Rebuilding the Kingdom-A Seattle Mariners 2021

[Deuce2223]

Re: Rebuilding the Kingdom-A Seattle Mariners 2021

TEAM REPORT

Seattle is just 6 games under .500 but are quickly falling out of any playoff race. August is going to be a key month for the M"s as GM Ryan Sands will need to decide what veterans have played their way into a contract extension and what prospects on the current 40 man roster are ready to make their Sept Callup and take their spot in the lineup as the M's start to look to 2022. Here is a look at the trades Sands pulled off before the deadline, the contract extensions he has handed out and what the current 26 man roster looks like.

TRADES

The big news here is SS JP Crawford being dealt to to the Cincinnati Reds for IF Leonardo Rivas and RP Sean Doolittle.


Rivas was a former Top-25 prospect in the Angels farm system, and is capable of playing 2B/SS/3B and the OF.

Doolittle is a solid lefty option out of the bullpen with prior closing experience , posting 4 seasons of 20+ saves for both Oakland and Washington, including a career high 29 saves in 2019. So far in 2021 for the Reds Doolittle had saved 10 of 15 attempts well posting a 2-3 record and 2.82 ERA.

Sands

"Well we had hoped for a higher return for JP, his batting struggles and the fact he was in a contract year made it very difficult to get much of a return. We are excited for who we got though. We will Rivas will give us a solid utility guy off the bench, who can play 6 positions and bat from either side of the plate and Sean has proven has what it takes to be a solid late inning option out of the bullpen and will allow us to take some pressure off Ken Giles as he continues to work through past injuries"

Sands wasn't done adding and trading bullpen arms though as he acquires another potential late inning option in Cardinal Jordan Hicks.

Hicks who had posted 14 saves in 15 attempts for the Cardinals in 2019 throws straight gas hitting over 100 mph on the radar gun with ease. However that hard throwing landed him on the DL in 2020 and so far in his return in 2021 he has logged just 33 IP and a 4.54 ERA.

Going back to St Louis is a Trio of RP's including MLB's Rafael Montero and Paul Sewald as well as AA CP Darrell Zuinga (17 saves).

Montero and Sewald both have some prior late inning experience but had been unable to find a role with the M's this season bouncing between the MLB bullpen and Tacoma.

Sands

"We are extremely excited for the future holds for Jordan. We know he is dealing with some injuries, but we felt like now as the time to get him on the cheap vs paying top dollar later. We believe he is more the capable of bouncing back to his 19 #'s."

Sands didn't stop there. He sent MLB/AAA OF Braden Bishop to the Kansas City Royals for RP Evan Steele.

Steele was a competitive round pick for the Royals (73) back in 2017. Like Doolittle he is left handed but at 23 yrs old he has never pitched higher then AA and will report to the Travelers with hopes of maybe jumping up to Tacoma before the season ends, and will try and make the 40 man roster in 2022.

For Bishop the move to KC gives him a better chance at making the MLB roster in 2022. He logged 45 AB's for M's since 2019 but hit just .139 after being drafted in the 3rd round in 2015.

Sands

"This move was a win for both us and for Braden. We still believe he is talented and will make a MLB roster soon, but with our OF dept, we felt it was best for him to give him a chance to do it somewhere else. We are excited for Evan. Anytime you can add a lefty to your bullpen at any level it's a good thing to have in your farm system"

For Sands final trade he flipped IF Ryan McMahon whom he had acquired from Colorado just 3 weeks early to San Francisco for 3B Jacob Gonzales.


McMahon's best season came in 2019 when he he 24 HR's and drove in 83 runs. With the ability to play 2B/3B and 1B, McMahon was viewed to be a duplicate of Ty France who could potentially work in a platoon role with France from the leftside, but contract demands from McMahon made it appear he wanted to be a every day player (6 mil per year) and with current 1B Brandon Belt struggling (.230 11 HR) the Giants were looking for a potential younger replacement.

In Gonzales, Seattle get's the son of former MLB OF Luis Gonzales. A 2nd round pick by the Giants Jacob was batting .252 with 2 HR and 12 RBI in AA at the time of trade.

Sands

"When Ryan made it clear he wasn't going to sign with us long term at a price and role we were willing to pay, it became a priority to try and get something for him. We are excited about Jacob "Gonzo" His dad was a great major leaguer who played with Manager Scott Servais and we believe that he has the potential to someday suit up at 3B for us at the major league level. (A potential/61 rated)"

CONTRACT EXTENSIONS

Seattle offers Hicks a 4 year extension worth 18 million over 4 year's.

Seattle extends OF Mitch Haniger for 5 years and 20.50 million

Seattle extends RP Kenyan Middleton for 3 year and 5.30 million

Seattle extends SP Justus Sheffield for 4 year 10.63 million

Seattle extends Kris Bryant for 5 years and 90 million.

DFA

Catcher Wellington Castillo and SP Yusei Kikuchi have both been DFA'd.

