Mike Blowers on the spot Mariners could use the most help
Jun 16, 2016, 1:57 PM | Updated: 3:30 pm
With the Mariners sliding in the last week, losing five of six before Thursday’s 6-4 victory, it makes sense to try to figure out where the team could use the most help.
ROOT Sports Mariners analyst Mike Blowers was tasked with the question of where a trade would most benefit Seattle by “Bob, Groz and Tom” on Wednesday, and he took a look at each part of the roster before coming to a conclusion.
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First up: the offense, which some have speculated could be improved with the addition of a power bat at a corner outfield spot.
“I think that I feel a lot better about the lineup again now that (Leonys) Martin and (Ketel) Marte are back,” said Blowers, referencing the Mariners’ two best rally starters that recently returned from DL stints. “I’m fine with the lineup. I like the bench.”
Next up: the starting rotation, which has had its fair share of struggles during the swoon, though James Paxton has looked good since being promoted from Triple-A Tacoma to take injured ace Felix Hernandez’s place.
Blowers is intrigued by the adjustments made by Paxton, and expects the rotation to be on track after Hernandez returns from his strained right calf.
“He has been really impressive since he’s been called up,” Blowers said of Paxton. “I think James could be a game-changer for them. He’s a different guy than what he was before. And when he was good before, he was very good, but I think he has a chance to be just dominant now. His fastball on average is at 98 miles per hour.”
So, the bullpen? Bingo.
“I’m always for getting some bullpen help. That’s where you really need a lot of depth.”
Recent results certainly underscore that point. After being the best bullpen in the MLB statistically for much of the first two months of the season, Seattle had dropped to seventh in bullpen ERA entering Thursday with a 3.17 mark.