~~Saving A Sinking Ship~~ The Seattle Mariners...(The Show 18)

[johnstone1987]

--Saving A Sinking Ship-- The Story of the Seattle Mariners--


~~PROLOGUE~~

The Seattle Mariners is a Franchise in search of an identity. Year after the year the ballclub has failed to reach any kind of expectations. The Mariners are in need of a desperate makeover but that's easier said than done. For years, the Mariners have failed to rekindle the magic of the 2001 Season when they went 116-46 and reached the ALCS, where they crashed and burned to the Yankees hard in 5 games.
After that history making season the Mariners fell back down to earth and hard. Year after year, the Franchise has fallen flat on their face before reaching the finish line. Many faces have come and go from the club including Ichiro, Bret Boone, Ken Griffey Jr, Dan Wilson, among countless others.
The Franchise is in dire need of a new direction. The story of the Mariners doesn't begin in 2018 however but decades earlier in 2002. After a 2001 trip to the Playoffs, Seattle has not seen the Post Season since. Many fingers and even more blame have been pointed to the Front Office where countless General Managers and Personnel have failed to deliver Seattle a Playoff appearance in 17 years.
This is where the story of the 2018 Seattle Mariners begins. With new faces joining old faces, a new direction in the General Office, "Trader Jerry" Dipoto is out the door. A new General Manager is in, it's time for the Seattle Mariners to reach up and grab that brass ring. Not only a trip back to the Post-Season. But a World Series Championship....



~~Using MLB 18 The Show, I will be following the Seattle Mariners (My favorite Team.) and to keep things fun and entertaining I'm doing 30 Team Roster control. I will also do some recaps of other games to keep it entertaining. EX: Like a Series of Red Sox VS Yankees.~~

[johnstone1987]

Seattle Mariners Depth Chart - 2018
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
C	Mike Zunino	Tuffy Gosewisch
1B	Ryon Healy
2B	Robinson Cano
3B	Kyle Seager
SS	Jean Segura	Taylor Motter
LF	Ben Gamel
CF	Dee Gordon	Guilermo Heredia	Kirk Nieuwenhuis
RF	Mitch Haniger	Nelson Cruz
DH	Nelson Cruz
SP	Felix Hernandez	James Paxton	Mike Leake	Hisashi Iwakuma
RP	Juan Nicasio	Tony Zych	Mike Morin	David Phelps
CL	Edwin Diaz

[johnstone1987]

2018 Seattle Mariners TEAM Preview

The Front Office

Jerry Dipoto is gone. Taking his place in the Front Office is General Manager Lou Pinella. A longtime Mariners Executive, Coach, and experienced Consultant across the league, he looks to turn Seattle in a whole new direction and find an identity in a very tough AL West Division.


The Coaching Staff

Manager Scott Servais has returned for his last year in his Contract. Rumors swirled around that Lou Pinella had no intentions on negotiating any Contract extensions with the Staff. Mariners Legend Edgar Martinez returns as the Hitting Coach.

The Pitching Staff

King Felix Hernandez will be the #1. No surprise there as the Ace will have a decent bullpen behind him in James Paxton, Mike Leake, and phenom Closer, Edwin Diaz.


The Infield

All eyes will be on Second Baseman Robinson Cano and his massive 72m Dollar Contract. Ryon Healy will be the First Baseman and Kyle Seager and Jean Segura will round out the infield. Zunio is behind the plate. Dan Vogelbach didn't make the 25 Man cut due to a poor spring and will start the year in AAA Tacoma with Mariners Legend Ichiro who signed a deal to return to Seattle at 44 years old.


The Outfield

Ben Gamel, Mitch Haniger, Dee Gordon will anchor the Mariners Defense in the back. Nelson Cruz has been named the DH.

[johnstone1987]

Game #1

Cleveland Indians at Seattle Mariners
Mar 29, 2018	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cleveland (0-0)	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	1	4	8	1
Seattle (0-0)	0	1	0	0	0	4	0	0	X	5	6	0
W: Felix Hernandez(SEA)(1-0) L: Corey Kluber(CLE)(0-1) S: Edwin Diaz(SEA)(1)

Cleveland Indians
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG

Seattle Mariners
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG

Cleveland Indians
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA

Seattle Mariners
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA

MARINERS hold off INDIANS for Opening Day Win!



RECAP




SEATTLE- Today was Opening Day across the Majors and the Seattle Mariners(1-0) had a tough test in front of them. The AL Central Defending Champions, Cleveland Indians(0-1).

"First day jitters for everybody." Indians Manager Terry Francona stated.

The Indians are coming off a tough ALDS to the Yankees where they lost in 5 games.

It was a game of chess until the 5th Inning when Cleveland got on the scoreboard 2-1.

Both Aces held their own today and not wanting to back down.

The Mariners broke the door wide open with a 2 run blast by Catcher Mike Zunino.

"We we're hitting the ball well today I thought." Mariners Manager Scott Servais stated.

Felix Hernandez held his own against the Tribe finishing the day with 6.1 Innings pitched, 5 hits, 3 runs, and 8 Strikeouts.

Not a bad day for the King.

[johnstone1987]

GAME #2



"Big Maple" owns the Day as MARINERS beat INDIANS 4-1!

