Tag: Scott Servais

Mariners manager Scott Servais spotted at Seahawks training camp

Mariners manager Scott Servais spotted at Seahawks training camp

The neighboring Seattle Seahawks and Mariners have always had a solid relationship between the two teams. Players from both are often featured in the other’s pregame ritutals. Such as Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh raising the 12th Man Flag, or Richard Sherman and Byron Murphy II throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

Then of course there was relieft pitcher – and Maple Valley native – Tayler Saucedo “auditioning” to be a Seahawks quarterback.

But the latest Seahawks/Mariners crossover happened yesterday at training camp with Mariners manager Scott Servais stopping by. The Mariners had an off day following their six-day road trip against both Sox teams. Taking advantage of his neighborhood, Servais made an appearance.

It is weird to think but with the departure of Pete Carroll this offseason, Scott Servais is now the longest tenured coach in Seattle’s professional sports scene. Servais was hired in October of 2015. The only other coach who rivals his longevity at this point is Sounders top man Brian Schmetzer, who became the head coach in July of 2016. Storm head coach Noelle Quinn has only been in her role since 2019, and the Kraken just hired Dan Bylsma this year.

Of course, Mike Macdonald is brand new to the scene as well, but this practically goes without saying.

The Mariners take the field once more tonight for a weekend series against the perennial World Series contender Philadelphia Phillies. The Mariners are in a statistical tie for first place with the Houston Astros, who are hosting the Tampa Bay Rays.

More Seahawks Wire stories 

Seahawks DB Tre Brown makes big-time play at training camp practice

MRI reveals good news for Seahawks QB Geno Smith

Seahawks won’t practice, play versus superstar receiver in preseason

MLB fans crushed the Mariners’ decision to have Robbie Ray face Yordan Alvarez in the 9th

What was Scott Servais thinking?!

In many ways, playoff baseball is a different game than regular season baseball. The stakes are higher, every personnel decision is made with future matchups in mind and, often times, managers can overthink situations.

Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais appeared to fall into that trap during Tuesday’s Game 1 of the ALDS in Houston. And it backfired in a huge way.

While the Mariners have used a closer-by-committee for much of the season, Paul Seward had emerged as the most reliable closer for Seattle. He recorded 20 saves with a 2.37 ERA, but he had struggled in a couple recent outings and clearly lost Servais’ trust. When he got in trouble once again in the ninth inning and Yordan Alvarez at the plate with two outs, two on and a two-run lead, Servais opted to go for the lefty-lefty matchup.

He turned to starting pitcher Robbie Ray — on two days rest — who had never recorded a save in his big-league career. He was also coming off a rough spell of allowing six home runs in his past three appearances. Guess what happened …

On an 0-1 count, Alvarez completely smoked a 93 mph fastball from Ray for a walk-off, three-run homer to give the Astros a comeback 8-7 win.

Again, this was a ridiculous move from Servais who over-managed the matchup at the worst possible time. Starters are starters and closers are closers. He chose to mess with that dynamic in a playoff game with one of the AL’s best power hitters at the plate. There’s no way to defend it.

Even with the benefit of hindsight, MLB fans were right to crush that decision.

Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez switched his bat before a big three-run blast because it needed a nap

Julio Rodriguez changed up his bat ahead of this big knock and it paid off!

Julio Rodriguez understands the importance of beauty sleep.

In Rodriguez’s second game back from injury after the All-Star break, the 21-year-old rookie made quite the impact for the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. During the Mariners’ day game against the Texas Rangers, things were looking grim for the home team down 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh.

With two men on, however, Rodriguez took Jon Gray deep with this three-run rocket to put the Mariners on top 4-2 for the game-winning tally. Since Rodriguez returned from injury earlier in the week, the outfielder has hit two huge home runs for his team in clutch spots.

What a blast! In the Mariners postgame interviews, Seattle manager Scott Servais said Rodriguez swapped out his bat ahead of clobbering home that three-run knock. The reasoning? Because… the bat was sleeping.

As he’s standing there ready to go up for that at bat, before that he says ‘I had to switch bats.’ I said ‘ah, you got a new one?’. He said ‘yeah the other one’s sleeping; it’s a day game he’s not ready to go.’ He took a new bat up there and hit a three-run homer. That’s Julio Rodriguez.

And what do you know, Rodriguez was right! Considering the Mariners have won their last 15 games that Rodriguez has played, his bats can take all the naps they want to.

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