Woo Soul

 

The Mariners are still in first place. Even without Logan Gilbert and Bryce Miller, they are still a first place team, and still have the momentum while the A's and Rangers sink and the Angels and Astros ascend. This is very important. I have no idea how much longer this will be a true statement, but it's good that we're here.

Last year, if you'll remember, the Mariners couldn't hit for shit. This year is something of an improvement. The team has an AL home run leader, Cal Raleigh, who has 17. This team also has Julio Rodriguez and Randy Arozarena, who are both hitting at the moment despite some .230ish averages. Julio has 9 homers and 29 RBIs, Randy is the more well rounded hitter with more doubles and contact fun. You also have guys like Jorge Polanco, Dylan Moore, J.P. Crawford and Leo Rivas hitting really well and lifting the team. Now, granted, the team average is still .237, but it's up from last year. There's still some dead weight refusing to really perform at the plate, like Luke Raley, Rowdy Tellez, Mitch Garver and now Leody Taveras. But this year you can tell there's been a shift, and at the very least there's been more power hitting, which has been getting the job done in the West.

To that end, the rotation isn't QUITE as unstoppable as last year's, and because Gilbert and Miller are hurt and Kirby is just getting back, they've had to rely on some also-rans like the other Luis Castillo and Emerson Hancock. Logan Evans is beginning to figure it out, he's got an ERA around 3, but the ironclad quality of the 2024 rotation isn't there. Plus, Kirby got lit up in his first start back. At the very least Castillo has been himself, but without Gilbert they've lacked that one sure thing. Which is where Bryan Woo has come in. Finally healthy and at full potential, Woo is having another incredible, low-ERA campaign, with a 5-1 record, a 2.65 ERA and 55 Ks. He's definitely the staff ace at the moment, even with Castillo still there. I'd love for him to continue at this pace even after Gilbert comes back, it looks good on him.

Between the surging starters, a powerful lineup and the single best closer in baseball right now, the Mariners finally have a well-rounded roster with a lot of perks. However, they just lost two to the Astros, who are now closer than ever to lapping them, and now they have to play the Nats, always a spoiler at this stage. I'd love them to stay on top, but it requires stopping the current and rising where other M's teams failed. Can they do that, especially to stave off the Astros? Uhh...I hope the answer is yes for once.

Coming Tomorrow- Very few things are inevitable in this life. Death, taxes...and this guy hitting a home run off you.