Mariners preview: New to the party? Meet the team that ended Seattle’s playoff drought
As Scott Servais sauntered the clubhouse hall following an extra-inning, walk-off win over Texas on Sept. 29, Seattle’s manager stumbled upon one of many player-only meetings designed to celebrate “daily wins.”
Minutes earlier, shortstop J.P. Crawford’s single in the 11th inning scored Dylan Moore at T-Mobile Park, dropping the Mariners’ magic number to one with seven regular season games to play.
They were on the precipice of history — a single win from cementing the club’s first postseason berth since 2001.
Servais, typically not one to eavesdrop, had to listen. Third baseman Eugenio Suarez led the discussions.
Servais retold the story a day later, laughing.
“I think I heard (Suarez) say, ‘Great job tonight, guys.’ If he has a good game, he’ll say, ‘Good job by me.’
“It’s always something to keep the team loose. (Suarez) is very creative. Great one-liners. … I love it. He likes messing with me, and sometimes, I need that during the course of the game.”
The Mariners are extroverted, easygoing, witty — and never afraid to celebrate.
A newer trademark, Seattle’s position players partake in a “circle dance” following every win — shoulder-to-shoulder with alternating leg kicks.
Catcher Cal Raleigh’s walk-off homer Friday called for something extra — a full-team dance as a sold-out crowd looked on.
Additional bedlam ensued in the clubhouse, featuring champagne showers and celebratory cigars. The Mariners were on their way to the postseason for the first time in more than two decades.
“When I first got here, (the team) gave me that comfort,” Suarez said. “I feel so grateful to be a part of this team. From the beginning and now, we never gave up.”
Suarez was a newcomer in spring training, acquired by Seattle in a deal with Cincinnati in March, and has since emerged as the team’s “big-time leadership piece.”
Three months later, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto acquired slugger Carlos Santana in a deal with Kansas City.
The club then landed Reds ace Luis Castillo — Suarez’s former teammate — in the days leading up to the trade deadline.
A 14-game winning streak certainly tipped the scales, but Seattle’s decision to add big league talent at the deadline signaled the entrance of the club’s competitive window.
Castillo delivered All-Star numbers following his arrival, and the team signed him to a five-year extension last month. Santana’s 15 home runs ranked fifth on the team in 75 games. Suarez mashed 31, a team-high.
“We’ve got a really good team,” Servais said last week. “We’ve got the ability to go deep in the postseason, and it’s about winning a championship.”
MEET THE MARINERS
THE ROTATION
Starting pitchers have “carried” the Mariners, Servais described, aided by two new All-Stars.
More recently acquired was Castillo. Former Blue Jays pitcher and reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray signed a five-year deal with Seattle last winter.
The Mariners also returned Marco Gonzales and Logan Gilbert, and certainly enjoyed the rookie season of George Kirby, who won AL Rookie of the Month in August.
Following Seattle’s acquisition of Castillo, Mariners pitchers posted a 3.67 team ERA, which ranked sixth in the league. Seattle’s 1.17 team WHIP in that span was fourth.
THE BULLPEN
If opposing offenses are successful in cracking a Seattle starter, Servais can deploy one of many well-equipped relievers.
Does he need a flamethrower on the mound? Andres Munoz brings never-before-seen heat to the bullpen, touching a franchise-record 103-mph with his fastball.
Matt Brash and Diego Castillo offer devastating sliders when command is harnessed. Paul Sewald, a trusty closer, collected a team-best 20 saves.
Servais’ list of options continues, including Erik Swanson, deadline acquisition Matthew Boyd and Chris Flexen, once a rotation fixture who has assumed bullpen duties as a mid-game innings eater.
THE CATCHERS
In his first full season in the majors, Raleigh has caught 115 games for Seattle while also adding 20 doubles, 27 home runs and 63 RBI at the plate.
He will forever be remembered, though, for hitting the home run that ended the drought in Seattle. Raleigh’s blast to right field with two outs in the ninth inning last Friday lifted the Mariners to a walk-off win over the A’s and secured Seattle’s first postseason trip in 21 years.
Curt Casali has caught 15 games for Seattle since he was acquired from San Francisco at the deadline, while Luis Torrens has caught 42 this season.
THE INFIELDERS
Seattle’s starting infield was consistent throughout the regular season.
Ty France, who led the team in hits (152) and doubles (27), played 127 games as Seattle’s everyday first baseman.
Santana added veteran presence and power at the plate, supplying 15 home runs and 39 RBI since joining the club, while also playing some first base.
An offseason acquisition from the Padres, Adam Frazier appeared in 156 games — which led the club — including 124 as the Mariners’ second baseman, and 38 more in the outfield.
Crawford, a leader in the infield since his arrival in 2019, played 144 games in his familiar role at shortstop.
Suarez played 130 games at third base, and led the team in both home runs (31) and RBI (87).
Moore appeared in every position except pitcher and catcher multiple times this season, while Abraham Toro appeared in 55 games at second base and 31 at third.
THE OUTFIELDERS
Rookie Julio Rodriguez has already captivated Mariners fans in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The 21-year-old outfielder played his way onto the Opening Day roster, and led the club with a .284/.345/.509 slash line in 132 games during the regular season while playing 130 in center field.
He also led the Mariners in runs scored (84) and stolen bases (25), and finished in the top three in most statistical batting categories. His 28 home runs are a Mariners rookie record.
Right fielder Mitch Haniger, Seattle’s longest-tenured player, missed much of the season with an ankle injury, but has played in nearly every game since his return in August.
Jesse Winker, who the Mariners acquired from the Reds in March, played 118 games in left field, but was placed on the 10-day IL earlier this week.
Former top prospect Jarred Kelenic spent most of the season with Triple-A Tacoma, but was recalled two weeks ago and appeared in every game down the stretch.
Moore (61 games in the outfield) and Sam Haggerty (70) filled in gaps in the outfield, though Haggerty was placed on the 10-day IL earlier this week.
Former prospects Taylor Trammell and Kyle Lewis, the 2020 AL Rookie of the Year, spent most of their seasons with Tacoma. Trammell rejoined the big league club this week.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Expectations soared this spring after Seattle finished just short of the playoffs last fall.
The Mariners hovered around the .500 mark early on, but eventually dropped to 29-39 midway through June, finishing 3-8 during a long homestand in what was perhaps their low point in the season.
The response? Winning 22 of their next 25 and carrying a 14-game winning streak into the All-Star break.
The Mariners finished 51-42 in the first half, and 39-30 in the second half.
They ended the regular season with a 10-game homestand, and won seven games during that stretch, not only ending the drought, but finishing the regular season with three consecutive wins over Detroit.
France’s walk-off base hit in the ninth on the final day of the regular season against the Tigers secured a 90-72 finish for Seattle — the club’s second 90-win finish in as many seasons.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Seattle’s first postseason game since 2001 will be played at 1:07 p.m. Pacific on Friday at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The game will be televised on ESPN.
Castillo is scheduled to start for the Mariners, while Alek Manoah is set to start for the Blue Jays.
Game 2 is set for 1:07 p.m. Saturday, and will also be televised on ESPN.
Game 3, if necessary, will be played at 11:07 a.m. Sunday and televised on ABC.
While the entirety of the wild-card series will be played in Toronto, T-Mobile Park is set to host watch parties for each game throughout the weekend.
Tickets are available on the club’s website.
