| By Alex Carson |  | By 01-01-2013 |
The past calendar year saw quite a bit of action from the Seattle Mariners. Though it didn’t reflect positively in the big club’s won-loss record, there were several things we can reflect on as the team continues to retool and climb back to relevance.
We know. You wanted sexier names. Bigger bats. Run support for Felix Hernandez. We did, too.
It’s become extremely difficult to sell an offensive- and win-deprived fan base on the positive improvements of the organization these days, so please don’t expect this beach bum to try and talk you into buying a bucket of sand.
Rather, as you watch college football and rehydrate, let’s look flip the pages on this year back and explore together the journey the Mariners took.
January
The year opened with rumors that the Mariners were in hot pursuit of one Prince Fielder. Some called the club the “favorites” to land his services before he ultimately opted to join the Detroit Tigers on a nine-year pact near the end of the month.
At the time, the fan base had mixed emotions on the trade swung in the middle of the month – RHP Michael Pineda to the New York Yankees for C/DH Jesus Montero. Pineda had just turned in a marvelous rookie campaign, showing poise and command not often seen from a kid of his age and size. However, the Yankees again dangled their sparkly prospect that had people dreaming about his powerful future.
The other addition of significance was one that would take a few months for most to appreciate. The club brought in RHP Hisashi Iwakuma as a free-agent from Japan. Iwakuma had some injury issues, but was young enough that he could have some upside as a starter in the big leagues.
Additions
RHPs Brian Sweeney, Kevin Millwood, Aaron Heilman, Hisashi Iwakuma, LHPs Oliver Perez, C/DH Jesus Montero
Subtractions
RHP Michael Pineda
February
The Mariners’ late-winter free-agent signings consisted of a trio that would never make it to the big league active roster.
The return of infielder Carlos Guillen – who played with the club for parts of five seasons before blossoming after a trade to the Tigers – ended when Guillen decided to head off to retirement. RHP Shawn Camp and LHP Hong-Chih Kuo were brought in for bullpen depth, with the latter though to have much upside if he could stay healthy.
The injury bug bit OF Franklin Gutierrez yet again, as he suffered a partial tear of his right pectoral muscle in the midst of a promising spring that had us wondering if Death to Flying Things was back.
In perhaps the oddest move of the month, Eric Wedge announced that Ichiro would no longer bat lead-off for the club. People didn’t raise too many eyebrows at that move in isolation, given Ichiro’s steep decline the season prior. No, it was the insertion of one Chone Figgins atop the batting order* that left the Emerald City scratching its collective head.
* Spoiler Alert: It didn’t work.
Additions
RHP Shawn Camp, LHP Hong-Chih Kuo, INF Carlos Guillen
Subtractions
C Chris Gimenez
March
With perhaps the biggest MLB star to originate from that country in tow, the Mariners would finally make a trip to Japan. The M’s were set to take on the Oakland Athletics in Tokyo back in 2003, but that trip was cancelled for security reasons after the second Iraq war broke out. Nine years later, Ichiro would finally return to a baseball diamond in the Far East.
With droopy eyes, the Prospect Insider staff – along with a group of readers and other bloggers – arrived in the wee hours of the morning at Epic Seats. The room exploded in cheer when Dustin Ackley homered, followed by obligatory he’s-on-pace-for jokes. Jesus Montero saw nine pitches in four trips to the dish that day. Felix was awesome. Ichiro had four hits batting in the three-hole. Mike Carp got hurt. Miguel Olivo was Miguel Olivo.
After 11 innings, the M’s were victorious and on their way to an undefeated season. Ah, opening day. When the past is forgotten and every fan base has the chance to sniff hope. Even if they’re wiping sleep away from their faces as they head into work.
Subtractions
INF Carlos Guillen
April
After playing a couple regular season games in Asia, the M’s went back to Arizona to complete their Cactus League play before jetting off to – where else – Oakland to resume regular season play against the Athletics.
