THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016
Some fans think that the Seattle Mariners’ season, despite that frantic finish in the final two weeks, was a disappointment.
And while they’re right in some regards, to say that this season was awful, just take a deep breath.
STARTING THE season with five losses in their first six games at Safeco Field didn’t quite help the Mariners to the great start that most believed they’d have once they left Texas with wins in two of three games. Texas finished the season 53-28 at home this season and ran away with the division.
But for as good as Texas played this year, keyed by that home record, Seattle scored more runs than the Rangers did, 768 to 765 and allowed 50 runs less this season after Seattle finished with 707 allowed this year.
And while teams deal with injuries, Seattle couldn’t quite make up for the loss of Felix Hernandez for well over a month dealing with calf issues. Even when he returned to the rotation, he didn’t have that many wins — he finished with 11 — and a 3.82 earned run average.
Hisashi Iwakuma, who the team let get away to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the season began, only to return to the team after a failed physical before spring training began, went on to start 33 games, finishing with 16 wins and 12 losses.
Just imagine where they’d be without him in Seattle this year.
Due to injuries and other factors, Seattle ended up starting 13 different pitchers this season. Should Baltimore advance in the postseason, just remember that Wade Miley was on the team’s opening day roster. And if Mike Montgomery winds up with a ring with the Chicago Cubs, don’t forget his contribution to the bullpen and a few spot starts for Seattle.
Granted, the Mariners finished three games behind wild cards teams Baltimore and Toronto, but were just one game back headed into the final weekend of baseball.
You can’t say that about many other teams.
IT WAS apparent throughout the season that the Mariners are getting a lot closer to the playoffs than in previous years.
Whether that was a full year with Edgar Martinez on board as hitting coach or the team having Robinson Cano relatively healthy for a majority of the season, both didn’t hurt in the long run.
Seattle was competitive in games right until the end of the season, even with an injured Nelson Cruz continuing to play when it might have been best to shut it down.
It wouldn’t hurt to add a few more pieces to the team, a first baseman that can hit consistently, or a left fielder, but the team has a reason to be optimistic going into 2017.
They didn’t quit fighting.
Even when some fans thought it was over, they hung around.
Something that hasn’t been happening in a long time at Safeco Field.
Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JEPressSports.