Castillo brought in at the start of the season via a trade hit .205 with 8 HR and 23 RBI in 156 AB's. But with the addition of Troy Wolters and Alex Jackson as well as Cal Raleigh looking ready to make the jump, the M's didn't really need 3 catchers on the MLB roster blocking Cal's promotion

Kikuchi was signed to a 4 year deal in 2019 but after going 6-11 in his first 32 starts and then just 2-4 in 9 starts in 2020, Yusei was on a short leash. Kikuchi was 5-8 in 20 starts so far this season but struggle in most games to make it past 5 IP, posting a 4.42 ERA.

Sands

"We appreciate both Wellington and Yusei both the best of luck, hopefully they can latch on to a team where they will get a chance to contribute, but for us we just felt it was best to move on and try other options."

[Deuce2223]

IN DEPTH LOOK AT 26 AND 40 MAN ROSTER

C

Alex Jackson (.187 1 HR 14 RBI 144 AB's)
"Before this year Jackson had a combined 20 AB's over 2 season's at the MLB level. So far he hasn't shown the hitting ability he had in college that made him a 1st Round pick. At 25, Jackson was still young enough to take a flyer on but if he doesn't start to produce soon, his career will be as a backup"

Tony Wolters (.235 2 HR 12 RBI, 119 AB's)
Wolters biggest value is that he bats from the leftside making him a ideal for a platoon role. He has never logged more then 349 AB's in a year and that was in 2019 when he hit .262 and drove in 62 runs.

*(DFA) Wellington Castillo (.205 8 HR 23 RBI, 156 AB's)
Castillo was just DFA , he could potentially go to AAA for the remainder of the season if he clears waivers.

*(40-Man) Cal Raleigh (.282 7 HR 37 RBI, 255 AB's in AAA)
Raleigh so far has hit well enough to earn a September callup and will most likely finish the season as the everyday catcher, as the M"s look to move forward with the the 23 yr old as their fulltime guy in 2022.

1B

Ryan Braun (.278 25 HR 76 RBI)
Braun has been the MVP this season, and could very well have played himself into a new contract in 2022 either here in Seattle as a 1B/DH or with someone else.
Kris Bryant (.277 15 HR 61 RBI, 364 AB's)
Bryant has played 1B with White on the DL with Braun moving to DH most games. Signed to a new 5 year contract, Bryant will most likely continue his role of 1B/3B/DH and even OF for this contract and could potentially stick around longer as a fulltime DH.

*(DL) Evan White (.267 4 HR 10 RBI 105 AB's)
White is considered the M's future 1Bagger, but injuries have derailed his career thus far. He will miss all of July with a Herniated Disc but should return to the roster mid August or maybe wait to September when the rosters expand.


2B

Ty France (.248 17 HR 43 RBI 318 AB's)
France is stated as a 3B on the roster but he has also logged innings at 1B/DH and has pretty much settled in as the everyday 2B with Dylan Moore moving to SS after the Crawford trade. with Bryant on the roster and Kyle Seager playing well enough to warrant a new contract, France's future could be at 2B.

Shed Long JR (.187 16 AB's)
Long spent most of the season on the DL but has rejoined the club in the past 2 weeks logging 16 AB's. With the ability to run, and play 2B/3B and OF, Long has a future as a bench bat from the leftside.

SS

Dylan Moore (.235 9 HR 35 RBI, 13 SB's)
Moore started the year as the team's starting 2B, but moved to a utility role bouncing around at every position expect catcher. Now with Crawford in a Red's uni, he has settled in as the everyday SS the past 2 weeks.

Leonardo Rivas (.250 12 AB's)
Rivas like Moore can pretty much play any position minus 1B/C. As a switch hitter who can run, he should be to find a spot on the roster for the remainder of the season.

*(DL) Donnie Walton (.271 1 HR 7 RBI, 85 AB's)
Walton has been on the 60 day DL for the past 2 months, but is scheduled to come off next week. Before his injury he showed potential to be the everyday SS.

* (40-Man) Noelvi Marte (.243 8 HR 31 RBI, 9 SB's)
Marte was a AAA All-Star despite just being 18. If Walton/Moore can hold down the every day job, look for the M's to give Marte a shot in September to earn the job in 2022.

3B

Kyle Seager (.297 14 HR 46 RBI, 310 AB's)
Seager is playing for his next contract. The question is how much and how long do the M's want to invest in their current Team Captain, or will Seager be tempted to try Free Agency and end his career outside a Mariner uniform.

( See Bryant/France/Moore/Walton)

OF

Yoenis Cespedes (.346 17 HR 51 RBI 245 AB's)
Cespedes was originally signed to DH, but has move to the LF and played well logging just 2 errors and 80 PO. At a 2.7 WAR he is currently one of the most valued Mariner.

Kyle Lewis (.265 8 HR 30 RBI 219 AB's)
Lewis has battled a few injuries this season but is still considered a future star for this team and a player to build around.

Mitch Haniger (.281 18 HR 43 RBI 7 SB's)
Haniger played his way into a 5 year extension. He will most likely stay in RF for at least the next 2 seasons but probably move to DH to make room for Julio Rodriguez.

Taylor Trammell (.268 4 HR 15 RBI 7 SB's, 164 AB's)
Well Kelenic and Rodriguez are considered more highly rated prospects, Trammell is the first to make the big league club and stick. One of the fastest players on the team, Trammell could be a ideal candidate for a leadoff spot if the M's could find him a fullitme job in the OF.

