M’s falling back to earth

The jubilance of spring training has vanished while the crispness and optimism that sprung eternal for this Mariner ballclub has officially been extinguished. It was fun while it lasted, but I think we all knew deep down what this team was. There is nothing wrong with dreaming big in the first weeks of a season, but now we’ll have to face the harsh reality that this team is truly in the beginnings of a long rebuilding process.

The Mariner’s 7-1 blowup loss to the Texas Rangers last night again exposed area’s of this team’s game that still need to be revamped and that it is going to take years to get out from under former manager Bill Bavasi’s devastating contract and personnel decisions.

Jason Vargas pitched well in his first start since 2007, replacing Carlos Silva in the rotation. However, it was a constant reminder that the Mariners are saddled with a massive contract with Silva who can’t pitch but is still owed $12.2 million this season. The really good news is that we have Silva sewn up through the 2011 season. If Silva never sees the pitching mound again in a Mariner uniform, Seattle will have paid him $10.6 million per win (5). We are in similar dire straits with contracts owed to Kenji Johjima and Miguel Batista.

Never one to share the spotlight of shame, free-swinging head case shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt brain farted yet again, failing to come up with a play that would have stopped the bleeding in the seventh inning. It was a big enough a play that manager Don Wakamatsu uncharacteristically called out his shortstop. According to the Seattle Times:

"If he makes that play, we get out of the inning, and it's 3-1. Whether they gave it a hit or not, that play needs to be made. There were a couple of plays we threw the ball around and didn't contain it. That's something we have to make changes with."

Lastly, there is the anemic production at the plate. The M’s posted four hits and one run yesterday. In nearly half their games, the M’s have scored two runs or fewer. They are last in the American League in runs scored (132) while ranking 7th in the league in runs allowed (156). And the lineup is littered with free swingers like Betancourt who has never seen a pitch he doesn’t want to take a hack at.

Despite the poor play, the M’s show signs of life. They are getting solid pitching from the top of the rotation and their outfield, while not producing power numbers, is saving runs and playing great defense. They are pointed in the right direction, the destination is just a ways away.