Rebuilding the Kingdom-A Seattle Mariners 2021

[Deuce2223]

This thread will be dedicated to my Rebuilding the Seattle Mariners. I am currently playing on the Xbox One, but purchased the version of the 2021 MLB The Show available to Xbox One and the new Xbox system (should I ever get one to purchase).

I have been very active on the boards over the years starting back in 2007 with College Hoops, I also have done multiple College Football threads as well and in 2013 I had a Seattle Mariners thread called the "King and his Roundtable". I am excited to be back to playing some baseball again, so glad i was not forced to purchase a PS4/5 just in order to play "The Show".

I am pretty old school. I don't do a ton of graphics, but I do enjoy sharing lots of details and back story with what's going on with my dynasty to my followers/readers. I also love comments and getting you all involved with what's going on.


Right now my plan is to just control the M's and hopes that the CPU will be able to make decent moves with the other franchises. I know in the past many of us had to run full control of all 30 teams just to keep things realistic. Hopefully thats not the case.

My plans are to play at least 1 game in every series. It might be Game 1 or it could be Game 3, or the next series could be Game 2, typically playing around 50-60 games throughout the season and then hopefully one day the playoffs.

I am a pretty dedicated Warzone player, and spend alot of nights on their grinding out Win's with friends, so I am unsure the pace of this thread, but since 2007, I have been unable to play a sports franchise without sharing my story..

Hope you will all enjoy. Deuce..

[Deuce2223]

DIPOTO NAMES SUCCESSOR!!

For Seattle Fan's their relationship with Jerry Dipoto has been a Love/Hate relationship. Some fan's love him for dismantling the franchise and rebuilding the Farm System that now ranks #2 in Baseball behind Tampa Bay. For others it's pure hate, as they watch Dipoto trade away fan favorites as well as letting star's like Felix Hernandez finish his career out in a different uniform.

Taking over in 2015, M fans have watch their team finish just twice above .500. Despite a hot start in 2019 going 13-2, Seattle would then go on to loose 37 of their next 49 games finishing 68-94 the worst in the Dipoto era.

The 2020 season was cut short due to Covid as the Mariners played just 60 games finishing 27-33, but there was a few bright spots as 1B Evan White and SS JP Crawford won Gold Gloves and CF Kyle Lewis won Rookie of the Year.

Now going into the 2021 season. Seattle has another problem on their hands. CEO Kevin Mather was forced to resign after making racist remarks about players. With Mather out of the picture, Team Chairman John Stanton has announced Dipoto will move up in the Mariners Front Office with Ryne Sands taking over GM duties moving forward for the 2021 season.


Sands

Quote:

"I am extremely excited for what the future holds here in Seattle.. Well I know a large % of our fanbase is unhappy with how Jerry has rebuild this franchise, the truth is he has established a amazing foundation for us to build on moving forward. Yes we still have some decisions to make and Yes we are most likely still a few years away from competing for a division crown, but trust me I was there in 2001 in the stands the last time the M's had a realistic chance at winning a playoff series. I lived through the year's of star's like Griffey Jr, Jay, Arod, Edgar, The King.. I promise we will win again and I promise we will have players fan's are excited about, players who kids and grow up buying their jersey's and pretending to be when they are out on the diamond with their friends."

[Deuce2223]

SANDS WILL LOOK TO THE PAST AND FUTURE AS HE REBUILDS THIS KINGDOM!!

THE ROTATION

With Marco Gonzales penciled in as the Ace of the staff after a 16-13 season in 2019 and a 7-2 record in 2020 and Japan's Yusei Kikuchi as the team's #2 despite a career 8-15 record and 5.39 ERA.

New GM Ryne Sands was looking to bring in another solid veteran presence to help bridge the gap allowing 24 yr old Justin Sheffield (17/21 games started) and 25 yr old Justin Dunn (14/14 games started) another year to develope.

So Sands reach back to the past resigning former Mariner James "Big Maple" Paxton.

Paxton's career started out slow in Seattle with the lefthander never winning more then 6 games his first 4 seasons with the club. But in 2017 he posted a 12-5 record and 2.98 era in 24 starts and followed it up with a 11-6 3.76 era in 2018 in 28 starts leading to his inclusion into a trade that brought Sheffield to the M's.

Paxton would pitch well for the Yankee's in 2019 posting a 15-6 record with a 3.82 era in 29 starts (the most in his career) but injuries once again forced Paxton to miss time as he pitches just 20 innings in 2020 in 5 starts going 1-1 posting a 6.64 era leading to the Yankees allowing him to walk into Free Agency.

With Paxton on board, Marnier fan's will most likely not see Logan Gilbert or George Kirby until after the trade deadline or Sept callups as both will start the year in AAA Tacoma.