* (FA signing) Emilo Bonifacio (just signed/No stats)
Bonifacio has yet to log a AB's but was signed to a 1 year deal to provide some bench help and mentor young guy's like Trammell and Rivas.

* (40-Man)Jared Kelenic (.224 5 HR 20 RBI, 156 AB's in AAA)
Kelenic has struggled with injuries this season but should receive a Sept callup and is considered to be the everyday LF in 2022.

* (40 Man) Julio Rodriguez (.287 12 HR 43 RBI, 13 SB's in AAA)
Rodriquez is just 18 but has hit so well in Tacoma that he was added to the 40 man roster. He will see action in Sept and should he hit well enough could push his way into a OF/DH role in 2022.

STARTING ROTATION


Marco Gonzales (18 starts, 5-7 4.25 ERA)
Considered to be the #1, Gonzo has missed some time being hurt but is still on pace to log a career high in starts in IP.

James Paxton (21 starts, 126 IP 7-7 3.86 ERA)
Paxton has done 1 of 2 things. He has either pitched well enough to get a new deal from the Mariners or he has pitched well enough to price himself out of the M's plan's in 2022 and will once again try and new team.

Kendall Graveman (14 starts, 92 IP, 8-5, 3.70 ERA)
Originally added to be a bullpen arm, Graveman has pitched well enough to surpass his career year in 2016 with the A's (31 starts 10-11 record, 4.11 ERA). He is a FA at the end of the season, so will be interesting to see what type of money he commands.

Felix Hernandez (12 starts 77 IP, 6-2 record 3.04 ERA)
The King actually has the best win % and ERA of all 5 starters, and pitched well enough to earn him a additional year on his contract for another 4 mil. At age 34, most expect he would retire as a Mariner after flirting with joining other team.s

Justus Sheffield (14 starts 88 IP, 6-9 record 6.55 ERA)
Originally was expected to be the team's #3, but was demoted to the bullpen for 13 games. At 24 yr old he still has time to get better and be a front line starter.

*(DFA) Yusei Kikuchi (20 starts 110 IP, 5-8 record 4.42 ERA)
Kikuchi pitched well to start the season but has lost his past 5 games and hasn't pitched past the 5 IP mark in any of them. He has been DFA, with a 14.3 million contract, the M's don't plan on resigning him and figured why not make room for one of the guy's on the 40 man come Sept.

*(40-Man) Logan Gilbert (19 starts 105 IP, 8-3 record 3.93 ERA)
Gilbert is pitching like a future #1. Look for him to take a spot in the rotation come Sept and keep it moving forward.

BULLPEN

16 Spots from the 40 man roster are bullpen arms, with 7 of them already at the MLB level.

Domingo Tapia (32 games, 35 IP, 5-1 record 3.28 ERA)
Tapia has been pretty lights out this season posting 5 wins, earning a contract extension through 2026.

Wyatt Mills (24 games, 26.2 IP, 2-1 record 2.03 ERA)
Mills has been solid since coming up from AAA posting one of the best ERA's in the pen.

Tanner Scott (28 games 24 IP, 1-2 record 4 BS, 8.25 ERA)
Scott is currently signed through 2026 as well but at 2.2 million could be a potential trade candidate when teams start looking for a lefty arm out of the bulllpen.

Jordan Hicks (34 games 33 IP 3-2 record 14 holds, 4.54 ERA)
A 4.54 ERA isn't really what you want from a guy pitching the 8th or 9th inning. Hopefully he will find success at T-Mobile and the AL. He is signed through 2025 at 4.4 mil per season.

Kenyan Middleton (26 games, 22 IP, 2 saves 18 holds, 6.55 ERA)
Like Hicks, Middlton has struggled giving up HR's and late inning runs. He will need to improve if he want's to keep his 8th inning role.

Sean Doolittle (44 games, 44 IP, 2-3 record 10/15 saves 14 holds 2.82 ERA)
Doolittle has been one of the best lefty's out of the bullpen this season in all of Baseball. Hopefully he can continue the type of stats he put up for Cincinnati in Seattle against AL batter's

Ken Giles (30 games, 26 IP 0-3 record 23/25 saves 3.04 ERA)
Giles made the All-Star team and is on pace for a career type season. If he continues to do well the M's might have to consider extending his contract past 2022.

*(40 Man) Nick Margevicius (35 IP, 1-1 recored 2.57 ERA MLB/ 74 IP 6-3 3 saves, 3.01 ERA AAA)
Another left handed option Margevicus went to AAA in hopes of becoming a potential SP instead of a RP. He should make a return to Seattle soon, especially if Tanner Scott continues to struggle or a SP goes down with a injury.

*(40 Man) Chris Flexen (9 IP, 8.68 ERA MLB, 14 starts 103 IP, 5-7 record 3.58 ERA)
Like Margevicus, Flexen started the year in Seattle but went to Tacoma to learn how to be a SP. Look for him to make some starts in September and challenge for the 5th SP role in 2022.