The first month of the season would serve as foreshadowing for how the entire campaign would go. The team went 10-12, good for .455 winning percentage, just a tick under where they’d finish the season. They managed to sweep the eventual AL Champion Tigers in Detroit, but couldn’t do much against the Indians and White Sox at Safeco Field. As we’d soon find out, this club wasn’t so bad on the road. Playing at home was a whole other story.
Brendan Ryan hit a home run.
Optioned
RHP Shawn Kelley, C Adam Moore
Recalled
LHP Charlie Furbush
Subtractions
RHP Aaron Heilman
May
The team endure more struggles as they opened May with a four-game losing streak. They ended the month at 12-17 where the offense was mostly lousy.
In the last game of the month, however, the M’s busted out with a huge 21-8 win down in Arlington against the Rangers. Justin Smoak hit two three-run dingers and chipped in a double. Dustin Ackley and Jesus Montero hit homers, too, with the rest of the order chiming in often.
This would be the beginning of the club scoring lots of runs on the road for a stretch, momentarily normalizing their run differential.
Injured
C Miguel Olivo
Activated
C Miguel Olivo, 1B Mike Carp
Optioned
RHPs Steve Delabar, Erasamo Ramirez, OF Casper Wells
Recalled
RHP Shawn Kelley
June
The MLB first year player draft occurred, and the Mariners tabbed Florida catcher Mike Zunino with the third overall selection.
Steve Delabar can name the I-5 exits between Tacoma in Seattle, in order, as his trips between the two cities continued. He was recalled on the 13th, optioned on the 16th and recalled again on the 29th.
Franklin Gutierrez’s bad luck continued as he suffered a concussion after being plunked in the head during a pickoff attempt by Boston’s Franklin Morales. What made the injury even more freak was that the sure-handed Adrian Gonzalez was the first baseman who whiffed the scoop.
The big club’s record was 11-16 on the month.
Injured
OF Franklin Gutierrez, 1B/OF Mike Carp
Activated
OF Franklin Gutierrez
Optioned
RHPs Steve Delabar, Blake Beavan, INF Alex Liddi
Recalled
RHP Steve Delabar
July
The midpoint of the season arrived with the club again looking like potential sellers heading toward the trade deadline. The problem being that what the Mariners had to sell, other teams were unlikely to want ot buy. Would they want to move any of their top prospects? Would they give up on a guy like Montero or Smoak and take what they could get in return?
The team went 15-11 on the month, marking the first month with a winning record in what seemed like an eternity.
The club inked first round selection Mike Zunino and assigned him to short season Everett.
In a truly shocking development, the club traded franchise icon and future hall of fame outfielder Ichiro Suzuki to the New York Yankees. The 10-time All-Star and Gold Glover, two-time batting champion and media lightning rod was thought to have been unmovable.
His contract was big, his skills were dwindling and Japanese ownership would never allow the front office to move him, right? As it turns out, Ichiro may have approached team leadership and offered to move on if he was sent to a desirable location. The exact details of that exchange is unknown, but both sides had to see the resolution as good for all involved.
I remember the feeling of shock. The feeling of disbelief. I remember immediately realizing that the Yankees were going to be in town that very day to play the Mariners. I dashed off to purchase tickets. I had to see this for myself. I couldn’t trust my high-definition television. I needed to see Ichiro donning another uniform, taking his spot in right field and producing that familiar batting stance in something other than Mariners colors.
The worst part of the ordeal? He actually looked good in pinstripes. Maybe even natural.
Subtractions
OF Ichiro Suzuki
Injuries
LHP Charlie Furbush, OF Franklin Gutierrez
Activated
1B/OF Mike Carp
Optioned
RHPs Steve Delabar, Hector Noesi, DJ Mitchell, Stephen Pryor, 1B Justin Smoak, OF Carlos Peguero
Recalled
RHPs Steve Delabar, Stephen Pryor, Blake Beavan, OFs Trayvon Robinson, Carlos Peguero
August
Mike Zunino made the transition to wood bats look easy as his stay in Everett lasted only a month. The Mariners promoted him to Double-A Jackson. He continued to hit well with the Generals and his ascent from new signee to top prospect began.
The Mariners 15-12 mark in August meant they strung two winning months together. This lead to all sorts of silly insinuations that Ichiro’s departure from the clubhouse helped the youngsters perform. Of course, that’s nonsense and what really happened was the collective team simply playing better.
Could the month get better? Sure could.
On the 15th of the month, Felix Hernandez threw the first perfect game in the history of Seattle baseball and the 23rd in the history of the sport. In a truly dominating effort, King Felix struck out 12 batters while throwing 113 pitches -- 77 of those for strikes -- and of course, didn’t allow a single Tampa Bay Rays player to sniff first base.
We all knew the King would throw a no-hitter someday. He’d come close a couple times before. On this sun-drenched August day at Safeco Field, he didn’t let it slip. Leg lifted and arm’s pointed to the sky, Felix’s legacy grew. And he’s still not a Yankee.
Injuries
1B/OF Mike Carp
Activated
LHP Charlie Furbush, OF Franklin Gutierrez
Optioned
RHPs Shawn Kelley, Erasmo Ramirez, OF Casper Wells
Recalled
1B Justin Smoak
September
As the season began to wind down, the Mariners had a chance to look at a few youngsters who have had chances and one who hadn’t yet made the big league level.
The September call ups saw shortstop Carlos Triunfel make his major league debut. At one point, he was the gem of the farm system. A middle infielder with a strong arm and high potential with the bat. Injuries and regression made it seem like Triunfel toiled around the M’s system for a decade. So, when he was called up, it was amazing to realize he was still only 22-years-old.
The team closed out the season with a 9-17 month of September. While it was seen as a long shot, the club actually went into the month riding a two-month winning pattern and a shot to climb to .500. 15 games against playoff teams -- along with five more against an Angels team that just missed the postseason -- sealed the team’s fate with another losing record, however.
The Mariners would head into off-season with question marks littering their roster. Highly touted prospects struggled, big money players either left or became non-contributors and fans were left wondering when they would see a better product on the field.
Activated
1B/OF Mike Carp
Recalled
RHPs Shawn Kelley, Erasmo Ramirez and Hector Noesi, INF Carlos Triunfel and Alex Liddi, OF Carlos Peguero and Casper Wells, DH Luis Jimenez
October
The long and windy off-season road began as Mariners players dispersed across the country and world, while baseball’s playoffs played out.
As clubs are in a waiting pattern until the conclusion of the World Series, not much happened with the club. Rumors did start to flare up toward the end of the month, though, such as the Kansas City Royals heavily scouting LHP James Paxton. Nothing has come of it, but it was the first sign that the hot stove season was in session.
Subtractions
INF Munenori Kawasaki
November
The inevitable finally happened with the Mariners cutting bait on Chone Figgins contract after their inability to find any team to take him for any amount of payroll relief in exchange for any amount of talent return. The club needed to move on and Figgins was taking his frustration to the media.
The team tried everything to get him going. They moved him back to third base. They used him as a super utility. They slotted him first in the lineup. Nothing worked. While many had thoughts -- and hopes -- that previous roster moves indicated the end for Figgins, this was finally the time where it happened.
Miguel Olivo’s 2013 option was mercifully declined.
The Mariners added infielder Robert Andino in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for outfielder Trayvon Robinson. Andino is expected to backup multiple infield positions and gives the club a second defender who can play short behind Brendan Ryan.
Scott Cousins was claimed off waivers at the beginning of the month only to be placed on waivers and subsequently be claimed by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Oliver Perez was signed to a one-year pact to return for 2013.
Additions
OF Scott Cousins, INF Robert Andino
Subtractions
RHP Kevin Millwood, LHP George Sherrill, C Miguel Olivo, INF Chone Figgins, OF Scott Cousins
December
The M’s were linked to just about every free-agent and trade-available hitter on the market. From Justin Upton to Josh Hamilton. From Wil Myers to Nick Swisher. The club explored several options. They reportedly made a large offer to Hamilton before he accepted a deal with more guaranteed money and years from the Angels.
Trade talks heated up and then they quieted. Guys visited and then signed elsewhere.
A few minor transactions did happen, though. One saw the club sending LHP Jason Vargas to the Angels for 1B/DH Kendrys Morales. The team also added some veteran depth with RHP Jeremy Bonderman and OFs Raul Ibanez and Jason Bay.
Additions
RHP Jeremy Bonderman, OFs Raul Ibanez, Jason Bay, 1B/DH Kendrys Morales
The fan base was left in an uproar, no more so than after Hamilton spurned the Mariners for the Angels. Many emotional things were scribed in the blogosphere and on twitter. Though the organization is vastly better than it was a few years ago, people are understandably sour with the major league product. No one wants to watch losses while divisional rivals strengthen.
Again, this isn’t a sales pitch. I would encourage you all, however, to consider the strides the club has made and understand that General Manager Jack Zduriencik is hard at work every day trying to improve the major league roster.
We all remember how upset we were when then GM Bill Bavasi sent several young players to the Orioles for Erik Bedard. Now, there’s a large segment of the fan base who seem to be fine with the idea of spending any amount of resources -- both cash and prospects -- to find home runs.
What was memorable for you about 2012 and what would you like to see the club to to improve in 2013? Feel free to discuss openly.
the-mariners-2012-in-review
Comments
The following 7 comment(s) for this article are shown below:
| 1. By: Gibbo on 01-01-2013 17:01:48 Thanks for the perfecto Fliz, tahat really saved the season. i mentioned in the other thread no way I would deal away the prospects, but I would look to find short term fixes/stop gaps and improvements. I want to see Franklin, Zunnino, Walker, Hultzen and Paxton all playing for the M's unless an elite talent is coming back. Another deal like the Vargas trade is fine by me.... The Ethier tweet from JC was interesting but I don't know if I want him if its costing us a top 5 prospect. |
| 2. By: sexymarinersfan on 01-01-2013 19:05:27 For me there is a list of memorable moments from 2012. I'll just give the highlights. 1. Being 1st in line for Fanfest the 2nd year in a row. My girl and I are moving back to Texas after 3 glorious years up here. So I had to take every advantage possible to see my beloved M's. This will be my last Fanfest for awhile.. We get married 3-1-13 and move 3-4-13 to Dallas TX. 2. Going to Spring Training for the first time in my life. I ended up with tons of autographed memorabilia, but the big one was getting Ichiro right off the bat, TWICE, when I first arrived. Then I also got about 30 minutes of one on one time with Ricks Rizzs at the Salty Señorita before his talk show. When that started my girl pointed out Vinnie Catricala standing off to the side. I invited him over and he actually came and sat down at our dinner table for about 20 minutes. That was really awesome! The next day Rick saw me at the ballpark from the booth called out to me, then turned to Dave Sims and said, "Hey, that's Ben Davis!" Lol. 3. April 22nd, against the White Sox, after never having caught a ball in my 33 years of life, caught THREE and went on a run of 8 consecutive games with getting a baseball. That was special. 4. After having seen Felix pitch his perfecto, I told my girl we were missing some great baseball. I took her to Party City. We bought King costumes and tickets for the Kings Court section(it was on our bucket list since we never had before). It ended up being The Superior Court. Not only did I get to hold a giant Felix head that game, but I GOT PICKED TO EAT THE TURKEY LEG!!! That by far was the MOST memorable. I remember a lot of my softball buddies and friends texting and calling me saying "we just saw you guys on tv! Still there's more. 5.The last home game of the season, I was three autographs away from getting every single player who ever threw a pitch out of the bullpen on my baseball for 2012. I ended getting Wilhelmsen, Capps, and Noesi just before the last second to complete all 13 names(I'm pretty sure it was 13). As far as improvements go for this team, another innings eater would be on my wish list. It sounds like Jack is working on that from the sounds of JAC's tweet, along with a bat. I'm not terribly excited about Ethier, but it's no doubt because of flash