Yesterday, after delaying the inevitable for several days, the Mariners were mathematically eliminated from the post season. The Mariners do not have the worst record in baseball (that honor goes to the Nationals). But what happened to the Mariners? Going into the season, they were considered by a lot of people to be a dark horse in the division or a possible dark horse in the wild card race. They had a lot going for them this season, so what stopped this dream, and turned them into the second worst team in baseball this season?
Their assets this year was supposed to be their pitching. They brought in Bedard from Baltimore who was supposed to have an amazing year. Then King Felix would be dropped to the two spot to have a tremendous year and rack up the wins facing lesser pitchers. They had Silva to help round out rotation. Their offense was supposed to have a resurgent year. But none of this went the right way, and then the Mariners started to fail.
The season started off bad. Bedard never really healed from his season ending injury in 2007. He had a terrible spring and came to Seattle and pretty much immediately left again with injury . When he came back, he wasn't really right, and he has been back and forth the the DL all season. He's on the DL right now actually. Another key injury was JJ Putz, their closer. He is so effective when healthy, and without him at full strength, the team struggled. (The next in line closer, Sherill, got traded this offseason to the Orioles, making the bullpen situation for the Mariners worse). King Felix has had a good year, but his 8-8 record tells another story. It shows that the offense is not helping him, and without an offense he stuck without a paddle. (The Mariners are 12th in the league in runs scored, 8th in batting average, but a hurting 13 of 14 in walks). So ends the Mariners season, and now they look for talent in their system for next year.