* (40 Man) Erik Swanson (29 IP, 1-1 record 1/3 saves 3 holds, 3.68 ERA, 30 IP 5.38 ERA)
A swing man who can start but also be a decent arm out of the bullpen. He has struggled in AAA giving up the long ball (7 HR)

* (40 Man) Anthony Misiewicz (10 IP, 9.28 ERA, 20 IP 1-0 0.45 ERA)
Has pitched lights out since moving to AAA. As a lefty he very well could be potential trade bait .

* (40 Man) Darwinzon Hernandez (26 IP, 3-4 2/5 saves 8.44 ERA, 2 IP 1-0 )
Brought over in a trade to be another lefty option he has struggled and was recently demoted. He is signed through 2023 but could be a trade chip, if he doesn't get better

* (40 Man) Casey Sadler (80 IP, 1-5 record 3.47 ERA)
Was recently sent down to AAA, when the M's added Bonfi to the bench. He will be back in Sept if not sooner.

* (40 Man) Aaron Fletcher (11 IP, 5 holds 0.77 ERA)
Has been hurt most of the season. Another lefty option, he is only 23 and signed for the next 3 years.

* (40 Man) Andrews Munoz (33 IP, 23/24 saves, 1.36 ERA)
Only 21, he is a top pitching prospect who is currently the Closer in AAA and will get his shot at the big leagues soon... Could take over for Giles in 2024 or sooner if Giles turns into a trade piece.

* (40 Man) Yohan Ramirez (3 IP 13.50 ERA AAA)
He logged 20 IP and 3 saves in 2020 in Seattle, but has been hurt most of the year. He needs to get healthy and put in some work in AAA, before Sept so he can make a future impact , At 25 his time might have passed and the M's might want to consider making him a trade piece.

[Deuce2223]

Re: Rebuilding the Kingdom-A Seattle Mariners 2021

M'S WIN 7 IN A ROW!!

Seattle closed out July on a losing 10 of their last 12 including a 6 game losing streak but flipped a switch in August winning their first 6 games to improve to (56-57) on the season.


Seattle started off the 6 game win streak beating Texas in the final game of a 3 game series with the Rangers 10-3.

Taylor Trammel went 4/5 at the plate and scored 3 runs, Kris Bryant drove in 4 runs going 2/4 at the plate and Ryan Braun added a solo HR.

Felix Hernandez won his 6 game of the year giving up 1 run on 5 hits in 6 IP.

M'S SWEEP RAY'S

Seattle kept the win streak going with a 3 game series sweep of the Tampa Bay Ray's.

In Game 1, Kyle Seager hit a 2-run HR and Mitch Haniger went 3/5 at the plate with a RBI. Kris Bryant and Troy Wolters each drove in a run as well.

On the Mound "Big Maple" Paxton went 7 strong IP giving up just 1 run on 6 hits lowering his ERA to 3.72. Ken Giles pitched the 9th for his 24th save of the year.

In Game 2, Bryant led the dway with a 2 run HR well also walking twice. Haniger went 2/5 raising his avg to .286 on the year. E. Bonifacio made his debut going 2/3.

On the Mound Marco Gonzales went 6 2/3 IP giving up 1 run on 4 hits well striking out 4 to improve to (6-7). Giles pitched the 9th for his 25th save.

In Game 3 Bryant hit yet another HR well Kyle Seager went 3/4 with 2 RBI and Ryan Braun added a bases clearing double for 3 RBI.

K. Graveman moved to 9-5 on the year pitching 6 IP giving up 1 run on 5 hits and 3 walks well striking out 3. Jordan Hicks pitched 2 IP of relief walking 2 and striking out 2.

YANKEES

Game 1-The M's win streak continues with a (9-6) win over the Yankees. Dylan Moore went 3/5 at the plate with 2 RBI, Mitch Haniger added a solo bomb and Cespedes went 2/4 scoring twice and driving in 2 runs.

Sheffield pitched 4 1/3 IP giving up 4 runs on 6 hits and 4 walks well striking out 5.

D. Tapia got the "W" in relief moving to 6-1 on the year pitching 2 2/3 IP, well K. Giles pitched the 9th for his 26th save.

Game 2- Seattle trailed 2-0 but tied the game in the 6th and took the lead in the 9th.

Leonardo Rivas played RF and drove in 3 runs with a triple. Jared Kelenic made his debut going 2/4 playing CF for K. Lewis who went on the DL.

Felix went just 5 IP giving up 2 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks, Domingo Tapia pitched the 6th and 7th getting his 7th win of the year. Doolittle pitched the 8th, well Giles pitched the 9th for his 27th save.

Game 3- New York took the 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th, The M's tied it 2-2 in the 5th and then took the (4-2) lead in the 8th for their 7th straight win.

Taylor Trammell had a double and trip driving in 2 runs, well Braun added a RBI double.

Paxton pitched 6 IP giving up 2 runs on 7 hits and 4 walks well striking out 4.

K. Middleton got the "W" pitching the 7th/8th well Giles pitched the 9th for his 28th save.

Game 4- Yankees snap the win streak scoring 4 runs in the 1st of Marco Gonzales, as the M's fall (5-3).

Bryant hit a HR going 2/4, Haniger went 3/4.

Gonzales lasted just 1 2/3 IP giving up 4 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks.

