Seattle, WA
No Longer Sleepless In Seattle, Mariners Move Toward First Title
After hosting the 2023 All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park, the Seattle Mariners are now making a serious run at the World Series.
The only one of the 30 teams that has never won a pennant, the M’s have had mostly losing seasons since joining the American League as an expansion team in 1977. In fact, they have reached the post-season only five times in 26 seasons.
This year, pre-season prognosticators gave the team only an outside chance to dethrone the defending World Champion Houston Astros in the American League West.
When Seattle started poorly, most experts took an attitude of I-told-you-so. They pointed to the payroll, which ranks just 17th among the 30 clubs at $180.8, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. Three of their AL West rivals – the Astros, Angels, and Rangers – all pay their players more.
On June 30, the Mariners were 38-42 and 10 games out of first place. Even defending AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez was prompting whiskers about a sophomore jinx.
But then all the pieces fell into place. J-Rod started to hit, the M’s started to win, and the front-running Texas Rangers, along with the Astros, started to stumble. As August morphed into September, Seattle slew all comers.
Its 72-56 record on Aug. 27 gave the club a piece of the penthouse – the first time since Aug. 26, 2003 it had reached the top of the divisional standings so late in a season.
“It’s been a long time,” said manager Scott Servais, a former catcher who has been at the helm since 2016. “It’s a credit to our players, staff, and organization. We got off to a really rough start this year after really high expectations. And we have a lot of baseball yet to play.”
The in-season comeback reminded many observers of the 1995 Mariners, a middle-of-the-pack team that caught fire late, took the AL West title on the last day, and then defeated the favored Yankees in a five-game Division Series before losing the Championship Series to Cleveland.
Seattle fans still haven’t recovered from 2001, when the Mariners won an AL-record 116 games but lost to the Yankees in the ALCS – depriving them of their closest brush with a World Series.
Looming ahead are season-ending series against the Rangers and Astros, a 10-game stretch that will test all three teams. In the meantime, the Mariners mean to put some distance between them and their closest rivals.
When the team topped the Oakland Athletics in Seattle with a come-from-behind, 5-4 win earlier this week, it was a club-record 21st victory in a single month – topping 20-win months in 1995, 1997, and 2001 (three times). All those teams made it to the playoffs.
Rodriguez, the fleet center-fielder, has led the resurgence. On track for a rare 30/30 season, he just passed Alex Rodriguez as the fastest Mariner to reach 50 career homers.
“I’m just happy I’m able to help this team win, help the stretch we’ve got going and just kind of keep this winning streak going,” said Rodriguez, who is not related to A-Rod. “That’s honestly everything that matters to me.”
Over one stretch of 62 at-bats, the 22-year-old slugger hit .516 with five homers, six doubles, 13 runs scored, and 21 runs batted in, plus four walks and eight stolen bases.
He even passed Toronto’s Dante Bichette for the American League lead in hits – after collecting 28 in 10 games, the best any player has done since Kenny Lofton in 1997.
Although he enjoyed the hot streak, he said he doubted he could duplicate the feat of former Mariner Ichiro Suzuki, who once collected 56 hits in a month.
In addition to Rodriguez, a major reason for the Mariners’ surge was the sudden influx of talented new blood. Infielder Josh Rojas, obtained from Arizona with outfielder Dominic Canzone for closer Paul Sewald at the Aug. 1 trade deadline, has been a breath of fresh air. So have outfielders Dylan Moore and Cade Marlowe.
“Hitting is a lot easier when you know the lineup is on fire,” said Rojas, who arrived from Arizona with no home runs but quickly banged three for Seattle.
During the month of August, the Mariners trailed only the National League’s Atlanta Braves in generating an overpowering offense.
Rodriguez, Teoscar Hernandez, Eugenio Suarez, and Cal Raleigh have been the main run-producers during the run, with Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, and Luis Castillo leading a solid starting rotation.
In Castillo, Kirby, and J-Rod, Seattle had three All-Stars for the first time since the 2018 Mariners had four.
