Seattle, WA
Morosi: Starting to feel like Seattle Mariners' season 'slipping away'
![Morosi: Starting to feel like Seattle Mariners' season 'slipping away' Morosi: Starting to feel like Seattle Mariners' season 'slipping away'](https://sports.mynorthwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Seattle-Mariners-Leo-Rivas-Detroit-Tigers-reaction-2024-Getty-900.jpg)
The demoralizing losses just keep piling up for the Seattle Mariners.
Video: Mariners Breakdown — How much trouble are the M’s in?
Heading into the All-Star break, the Mariners lost three consecutive one-run games to the lowly Los Angeles Angels. One week later, they got swept by that same Angels team while mustering a total of just three runs in the three-game series.
Last week, they needed a stunning ninth-inning rally to avoid a sweep against the sub-.500 Detroit Tigers. And then against those same Tigers this week, Seattle did get swept – while totaling just four runs and nine hits in the three games.
The past two losses to Detroit were particularly brutal. On Wednesday night, Mariners starter Bryan Woo threw seven scoreless innings before the bullpen blew an eighth-inning lead and Seattle went on to lose 3-2 in the 10th. And it was déjà vu on Thursday, as Mariners starter Bryce Miller also spun seven scoreless frames before the bullpen blew an eighth-inning lead in a 2-1 loss. It marked the fourth time since the start of July that the Mariners have lost a game despite allowing two runs or fewer.
To make matters worse, the Houston Astros have won eight in a row to build a three-game lead over Seattle atop the American League West. The Mariners are also 3.5 games out of the AL’s final wild-card spot. According to Fangraphs, Seattle’s playoff odds have dropped to 32.6%.
Following the Mariners’ latest loss, MLB insider Jon Morosi joined Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob on Thursday to discuss the reeling M’s.
“It encapsulates the reasons why people have been so concerned about this team,” Morosi said of the Mariners’ disastrous series in Detroit. “The pitching is so great, it really is. … (But) when you’re three games back in the division behind a team that’s hot and you’re losing games like this to a team that’s out of it, these are the days that, if they accumulate, they can become the death knell of a team in terms of going for a postseason berth.”
The dichotomy between Seattle’s elite starting rotation and struggling offense has been the story all season.
The Mariners have an MLB-best 3.46 ERA, which is 0.26 better than any other team. But the M’s rank at or near the bottom of the league in nearly every major offensive statistical category, including 27th in runs per game (3.94) and dead-last in batting average (.216).
“They don’t have a (player) who is having a star season in the whole lineup,” Morosi said. “Not one. No one’s having a what I would describe as a great offensive year. If you look at OPS, among all players on this team that have at least 100 plate appearances, the best offensive player on this team is Victor Robles. He’s got a .761 OPS. … If you’ve got a team and you believe you have a chance to go to the playoffs, and not a single one of your regular players has an OPS above .800, you’re probably not going to win.”
The Julio void
The Mariners’ offensive woes have been team-wide, but one of the defining storylines of the season has been superstar Julio Rodríguez’s struggles.
Over the past two seasons, Rodríguez burst onto the scene as one of baseball’s brightest young stars, slashing a combined .279/.338/.495 with 60 home runs and an .834 OPS. But this year, his production has been a far cry from that. He is hitting .263/.313/.371 with just 11 homers and a .684 OPS.
Rodríguez was heating up in July, but landed on the injured list with a high-ankle sprain after crashing into the outfield wall in an attempt to catch a fly ball on July 21. He returned to the lineup as Seattle’s designated hitter last Sunday but has yet to return to center field.
“They gave him a massive contract to basically be the face of the franchise, and he’s been hurt and not himself from a productivity standpoint really all year,” Morosi said. “If he had a 30-30 (homers-steals) season, they’d be in first place right now by three games. They would. And it’s not Julio’s fault. I’m not blaming him. … (But) I think that’s where the Mariners find themselves right now. They are waiting for the big guys to show up. And as the the old expression goes, it’s getting late early.”
The Mariners have also been missing leadoff-hitting shortstop J.P. Crawford, who broke the pinky finger on his throwing hand when he was hit by a pitch on July 22. He is expected to remain on the injured list until September.
“J.P. is still on the IL and Julio is not himself,” Morosi said. “As I’ve watched this team play, I’ve continued trying to to talk myself into believing that the next good turn is right around the corner – that Julio getting back and whenever J.P. comes back and different things like that, the next good stretch is just around the bend.
“But now the Astros – who have all this know-how of how to win games this time of year – are three games ahead of you. And it’s all starting to feel like it’s slipping away.”
Listen to full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. MLB insider Jon Morosi joins Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob on Thursdays for a national perspective on the Mariners.
More on the Seattle Mariners
• Mariners’ power-hitting prospect is climbing up the rankings
• Salk: Should Julio Rodríguez take a page out of Randy Arozarena’s book?
• Passan’s view on ‘unprecedented’ extension for Mariners’ Victor Robles
• Watch: Mariners’ top prospect has memorable home debut in Everett
• Inside the connections Victor Robles has made in Seattle Mariners’ clubhouse
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Seattle, WA
Seattle weather: Clouds to start Friday, afternoon sunbreaks with highs in the low 70s
![Seattle weather: Clouds to start Friday, afternoon sunbreaks with highs in the low 70s Seattle weather: Clouds to start Friday, afternoon sunbreaks with highs in the low 70s](https://images.foxtv.com/static.q13fox.com/www.q13fox.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1280/720/9ea0a4e0-Regional-Highs-Tomorrow-CSV.png?ve=1&tl=1)
Seattle weather: Mostly cloudy Friday
FOX 13 Seattle Meteorologist Ilona McCauley has your latest western Washington weather forecast!
