Former GM: What stands out about first-place Mariners

The Seattle Mariners’ red-hot run of nine straight series wins came to an end over the weekend, but even a sweep couldn’t knock the M’s of their perch atop AL West standings.

Seattle Mariners prospect rises, another falls in MLB’s new top 100 rankings

The Mariners hold a two-game lead in the division at the quarter pole of the season. Surprisingly, it’s been the offense that has carried the team earn on while the starting rotation has dealt with injures to standouts Logan Gilbert an George Kirby. The lineup has produced the 10th most runs in baseball while being in the top five in both home runs and walks.

During a conversation with Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob on Monday, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden discussed what stands out about the Mariners.

Bowden, a former general manager of the Reds and Nationals, pointed to the offense improving its strikeout rate. The Mariners’ 1,625 strikeouts last season were the most in baseball. This year they’re at the middle of the pack (14th least) with 334 strikeouts.

“The thing that stands out to me is that they led the league in strikeouts and you have basically the same team (back), and now they’re more in the middle of the pack in that area,” Bowden said. “They’re going to walk and they’re going to hit homers, that’s what this team does.”

Bowden highlighted the turnaround seasons that Jorge Polanco, JP Crawford and Randy Arozarena are having. After hitting a career-worst .213 last season, Polanco is batting .327 with a 1.026 OPS and nearly as many home runs (nine) as strikeouts (12). Crawford hit a career-worst .202 last season, but is batting .282 with a .394 on-base percentage and coming of a 16-game hitting streak. Arozarena also hit a career-worst .219 last year. This year he’s hitting .237 with a .383 on-base percentage that’s 51 points higher than his mark last season. He’s reached base a career-high 33 straight games dating back to March 31.

“Polanco’s knee was healthy finally. I know the Yankees tried to sign him in the offseason before he went back to Seattle, but he’s been off to that great start as you know,” Bowden said. “And JP Crawford’s on base all day long in the leadoff spot. He’s been on base almost 40% of the time. So that’s been a huge difference-maker for them.

“Arozarena has had a really good start to the season as well. He’s been getting on base and he’s always going to hit 20 homers and (have) 20 steals.”

Bowden believes the impact director hitting strategy and Hall of Fame member Edgar Martinez has had on the lineup has been a big help as well.

“I do think Edgar Martinez has one of the better hitting minds of anyone we’ve seen over the last 20 to 30 years, and that the hitters are going to buy into Edgar,” Bowden said. “Edgar knows hitting, and he knows how to teach hitting. I mean, Brett Boone (recently hired as the hitting coach of the Rangers) in Texas is teaching what Edgar Martinez taught him.”

With that being said, Bowden still thinks the Mariners will need to add another bat before the trade deadline.

“It’s been fun to watch,” he said. “Look, I think the injury to (Victor) Robles is still something not to ignore out of the get go. I thought he was important last year, and I do think even though they’re off to a decent start, they need to go get another bat. I don’t think they should rest on their laurels just because they’re sitting there in first place right now.”

Listen to Wyman and Bob weekdays from 2-7 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app. 

Seattle Mariners coverage

• Seattle Mariners prospect on cusp of big leagues wins player of the week
• Behind Bryce Miller’s slow start for M’s could be a slower fastball
• The thorn in Seattle Mariners’ side all weekend is a local product
• Takeaways from Seattle Mariners’ from series loss to Toronto
• Seattle Mariners Notebook: How Kirby fared in second rehab start

Related

Kade Anderson on debut: ‘I had my D+ stuff’Amsinger: Why the Mariners will win the AL West titleWyman’s takeaways from Seahawks’ 2nd preseason gameBob Stelton reacts to Mariners’ Kade Anderson callupWyman’s takeaways from Seahawks’ preseason openerMorosi on Mariners’ Colt Emerson: ‘The book is not closed’