But such hopes couldn’t be further from what has actually transpired. The Mariners have since traded Lee to the Texas Rangers and are now 37-58, tied for the third-worst record in baseball, as they welcome the Red Sox to Safeco Field for the start of a four-game set on Thursday.
The Mariners are 7-17 over their last 24 games, but always seem to give the Red Sox difficulties when the two meet on the West Coast. The four-game set marks the first time the two teams have met this season, and it is second series of a three-city West Coast swing for the Sox.
For some analysis on the Seattle Mariners’ 2010 campaign and an in-depth look at the upcoming series, Jeff Sullivan of Lookout Landing shared his thoughts with NESN.com.
NESN.com: The Mariners made headlines with their trade of former Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee to the Texas Rangers. How would you evaluate the trade from the Mariners’ standpoint, and in regards to the American League playoff race?
Jeff Sullivan: Though the circumstances were obviously disappointing, it was a good trade from the Mariners’ standpoint. Many have and will continue to argue the merits of Jesus Montero versus Justin Smoak, but at the end of the day, they’re of similar value, and any time you can bring a young talent like that into the organization, you seize it. Smoak is a good player now who could be a great player in Seattle five years down the road. The other pieces involved are of varying degrees of interest, but Smoak’s the big star, and he’s already gone deep a couple times with the Mariners.
As far as the AL big picture is concerned, Lee going to Texas could have big consequences. For one, it kept him away from the Twins and Yankees, both of whom could have benefited in a big way. And for two, Cliff Lee turns Texas’ rotation into one actually worth fearing come playoff time. Lee is arguably the best pitcher in baseball, meaning the Rangers could arguably have the pitching edge at least once in any series. He’s an ace and a workhorse, and he turns Texas into a real World Series contender.
NESN.com: The Mariners entered this season with higher expectations than previous seasons, particularly because of the 1-2 pitching combo of Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee. What is the biggest reason for their disappointing 36-58 record during a season when they were expected to be playoff contenders in the AL West?
J.S.: Look no further than an offense that’s on pace for 538 runs. The Yankees have already scored 500, and they have nearly 70 games left. The offense was never supposed to be terrific, and the M’s weren’t built to light up any scoreboards, but they have underachieved to an almost legendary degree. Jose Lopez hasn’t hit. Chone Figgins hasn’t hit. Milton Bradley hasn’t hit. Ken Griffey Jr. didn’t hit. Casey Kotchman hasn’t hit. The catchers haven’t hit. The shortstops haven’t hit. Even Franklin Gutierrez is now mired in a terrible slump. There have been other problems on the team; the bullpen’s been unsteady, and the back of the rotation has dragged. But day in, day out, this has been the worst offense I’ve ever watched. And I used to live in San Diego.
NESN.com: Infielder Chone Figgins signed a four-year, $36 million contract with the Mariners this past offseason. But he has struggled mightily, hitting a dismal .228. How would you say the signing was viewed in the offseason, and how is it being viewed now? What would you say is the cause of the former All Star’s struggles?
J.S.: The Figgins signing was, I think, viewed as an underrated acquisition by an intelligent front office during the offseason. That’s certainly how I received it. And it’s been a nightmare. Though it’s still early in his deal, some have already begun referring to him as an albatross, or even as an Angels double agent. It’s hard to say what the biggest problem has been, since Figgins has never exactly hit for power, but he’s just not hitting the ball with any authority, and even his defense has been just mediocre after moving from third base to second. There’s reason to believe he’ll turn it around. He had a year a lot like this one in 2008 before bouncing back in 2009. It’s just…he’s been part of the problem. A big part. And he was supposed to be a leader.
NESN.com: Red Sox fans know that reliever David Aardsma can struggle at times, but he was lights-out as the Mariners’ closer last season (38 saves, 2.52 ERA). Do you have any idea why he has pulled a complete 180 and been so ineffective this season (0-6, 17 of 21 saves, 5.22 ERA)? Are Mariners fans calling for him to lose his closer role, and what other solutions do they have waiting in the wings?
J.S.: It’s been part bad luck and part bad pitching, as Aardsma has struggled, but not as badly as his ERA would indicate. Even a year ago, he was a guy who got by with strikeouts and long fly balls to the warning track, and this year those balls to the track have been hitting the wall or going over it with greater frequency. The thing that’s kept people from calling for his removal from the closer role is that nobody else has really been lights-out. Shawn Kelley is hurt. Brandon League has coughed up a number of leads. Mark Lowe was hurt and got traded. There just aren’t any real desirable closer options, which gives Aardsma job security by default. He’s better than this, but he isn’t great, and 2009 will forever be seen as his peak. You might see him get moved before the deadline next week.
NESN.com: From outfielder Milton Bradley’s leave of absence in May to Ken Griffey Jr.’s retirement, it’s been a roller-coaster season for the Mariners, who now appear to be looking toward the future. Where does the team go from here as it looks to find a way to eventually become a contender once again? With a guy like Griffey gone, who emerges as the team’s vocal leader as the team moves forward?
J.S.: If there’s a difference between this season and 2008, it’s that this season at least gives a little hope for the future. Justin Smoak, Michael Pineda, Dustin Ackley, and Michael Saunders are all big-time young talents who are either in or close to the Majors, and they’re being looked to to form the next good Mariners core around guys like Felix Hernandez, Franklin Gutierrez, and Ichiro. The situation isn’t hopeless. It’s just going to take longer to get good than all of us would’ve liked. As far as a vocal leader is concerned, that situation is in flux. Russell Branyan‘s a leader, but he’s only around on a temporary basis. Chone Figgins should be a leader, but it’s hard to listen to a leader when he’s struggling. Felix and Gutierrez are reaching the points at which they should become leaders, but they aren’t there yet. A leader will eventually arise. The M’s just aren’t in a place right now where they really need one. They have bigger issues to work out.
Thanks again to Jeff Sullivan, and be sure to check out his M’s blog, Lookout Landing.
