Coming off a slow start, the Mariners have turned it up!
Welcome back again, loyal Mariners fans, for another edition of Mariners Reacts! Thank you to all those who responded last week! Last week, we chose to look at this team critically at a time when it seemed like things were already falling apart—to me, anyway. The Mariners were off to a painfully slow start, and their record reflected that. However, with the swift turnaround, we can review this team with renewed vigor and question whether certain additions should be made more permanent.
Coming out of the week, the M’s weren’t looking too hot; their play, and especially the offense, had been quite dismal after an offseason where we were promised significant jumps at the cost of fan favorites like Eugenio Suarez. We asked you all last week if it was time to worry, and you firmly rejected that notion—or, at the very least, thought it was too soon.
More over, many of you felt that despite a certain player’s slow start that also coincided with the Mariners’ slow start (a trend I don’t think we will ever be free of), we should not be concerned about Julio.
Then, just for fun and in a vain attempt to locate other Ryan Bliss supporters or “Blissciples” like myself, we asked which prospect you felt had the best chance of sticking on the roster. Not surprisingly, many of you felt Clase may have earned himself a long-term stay with the big league club.
Thankfully for my mental health, the M’s seem to have found a groove for now. Things seem to be running smoothly, including coming off a scintillating series win over the defending World Series Champion Texas Rangers. Our beloved M’s now sit at first place (in April) in the AL West.
For this week, I thought it would be a good idea to find out what people think about the Mariners’ play so far, especially from certain players, and what their longer-term impact could be. Most importantly, we should decide if this is the Mariners team we can expect for the rest of the year or merely a tantalizing mirage that leaves us with nothing but a dry mouth and the sands of another lost season slipping through our fingers.
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