Wyatt Mills pitched 3 IP of relief striking out 3 well giving up 1 run on 2 hits.


UP NEXT/ROSTER UPDATE

CF Kyle Lewis hit the DL and is gone for the season with a Torn Achilles Tendeon.

Top Prospect Jared Kelenic made his debut taking over CF. In 2 games, he has 7 AB's picking up 3 hits (.429) well scoring twice.

Tanner Scott was optioned to AAA, as IF Donnie Walton comes off the DL.

The M's are currently in 3rd place in the AL West, 5.5 GB of the Astro's and are 2 1/2 games back of the A's.

Seattle will play their next 6 games at home at T-Mobile. The M's are 34-22 at home this season. Seattle will then play the Rangers in Texas as the M's face the Rangers in 6 of their next 9 games.

[Deuce2223]

Re: Rebuilding the Kingdom-A Seattle Mariners 2021

M'S MOVE TO .500

The Seattle Mariners have clawed their way back to .500 improving to (58-58) on the season as they take 2 of 3 games from the Texas Rangers. The M's have now won 9 of 11 games in July playing their best baseball of the season, as GM Ryan Sands late additions so far have paid off as well a top prospect Jared Kelenic taking over in CF for the Kyle Lewis who is out for the remainder of the season.

Kelenic is hitting a outstanding .538 in 13 AB's well recording 6 walks. He also picked up a pair of stolen bases against the Rangers and a pair of RBI's as well.

Game 1 (Won 7-4)

Kris Bryant is heating up. Bryant hit his 3rd Homerun in the past 4 games going 2/4 at the plate well scoring 3 runs.

Yoneis Cespedes continues to play MVP type baseball as he goes 4/5 at the plate with a RBI, to keep his Avg at .342 on the season.

K. Graveman became the first SP to win 10 games as he goes 5 2/3 IP giving up 3 runs on 9 hits as he improves to 10-5 on the year.

K. Giles pitched the 9th for his 29th save of the season.

Game 2 (Won 5-3)

Mitch Haniger hit a 3-run HR in the bottom of the 7th to give the M"s the 4-1 lead. Texas scored 1 in the 8th and 1 in the 9th to make it a game, but Giles came in and pitched the 9th for his 30th save of the season.

Justus Sheffield pitched 6 IP giving up 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks well striking out 5 but gets the no-decision as Wyatt Mills picks up his 3rd "W" (3-1) pitching a scoreless 7th.

Game 3 (Loss 1-0)

The M's managed just 3 hits (Kelenic, Wolters, Seager) well J. Paxton takes the loss dropping to (8-8) on the year despite giving up just 1 run on 5 hits well striking out 7 in 7 IP.

UP NEXT

Seattle will host (63-52) Toronto for a 3 game series before hitting the road for 8 games vs the AL West (3 @ Texas, 3 @ Houston, 2 @ Oakland).

Felix Hernandez (6-2, 3.07 ERA) will take on S Matz (5-5, 4.77) in Game 1.

Marco Gonzales (6-8, 4.33 ERA) will take on Hyun-Jin Ryu (8-4 3.27 ERA) in Game 2.

Kendall Graveman (10-5, 3.63 ERA) will take on Ryan Yarbough (10-7 3.02 ERA) in Game 3.

[Deuce2223]

Re: Rebuilding the Kingdom-A Seattle Mariners 2021

M'S CONTINUE TO PLAY .500 BALL ON THE ROAD!!

The Mariners went (4-4) on the road after dropping 2 of 3 games against Toronto and find themselves 1 game over .500 with 6 games left to play in August. (64-63)

Seattle won 2 of 3 against the 1st place Astro's including a 11-2 win in Game 3 to move within 2 games of 1st place in the AL West. A split with the A's to end the road trip, as the Mariners are now 3 GB of the Astros and 1 GB of the 2nd place A's.


Here is a recap of each of the games.

TORONTO

Game 1 (Loss 5-4)
Cespedes hit 2 HR's and drove in all 4 runs in the loss. King Felix pitched 6 IP giving up 4 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks well striking out 8. Wyatt Mills actually look the loss giving up the winning run in the 8th.

Game 2 (Loss (8-2)
L. Rivas got the start in CF giving Kelenic a day off and went 3/4. Donnie Walton started at 2B and went 2/4 in the loss.

Gonzo pitched just 4 1/3 giving up 6 runs on 10 hits dropping to 6-9 on the year.

Game 3 (Won 3-0)
Graveman continues to pitch like the team's #1 Ace improving to 11-5 on the year as he goes 8 1/3 giving up 4 hits and 2 walks in the shutout.

Ken Giles got the final 2 outs for his 31st save of the year.

Kris Bryant was 3/3 including a pair of doubles with a RBI, well Dylan Moore went 2/3 raising his avg to .240 starting at SS.

TEXAS

Game 1 (Loss 4-3)

Shed Long Jr got the start at 2B and hit his 1st HR of the season, Kelenic went 2/4 at the plate with a RBI and is hitting .400 since being called up. He also added 2 SB's.

Justus Sheffield dropped to 6-10 on the year as he goes 5 IP giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits well striking out 4.

