NEW YORK -- The Seattle Mariners’ offense is still stuck in the same old rut, but the fix may have to look different this time.
That’s the reality after another quiet night at the plate Tuesday, when Seattle managed only three hits in a 4-1 loss to the New York Yankees. The defeat dropped the Mariners to 56-64, and the slide has been brutal: just five runs across their last five games, nine runs over their last seven, and two shutouts mixed in.
For the reigning American League West champions, the season has gone sideways, and the recent stretch has made things look even worse. They entered Wednesday 4.5 games back in the division.
Cal Raleigh offered one possible blueprint after Tuesday’s game, talking about sacrifice, taking what the game gives you, and avoiding the temptation to go homer-happy. He said the focus has to shift toward the little things.
Manager Dan Wilson was asked before Wednesday’s game about how pitching has changed and why that makes it tougher for an offense to break out of a slump. His answer pointed to the modern challenge hitters are facing.
Q: Dan, in the past, you used to be able to get out of a dry spell by getting into a fastball count. Now, there's almost no such thing as an automatic fastball count given the way pitchers work backwards.
A:"Yeah, I mean, I think it's a good point. I think it's a fair point.
I think as a hitter you always want to be on time for the fastball. So when you do get it, you can put that good swing on it.
It's maybe harder to predict, but if you're always ready for it and on time, it doesn't matter when it comes, you're ready, ready to go. And yeah, pitching.
I think the way teams approach hitters, it's a lot more about throwing your best pitches more often and a lot less about setting up hitters and pitching sort of old fashioned. And so it does make it sometimes more difficult to look for that heater.
But if you're ready for it all the time, you're not going to miss it."
Seattle gets another shot Wednesday night against New York in Game 2 of the series. Right-hander Will Warren is set to pitch for the Yankees, with fellow right-hander Bryce Miller going for the Mariners.
There are a few moving parts on the roster, too. Right-hander Carlos Vargas, who has not pitched this season because of a lat issue, threw a scoreless inning for Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday and will need at least one more rehab outing before returning to the majors. Left-hander Gabe Speier, who was unavailable Tuesday because of a back issue, is feeling better, though it remains unclear whether he’ll be available Wednesday.
The lineup has been shuffled again. Josh Naylor is back after sitting out Tuesday with a right wrist issue and is hitting sixth. Julio Rodriguez is batting fifth, Brendan Donovan is seventh, and Cal Raleigh is in the eighth spot.
In Other News...
Cal Raleigh Just Sparked A Bigger Mariners Blame Debate
Cal Raleigh didnt try to pass the buck after another rough stretch for the Mariners. Instead, the catcher owned his own performance, acknowledged the offense has fallen short and suggested the group needs to make some adjustments in how it is going about its business. In a season where the lineup has too often stalled, that kind of blunt self-assessment stands out because it comes with a clear message about where the accountability starts.
Raleigh also drew a line around the larger conversation, defending the front office and coaching staff while saying the players are the ones responsible for the teams current problems. For a Mariners club already dealing with bigger questions about roster construction and decision-making, his comments sharpen an old debate rather than settle it. The tension now is whether that internal message sparks a real change in approach, or simply adds another layer to the pressure surrounding a team that still has to prove it can turn frustration into results. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Pressure Is Rising Around Dan Wilson And His Staff
The Angels latest round of coaching changes offered a familiar reminder of how quickly a season can turn into a referendum on the people in the dugout. After poor results piled up, Los Angeles moved on from pitching coach Mike Maddux, bullpen coach Dom Chiti and assistant pitching coach Darryl Scott, and the explanation included concern that the staff was not making enough use of available technology. It was another example of an organization deciding the message had to change when the performance did not.
For the Mariners, that kind of shakeup is only going to sharpen the attention already circling Dan Wilson and his staff. Seattles struggles have put Wilson under scrutiny, and the hitting side has not escaped it, with Edgar Martinez and Kevin Seitzer part of the conversation as the club looks for answers. Other teams, including the Phillies and Red Sox, have already shown how quickly front offices will redraw the map when results lag, and that is the backdrop hanging over Seattle now. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Add Catching Insurance Behind Cal Raleigh
The Mariners added a little catching depth to the organization this week, claiming Willie MacIver off waivers from the Blue Jays and sending him to Triple-A Tacoma. It is a straightforward move on the surface, but one that fits the kind of roster housekeeping contending clubs often do when they want to keep the position insulated without forcing a bigger shuffle at the major league level.
MacIver gives Seattle another name to stash in the system behind Cal Raleigh and the rest of the current catching group, with the club having room on its 40-man roster to make the claim. The Blue Jays had just designated MacIver for assignment after picking him up from the Rangers, so the Mariners were able to jump in and add an experienced depth option while leaving the bigger question of how far he might climb in the organization for later. [Read more 🡒]