Seattle Mariners fans mock team exec’s assessment of the team’s struggles: "They paid for the bargain bin and are surprised at the lack of quality?"
It's been a rough start to the season for the Seattle Mariners, with the team residing in the American League West Division cellar at 2-5 after the first week of the season.
The Mariners rank 25th out of 30 MLB teams with a .222 batting average, and are 22nd with a team OPS of .662.
Jerry DiPoto, Seattle's president of baseball operations, joined a Seattle-area radio program "Brock and Salk Show" to discuss what he sees as the team's issues after seven games. He said:
"We have really struggled in almost every facet of the game through a week. I know the general attention has been paid to our offense but it’s really been all elements of the game. We’ve struggled to make the defensive plays, we’ve struggled on the bases, and we’ve really struggled to manage the strike zone both on the mound and from the batter’s box."
Jerry Dipoto on the Mariners struggles:
“We’re swinging outside the strike zone. We’re making a lot of noncompetitive misses with our pitches.”
Also says the pitchers are “walking way too many hitters” and cites that Mariners are bottom 5 in K/BB.
More Dipoto: “We just played inconsistent, sloppy baseball, which is not what we do.”
While DiPoto did not mince words about the team, neither did Seattle Mariners fans about DiPoto's efforts.
@MarinerMuse If it’s what you’re doing, then it is most certainly what you do
@MarinerMuse Let me translate: We signed a lot of low contact, low average guys, who no one else wanted but we're still pretty surprised they aren't performing.
@MarinerMuse They only paid for the bargain bin and are surprised at the lack of quality so far?
Their best players will improve as the season goes on but their weak spots may not and that will cost them a playoff spot this year with TX and Angels improving.
While Mariners fans had all sorts of theories as to why the team's hitting has been problematic, the dig at the pitching staff chafed many Seattleites. Seattle's pitchers have compiled an ERA of 3.38, good for eighth overall in MLB. Although DiPoto wasn't wrong about the team's 31 walks, which is tied for second-most in the league.
@MarinerMuse The glaring problem to me is either whiffing or fouling off center cut pitches that should be getting tagged.
@MarinerMuse Its not swinging and missing thats getting us,its not swinging at obvious mistakes
@MarinerMuse He would place blame at feet of the pitchers. Can’t shine a light on his refusal to add impacts bats. La Stella and Pollack are fine!
DiPoto opened himself up to a bevy of criticism following the interview. The team boasted an MLB-best profit north of $83 million last season, yet remained far south of the average 2023 MLB payroll of $151.8 million with a total team payout of $129.8 million. However, that might have more to do with owner John Stanton than DiPoto.
@MarinerMuse Dude just will never admit he sucks at his job
@MarinerMuse I like the use of “noncompetitive” because they were disgustingly noncompetitive in free agency.
@MarinerMuse No blame for Jerry??………he put this roster(?) together
Needless to say, Mariners fans are overwhelmingly not DiPoto fans.
@MarinerMuse https://t.co/IhEzylVFiH
Seattle Mariners have a long history of disappointment
Since making their debut in 1977, the Seattle Mariners have a winning percentage of .474. What's more, the team has made it to the playoffs just five times in 47 years and has yet to hoist an American League pennant.
The most heartbreaking season in Mariners history was 2001, when the team tied a major league record with 116 regular-season wins but lost the ALCS in five games to the New York Yankees. Seattle made it to the ALCS three times in a seven-year stretch from 1995 to 2001, but lost once to the Cleveland Guardians and twice to the Yankees.
Last season was the first time the Mariners reached the playoffs since their 2001 playoff collapse.