A: 89 Plate appearances .347 BA, 4 HR, 10 RBI, .449 OBP .587 SLG
• Player B: 74 Plate Appearances .246 BA, 2 HR, 14 RBI, .351 OBP, .426 SLG

It doesn’t take a genius to recognize that player A is hitting the ball a lot better than player B, and yet, player B got the promotion to replace Franklin Gutierrez.

Player B is Carlos Peguero, and player A is Eric Thames. Manager Eric Wedge told reporters that he chose Peguero because of defense and base-running ability. Which tells me he forgot that Peguero weighs over 255 lbs and is an average minor league hitter/fielder/base-runner.

(Also, how can this move be about defense when Wedge allows Andino and Ibanez to play defense? Seems contradictory)

Defense is fine, but this team needs a hot bat wherever it can get it, Thames should have been called up instead. If Michael Saunders is ready Friday, then Peguero may only last a few days and this rant won’t matter.

3. 9^th inning

That sucked. Montero KO-Ackley 4-3 and Andino KO. Astros closer Jose Veras threw only 7 pitches.

After Morales gave hope in the 8^th, the Mariners went down quickly. This team needs a series win tomorrow.

Notes:

Iwakuma’s line:

5 IP, 6 H, 3 R-2 ER, 3 BB, 11 K’s (only one run came off a hit, one via HBP, the other off an E7)

Kyle Seager extended his hit streak to 12 games.

Jesus Montero followed his monster mash Monday by going hitless in 4 AB’s with 2 KO’s.

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Seattle 7, Houston 1
When: 8:10 PM ET, Monday, April 22, 2013
Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
Temperature: 76°
Umpires: Home – Ron
Boxscore

After a disastrous weekend, Seattle unloads some power on Houston

Happy Felix Hernandez day feels like hitting the restart button for Seattle, but instead of this day taking place annually, the King takes the mound every 5 games.

No love and hate today, instead, let’s dive into whether Monday’s results were upward trends or faulty aberrations.

Upward Trends

1. Getting off early

You know when your boss tells you to knock off work an hour or two early just because you and your coworkers did a good job? It is a great feeling.

You know how it feels when your boss guarantees you $175 million for 7 years of work? Yea, me neither, but it seems cool.

Felix’s line: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 0 ER and 9 K’s, Win #100

Efficient and studly, Felix proved too much for the Astros while keeping his pitch count below 100 in a game.

This is not a regularity for the king. Perhaps this will give him an extra boost in his next scheduled start at home vs. the Angels on Saturday.

Astros SP Brad Peacock got off the mound early as well, but that is because he got rocked-giving up 3 home runs and had base runners on every inning. Let’s hope both trends continue.

2. Kyle Seager

Seager extended his hit streak with a single in the first, and then solidified his hot streak with a 2-run home run in the third inning. He smacked that ball into the second deck in right field.

Whether or not Seager can improve his home statistics, his road numbers remain consistent from a year ago, hitting over .300 and with home runs in his last two games.

3. Jesus Montero

Jesus Montero unleashed his first bomb of the year Monday night. (Photo: Zimbio)

Not ready to sign off on Dustin Ackley quite yet, who is 8/24 since I demanded he be sent to AAA a week ago, but Montero is due.

Although his playing time has been really inconsistent of late, when he has gotten at-bats he has gotten hits. With 3 RBI Monday night and a #MonteroMash that easily cleared the 404 sign, I think he is ready to breakout.

Aberrations

1. Justin Smoak

Smoak raised his batting average and slugging percentage with 2 hits (1 double) against the Astros, but he has been porous offensively this season. Hopefully, this is the turnaround he needs, but don’t expect it.

Smoak has always hit well in Texas, playing his former team in the Rangers, but this time he didn’t. Unless we see a home run or two in Houston, expect the same results in SafeCo later this week.

2. Franklin Gutierrez/Michael Morse

Both Gutierrez and Morse could not have started the season better, but both have struggled of late for the same reason. Injuries have plagued both players throughout their careers, and because both of them need time off, neither of them is getting it.

Guti’s leg issues are the most worrisome, as he left Monday’s game once again because of hamstring issues.

Morse has a fat finger that is affecting his play, when Michael Saunders returns, hopefully Morse can take a breather and get his hand right finally rested.

3. Power

Since Minute Maid Park opened in 2000, it has been a hitter’s park. Home runs have driven the home team and more often the visiting team as well.

The Mariners are a better offensive team in 2013, but 3 HR’s in a game will be the anomaly more than the norm.

Notes:

Did you know Houston was the 4^th largest city in the United States? I had no idea. Seattle is 22^nd.

Former OF Casper Wells is now a member of the Oakland A’s.

Can the Mariners take Jose Altuve from Houston? He leads the AL in singles and despite his small frame (5’5’’) will be a fixture in the All Star game for years to come representing the Astros.

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Since the dawn of the Jack Zduriencik era, pitching and defense have been the backbone of this organization. From the stands of Safeco Field, fans would scream, “If you’re having rotation problems I feel bad for you son! Got 99 problems but our pitching ain’t one!”

Time proved those fans correct, as the scoreboard in left field continually showed 2-1 wins and 1-0 losses over and over and over again.

2013 is now handing out new problems though, as the anemic offense has continued to surge the Mariners into fourth place, and the back of the rotation has already caused frustration and change. When you mix the old problems with the new ones, the result isn’t that pretty.

