Stecker’s Three Things: The Mariners need bullpen help — fast
Apr 13, 2017, 6:00 AM | Updated: 10:12 am
Edwin Diaz
The Mariners wrapped up their third series of the 2017 season with a 10-5 loss to Houston on Wednesday night, and not only are they still looking for their first series victory of the year, they’re still looking for their third win after 10 games.
Here are three things to keep in mind as the Mariners take their first day off of the season ahead of starting a series with the Rangers at home on Friday.
1. This bullpen isn’t going to cut it.
Nobody should be shocked by this proclamation after the last week. The Mariners led in Anaheim 8-1 on Sunday. They were up 3-1 against the Astros on Tuesday. And they jumped out to a 5-0 advantage Wednesday on Houston. They didn’t win any of those games, and in every case, a reliever was on the mound when the lead switched. The bullpen didn’t leave spring training at full-strength, and it really didn’t enter spring training in great shape, either. The absences of Steve Cishek, Tony Zych and Shae Simmons have become glaringly obvious, as even though James Pazos, Dan Altavilla and Dillon Overton are promising arms, they’re young, inexperienced, and have been exposed early on. The Mariners did have good news to share Wednesday about the recoveries of Cishek and Zych from their respective surgeries, and the duo would immediately be two of Seattle’s best options in relief as soon as they get back. But those returns are still at least a week away – probably closer to two – and the Mariners may not be able to afford going that long without some veteran help in the pen.
2. The Mariners need more help from their starting pitchers.
When a team’s bullpen is struggling like Seattle’s is right now, the club needs its starting pitchers to go above and beyond. And while James Paxton has been incredible, Hisashi Iwakuma has been dependable and Felix Hernandez has been serviceable, the Mariners still have just two wins after 10 games. Ariel Miranda and Yovani Gallardo both failed to get through six innings on Tuesday and Wednesday, and it showed as the bullpen couldn’t hold on to leads. The day off Thursday will help the relievers out some, but the biggest help they can get would having to handle only three innings, and preferably two, for the immediate future. Lefty specialist Marc Rzepczynski is off to a nice start, giving up just a hit and no runs over three appearances, including a clean inning Wednesday that took all of six pitches. If the Mariners’ starters can hand the ball off to him in the eighth, and he can then give way to closer Edwin Diaz in the ninth, Seattle’s chances of winning will skyrocket. That’s a pretty lofty goal at this point, though, and there just hasn’t been much luck going the Mariners’ way so far.
3. Taylor Motter: Golden Ray of Sunshine.
Speaking of the Mariners’ luck, remember Jean Segura, the one-time All-Star the Mariners acquired in a blockbuster offseason trade who was their best hitter over the first week of the season? Well, he’s been on the disabled list for a few days now with a mild hamstring strain. While that unlucky break certainly wasn’t welcome by Seattle, the stellar play of Taylor Motter in Segura’s place has been. Motter, who may as well be called Sunshine for his play during this rough patch – and, well, because his hair resembles that of the quarterback in “Remember the Titans” – doubled three times in his first start at short on Tuesday, then followed with a two-run homer and another double Wednesday. He also made a nifty over-the-shoulder catch on a popup and has looked comfortable playing one of the most demanding positions on the field. The 27-year-old rookie came to Seattle from Tampa Bay as someone who could compete for a utility spot, but for now he’s playing like somebody who wants more regular trips to the plate than that role would entail. Unlike a lot of what’s happened on the field for the Mariners, that’s not a bad thing.