BULLPEN

With Edwin Diaz gone to the Met's in the Robinson Cano dump, Marnier fan's have not seen a dominate closer since.

Enter former Toronto Blue Jay and Houston Astro Ken Giles. who is coming off his own injury but looks to be ready for the 2021 season (I am playing him, even though in real life he won't play). Giles has 115 career saves including a career high 34 in 2017 with Houston.

Sands

Quote:

"We are extremely excited that Ken has decided to make Seattle where he want's to make his comeback after pitching just 3.2 innings last year. We believe for the next 2 seasons he will give us the type of shutdown closer M fan's are use to seeing"

CATCHING

In 2019 Tom Murphy was one of the best offensive catchers in the Majors, battling .273 well hitting 18 HR's and driving in 40 runs. Now in the final year of his contract, can Murphy prove to the Sands he deserves big money to stay or will Seattle turn to Luis Torrens who is 5 years younger.

Torrens acquired from San Diego in the Austin Nola trade has posted just a .198 BA with 1 HR and 13 RB in 207 MLB AB's.

INFIELD

1B Evan White won a Gold Glove in 2020 but sadly batted just .176 with 8 HR and 26 RB in 182 AB's. He will need to prove he can be better at the plate if he want's to be considered part of the rebuilding process.

Dylan Moore saw action all over the field in both 2019 and 2020 and played well enough in 2020 posting a .255 avg with 8 HR, 17 RBI and 12 SB's to earn a chance to play 2B every day moving forward.

Is SS JP Crawford a future star? The 16th pick in the 2013 draft by the Phillies has yet to post a offensive type season that would make you think so. Yes he did win a Gold Glove in defense in 2020, but a career .231 hitter with just 12 HR's, 88 RB and only 14 SB's makes you think he is destine for the #9 spot in the battling order for life.

3B Kyle Seager is in the final year of his contract and most likely won't be with the team for the full season if you ask most experts. Seager who has hit over 20 HR's in every season from 2012 to 2019 has been a staple in the corner for the M's for over 8 years. But at the Age of 33, many feel Seager is on the decline. A career .256 hitter, Seager's best season came in 2016 when he hit .278 with 30 HR and 99 RBI.

Ty France is the future. France came over from San Diego in the same trade that brought Torrins.. Many feel that France will be the M's starting 3B in 2022. Some think he could end up at 2B. For now France will spend time at both well also seeing alot of action at DH. France excelled last season in 141 AB's hitting .305 with 4 HR, 9 Doubles and 23 RBI.

OUTFIELD

Kyle Lewis is a star. The former #11 pick of 2016 Draft, made his debut in 2019 hitting .268 with 6 HR and 13 RBI in 71 AB's. He followed it up hitting .262 with 11 HR and 28 RB in a shortened 2020 season winning the Rookie of the Year.

Jared Kelenic is considered to be one of the best baseball prospects in the nation. The #6 Overall pick by the Mets in 2018, Kelenic was included in the Robinson Cano/Diaz trade as the #1 piece that Dipoto wanted back.

Kelenic will start the year in AAA, but new GM Ryne Sands doesn't plan on keeping him there long.

18 yr old Julio Rodriguez has been compared to be the next Frank Robinson. Is he the next great power hitting OF of this generation. Signed as a International FA at the Age of 16, Rodriguez has destroyed MILB pitchers hitting .326 with 12 HR 68 RBI in 384 AB's. With Mitch Haniger in the last year of his contract, will we see Rodriguez in 2022 fulltime?

Mitch Haniger was once viewed as a main building block in the M's new foundation, but injuries saw Haniger's #'s slip in 2019 (.220 15 HR 32 RBI) as well as saw him miss the entire 2020 season. If Haniger can have a bounce back season and play like he did in 2018 (.285 26 HR 93 RBI) Haniger can either earn a big contract with the M's or he could also be a valuable trade asset come July.

22 yr old Taylor Trammell, 24 yr old Jake Fraley, and 24 yr old Dom T-Williams provide the M"s with plenty of potential trade pieces or other options moving forward as GM Ryne Sands looks to rebuild the Kingdom..

[Deuce2223]

M'S LEAVE SPRING WITH LOTS OF ???

The Mariners finished the Spring Training 16-11 Overall which was actually 3rd in the Cactus League (Giants-17-9 and Dodgers 16-10) with the Red Sox, Yankees and Twins all going 16-10 to lead the Grape Fruit League.

However with a team battling avg of .236, M fan's are left wonder just what kind of offensive their team will provide this season.

INJURY
Seattle came away from the Spring with only 1 major injury to note. 1B Evan White fractured his Shin in Game 2, as the M's were left to scramble to find a 1B replacement all Spring. White is expected to miss 1-2 months returning sometime in early July.