In retrospect, it’s amazing the club has survived serious injuries to projected pitching ace Robbie Ray, sidelined by Tommy John elbow surgery, and outfielder Jarred Kelenic, out with a fractured foot.
The M’s have also survived the impulses of general manager Jerry Dipoto, widely considered the most active trader of any team executive.
Other than the Rojas trade, he was uncharacteristically quiet at the deadline. Maybe he had an inkling of good things to come.
Seattle, WA
Seattle weather: Mostly cloudy skies and mild temperatures Friday
It was a beautiful November day for the Pacific Northwest with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s with plenty of sunshine.
It was a beautiful November day for the Pacific Northwest with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s with plenty of sunshine.
Clouds will move in overnight, which will keep temperatures mild into Friday morning. Lows only in the mid to low 40s.
Clouds will move in overnight which will keep temperatures mild into Friday morning.
Highs will be nice and mild again on Friday, but we will see more cloud cover. Temperatures will remain several degrees above seasonal average.
Highs will be nice and mild again Friday, but we will see more cloud cover.
Our next round of rain returns Saturday morning along the coast, moving slowly inland by midday. Rain will continue through the evening.
Our next round of rain returns Saturday morning along the coast, moving slowly inland by midday. (FOX 13 Seattle)
The skies will get a break from the rain late Saturday through mid-morning Sunday. A stronger round of rain moves in again later Sunday into Monday. Lowland rain, mountain showers and breezy winds will stick around through midweek.
Skies will get a break from the rain through mid morning Sunday. A stronger round of rain moves in again later Sunday into Monday.
Seattle, WA
Former Seattle Mariners Slugger Teoscar Hernandez Drawing Interest From AL East Clubs
A former Seattle Mariners outfielder could be in for a big pay day in free agency.
Former Mariners and recent Los Angeles Dodgers (and 2024 World Series champion) slugger Teoscar Hernandez is in a much better situation in this offseason than last.
After the 2023 season, Hernandez’s only year with the Mariners, the team didn’t give him a qualifying offer, leading him to sign a one-year, $23.5 million deal with the Dodgers in free agency.
Hernandez, who ended up winning the 2024 All-Star Game Home Run Derby, parlayed that deal into a successful season. He batted .272 with 33 home runs and 99 RBIs in 2024. Los Angeles rewarded Hernandez by tendering him a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer.
That move gave the former Seattle outfielder security to fall back on as he tries to find a longer deal in free agency. And according to a recent report from MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, Hernandez could find that home with a contender from the American League East.
According to Morosi, the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox have both expressed interest in Hernandez, who played in the AL East for the better part of six years as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays from 2017-2022.
As reported in Morosi’s tweet on “X” (formerly known as Twitter), both the Red Sox and Orioles have a similar need for right-handed power.
Hernandez would also likely be used commonly as a designated hitter for both teams. Baltimore’s go-to designated hitter/outfielder from 2024 Anthony Santander is a free agent and Boston’s designated hitter/outfielder Masataka Yoshida is left-handed.
Hernandez played one year with the Mariners in 2023 and hit .258 with 26 home runs and 93 RBIs.
Hernandez is viewed in many circles as the second-best outfielder available in free agency behind superstar Juan Soto. And that might end up getting Hernandez a contract much bigger than the qualifying offer Los Angeles offered him.
Hernandez has a market value of three years, $71.265 million ($23.8 million AAV), according to Spotrac.
MARINERS FREE AGENT TARGET PRAISED FOR DEFENSIVE ABILITY: A potential free agent target for the Seattle Mariners, Hye-seong Kim, has drawn praise in his home country for his defensive ability. CLICK HERE
MARINERS LINKED TO TOP INTERNATIONAL FREE AGENT: The Seattle Mariners are expected to be busy players when the international signing period starts in January. CLICK HERE
MARINERS RIVALS CONTINUE TO MAKE MOVES: The Seattle Mariners American League West rivals, the Los Angeles Angels, made another move by signing starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks. CLICK HERE
Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @wdevradiobrady. You can subscribe to the “Refuse to Lose” podcast by clicking HERE.
Seattle, WA
Seahawks Midseason Report Card: How Has Geno Smith Performed?