Today was another mild afternoon with highs in the low 70s. We saw some nice afternoon sunbreaks around the Central Puget sound, while others were stuck under more clouds.
Today was another mild afternoon with highs in the low 70s.
Overnight clouds return with mild temperatures. Lows in the mid to upper 50s.
![Overnight temperatures](https://images.foxtv.com/static.q13fox.com/www.q13fox.com/content/uploads/2024/08/932/524/50950e87-Regional-Overnight-Lows-CSV.png?ve=1&tl=1)
Overnight clouds return with mild temperatures.
Highs Friday will be in the low 70s as we see more sunbreaks in the afternoon. Chances of thunderstorms will increase by the afternoon along the North Cascades.
![Highs Friday](https://images.foxtv.com/static.q13fox.com/www.q13fox.com/content/uploads/2024/08/932/524/9ea0a4e0-Regional-Highs-Tomorrow-CSV.png?ve=1&tl=1)
Highs Friday will be in the low 70s as we see more sunbreaks in the afternoon.
The weekend will start calm, but skies will change quickly by later in the day. The forecast is on track to bring strong storms to Western Washington by Saturday evening. These storms are looking to bring rounds of heavy rain, small hail, gusty winds and lightning.
![Saturday stormy skies](https://images.foxtv.com/static.q13fox.com/www.q13fox.com/content/uploads/2024/08/932/524/96622a20-FUTURECAST-NEXT-48-HOURS2_ca.png?ve=1&tl=1)
The forecast is on track to bring strong storms to Western Washington by Saturday evening.
Showers will taper by Sunday morning, then some dry time to start the work week. Highs will stay on the cooler side, the low to mid 70s.
![Extended Seattle forecast](https://images.foxtv.com/static.q13fox.com/www.q13fox.com/content/uploads/2024/08/932/524/54c3f60f-7-DAY-MASTER-CSV.png?ve=1&tl=1)
Showers will taper by Sunday morning, then some dry time to start the work week.
Seattle, WA
Paul Allen’s Seattle museum artifacts set for auction after closure
![Paul Allen’s Seattle museum artifacts set for auction after closure Paul Allen’s Seattle museum artifacts set for auction after closure](https://images.foxtv.com/c107833-mcdn.mp.lura.live/expiretime=2082787200/72fc45f323b099545e38f712d1951fca6256b351a55095f6d3a1e495fe6755f7/iupl/962/8EF/1280/720/9628EFCCD95389C6A872BC92F32792E6.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Paul G. Allen’s artifacts from closed Living Computer Museum are up for auction by Christie’s, including key artifacts from space exploration, computing, and science.
Seattle, WA
Javier Báez blast in 8th gives Detroit Tigers 2-1 win, sweep of Seattle Mariners
![Javier Báez blast in 8th gives Detroit Tigers 2-1 win, sweep of Seattle Mariners Javier Báez blast in 8th gives Detroit Tigers 2-1 win, sweep of Seattle Mariners](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2024/08/15/PDTF/74817755007-2166225397.jpg?auto=webp&crop=4259,2396,x0,y266&format=pjpg&width=1200)
Did Detroit Tigers’ Parker Meadows make MLB catch of the year?
“Days of Roar” podcast on Aug. 12, 2024, discussing the impressive game-saving catch by Parker Meadows in the eighth inning Aug. 7 against the Seattle Mariners.
One swing from an unlikely hero changed the game.
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez, one of the worst hitters in baseball this season, hit a go-ahead, two-run home run with one strike and two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning off Seattle Mariners right-handed reliever Andrés Muñoz.
The Tigers beat the Mariners, 2-1, in Thursday’s finale of three games at Comerica Park, sweeping the series.
ON THE FARM: Tigers prospect acquired in Jack Flaherty trade already showing how he ‘nukes balls’
Before Báez’s home run, the Tigers (59-63) were shut down by Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller, who lowered his ERA to 3.29 in 24 starts. Miller completed seven scoreless innings on two hits and zero walks with nine strikeouts, throwing 90 pitches.
The Tigers couldn’t get anything started against Miller, but they finally threatened to score in the eighth against right-handed reliever Yimi García. Parker Meadows worked a leadoff walk and advanced to third with two outs.
The Mariners called on Muñoz for a two-out matchup with Báez.
Báez hit a two-run home run to left-center field.
Four early walks
Right-hander Alex Faedo is a traditional reliever, but he started Thursday’s game against the Mariners as an opener.
Faedo struggled to command his pitches and walked four batters in the first inning, including one with the bases loaded for the game’s only run over its first 7½ innings.
Faedo, who needed 33 pitches to get three outs, walked Jorge Polanco, Randy Arozarena and Luke Raley in the first inning. With two outs, Justin Turner drew a full-count, bases-loaded walk on a down-and-away slider that he refused to chase.
Kenta Maeda shines again
Right-handed reliever Kenta Maeda, who used to be a traditional starter, performed well in his sixth relief appearance since the Tigers removed him from the rotation.
Maeda, 36, tossed 5⅔ scoreless innings on one hit and one walk with five strikeouts, throwing 84 pitches. He generated 12 whiffs on 40 swings — a 30% whiff rate — with five sliders, two fastballs and five splitters.
He owns a 3.33 ERA with two walks and 21 strikeouts across 24⅓ innings in six relief appearances.
After Maeda, the Tigers received scoreless performances from right-handed reliever Shelby Miller and right-handed reliever Jason Foley to end the game.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show “Days of Roar” every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
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