D. Tapia pitched the final 3 IP giving up 1 run on 2 hits.

Game 2 (Won 5-1)
Haniger went 3/5 at the plate, Kelenic went 2/4 including a HR with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored and T. Wolters went 2/4 driving in 2 runs.

Paxton pitched a complete game going all 9 IP giving up 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks well striking out 9 to improve to 9-8 on the year.

Game 3 (Won 7-3)

Braun went 2/4 including a HR, Haniger added a solo bomb as well. Kelenic was 3/4 and had another SB. Wolters went 2/3 with 3 RBI's

Hernandez got the win improving to (7-2) on the year. He went 7 IP giving up 2 runs on 7 hits well striking out 6.

HOUSTON

Game 1 (Won 15-12)

By far one of the crazies games of the season. Tied 2-2 after the 1st, scored 4 runs in the 2nd to take a 6-2 lead. Scored 6 in the Top of the 5th but they scored 6 in the bottom of the 5th making it 12-9, scored 2 in the 6th they scored 2 in the 7th to keep the comeback alive. Both scored a run in the 9th.

Seager hit 2 bombs going 4/6 scoring 3 times and driving in a season high 5 runs.

Braun and Moore also both added Homeruns with Moore finishing the day 3/4 with 4 RBI's, as he settles in as the everyday SS.

Gonzales pitched 4 IP giving up 8 runs on 10 hits and 3 walks.

Domingo Tapia pitched 3 IP of relief giving up 3 runs on 5 hits but manages to get the "W" moving to 8-1 on the year.

Middleton pitched the last 2 IP picking up his 3rd save of the year.

Game 2 (Loss 5-4)

Kelenic moved to leadoff giving Haniger the day off and went 2/2 with a triple and HR (also walked twice) Haniger moved to the 6 hole and hit a solo HR as well, well Kris Bryant also added a solo bomb out of the #2 spot in the order.

Graveman took the loss dropping to (11-6) pitching 6 IP giving up 5 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits and 1 walk well striking out 4.

Game 3 (11-2)

Another huge day at the plate as we pounded out 17 hits. Haniger moved back to leadoff and went 4/6 with another dinger and 2 RBI.

Cespedes went 2/4 and drove in 3 with a 3 run shot, well T. Wolters also hit a 3 run bomb going 2/3 at the plate.

Sheffield moves to 7-10 on the year going 7 IP giving up 3 hits and 3 walks.

Jordan Hicks pitched the final 2 IP giving up 2 run HR to Brantley.

OAKLAND

Game 1 (Loss 3-2)

Trailed 3-0 as Chapman hits a 3 run bomb in the 1st. Railed to score 1 run in the 8th and 1 in the 9th but fell short of going to extra innings.

Paxton went 6 1/3 in the loss dropping to (9-9) giving up the 3 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks well striking out 9.

W. Mills pitched the final 5 outs well striking out 2.

Kyle Seager was the only batter to record more then 1 hit going 2/4 and is hitting .296 on the year.

Game 2 (Won 3-1)
Tied (1-1) from the 6th inning on, the M's score 2 in the Top of the 10th to win the game as Taylor Trammel ends it with a walk off 2 run HR.

Trammel entered the game in the 7th as a pinch hitter for Seager and stole 2B, then came up for his 1st AB of the day in the 10th. Ty France also had a solo HR in the 6th to tie the game to force the extra innings.

"King" Felix pitched 7 IP giving up 1 run on 7 hits and 3 walks well striking out 6.

Hicks got the win moving to (4-2) on the year as he pitched the 8th and 9th. Giles pitched the 10th for his 32nd save of the year.

UP NEXT

Seattle returns home to play Kansas City for a 4 game series. The Royals like the M's are (64-63) on the season, but are 12 games back of the Twins in the Central and 6.5 GB in the Wildcard just like the M's.

The M's will then close out August with the first (2) games of a 3 game series with the Astro's.

With 6 of their next 13 games against Houston, Seattle will need to make a move if they want to win the division.

[Deuce2223]

Re: Rebuilding the Kingdom-A Seattle Mariners 2021

IS KELENIC THE NEXT GRIFFEY??

When the Marnier's acquired the former #6 Overall pick from the Mets in the Diaz/Cano trade, Kelenic quickly rose to the top of the Mariners organization as the Team's #1 Prospect

Some fans were nervous he would be the 2nd coming of Dustin Ackley well others had dreams of him being the next "Kid" At just 21 years old Kelenic had never played about AA prior to the 2021 season. Injuries derailed his start to the season leaving the M's to pick up Y. Cespedes to play LF/DH early on in the year, but now with Kyle Lewis out for the remainder of the season, the M's rolled the dice and called up their start prospect.

So far Kelenic has delivered. In 14 games and 46 AB's. Kelenic has 17 hits establishing a .370 Avg well hitting 2 HR's and driving in 8 runs well scoring 9 himself. He has also walked 9 times establishing a .482 OBP% and so far has 7 SB's on the year.

If Kelenic can keep up these type of #'s through the month of September maybe the M's will see back to back ROY winners in their outfield in 2022.

