Seattle Mariners 2015 MLB team preview and predictions

Jun 19, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; A detailed view a of a Seattle Mariners glove and hat before a game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Looking back at the 2014 Seattle Mariners and ahead to 2015.

Introduction/2014 Capsule

2014 was a bit of a surprise season in the great northwest. Hardly anyone expected to see the Seattle Mariners legitimately challenge for a playoff spot. Yet there they were, down to the season’s final week, legitimately challenging the Oakland A’s and Kansas City Royals for an AL Wild Card berth.

They ultimately came up short. The reasons are plentiful, but almost all stem from their overall lack of explosion on offense. The Mariners were 18^th in the majors in runs scored, plating runners 634 times (3.9 runs per game).

Some of that stemmed from a terrible slugging percentage (.376, good for 21^st league-wide), but it was even more emblematic of an offense which struggled to get runners on base. A team-wide .300 on-base percentage simply will not do, especially playing in the luminous Safeco Field.

Still, the Mariners almost overcame it with the best pitching staff in the majors. Felix Hernandez was outstanding, while Hisashi Iwakuma made a name for himself as the Mariners’ No. 2 starter. James Paxton and Chris Young (now with the Royals) also were outstanding for the Mariners in the starting rotation.

The bullpen—made up of Danny Farquhar, Charlie Furbush and Tom Wilhelmsen most notably—was excellent in bridging the gap from the M’s starters to closer Fernando Rodney who transcended previous notions of ability to close games.

2014 Record: 87-75 (.537); third in AL West

2014 Run Differential: +80

Other Key Stats:

-2^nd in baseball in team ERA at 3.17

-4^th in WHIP at 1.17

-1^st in batting average against at .230

-27^th in on-base percentage at .300

Lasting Memory from 2014 season:

Seattle was so overjoyed (and perhaps hopped up on the you know what) over their beloved Seahawks capturing their first Super Bowl title, that winning or losing was secondary to Mariners fans. That the M’s took playoff hopes into the season’s final day was plenty to rejoice in for Seattle fans.

They still had the ‘Hawks to brag about.

Next: Some big changes in the offseason