One month and one day into the season, standing with an 11-13 record, the Seattle Mariners are either way ahead of their time or about 95 years behind it.
This can be viewed as a good thing or a bad thing, depending upon your feelings about The Deadball Era. Either way, coming on the heels of baseball’s Steroids Era, the Mariners are unique.
Because after four weeks of baseball, Seattle has blasted a grand total of nine home runs — or two fewer than Paul Konerko of the White Sox. The Mariners are on pace to hit 61 home runs over the course of the season — or 12 fewer than Barry Bonds once hit all by himself.
Considering that every power surge these days is greeted by speculation of HGH use, this might be a wise and clever strategy on the part of the Mariners. Compiling an entire lineup of 98-pound weaklings is a sure way to avoid accusations.
But it might not be the best strategy for winning baseball games.
Consider this: If the Mariners do, indeed, hit 61 home runs this season, that would be the lowest total for a full season in the American League since the California Angels banjoed 55 in 1975. And if you’re wondering how long ago that was, well, there have been at least two name changes since then for the Angels.
In a way, Seattle’s power outage is part of a grand design. The past two years, the Mariners have rebuilt their team around pitching and defense.
It’s part of a growing trend in the major leagues, with defense being hailed as the new on-base percentage — a misunderstood and undervalued trait that can be bought on the cheap.
And while the plan resulted in a 24-game improvement last year, from 61 wins to 85, this year is proving that it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. Because a look at the lineup would indicate that the Mariners have been seduced by their own success.
Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Sweeney as your designated hitters? That’s a great plan — if this were 1999.
Jose Lopez as your cleanup hitter? That’s like hiring a veteran character actor to be the leading man in a big-budget action movie. Think Clint Howard starring as Superman.
Consider: Seattle’s slugging percentage is .342, which would be the lowest in club history and the lowest in the AL since 1992.
The Mariners’ offense is so feckless and punchless, so devoid of the ability to strike fear in the opposing pitchers, that it places undo pressure on Seattle’s pitchers and fielders.
The day after free-agent-to-be Cliff Lee made his 2010 debut with seven scoreless innings, his agent said, “We’ve not really had any significant discussions with Seattle. I wouldn’t anticipate a deal.”
And why would he? Sure, any pitcher would love to play in front of Seattle’s defense. As long as he doesn’t mind losing by a score of 2-1.
The good news is that the Mariners are only slightly below .500. The better news is that they reside in the preternaturally mediocre AL West, where every team can harbor dreams of a division title.
And while they hope to remain in the race for the rest of the season, Mariners fans can take solace in the fact they’re watching something historically special — a team that plays baseball just as it was played a century ago.
