Mariners Game #129 : 8/23/24, SFG at SEA

The Mariners try to avoid falling below .500 for the first time since April 24

It’s...a weird mood right now around Mariners baseball. New manager Dan Wilson met with the media today and looked about as bemused as many of us felt, but promised to lead the team in the fight over these next thirty-plus games. Edgar Martínez, overseeing batting practice, was a refreshingly familiar calm and steady presence amidst the sea of personnel changes. But players are clearly unhappy: J.P. Crawford said he found out about the managerial change the same way Scott Servais did, apparently, through social media; Julio Rodríguez referred to himself and other players as “employees”; and an unusually clipped Mitch Haniger spoke with the media briefly, saying he’s choosing to focus on the future rather than go down “that emotional rabbit hole.” Meanwhile, the Astros are winning against the Orioles at the time of this writing, threatening to put the division even further out of reach if the Mariners can’t suddenly turn this sinking ship around. It’s, as Ryan Divish would say, suboptimal.

Lineups:

Game information:

Game time: 7:10 PT because there are the world’s most awkwardly-timed fireworks tonight: sing-along fireworks

TV: ROOT Sports NW

Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports

News:

• J.P. Crawford took batting practice today. The hope is he’ll be able to begin a rehab assignment as soon as this weekend, or by early next week at the latest.
• The Mariners put RHP Yimi García on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation. In his place they have recalled LHP Gabe Speier from Tacoma, so the ‘pen once again has two lefties.
• The Mariners also made a move at the Triple-A/40-man level, DFA’ing recently-acquired OF Duke Ellis in order to make room for INF/OF Terrin Vavra, claimed off waivers from Baltimore.
• The Mariners also officially named Edgar Martínez as hitting coach for the remainder of the season.

Today in Mariners history:

• 1982: Gaylord Perry was ejected in the 7^th inning for throwing a ball with a foreign substance. It was the first time in Perry’s 20-year career he was thrown out of a game for doctoring a ball.
• 1999: Joining Babe Ruth and Mark McGwire, Mariner outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. becomes the third player in major league history to hit 200 homers in a four-season span.
• 2021: The Mariners score three runs in the top of the ninth against Oakland for a comeback 5-3 victory. Ty France hits the game-tying homer and Jake Bauers delivers a go-ahead two-run single, while Paul Sewald secures the save in a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth.