2010 Seattle Mariners season
Mariners finish 61–101, lowest AL run total since DH.
The 2010 Seattle Mariners season was the 34th in franchise history. The team finished with 61 wins and 101 losses. That year, the Texas Rangers won their first pennant, leaving the Mariners as one of only two franchises to have never played in the World Series; the Washington Nationals later made the Fall Classic, leaving Seattle as the sole team without a World Series appearance.
Quick Facts
- Season
- 2010
- League
- American League
- Division
- West
- Ballpark
- Safeco Field
- City
- Seattle, Washington
- Record
- 61–101 (.377)
- Divisional place
- 4th
- Owners
- Satoru Iwata and Nintendo of America (represented by Howard Lincoln)
Facts from the source article.
Offseason
Most of the 2009 major league coaching staff was retained, except third base coach Bruce Hines; Mike Brumley was named the new third base coach on October 30, 2009. On December 7, the Mariners announced their minor league staff: Eriberto Menchaca moved to the rookie-level Pulaski Mariners, Jesus Azuaje was named manager of the rookie-level Peoria Mariners, Tim Laker became manager of the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, and Andy Fox was named hitting coach for the Diamond Jaxx. Catcher Kenji Johjima, the first Japanese-born catcher in Major League Baseball, exercised an opt-out clause on October 19, 2009, and returned to Nippon Professional Baseball. Home run leader Russell Branyan declined a one-year deal to test free agency. Two-time Gold Glove winner Adrián Beltré opted for free agency on November 5, 2009, and later signed with the Boston Red Sox after declining $12 million in arbitration. Pitcher Phillippe Aumont was sent to the Phillies in the trade for Cliff Lee, and Brandon Morrow was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. Carlos Silva was traded to the Chicago Cubs on December 18. Chone Figgins signed a four-year, $36 million contract; general manager Jack Zduriencik noted Figgins' defensive versatility. Ken Griffey Jr. returned on a one-year deal after a successful 2009 season. Shortstop Jack Wilson signed a two-year, $10 million deal to remain in Seattle. On December 14, 2009, a four-team, nine-player deal brought former Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee from Philadelphia to complement ace Félix Hernández.
Complete transactions
On October 19, Justin Thomas was designated for assignment and later claimed by the Pittsburgh Pirates. On October 29, pitchers César Jiménez, Randy Messenger and Marwin Vega, and first baseman Bryan LaHair were outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma. On November 4, Yusmeiro Petit was claimed off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks. On November 20, Chris Jakubauskas was claimed by the Pirates, Robert Manuel by the Red Sox; pitchers Dan Cortes, Ricky Orta, Edward Paredes, J. C. Ramírez and Anthony Varvaro were called up; infielder Josh Wilson was outrighted to Tacoma; Ryan Feierabend and Sean White were activated from the disabled list; Eliézer Alfonzo signed a minor league contract. On December 8, Chone Figgins signed a four-year, $36 million contract. On December 10, Corey Patterson signed a minor league contract; Kanekoa Texeira was selected from the Yankees in the Rule 5 draft; Jack Wilson re-signed for two years, $10 million. On December 16, Pedro Okuda signed a minor league contract; J. C. Ramírez, Phillippe Aumont and Tyson Gillies were traded to the Phillies for Cliff Lee. On December 18, Ryan Langerhans re-signed to a minor league contract; Carlos Silva was traded to the Cubs for Milton Bradley. On December 23, Brandon Morrow was traded to the Blue Jays for Brandon League and Johermyn Chávez. On December 28, Josh Bard and Chad Cordero signed minor league contracts. On January 6, Chris Woodward signed a minor league contract. On January 7, Bill Hall was traded to the Red Sox for Casey Kotchman. On January 13, Brad Nelson re-signed to a minor league contract. On January 15, Tommy Everidge was claimed off waivers from the Athletics. On January 29, Eric Byrnes signed a one-year, $400,000 contract; Tommy Everidge was designated for assignment. On February 1, Ryan Garko signed a one-year, $550,000 contract; Gaby Hernandez was designated for assignment. On February 3, Tommy Everidge was outrighted to Tacoma. On February 6, Érik Bédard re-signed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract; Yusmeiro Petit was designated for assignment.
Spring training
Seattle invited 23 players to spring training, including catchers Eliézer Alfonzo, Josh Bard, Steven Baron, Luis Oliveros and Guillermo Quiróz; infielders Tommy Everidge, Brad Nelson, Josh Wilson and Chris Woodward; outfielders Corey Patterson and Mike Wilson; designated hitter Mike Sweeney; and pitchers Jesús Colomé, Chad Cordero, Josh Fields, Nick Hill, Mike Koplove, David Pauley, Yusmeiro Petit, Mauricio Robles, Chris Seddon, Steven Shell and Levale Speigner. On February 8, Cliff Lee underwent minor surgery to remove a floating bone spur in his left foot and was expected to be out two to three weeks. On March 4, closer David Aardsma experienced groin tightness. Shortstop Jack Wilson suffered right hamstring tightness in early March. On March 19, it was announced that Lee could start the season on the disabled list due to a right lower abdominal strain; he was placed on the 15-day disabled list. On April 3, minor leaguer James McOwen dislocated his shoulder while trying to catch a ball hit by Clint Barmes. On March 10, the Mariners cut 10 people from the spring roster, including Ryan Feierabend, Josh Fields, Steven Shell, Nick Hill, Chris Seddon, Mauricio Robles, Luis Oliveros and Steven Baron. On March 17, Yusmeiro Petit was released. On March 18, Michael Saunders was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma; the Mariners traded minor league pitcher Miguel Celestino to the Red Sox to complete the Casey Kotchman trade. On March 25, Mike Carp was assigned to minor league camp and told he would start the season with Triple-A Tacoma. On March 31, Corey Patterson opted out of his contract and filed for free agency; Chad Cordero was assigned to minor league camp, and Luke French was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma.
Regular season
Before the home opener at Safeco Field, retired pitcher Randy Johnson was asked to throw the ceremonial first pitch and said yes right away. The season began on the road against the Oakland Athletics, where Seattle won 5–3; reliever Brandon League was credited with the win, and Oakland’s Brad Ziegler took the loss. On August 9, the Mariners fired manager Don Wakamatsu and named Daren Brown interim manager. By season’s end, the team had scored just 513 runs, the lowest total in the American League since the designated hitter rule began in 1973. They also finished last in the AL with a .236 batting average and ranked last in most other offensive categories.
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