The team is changing, but the results are staying the same. The result? Many are confused as to what to think about Seattle early on. On the one hand, it is very early in the season still and the Mariners have yet to gel as a team. They had a great spring training so obviously the potential is there, but what has happened to all that momentum?

On the other hand, watching games is already getting depressing, a feeling that we aren’t used to bringing out until halfway through the season. So, what exactly do all the Seattle woes 20 games into the year and what should we do about it?

PANIC!

Maurer struggled initially to find any rhythm. (Joe Nicholson/USA Today Sports)

This week in Sports Illustrated, a fairly predominant and trustworthy source for sports information, decreed the Mariners as the next Nationals, drawing parallels between the front offices, the trust in baseball analytics, and the brass of young players bursting onto the major league scene.

That would have been fine and dandy if the offense didn’t perform like children this weekend! The Mariners have 63 KO’s in the last 5 games… 63!

Aside from Kyle Seager (who had at least one hit in all three games and is beginning to hit well), no other Mariners’ starter had hits in all three Texas games. Seager was also the only player to have a multi-hit game.

Since Michael Morse got hit in the pinky finger (which was called a foul ball by the way), the offense looks like it could use a Milton Bradley boost. There are 6 starters that have played in at least half of the M’s games with a batting average below .200!!! Led by our future here in Justin Smoak (.188) and Dustin Ackley (.161)!

The M’s have only won back-to-back games once (the first two games of the year)–yikes.

Hector Noesi has the best relief performance of the year so far, 3.1 IP 1 H, 2 K’s. That is terrible news for the bullpen. What happened to Charlie Furbush? Already a 5.40 ERA after performing extremely well in relief a year ago. Tom Wilhelmsen and Stephen Pryor (on the DL) have been outstanding, but good luck getting to them in a position to win. Joe Saunders can only pitch at Safeo. Home starts: 1-0, 0.00 ERA 0.90 WHIP and 7 K’s. Road starts: 0-2, 11.42 ERA, 2.654 WHIP and 3 K’s.

Can Eric Wedge figure out a way to only pitch him at home? Seriously.

Glad we got Aaron Harang to give up 8 earned runs instead of letting Blake Beavan do it, would hate to shake the young man’s confidence.

Don’t panic

OK, calm down, remember your exercises: Breath in Felix Hernandez, breath out Hisashi Iwakuma (repeat).

Wow, that really does help. Felix has been a boss, and Iwakuma has been better, allowing a base runner every other inning with a WHIP below 0.500. If these two can remain consistent atop the rotation, there is a legitimate chance that the team will follow suit. Consistency needs to start somewhere in the organization, what better place to come from than the top two pitchers in the AL.

Seager is about to go on a tear. Michael Saunders will be back in a week, maybe even Friday. When Jesus Montero has been playing, he has been getting hits, slowly but surely getting better and the power will come.

SP Brandon Maurer has really turned things around, even though he was straddled with the loss on Friday, he only gave up two solo home runs in 6.2 strong innings of work without any run support.

It’s only been 20 games, and it is good to let frustration out, but in the end this could very well be a bump in the road.

Let’s hope so.

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Quien es Mas Macho?

Mariners involved in amazing pitching duel Wednesday night, the offense is still the most annoying thing ever.

After starting seven of the first nine games, Jesus Montero has been reduced to splitting time with “the Shop Vac” Kelly Shoppach.

So, how should the Mariners operate this time? (No, this article is not about Mike Zunino).

When faced with the great question of deciding between a hot hitter, Shoppach is hitting .389/.476/.667 while playing great defense, and Montero is an incredibly inefficient hitter who is supposed to be the best hitter in your lineup for the next decade?

Choices, choices…

Montero is hitting better in his last three games, getting on base twice in each, but the man is hitting only singles.

That’s not true, he has a double, but he was brought here to hit home runs, he is why the fences were moved in for right-handed hitters this offseason, and he needs to produce.

For now, Montero will be fine continuing to destroy fantasy teams across the northwest until he heats up.

Shoppach has been the better of the two catchers this season (Photo: mlbblogs.com)

Is Shoppach getting extra at-bats worth delaying that process?

Montero should not catch every game, but instead of resting every 5^th day with a planned pitcher for Shoppach, the exchange has become every other day.

Watching Felix Hernandez pitch Wednesday night was a thing of beauty, watching Montero try to handle those pitches was even more exciting to watch.

Should Shoppach get more innings?

Shoppach is a far superior catcher, but should not be in there every day.

Compromise; please let the far superior catcher play defensively for the best pitcher in the rotation and maybe the world (Hernandez), and then spell Montero on day games throughout the year.

Hot hitting or not, Montero needs to be in the lineup, because the M’s need that train rolling more than anything else.

Hernandez’ numbers need to be noted:

8 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, 0 ER and 12 K’s on Wednesday night. But once again, not enough for him to get his 100th career victory.

The run given up on his watch was unearned, but the way he and Max Scherzer matched each other pitch-for-pitch was amazing to watch.

Neither received the award of a decision.

Editors note: The game finally ended in the 14th inning as the Tigers beat the Mariners 2-1. The M’s went for the win, which was nice, but Justin Smoak was thrown out trying to score off of Dustin Ackley’s liner to right.

The box score can be seen here.

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