Last season 28-year old reliever David Aardsma had a career year. He pitched in 73 games (0 starts) for the Mariners last year and he was 3-6 with 38 saves, a 2.52 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. But this year has not been kind to him so far. He has pitched in 20 games (0 starts) for the Mariners this year and he is 0-3 with 12 saves, a 5.21 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. Aardsma’s biggest problem this season has come with the gopher ball as he has given up 3 homers in only 19 innings pitched. Closers just can’t have issues with giving up homers because those become losses. They need Aardsma to get his act back together because he rarely gets a three run save opportunity due to the Mariners poor offense.

Rookie reliever Kaneoka Texeira looks overmatched so far for the Mariners. He has pitched in 2 games (0 starts) for the Mariners so far this season and he is 0-1 with a 10.13 ERA and a 3.38 WHIP. Texeira has allowed 7 hits and walked 2 batters in only 2 2/3 innings for the Mariners so far. If Texeira doesn’t get his act together soon he might get sent back to the Yankees as he was a Rule 5 Pick over the winter.

38-year old righty reliever Miguel Batista has not been worth the money the Mariners are paying him. He has pitched in 53 games (0 starts) this season for the Mariners and he is 7-4 with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. Since the Mariners signed him to a huge contract three years ago, Batista has pitched in 130 games (52 starts) in which he is 27-29 with 1 save, a 4.87 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP. The Mariners will likely pitch Batista in relief again next year which will be the last year of his horrid contract.

The Seattle Mariners have finally come to their senses and they have bumped Miguel Batista from the starting rotation. Batista has pitched in 28 games (19 starts) for the Mariners this season and he is 4-11 with 1 save, a 6.80 ERA and a 1.95 WHIP. Batista has allowed an amazing 120 hits and he has also walked 63 batters in only 94 innings this season. The Mariners will likely recall lefty Ryan Rowland-Smith to replace Batista in the rotation. Much like Brandon Morrow, Rowland-Smith should have never been sent to the minors. He has pitched in 37 games (2 starts) for the Mariners this season and he is 2-1 with 2 saves, a 3.44 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Rowland-Smith has also started 3 games in AAA ball this season and he is 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. He should do a decent job for the Mariners which is something that can’t be said for Batista who has been awful.

Just think of how good the Seattle Mariners would have been this season if they had better pitchers to fill the back end of their starting rotation?  They probably would have won the American League West.  Jeff Weaver has started 25 games this season for the Mariners and he is 7-12 with a 6.21 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP.  In 133.1 innings this season, Weaver has allowed 176 hits, walked 33 batters and whiffed 73.  The most stunning thing about Weaver is the Mariners paid him over $8 million bucks for this season.  Lefty Horacio Ramirez is 8-7 which is unbelievable seeing how he has a 7.16 ERA and a 1.85 WHIP in 20 starts this season.  Ramirez has pitched 98 innings this season and he has allowed 139 hits, walked 42 batters and whiffed 40 this season.  He has been a huge bust as the Mariners gave up reliever Rafael Soriano to get him.  The Mariners are 80-70 currently which has them in 2nd place in the American League West, 8.5 games behind the Angels.  They are also 6.5 games behind the Yankees for the Wild Card.