Jose Marmolejos was expected to challenge for the starting job in left, but instead spent most of his time at 1B. Marmolejes who battled .206 with 6 HR and 18 RBI in 2020, ended up hitting .260 in 77 AB's but didn't provide a single HR and only drove in 6 runs.

Looking to provide some offensive pop and provide some protection for OF Kyle Lewis, GM Ryne Sands reached into the F.A. Pool signing former Brewer All-Star OF Ryan Braun. Braun at the Age of 37 had hinted at retirement but instead will join the M's on a 1 year 4 million dollar contract as he looks to fill a 1B/DH role until White's return.

Braun hit just .233 with 8 HR and 26 RBI's in 2020 in 129 AB's. But in 2019 Braun posted a .285 BA with 22 RB and 75 RB with 11 SB's.

Braun actually has 216 Stolen Bases in his career to go along with 352 HR's with a career .296 battling avg.


GIVE ME SOME MOORE

2B Dylan Moore hit 8 HR in 137 AB's in 2020, providing some shocking power from the Utility IF/OF. Moore was a star this spring leading the team with 7 HR in 78 AB's leading to a team best .295 Avg as he solidifies his spot in the starting lineup.

WHERE IS THE O

Well the M's had some bright spots in Moore, K. Lewis (.292 3 HR 12 RB), Kyle Seager (.281 2 HR 4 RBI) and Ty France (.261 2 HR 9 RBI), they had more busts.

C Tom Murphy hit just .181 in 72 AB's and backup Luis Torrens wasn't any better hitting .143 in 28 AB's.

OF Taylor Trammell lost his chance to grab LF as he hit .197 in 66 AB's, well Jake Fraley also failed hitting just .175 in 40 AB's opening up the door for Braden Bishop (.296 54 AB's) to take the spot joining Lewis and Haniger.

Speaking of Haniger his spring was pretty dismal as well as he hit just .213 with 2 HR and 5 RBI in a team high 80 AB's.

Sam Haggerty (.278 1 HR 8 RBI) beat out Shed Long Jr (.100 in 20 AB's) and Donnie Walton (.208 in 53 AB's) as the backup IF.

SS JP Crawford's early struggles leaves M's fan very disappointed. Crawford managed to hit just .143 scoring just 5 runs in 77 AB's.

ROTATION

Well the Offense was a disappointment, the Starting rotation performed above predictions.

#1 Marco Gonzales won 2 games well posting a team best 2.20 ERA in 32 IP.

Yusei Kikuchi pitched 23 IP well posting a 2.35 ERA well "Big Maple" James Paxton pitched a team high 35 IP well posting a 3.60 ERA winning 2 games.

Another big surprise was LHP Justin Sheffield. Sheffield pitched 26 IP posting a 2.77 ERA well also winning 2 games.

BULLPEN

LHP Anthony Misewicz earned a spot in the Bullpen as the team's Lefty specialist posting a 1.17 ERA in 7 IP well picking up a win and save.

RHP Will Vest earned a spot despite a 4.50 ERA in 15 IP, as Vest leads the team with 3 wins.

With Ken Giles still on IR, Rafale Montero held down the Closer duties posting a 1.80 ERA in 10 IP well saving 7/7 attempts.

Former LA Angel Kenyan Middleton also looks like a late inning option as he post a 1.04 ERA in 8.2 IP with 4 Holds.

[Deuce2223]

M'S TAKE 2 OF 3 FROM GIATNS!!

GAME 1

The Mariners took a early 3-0 lead on a Ryan Braun homerun as the former Brewer slugger makes his Mariner Debut.

Braun would add Homerun #2 in the 5th driving in 3 runs yet again to end the day 3/4 with 2 HR and 6 RBI.

Dylan Moore (2/4 1 run scored 1 RBI) and Kyle Lewis (2/4 2 runs scored 1 RBI) stayed hot from the spring as the Mariners open the season with a (8-1) victory.

Marco Gonzales pitched a complete game giving up 4 hits and 1 run over 9 innings well striking out 5 and walking 2.

Giant starter Kevin Gausman lasted just 5 1/3 innings giving up 3 runs on 7 hits well striking out 5 as he takes the loss.

GAME 2

After scoring 8 runs in Game #1, the M's managed just 1 run on 4 hits as they lose Game #2 (7-1)

The Giants got homeruns from both Flores and Casali well SP Alex Wood goes 8 IP giving up 3 hits and 1 run in the win.

Seattle's only run of the day came off a Triple by OF Mitch Haniger.

James "Big Maple" Paxton took the loss lasting just 2 2/3 IP giving up 6 runs on 5 hits well striking out 3 and walking 2.

