Dipoto: Good chemistry has given Mariners strong resiliency this season
May 10, 2018, 11:00 PM
Jerry Dipoto credited the Mariners' good chemistry for their ability to bounce back. (AP)
(AP)
Good chemistry is something you really only hear about when a team is winning. So it makes plenty of sense that Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto spent some time talking about it with 710 ESPN Seattle’s Bob, Groz and Tom on Thursday.
Seager’s homers help Mariners beat Blue Jays, win series
“They like each other, they work hard, they’re fun, they get along very well,” Dipoto said of the 21-15 Mariners, “and when you have that kind of synergy and you feel that kind of sync with your teammates, it makes it so much fun to go out and play.”
Dipoto pointed to the team’s chemistry as why they have been hard to keep down this year. Perhaps the best example of that is last Saturday, May 5, when the M’s turned a four-run deficit into a 6-4 lead in the eighth inning, then after falling back into a 6-6 tie, twice came back from one run down in extra innings to win 9-8. Then again, there’s also the fact that the M’s have lost back-to-back games just four times this season, and haven’t lost more than three games in a row.
“I think (chemistry) is why you’re seeing this team show as much resiliency as they’re showing. They bounce back,” Dipoto said. “And they bounce back because they don’t let it bother them. There’s somebody else the next day.”
That has helped Seattle put together its best start since Dipoto and manager Scott Servais took over in 2015. Dipoto doesn’t see why the Mariners won’t be able to stay on their current pace, which has featured eight series wins out of 12 total series.
“Everyone has stepped up and played a part in what I think is a good start, but I don’t think it’s a start that we can’t sustain. We have the chance to play this way – and we’ll have to make some adjustments along the way – but we have a chance to play this way throughout, and that’s fun.”
You can listen to Dipoto’s full interview, which includes thoughts on James Paxton, Ryon Healy and several more Mariners, at this link.
John Smoltz sees ‘dominant, frontline starter’ in James Paxton
