The starters have allowed 19 earned runs in 19 games. Surely that’s sustainable, right??
Hello and welcome back to FanPost Friday. Did you know the Seattle Mariners are in first place in the AL West as of today May 3? It’s true. Who would’ve thought? Not me! If you’ve been watching the team closely so far and perhaps pulling some hair out at times over the lack of consistent hitting, this success feels a bit hard to believe, right? I know I feel that way, but it turns out historically great starting pitching and a decent bullpen actually CAN win you games even if you’re scoring a max of 3 runs in any given game. Some luck helps, too (makes wavy hand gestures).
Is this good?
Quality starts so far this season:
19 SEA
18 PHI
17
16
15 KC SF
14 DET PIT TOR
13 ARI LAD
12 ATL BAL SD TB
11 BOS MIN STL TEX
10 CIN HOU NYY
9
8 CHC NYM
7 COL LAA MIL OAK
6 CWS CLE MIA WSH— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) May 3, 2024
This seems cool, maybe even historic?
Teams with a <=1.58 ERA in any 19-game span
(last 50 MLB seasons):1972 Dodgers
1981 Yankees
1991 Blue Jays
2010 Giants
2012 Rays
2017 Indians
2024 Mariners— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) May 2, 2024
So yeah, the combined efforts of Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, and Emerson Hancock have truly been something special to behold. Bryan Woo is slated to return to the team shortly, as well, so I’m told they have this thing called “depth” that I’ve always heard so much about when it comes to winning teams. The bullpen has bent at times but has rarely broken, even while still missing Matt Brash and Gregory Santos, thanks to the efforts of established mainstays Andrés Muñoz, Gabe Speier, and Taylor Saucedo combined with new guys Austin Voth, Tyson Miller, Cody Bolton, and my long-haired doppelganger Ryne Stanek. Tune into today’s new Meet at the Mitt pod for more discussion of this incredible run of Mariners pitching.
So what do we think, LL Hivemind? Is this run of pitching success sustainable? Let’s hit the polls!
Before we go, can I interest you in some fan art in honor of this perhaps historically great rotation? (Full disclosure, artwork is by staff writer Brenbee Everfolly’s partner, her art has previously graced some LL pieces)
When life gives you lemons…new version of the Oops, All Aces design (without player likeness) now available on our TeePublic. Thank you all for the moral support!https://t.co/4jBy8MYomw pic.twitter.com/160UfJJ7oM
— ⚡ inkoid ⚡ (@inkoidart) April 30, 2024
All right, have a great weekend and let’s go Mariners. BEAT HOUSTON!