Mariners’ losing streak at 5; What’s most fixable?

By Shannon Drayer

Twelve-zero losses are not fun. Twelve-zero losses on the heels of four-game sweeps are even less fun. Twelve-zero losses and four-game sweeps are one thing in April. It’s not April anymore.

Through the four-game losing streak I was pointing out that this was different and there is no need to panic because unlike in April, we had in my opinion seen enough good things recently to know that this was a bump in the road rather than a fall of the cliff.

With the losing streak at five games, I think they may need a nudge away from that cliff. They can start with the starting pitching, which has faltered of late. Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma will be okay but with such inconsistency from the bottom three of the rotation it would appear a change needs to be made. Eric Wedge himself pointed out that the bullpen cannot continue to be taxed the way it has been on this roadtrip.

“We will have to talk about that,” he said in his postgame meeting with the media. “You want to give everybody ample opportunity, but having said that you can’t keep doing what we’re doing and expect to compete.”

It all starts with the starting pitching for the Mariners. The offense is not going to carry this team for any long period of time. While there are a number of problems on this team that I believe are fixable, the first thing that needs to be tackled is the pitching. There aren’t a lot of internal options. Jeremy Bonderman, Hector Noesi and Blake Beavan are it for now but if there is a chance that one of them can help keep the team in a ballgame every five days then a move needs to be made.

Tune in to “Brock and Danny” Wednesday morning at 10 to hear more about moves I think should be made as I take part in a Mariners roundtable discussion on the show.