In the midst of their bye week, the Seattle Seahawks find themselves searching for answers in all phases after dropping five of their past six games to plunge into last place in the NFC West.
With nine games down and eight left to play, veteran quarterback Geno Smith has been under fire from some fans amid Seattle’s less-than-desirable start. But is that criticism fair?
Revisiting the first half of the season, how has Smith played in offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb’s offense so far? Midseason report card:
Areas of Strength: Continuing to excel as a deep ball passer, Smith currently ranks tied for first in Pro Football Focus’ Big Time Throw metric on passes traveling 20-plus yards (13) and has thrown six touchdowns on those passes, tied for second most behind only Eagles starter Jalen Hurts. Compared to other signal callers, he stacks up favorably against his peers in most major passing categories, including ranking first in passing yardage, 10th in completion rate, and 12th in yards per attempt.
Despite being tied for the league lead in interceptions, Smith only ranks 17th in turnover worthy play percentage (2.3 percent), suggesting not all of his picks have been his fault and that a high volume of pass plays has had more to do with that number than anything else. Making his numbers all the more impressive, only four quarterbacks have been pressured at a higher rate (39.6 percent), and his offensive line has been the main culprit with him only being held responsible for four percent of those pressures, the second-lowest rate ahead of only Rams starter Matthew Stafford.
While he hasn’t taken off to run as much as some quarterbacks and the vast majority of his yardage has been on scrambles and not designed run plays, Smith has been effective when tucking and running this season. He currently ranks 13th with 193 rushing yards and has averaged a healthy 5.4 yards per carry, an average bolstered by 10 carries of 10 or more yards, tied for the seventh-most by a quarterback this year.
Areas of Improvement: Though poor pass protection and botched snaps have played a part in Seattle’s struggles in the red zone, Smith deserves his share of the blame for the team struggling to finish drives with touchdowns. According to Pro Football Reference, he currently ranks 26th among quarterbacks with at least 10 pass attempts inside the opposing 20-yard line with a 51.5 percent completion rate and he’s been especially inaccurate inside the 10-yard line, completing just three out of 17 passes with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
When pressured, Smith has been hindered by sometimes questionable decision making and trying to do too much shouldering the load in a one-dimensional offense lacking a consistent run game. On 153 pressured drop backs, he has thrown a league-worst nine interceptions, three more than the next player (Kirk Cousins) on the list. With just five touchdown passes on those plays and under six yards per attempt, his 49.2 passer rating when pressured ranks 26th out of 27 qualified quarterbacks.
Midseason Grade: B+
Fans can bemoan some of the interceptions Smith has thrown, but based on a myriad of stats, no quarterback has been dealt a worse hand when it comes to shaky pass protection and constant pressure. Somehow, he ranks 16th in sack to pressure ratio despite being under persistent duress, and the fact he ranks in the top 10 in completion rate, yardage, and Big Time Throws in such an environment shows he deserves a hell of a lot more respect than he’s been receiving with circumstances around him being far from ideal.
Seahawks Exploring Tight End Depth Options
Seahawks Report Card: Top Performers in 26-20 Loss to Rams
‘We’re On Our Way’: Seahawks Stress Patience Amidst Rough Stretch
-
Business7 days ago
Carol Lombardini, studio negotiator during Hollywood strikes, to step down
-
Health1 week ago
Just Walking Can Help You Lose Weight: Try These Simple Fat-Burning Tips!
-
Business6 days ago
Hall of Fame won't get Freddie Freeman's grand slam ball, but Dodgers donate World Series memorabilia
-
Culture5 days ago
Yankees’ Gerrit Cole opts out of contract, per source: How New York could prevent him from testing free agency
-
Culture4 days ago
Try This Quiz on Books That Were Made Into Great Space Movies
-
Business1 week ago
Apple is trying to sell loyal iPhone users on AI tools. Here's what Apple Intelligence can do
-
Technology6 days ago
An Okta login bug bypassed checking passwords on some long usernames
-
Politics1 week ago
Trump pledges 'America's new golden age' as he rallies in PA's post-industrial third-largest city