[Careless Whisper]

Re: Rebuilding the Kingdom-A Seattle Mariners 2021

Kelenic is looking like the real deal! Nice to see Seattle in the playoff hunt and some of your major moves paying off.

[Deuce2223]

Re: Rebuilding the Kingdom-A Seattle Mariners 2021

Kelenic is looking like the real deal! Nice to see Seattle in the playoff hunt and some of your major moves paying off.

Thanks for checking in. Yeah still hoping to make a playoff push, but the A's and Astro's are playing good ball. Kelenic so far has been Grrreat..

[Deuce2223]

Re: Rebuilding the Kingdom-A Seattle Mariners 2021

ROYALS TAKE 3 OF 4 FROM M'S]

Seattle looking to keep in the hunt for a playoff spot and stay within striking distance of the A's and Astro's drop 3 out of 4 games against K.C. falling to (65-55) on the season.

In Game 1, K.C. jumped out to a early 4-0 lead hitting SP Marco Gonzales hard. Gonzales would finish the day pitching 5 IP giving up 6 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits.

In Game 2, Kendall Graveman had one of his worst outings of the year giving up 4 runs on 9 hits in just 5 IP as well.

Mitch Haniger led the way at the plate going 3/4 with 2 RBI and a SB.

In Game 3 the M's bats came alive as Seattle scores 10 runs on 12 hits including a pair of HR's from Cespedes and a 3-run shot by Dylan Moore.

Moore finished the day 3/4 and drove in a total of 4 runs, well Cespedes was also 3/4 scoring 3 runs and driving in 5 runs

Justus Sheffield pitched 6IP giving up 1 run on 5 hits striking out 5 to move to (8-10) on the year.

D. Tapia pitched the final 3 IP giving up just 1 hit and striking out 4 to pickup his 2nd save of the season.

Game 4 Seattled tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the 6th, but the Royals got a solo HR in the 8th from Solar off Mills to take the lead and win the game (4-3). Ryan Braun hit his team leading 28th HR in the loss.

[Deuce2223]

Re: Rebuilding the Kingdom-A Seattle Mariners 2021

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M'S TAKE 2 OF 3 FROM STRO'S

Seattle will go into September at .500 (67-67) after winning 2 of 3 games against Houston as they finish out and start the month of August.

Coming off losing 3 of 4 from Kansas City, Seattle jumped out to a early 2-0 lead winning Games 1 and 2 before dropping Game 3 as the Astro's avoid the sweep.

GAME 1 (WON 6-3)

Seattle managed 12 hits on the day including HR's by Seager and Cespedes. Seager finished 3/4 and drove in 4 of the M's 6 runs,

Donavan Walton got the start at 2B and went 2/5 and scored 2 runs, well also getting a SB.

Felix Hernadez went 6 1/3 IP giving up 1 run on 4 hits and 3 walks well striking out 4 as he improves to 8-2 on the season.

K. Giles pitched the 9th for his 33rd save of the season.

GAME 2 (WON 8-0)

Marco Gonzales pitched the complete game shutout giving up 3 hits well striking out 6 as he improves to 7-10 on the year.

Seager goes deep yet again going 3/5 at the plate well Kris Bryant goes 3/4 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. Jared Kelenic also drove in 2 runs.

GAME 3 (LOST 5-3)

Houston scores 4 runs in the 8th all coming off S. Doolittle as he drops to 2-4 on the year.

Graveman pitched 6 IP giving up just 1 run on 8 hits and 4 walks in the loss.

Cal Raleigh made his debut at Catcher going 0/2 with a Sac fly that gave Seattle the lead in the 5th. Kris Bryant hit a solo HR for his 21st HR of the season.

[Deuce2223]

Re: Rebuilding the Kingdom-A Seattle Mariners 2021

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT!!

Well the Mariners are holding onto a slim hope of the playoffs in 2021 going into the final month of the season at (67-66), Seattle's Farm teams are giving M fan's hope for the future.


(AAA) TACOMA

The Rainer's are currently (66-58) on the season and are 4 games back of the Reno Aces (70-54).

19 yr old OF Julio Rodriguez is making a strong case to be in a Mariner uniform in 2022. So far in J-Rod's first season at AAA, he is putting up very impressive #'s hitting .289 with 16 HR 53 RBI and 15 SB's.

Fellow OF Dom T-Williams is also making a case or could be arming the M's with a potential trade chip as he is hitting .265 with a team high 18 HR's and 56 RBI well also adding 13 SB's.

Seattle sent starting SS JP Crawford packing opening the door for a possibility of GM Ryan Sands to target one of the big name Free Agents next year but far 18 yr old Noelvi Marte is making his case that the M"s future SS might already be in the organization. Marte is hitting .255 with 8 HR 36 RBI and has 12 SB's, well teammate and fellow SS/2B Casar Izturis JR is hitting .279 with 3 HR 14 RB and 8 SB's in 219 AB's at the AAA level.

SP Logan Gilbert looks ready to claim a spot in the rotation posting a 10-4 record with a 4.23 ERA well leading the team in SO with 108.

Fellow SP George Kirby is just 8-9 Overall but has a team best 3.88 ERA, in 141.1 IP.

