Mariners Update, End of May

Ok, I have to be honest.  I really wanted to do a weekly blog on the Mariners' season, but I think that was over-ambitious.  I just had to comment on a few things, in light of the 21-8 thrashing the M's dropped on the Texas Rangers today.  This, following yesterday's 10-3 drubbing of the same Rangers.  You know, the ones that were in the World Series last year?   The same Rangers who were one out away from glory and blew it in game 6 to an over-matched, over-achieving Cardinals team?  Oh, and the over-matched, over-achieving Giants the year before? 

What has become clear over the past two months of Mariners' baseball is that this team is very streaky.  Win four, lose six.  Win five, lose seven.  For most of the season, the offense has veered between a joke and a disaster, with manager Eric Wedge treating the roster like his personal fantasy team.  He tinkers with a different lineup every night, regularly sitting hot players in favor of guys hitting below .200.    The only consistent thing about the Mariners has been their inconsistency.  Hopefully, this 31 Run, 32 hit barrage over the past two games sparks some life into the otherwise anemic offense.  Then again, they may play as bad as they did against the Angels, racking up strikeouts and losing close games because they can't hit with runners in scoring position. 

Here are a few things that need to happen sooner, rather than later. 

1. Chris Chambliss, the Mariners "hitting" coach, needs to be replaced.  A guy off the street couldn't do much worse, but I'd suggest getting Edgar Martinez to fill the void--or yawning chasm--at this point.
2. The Mariners piled up 21 runs on 22 hits tonight WITHOUT Ichiro in the lineup.  I said they should have traded him last year.  He's hitting .271, isn't going to hit .300 again, isn't going to come close to 200 hits again, and has no plate discipline.  Trade him now!
3. Designate Chone Figgins for assignment.  Eat the remainder of his contract.  A desperate team might pick him up on waivers and offer a pair of used game socks and a couple of dollars.  Take the deal!
4. John Jaso should be the starting catcher against RHP, and Montero against LHP.  Miguel Olivo should be next on the waiver wire after Figgins.  Every time I say to get rid of him, he manages to get a couple of hits.  Big deal.  He's still hitting well below .200!
5. Use the roster space freed up by getting rid of these three to bring Casper Wells back, bring up Carlos Peguero (currently hitting .385 with 10 HR at AAA) and SS Nick Franklin.  
6. As a matter of fact, get rid of Franklin Gutierrez as well.  The guy is a Gold-Glove CF when he's healthy, but he hasn't been healthy since 2009.  Michael Saunders and/or Wells can continue to play CF, or bring up Trayvon Robinson if Saunders tanks.
7. Just as a classy move, claim Jamie Moyer off waivers from the Colorado Rockies, and let him retire as a Mariner.  Hell, he's probably capable of pitching a few more games out of the bullpen, too!

Well, that's about it.  The M's record stands at 23-30, but could be much better if the offense becomes more consistent, and the bullpen stops blowing leads.

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