three Adjustments the Seattle Mariners Should Make to their Lineup

Seattle Mariners’ Jarred Kelenic warms up before their game against the Detroit Tigers on May 18, 2021 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers / Getty Images)

The Seattle Mariners are the last team on team batting average in the MLB, the only team on the show currently below the Mendoza line. The team is also at the lower end of the league in other offensive categories such as OBP, OPS and Total Hits.

Those are the ingredients for a complete offensive disaster, and the trend is now unfortunately starting with four losses in a row and counting. Haggerty suggests .183. Kelenic hits .139. Tom Murphy is cutting .133, and Seager has cooled to a .234 clip.

The fact that this team is still afloat with their extensive offensive battles in the American League should press the subject even more; Scott Servais will now need to make changes to the order of strokes. So what specific changes should be made in order to change this line-up and hopefully get this team offensively into a rhythm?

Jarred Kelenic of the Seattle Mariners swings a pitch during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians at T-Mobile Park on May 16, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr / Getty Images)

Seattle Mariners # 1 Lineup Change: Move Jarred Kelenic off launch site

Jarred Kelenic performed again in the opening game against the Padres after the day of travel. Unfortunately nothing has changed. Kelenic has received a lot of credit in the past for his progressive approach to the minor leagues, and rightly so. However, it is becoming more and more apparent that Kelenic may need a little more time and get used to consistently mastering the big league pitching.

His hands are lightning fast, compact and his swing is incredibly pure. The way he behaves every day as such a young kid reminds me so much of watching a young Bryce Harper from my couch. But Jarred Kelenic hits just 0.139 in his first week with just a few walks and a home run, and has to relegate the order in favor of someone who gets down to the base and is consistently in position.

Given the Mariners’ current offensive troubles, it is clear that there may not be many other options, but it is time for a change. JP Crawford should have a chance to take the lead. It’s pretty puzzling why he didn’t get a better chance at the top of the order. He doesn’t paint a lot, is one of the fastest and most aggressive baserunners in the team and also has one of the few reasonably respectable slashlines in the team: at .247 / .314 / .312.

JP isn’t looking for a lot of power at the moment, but that’s not a problem. He has the right approach to every at-bat and will try to set the table every time the lineup tips over with his patience at the plate.