Dan Wilson had a long offseason to reflect on the painful ending to the Mariners' 2025 ALCS run. Yet, as the 2026 season kicked off against the Cleveland Guardians, it seems those bullpen woes are still haunting Seattle.
The Mariners' 6-4 loss on Thursday can be traced back to some questionable bullpen decisions. Logan Gilbert left the mound with the game tied at 3-3 in the sixth inning, handing the reins to a bullpen that couldn't hold the line. Gabe Speier, Casey Legumina, and Cooper Criswell struggled to keep Cleveland at bay.
Notably absent from the action were key relievers like Andrés Muñoz, Matt Brash, and even Eduard Bazardo-despite his role in last year's playoff disappointment.
The turning point came when Wilson left Speier in to face the formidable José Ramírez with two on and two out in the seventh. The decision aimed to make Ramírez bat right-handed, but he punished a slider with a 111 mph drive, bringing in two runs and putting Cleveland ahead 5-3.
Meanwhile, Brash was warming up in the bullpen. Given Ramírez’s past struggles against Brash, it’s fair to question Wilson’s decision to stick with Speier.
In the bottom of the seventh, Dominic Canzone's second homer of the game brought the Mariners within a run. However, rather than turning to Brash, Bazardo, or Carlos Vargas, Wilson opted for Legumina and Criswell.
Unfortunately, they couldn’t stop the bleeding. Legumina escaped a self-made jam in the eighth, but Criswell surrendered a solo homer to Chase DeLauter in the ninth, sealing the Mariners' fate.
Wilson defended his bullpen strategy, saying, “You have to weigh and make your adjustments on the fly.” This echoed his sentiments from last year's ALCS, where bullpen decisions also came under fire.
While there might be a case for testing Legumina and Criswell early in the season, the reality is clear: Wilson’s bullpen management needs to improve. The Mariners can't afford these missteps if they hope to contend this year.