Yesterday the Mariners 2015 regular season started with a win. The game was exciting and a great way to welcome back the baseball season. However, it was only game 1 and there are 161 more games to play before we know if 2015 is the year the M's can break their string of terrible teams and finally get back into the playoffs. That means yesterday only represented 0.6% of the regular season. In football terms that is equal to about 6 minutes of play clock in the NFL season. The point being yesterday's result was a very small percentage of the overall slate of games that will be the 2015 season and we shouldn't pull any judgement about the upcoming season from this one game.
Lloyd McClendon constantly reminds us it takes at least 50 games before you can really tell what a team is made of. It is rational to wait and see where the season goes. I say to hell with rationality. The Mariners won the first game of the season in convincing fashion and are sitting in first place. It is time for some irrational thoughts. WE ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES BABY!
First up, the offense. The best player yesterday was obviously Seth Smith. The former Padre went 3-3 with two doubles and a triple. While there is no chance he finishes the season with a 1.000 average and a SLG over 2.000, it sure does look like he can hit. Let's say we pencil him in at like a .290 average with 40 doubles. Production like that from a guy you got for a pretty good middle reliever (Bradon Maurer) is a major win for the team. After watching a disaster in right field last year, it looks like we have a worthy successor to Ichiro. Mashing like this, Smith could easily become a fan favorite and earn himself a trip to the All-star game. He is definitely going to help the team.
Smith wasn't the only positive at the plate. Austin Jackson looks to have returned to form. With his combination of speed, patience and ability to make contact he might be one of the best leadoff men in the league. Robby Cano showed us once again that he knows how to deliver when it counts.The guy is straight up clutch. A runner in scoring position with Cano at the plate is as good as scored. Seager, Ackley, and LoMo all contributed as well. It is a good thing that Seth Smith and company have fixed the Mariner's offense because the M's
big name free agent, Nelson Cruz, appears to be a complete bust.
Heading into the season there were red flags all over Nelson Cruz. He is an aging and injury prone slugger coming off the best season of his career in one of the most hitter friend parks in the league. After an 0-4 game where he looks over matched it appears our worst fears have come true. Jack Z would have been better off just putting the money in a high yield CD then giving it to Cruz. Any guesses how long Cruz will last before a phantom injury permanently side lines him?
Baseball isn't all about hitting. To win a team also has to prevent runs.Yesterday highlighted exacly how amazing the Mariners are at doing this. Our starting pitcher was King Felix, who clearly lived up to his name. He struck out 10 and only gave up one run. That run was to Mike Trout during the second at-bat of the game. Giving up the occasional jack to the best player in the sport is acceptable. It seems obvious that Felix is back and on a mission to win his second Cy Young Award.
Seattle's bull pen finished off the game for Felix. There was a slight stutter from Lord Farqhur, but generally the team looked like they were picking up right where they left off. It is great knowing that any lead of 2 or more runs is basically a guaranteed win.
There was one spot on the defense that concerned me. Shortstop Brad Miller failed to turn two double plays last night. Obviously Miller isn't the second coming of Omar Vizquel, but I did expect a little high caliber of defensive play from him. Hopefully the coaching staff can work out the kinks. If they dont we could be in for an interesting year. At least the offense looks good enough to carry the team.
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