Aaron Goldsmith explains the key for Mariners’ MLB-leading offense

The Mariners chased Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Jakob Junis on Tuesday after four innings. Junis didn’t leave the game early necessarily because the M’s were hitting Junis all over the ballpark, although they did have four runs on eight hits and a walk. Instead, it was more about how much Junis had to work to retire the Mariners’ side four times.

Mariners beat Royals 6-3, boost MLB-best record to 11-2

Junis had already thrown 94 pitches before the fifth inning, the latest in a line of opposing pitchers to get worn out by Seattle’s offense and its penchant to go deep in counts while looking for the perfect pitch to hit.

“The Mariners are just destroying opposing starters,” Mariners play-by-play announcer Aaron Goldsmith said Wednesday morning in an interview with 710 ESPN Seattle’s Brock and Salk. “When you see a bad or an ugly swing-and-a-miss from a Mariners hitter these days, it really stands out. You almost lean back in your chair a little bit and cock your head because you just don’t see it. The Mariners are not chasing pitches, they’re one of the very best teams, they’re elite right now in staying inside the strike zone. Of course, every great hitter will tell you the same thing – swing at strikes, don’t swing at balls – and right now the Mariners by and large are swinging at strikes and they are wreaking serious damage on it.”

Well that’s one way to explain why the Mariners have a plus-40 run differential and are averaging an even eight runs per game, both of which are tops in the MLB.

The offense is hummin' early. 🏎️ pic.twitter.com/mQuBM0YY6T

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 10, 2019

If it seems like the Mariners are playing with a chip on their shoulder, it’s because they probably are.

“I think this is a team that kinda has something to prove and they’re playing like it because they want people to know, hey, it’s not about 2021 or 2022,” Goldsmith said. “It’s about right now and pay attention to us because we can actually do some things, and we’re seeing it.”

The Mariners have a big test coming up after their series with the Royals concludes Thursday, however, with the favorites to win the American League West and Central divisions, the Houston Astros and Cleveland Indians, coming to T-Mobile Park.

“It’s going to be interesting when the Mariners come home – the Indians, the Astros on the upcoming homestand, some really good teams with some high expectations and obviously some pretty star rotations,” Goldsmith said. “I’m really interested to see what the Mariners’ lineup will be like at that point, but right now they have just tortured especially on this road trip White Sox and Royals starters.”

Listen to the full conversation between Goldsmith and Brock and Salk in the player embedded in this story or download a podcast version at this link.

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