If Seattle decides that K.Giles is to expensive or wants to use him for a trade chip, 21 yr old Andres Munoz has made a strong case at being ready to take over the CP role saving 27/30 attempts and posting a 1.63 ERA in 38.2 IP.

(AA) ARKANSAS

The Travelers have already clinched the 1st half and are currently leading the 2nd half as well posting a (25-18) record.

Like in Seattle and in Tacoma, most of the Travelers production is coming from the OF. Eric Filla is hitting .312 with a team high 13 HR and 58 RBI and Dillion Thomas is hitting a team high .320 with 10 HR 46 RBI and a team high 11 SB's.

SP Ian McKinney leads the team with a 9-7 record well posting a 3.45 ERA. Former Miami Marlin Robert Dugger is just a win behind a 8-5 but has posted a team best 1.92 ERA in 108 IP well Brandon Williamson and Isiah Campbell are just a win behind with 7 each.

Newly signed F.A. Damon Goldsmith (20 with B Pot) has posted 10/10 saves in 10 IP without out giving up a run.

[glenzariczny]

Re: Rebuilding the Kingdom-A Seattle Mariners 2021

Kelenic hasn't hit for me yet in my M's franchise. Glad to see him paying off already for you.

[Deuce2223]

Re: Rebuilding the Kingdom-A Seattle Mariners 2021

Kelenic hasn't hit for me yet in my M's franchise. Glad to see him paying off already for you.

He started out lights out, but like real life has cooled off. He is down to .296 but with Lewis on the DL, I am still running him out there as my every day CF for the rest of the season. With Haniger hitting well, I went ahead and gave him a extension so at this point I think J. Rod is going to get another year in AAA with Trammell probably playing the role as the #4 OF next year with Kelenic probably moving to LF with Lewis being back. I don't think I will bring back Cespedes or Braun unless I decide to roll with them as my everyday DH even though both have been huge reasons for my success this year.

At this point next year's roster is looking like

LF Kelenic
RF Haniger
3B Bryant
DH-? (Seager/Braun/Cespedes all are possible options)
CF-Lewis
1B-White
2B-France/Moore
SS-Marte or possibly sign a F.A.
C-Raliegh

Bench
Trammell
Walton
Moore/France
Backup C (Wolters is hitting better)

[Deuce2223]

Re: Rebuilding the Kingdom-A Seattle Mariners 2021

M'S KEEPING PLAYOFF HOPES ALIVE!!

Seattle won 5 games in a row to start September and have gone 9-4 in the first 15 days of the month to move to (76-70) on the season and are just (1 GB) of Houston and Oakland (Both 77-69) in the AL West.

With 7 of their last 16 games vs Oakland to finish out the season, the Mariners destiny is in their own hands.

Here is a brief recap of the past 13 games..

ARIZONA

Seattle swept the struggling Diamondbacks (66-80) on the road and then beat them 2 out of 3 at home.


HOUSTON

After losing Game 3 to the Astro's to start out September, Seattle managed to win the first 2 games in the grudge match including a Monday Night MLB network game in which Seattle came back to win 9-5 after scoring 4 in the 6th and 4 in the 7th as Seager drives in 4 runs and both Bryant and Haniger go deep.

BOSTON

Seattle dropped Game 1 to the Sox (3-2) but won Game 2 (8-6) and Game 3 (9-5) as the bats come alive.

In Game 3 James Paxton won his 11th of the season pitching 7 IP giving up 5 runs on 8 hits well striking out 6.

Taylor Trammel started in RF giving Haniger a day off and exploded going 4/5 including a 2 run HR that gave the M's the lead.

Donavan Walton made the start at 2B and went 1/3 driving in 3 with a bases loaded double.

KEY STATS

5 players currently have 20+ HR's on the season for the M's lead by Ryan Braun's (29), Haniger (26) Cespedes (23) Seager and Bryant (21) well Ty France has 19.

Ryan Braun leads the team in RBI with 94 and is just 6 away from 100. Braun also has 14 SB's as he looks to join the 30/100/20 club by season end.

Yoenis Cespedes still leads the M's with a .327 BA, followed by Kyle Seager (.302) , Haniger (.291) and Kris Bryant (.287)

Kendall Graveman and James Paxton lead the team with 11 wins. Justus Sheffield is just 1 win away from getting back to .500 at 10-11 on the season. Marco Gonzales is the same at (9-10).

Felix Hernandez will go for win #10 against the Royals in the upcoming series. Hernandez continues to pitch like a #1 with a team best 2.80 ERA in 122 IP

Ken Giles has a career high in saves with 37 so far this year. Giles previous high was 34 in 2017 with Houston.

UP NEXT

Seattle will play a 3 games series in K.C. to start a 10 games road trip. The M's will then end their season with 7 games vs the A's and 6 games vs the Angels, with the first 4 game series and 3 game series both coming on the road as the M's will finish out the season with 6 straight home games

[Careless Whisper]

Re: Rebuilding the Kingdom-A Seattle Mariners 2021

Definitely deserving GM of the Year if Seattle can make the postseason in Year 1! Even if it doesn't end up in that fashion, the fact that you're playing meaningful baseball in September shows how good of a job you've done rebuilding that roster.