The Mariners' leaky 2012 has finally taken on too much water, 79 losses, and found its watery grave. With a drink in our hand and a song in our heart, let's raise our glass and remember the 2012 Seattle Mariners…
What went right
There was a two-month period when the Mariners played winning baseball, going 30-23 in July and August. They're also 34-27 after the break, but that's still only third best in the four-team AL West, but it's still better than the Angels, so there's that. Also, if you went to a game at Safeco Field this year, you had a better than average shot at seeing a no-hitter or perfect game, a total of three no-hitters and two perfect games were thrown at the pitcher-friendly park. Chicago's Philip Humber threw a perfect game against the Mariner on April 21, while six Mariners pitchers combined for a no-hitter on June 8 and Felix Hernandez threw a perfect game on Aug. 15.
What went wrong
Let's just put it this way, heading into Tuesday's games, the Mariners were last in the American League in the following offensive categories: batting average (.233), on-base percentage (.294), slugging (.365), OPS (.659), OPS+ (88), runs (561), hits (1,161), doubles (210), RBI (533) and total bases (1,817).
MVP: Felix Hernandez, you may have heard, is pretty darn good. In addition to his perfect game, hernandez was 13-8 with a 2.92 ERA, putting up a team-high 5.3 WAR (according to FanGraphs). Once again he's in the top five in the American League in ERA (fifth), WHIP (1.110, fourth), innings pitched (212 2/3, second), strikeouts (199, fourth), complete games (5, second) and shutouts (5, first).
LVP: Otherwise known as the Chone Figgins trophy, and it goes to… drumroll… Chone Figgins. Figgins and his $9 million salary gets the nod over Brendan Ryan. For as bad as Ryan's season was at the plate (.191/.279/.269), he at least adds value with his glove. Figgins had a lower batting average (.185) and on-base percentage (.260) than Ryan. Of course, while you can't debate he was the L and the V, his status as a P is questionable -- he appeared in just 34 games and had 188 plate appearances.
MLB free agents to be: RHP Hisashi Iwakuma, RHP Kevin Millwood, LHP George Sherrill, LHP Oliver Perez, RHP Josh Kinney
Gameplan heading into this offseason
The team got a jump on its future at the trade deadline when they dealt icon Ichiro Suzuki to the Yankees. The Mariners have perhaps the best collection of starting pitching talent in the minor leagues. The first of the Mariners future stars to make his impact in Seattle could be Danny Hultzen, the No. 2 pick in the 2011 draft.
Ridiculously premature prediction for 2013
Once again the team deals with rumor that it's dealing Felix Hernandez, but both sides maintain their public declaration of love -- and may just mean it. Jesus Montero, freed from action behind the plate by rookie Mike Zunino, has the breakout season many expected in 2012. At some point -- perhaps even before the season starts -- the Mariners cut bait with Figgins, who will be in the final year of his four-year, $36 million deal.
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