'23 Mariners- it's the end!

 2023 season ends with the same record as '22- 84-78.

Overarching themes:

• There just wasn't that one difference-maker. Offense-wise, Julio Rodriguez was a star, but maybe it was too much to expect him to put a team on his back so young.
• On the pitching side, there was no real ace. Luis Castillo turned into a pumpkin before the pennant race, and Emerson Hancock was best following a starter and then lost to injury. Whitlock performed pretty well, but he isn't an ace. Logan Gilbert had a great final day but had a nightmare season.
• The offense just ran out of gas in the final weeks. They struggled against middle-of-the-road pitching.

Top 3 players:

• Julio Rodriguez
• Evan Marshall, for stablizing the bullpen and becoming a legit closer
• Emerson Hancock?

Bottom 3:

• Jesse Winker, who needed to be replaced as LF and struggled all year.
• The catcher position. The hitting never was good from there at all, almost an automatic out.
• Logan Gilbert/Luis Castillo. Castillo started well and fell of a cliff, and Gilbert just struggled everywhere.

That's the end! Decent season, but not enough to contend.

'23 Mariners- Coming Back Down To Earth

Since the eight game winning streak, the Mariners have cratered a teensy little bit, losing five of the next six. Offense has been a bit of a problem, as they scored two or fewer runs four times. Struggling particulary has been Eugenio Suarez, now hitting .209. Will the M's try to make a move for a third basemen, or perhaps move McNeil to the hot corner? They also need to figure out the rotation, as Marco Gonzales has been putrid. The team overall has fallen to 13th in the power rankings after being second after the hot streak. The rest of the month features games against Texas and Oakland.

'23 Mariners News!

Big news today prior to the Astros series, as the M's trade Kyle Lewis to the New York Mets in exchange for Jeff McNeil.

McNeil instantly becomes the leadoff hitter and left fielder and gives the Mariners' lineup some presence. 

Lewis was disappointing in Seattle after being touted as a prospect.

'23 Mariners- on a surge!

Record: 53-45

Division: 2nd, 3 games back of Oakland

Wildcard: in line for a spot in a very crowded race.

Last series: Lost 2 of 3 to Chicago White Sox

Pondering: A trade of either Jesse Winker or Kyle Lewis, two underperforming outfielders. Shopped them yesterday and two interesting players came up. Aledmys Diaz from Milwaukee, a multipositional talent and decent hitter. The other was William Contreras, a catcher from Atlanta. Neither would fill the outfield opening. Perhaps make the trade and start Alberto Rodriguez?

Today: Could Jeff McNeil be the answer? He'd be available in a trade for Lewis. Going to ponder that one before the deadline. He's a free agent after '23, so he'd be a rental. Not sure if I'm playing '24 anyway...

'23 Mariners- Halfway Point!

I was going to do a full set of grades for the team at the halfway point, but I think I'll just do top 5 best and worst  3 players.

Top 5 players:

1. Julio Rodriguez- .873 OPS, 2.8 WAR. Very consistent first half, leads the M's in HR and RBI.

2. Mitch Haniger-   .827 OPS, 1.4 WAR. 

3. Luis Castillo- The rotation has been abysmal, but Castillo has been consistent.

4. Evan Marshall- the bullpen started out shaky, but Marshall was signed and is now the closer. 2.34 ERA, 6 SV.

5. J.P. Crawford- Ty France heated up, but Crawford overall has been more consistent. .752 OPS, 1.7 WAR.

Honorable mention: Andrew Vaughn since being acquired, Emerson Hancock.

Bottom 3 players:

1. Logan Gilbert: Disastrous stint in the big leagues and now in Tacoma. The rotation hasn't been good, but he's been so bad that he's gone.

2. Jesse Winker: Outfielders have come and gone (adios, Michael Conforto), but Winker's been consistently terrible. He's underwater in terms of WAR.

3. Kyle Lewis: .234 average, .03 WAR. Part of the Mediocre Outfield Convention.