Home » Sports » Seattle Mariners » September Surge?

September Surge?

© C. A. Wright

They came out of Spring Training looking like the best Mariner team ever, with a chance to take it all the way. They stayed on top of the AL West for four months to bolster our hopes. Then came August.

CAN"T BUY A RUN
The Mariners forgot how to score runs in August. Their competitors-especially Oakland-didn't . The M's knew how to get runners on base-they just couldn't get them home.

Call it bad luck-a few more injuries, a few slumping bats-that's all it takes. Then you start wishing Mr.Gillick had acquired that extra big bat to bolster the pack and wondering if maybe Nelson was right about the M's management not doing enough to improve their chances in the off season.

TURN AROUND IN SEPTEMBER?
Now that it's September, the trades the M's made in July start to look better and better. Giving up the impertinent Nelson to New York for Armando Benitez gives them a veteren closer in the bullpen when Rhodes bombs out or Kaz can't do the job-he isn't the same since his injury. Rey Sanchez at shortstop gave them another consistent hitter when Guillen was out and now that he's back they have a good hitter at third base as well. It was a good move.

The first game in September the M's showed they may be over their scoring freeze. Nine different batters contributed to their 16 hits, which resulted in 10 runs. It's not just Booney, Edgar and Ichiro hitting anymore. In fact, Ichiro is in a hitting slump. Odds are he'll find his way out of it in time. Meanwhile, Winn, Sanchez, Guillen and Olerud are connecting regularly.

Unfortunately, the pitchers in that first game were giving up runs about as fast as the offense could score them, which is why it went into extra innings. The Mariners have so many backups in the bullpen, however, it's hard to imagine that holding them back from the postseason.

One thing that could hold them back is errors. They better get focussed in those tight situations because giving up anything in a pennant race is too much. One run, or one game can make a difference.

Their September stats are good, though. Over the last four seasons their winning percentage in the month of September is .627, compared to .440 in August. Hopefully that will hold this season and they will keep their winning streak going.

Nothing helps the morale of a team like winning. They are more patient and consistent in hitting. They are more relaxed, yet more aggressive when they need to be. They feed off of the excitement and are more confident.

The copyright of the article September Surge? in Seattle Mariners is owned by C. A. Wright. Permission to republish September Surge? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.