backs from the Bedard trade. I think he could be productive for us, but I do not like his splits (right vs. left, OR home vs. away) at all! It really just depends on who we would be giving up. I could see one of our bullpen arms like Furbush or Pryor going along with some youngsters. Who knows really. I like the idea of keeping the 2nd best unprotected pick in next years draft. If we were to trade prospects, Mac and Jack have showed the ability to get great value out of their drafts. I like the possible offensive additions of Mike Zunino, Franklin Gutierrez, Nick Franklin, Jason Bay, along with Kendrys Morales and Raul Ibanez. I'm always one for looking at the cup half full. Add that along with possible improvement from Dustin Ackley, Justin Smoak, Jesus Montero, John Jaso, Kyle Seager, and Michael Saunders and this lineup doesn't look all that bad. If Ethier IS acquired, I could see Seattle "competing" for a wild card spot. A lot of things would have to break right though. |
| 3. By: Wishhiker on 01-02-2013 00:34:16 My favorite part about 2012 is how many people decided during that year that a bird in the bush (#12 pick) is worth at least 2 birds in the hand (rather trade established prospects) It seems to me to be a leap of faith that in what is being called a weak draft will produce even better resulting picks than have been made in the last 4 years. All this while picks like Paxton became much less likely to be available so late with the changes to draft rules. If there's a Trout or Pujols that slips past the first 11 (yeah, if there even is a player like that drafted next year) I guess there must be some certainty in the eyes of the pick clingers that Z and Mac will identify them. I, otherwise, can't see the rationale. Otherwise 2012 was a bit of surprises by Saunders, Seager, Jaso and Leutge, one of the most dominant games ever pitched. There was establishment by Montero as being a near league average bat at 22 and by Wilhelmsen, Capps, Pryor, Iwakuma and Ramirez as being part of a strengthening pitching core in the show. That all was surrounded by disappointments in so many others. Not much of the disappointment was in pitchers, so at least there's that. I didn't expect that going into 2013 we'd still have so many of the same offensive questions as we did a year ago. Seager, Saunders and Jaso plus a year of Morales is not the improvement and establishment I think any of us expected to see. I still believe in improvement from some of the other hitters, it just seems more hopeful at this point than bankable. 2012 sucked in a lot of ways. Looks like, consequently, 2013 will suck in at least some of the same. Here's to hoping that further establishment of an offensive core makes the team more enjoyable to watch at least. |
| 4. By: maqman on 01-02-2013 11:45:49 2013 will be better than 2012, take it to the bank! Getting a MOTO bat in Morales was not a minor move. |
| 5. By: Shawnuel on 01-02-2013 13:36:05 Nice review Alex. However, I don't see mention of the Delabar for Thames deal. Did I miss it or just an oversight? |
| 6. By: Wishhiker on 01-03-2013 00:15:48 We didn't trade Campos or acquire Noesi? I'm cool with that. |
| 7. By: harmony55 on 01-23-2013 21:56:45 Tom Wilhelmsen and James Paxton to Toronto for lefthander Ricky Romero and centerfielder Anthony Gose. Romero could serve as an innings-eating replacement for Jason Vargas. The 28-year-old Romero was bad last year* but combined for 7.0 WAR and 435 innings the two previous seasons. Romero has three years and $23.1 million left on his contract. The second buy-low candidate would be Gose, Baseball America's 39th-ranked prospect entering the 2012 season before the 22-year-old lost some luster with 59 strikeouts in 189 MLB plate appearances. Toronto is rumored to be a possible destination for Kyle Lohse and/or Michael Bourn, so Romero and Gose could be expendable**. Wilhelmsen could provide the Blue Jays a great bullpen arm with five years of team control while the lefthanded Paxton provides a Canadian replacement for Romero. * even in his dismal year, Ricky Romero posted a 0.5 WAR that rivaled the 0.8 WAR posted by Jason Vargas ** the current Toronto depth chart lists starters R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Brandon Morrow, Ricky Romero, J.A. Happ and Chad Jenkins |
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