D. Sadler pitched the final 3 IP giving up just 2 hits and striking out 2 in his 2021 debut

GAME 3

OF J. Marmolejos was 0/4 in Game 1, but came up big in Game 3 hitting 2 solo HR's as the Mariners win 2-1.

It was a pitching dual as both teams combined for 8 hits and the 3 runs.

Giants J. Cueto went 7 IP giving up both HR's on well striking out 5.

Seattle's Justin Sheffield went 5 1/3 IP giving up 3 hits and the 1 run well striking out 5 and walking 4 as he picks up the "W".

Kenyan Middleton pitched the final 5 outs of the game striking out 3 to pick up the save.

UP NEXT

Seattle will continue their 6 game homestand to open the season as they host the Chicago Whitesox. The Whitesox are off to a (1-3) start on the season.

Yusei Kikuchi will take on Reynaldo Lopez in Game 1.
Justin Dunn will face off against Lucas Giolito in Game 2
(1-0) Marco Gonzales battle (1-0) Lance Lynn in Game 3

[johnstone1987]

Lifelong Mariners Fan. Been to a couple Games at Safeco Field looking forward to this

[Deuce2223]

Quote: Originally Posted by johnstone1987

Lifelong Mariners Fan. Been to a couple Games at Safeco Field looking forward to this

Appreciate it. I have to admit it has been tough watching them lose, but at the same time I am excited for the future with our Outfield, but man for some reason nobody so far in the first 10 games seems to be able to hit the ball during sim games or with me

[Deuce2223]

M'S TAKE 2 OF 3 FROM SOX!!

Seattle improved to 4-2 on the season as they once again when the rubber match taking 2 of 3 games from the Whitesox at home. It was a exciting series with Game 1 going into extra IP and Game 3 with the M's coming up with the game winning run's in the 9th.

GAME 1

Chicago took the early 1-0 lead and added to it in the Top of the 7th but the M's tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the inning. The score would then remained tied until the 13th inning as team captain Kyle Seager comes up huge with a Solo HR to win the game.

Seager would finish the day 2/5 and was the only Mariner to collect more then 1 hit as the M's manage just 4 hits on the day compared to the White Sox's 11 hits.

SP Y. Kikuchi pitched well going 6 2/3 IP giving up 6 hits and 2 runs well striking out 5.

LHP Nick Margevicius pitched well in relief going 3 2/3 IP giving up 4 hits and no runs

Domingo Tapaia got the win pitching the 13th IP

GAME 2

Chicago scored 4 runs in the 4th innings to take a early 5-1 lead and the M's quite bats (only 4 hits again) failed to produce any type of comeback getting only a solo HR from Mitch Haniger in the 7th as the only run scored in the final 5 innings from either team.

SP Justin Dunn struggled in his 2020 debut giving up 9 hits and 5 runs over 3 2/3 IP well striking out 3 and walking 2.

RP Casey Sadler however was excellent in relief pitching 5 1/3 IP giving up just 2 hits well striking out 2 and walking 2.

GAME 3

The Bats came alive as the M's and Sox's combine for 23 hits and 22 runs..

Chicago again led early taking a 4-0 lead in the Top of the 5th, but the M's managed to score 2 in the bottom half of the inning to make it 4-2. Chicago added to the lead in the 7th as Jose Abreu hits his 2nd HR of the game making it 7-2 but in the bottom of the 8th the M's again rally back as 2B Dylan Moore hits a 2 run HR and the M's add another run to make it 7-5 going into the 9th.

Chicago looked to put the nail in the coffin as Abreu goes deep for the 3rd time in the game to extend the lead to 10-5, but in the bottom of the inning Seattle scores 6 runs including a game winning 3 run HR by DH Ty France.

France would end the day 3/5 scoring twice and driving in a career high 6 runs.

Mitch Haniger had a great day at the pate going 3/3 well scoring 2 runs, and SS JP Crawford finished 2/5 hitting 2 triples well driving in 2 runs.

SP Marco Gonzales lasted just 4 2/3 IP giving up 4 runs but only 2 earned on 3 hits well striking out 5.

Margevicius gave up 3 runs on 4 hits in 2 IP of relief well RP D. Stekenrider was hit hard for 3 hits and 3 runs giving up Abreu's HR in the 9th.

Domingo Tapia came in and got the final 2 outs of the game to pick up his 2nd win of the season as he improves to 2-0.

UP NEXT

After starting the season with 6 games at home, the M"s will now hit the road for their next 7, first stopping in Minnesota for a 3 game series with the Twins and then on to Baltimore as they face the O's in a 4 game series.

Minnesota is off a a 2-3 start on the season