SS Mariners JP Crawford is tied for the MLB lead in walks so far. (Getty)
The youngest team in baseball, the Mariners enter the final game of their second series of the year in search of a serial victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim after a 10-7 win Wednesday night that saw Seattle scoring nine runs in the last four innings. .
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So far, the short 60-game season has looked pretty standard for how many they expected the Mariners to see in 2020, including team general manager Jerry Dipoto.
“What is lost in the confusion is coming to 2020, “Dipoto told Danny and Gallant of 710 ESPN Seattle on Thursday on the weekly Jerry Dipoto Show,” We had predicted that this would be about this season was putting on a young athletic team and fun on the field and then giving them opportunities and then evaluating what our needs might be once we get to the second half after watching the players grow, and feeling that in 2021 we had a chance to be a really competitive team in our division and growing up in that kind of playoff contender. And we’re looking at that, the fun stuff, the talented young players and the rocky roads that come with integrating young players into the big leagues. “
Seattle’s pitching has been affected as pitchers aim to get on track, but some of the young position players the organization hopes to develop are already impressive at the major league level.
“I guess it would be a 1 and a 1-A for me and that would be JP Crawford and Kyle Lewis,” Dipoto said when asked to choose the player who had stood out the most.
Lewis has been one of the most talked about players in the league this year already, coming in on Thursday his batting average of .458 is the best in the league for anyone who has played five or more games. His 11 hits also lead the league. Lewis hit two home runs in the opening series in Houston, including this deep home run by current Cy Young winner Justin Verlander, and has also demonstrated the ability to hit the opposite field. He has multiple hits in four consecutive games and at least one hit in each game.
Lewis’ WAR (win over replacement) by Fangraphs is 0.6, tied for best in the league. Right behind him, however, is Crawford, with 0.5 WAR. Crawford enters the seventh game of the year hitting .368 with seven hits, five runs scored and two triples. His focus led him to walk seven times, tied for the MLB, and that really stood out against Dipoto, who highlighted Crawford’s long at-bat on Wednesday that resulted in a two-run single.
“JP Crawford, and I’ve mentioned this in a couple of different episodes, but he spent his offseason tackling everything we talked to him about finishing last year,” he said. “The approach, I think last night at bat where he drove in both races and got 10 pitches epitomizes what he’s done … He’s becoming the player he always had a chance to be and it’s really exciting to see him.” “
JP Crawford. Working. 😤 pic.twitter.com/SuN0wBDWAL
– Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 30, 2020
Crawford is a former top 10 Phillies and was the organization’s top prospect for quite some time. He fought at the major league level in Philadelphia and the rebuilding Mariners acquired him in an exchange that sent veteran shortstop Jean Segura to the east coast. Dipoto told 710 ESPN Seattle, shortly after the exchange, that during an exercise to have each member of the central office complete a list of 25 men who could realistically meet through exchanges and free agency and almost everyone There they labeled Crawford as a possible shortstop of the future for the sailors.
Crawford started 2019 in Triple-A before being called up and taking over at shortstop the rest of the way. Dipoto is now seeing a player at the plate and on the field who may be the Mariners’ shortstop for quite some time, as the main office initially thought.
“I don’t think there is any question. What we saw last year offensively, very (scratched), ”said Dipoto. “It was very hot early and he really had problems late … And in the case of JP, the only thing that we saw progressively better and better was the defense and, aside from last night, his defense has been incredible from the first day of the season and we really saw it in both versions of spring training and summer camp and again, it has come this far. “
Don’t sleep on Evan White
Lewis and Crawford are receiving the most attention from young players in terms of their contributions at the plate, but Dipoto is also pleased with the play of his rookie first baseman Evan White, who made his MLB debut on opening day afterward. to sign a long term contract this offseason.
The white glove is considered one of the best among all prospects, regardless of position. That has been on full display through six games.
“I hate to say it is as advertised, but it should be as advertised,” he said.
🔥 ℕ ℍ 🔥 pic.twitter.com/l6JI1k0poW
– Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 30, 2020
White also picked up his first MLB hit and home run in the first series and, while hitting only .167 so far, Dipoto and company are excited about what they have seen.
“It has been phenomenal and we think his swing is in a good place,” he said. “He’s hitting the ball hard, and just like we’ve talked to Kyle Lewis and Evan White in the minor leagues in recent years, when you have a good swing, you’re hitting the ball hard.” and by making good decisions, good things will eventually happen and we really believe that will be the case with Evan White as well. “
Listen to Dipoto’s full discussion with Danny and Gallant at this link or in the next player at 27:18.
Follow Danny O’Neil and Paul Gallant of 710 ESPN Seattle on Twitter.
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