Cleveland Indians at Seattle Mariners
Mar 31, 2018	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cleveland (0-2)	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	0
Seattle (2-0)	0	0	3	1	0	0	0	0	X	4	4	0
W: James Paxton(1-0) L: Carlos Carrasco(0-1) S: Edwin Diaz(2)

Cleveland Indians
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG

Seattle Mariners
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
BATTING: 2B: Ben Gamel(SEA) HR: Kyle Seager(SEA)(1) HR: Jean Segura(SEA)(1) HR: Mitch Haniger(SEA)(1)

Cleveland Indians
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA

Seattle Mariners
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA

RECAP

SEATTLE- The Cleveland Indians(0-2) looked to rebound after a tough loss to the Mariners(2-0) on Opening Day.

But today was not the day.

"Big Maple" James Paxton took the ball and the #2 Ace completely dominated the Tribe.

"I was on it today. Very proud of the job we did as a Team." Paxton stated.

Paxton went a full 7 Innings retiring the first 9 Indians he faced. He finished the day 10 Strikeouts and only allowed 1 hit and a run.

Cleveland failed to solve James Paxton until a Francisco Lindor Home Run in the 5th put Cleveland on the board.

But Seattle still led 4-1.

"It's a long season. They're gonna be times when you can't score and lose games. Today was one of those days." Indians Manager Terry Francona stated.

After giving up the only run, Big Maple finished off the Tribe before turning the ball over to Nick Vincent in the 8th who set up for Edwin Diaz to come in and get his 2nd Save of the year.

"Today was a very good day for us." Mariners Manager Scott Servais stated.

Seattle got on the board in the bottom of the 3rd with a two run blast by Short Stop Jean Segura.

Slugging Third Baseman Kyle Seager would follow suit.

"I saw the pitch over the middle and put a good swing on it." Seager stated.

The Mariners will attempt to get the sweep tomorrow afternoon but will face Indians new Free Agent, Ace Jake Arrieta.

[johnstone1987]

Game #3

Cleveland Indians at Seattle Mariners
Apr 1, 2018	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cleveland (0-3)	0	0	1	0	0	1	2	1	0	5	8	0
Seattle (3-0)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	X	6	9	0
W: Juan Nicasio(1-0) L: Jake Arrieta(0-1) S: Edwin Diaz(3)

[johnstone1987]

SERIES PREVIEW



MARINERS prepare for Road Trip to San Francisco to battle GIANTS


SAN FRANCISCO- The San Francisco Giants had a small Dynasty going at the start of the Decade winning the World Series in 2010, 2012, and 2014. The Giants had a solid Playoff run in 2016 before losing to the Chicago Cubs. 2017 was a disaster for the Giants finishing with just 64 wins.

The days of the World Titles are way back in the rearview mirror for Bruce Bochy's Crew out of the bay.

"We enjoyed the glory days at the start of the Decade. We had some good years but we're looking ahead now." Giants Manager Bruce Bochy stated.

A few players remain from those "Glory Days" Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Hunter Pence, etc.

"It's a new year for us. Guys here are excited to see what we can do." Giants First Basemen Buster Posey stated.

The Giants(1-3) are coming off a rough Opening Day Series loss to Rivals Dodgers.

The Mariners(3-0) Swept the Indians to gain some momentum heading on their long Road Trip where they will meet the Giants, Twins, and Royals.

"It's nice to get some wins on the Road to help carry over some momentum." Mariners Manager Scott Servais stated.

The Mariners(3-0) are in their own makeover phrase this year under new Front Office Lou Pinella who returned to the Emerald City to help build up a Contender.

A Sweep of the Central Champions Indians(0-3) seem to point signs in the right direction.

[johnstone1987]

Game #4




MARINERS bats come alive in 11-3 thrashing over GIANTS!

San Francisco Giants at Seattle Mariners
Apr 3, 2018	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
San Francisco (1-4)	1	0	1	1	1	1	1	2	3	11	15	1
Seattle (4-0)	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	3	10	0
W: Hisashi Iwakuma(1-0) L: Ty Blach(0-1) S: None

San Francisco Giants
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
BATTING: HR: Gordon, Haniger, Zunino, Seager

Seattle Mariners
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
BATTING: HBP: McCutchen

San Francisco Giants
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA

Seattle Mariners
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA

RECAP



SAN FRANCISCO- The Seattle Mariners(4-0) first Road trip of the 2018 campaign landed them in the Bay to battle the struggling Giants(1-4).

The bats came alive today for Seattle as the M's blasted a total of 8 Home Runs with 3 of them by First Baseman Ryon Healy.

The Mariners jumped all over Giants Pitcher Ty Blach early and often.

"It was a rough day." Blach stated afterwards.

He finished the day lasting just 5 innings allowing 7 hits, 4 runs, while striking out 5.

Giants Skipper Bruce Bochy had to make a call to the Bullpen.

"Seattle came in hot today. We had to lean on our Bullpen." Bochy said.

So hot that Seattle rattled off 15 hits off the Giants.

"We hit the ball very well today." Mariners Skipper Scott Servais stated.

Mariners right hander Hisashi Iwakuma went 6 innings allowing 6 hits and a run with 8 K's.

"Huge win for myself after last year." Iwakuma stated.

The Mariners took a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the 5th when Giants Right Fielder Andrew McCutchen blasted a home run to put San Francisco on the board.

"He put us on the board but we need to score more." Bochy said.

The Mariners will look to earn their second Sweep of the year tomorrow when they finish the quick 2 game Series before heading to Minnesota.