Cal Raleigh's Message to Struggling Mariners Fans: Trust the Process

The Seattle Mariners are in a funk, and nobody's trying to sugarcoat it. A 10-15 record through 25 games is rough. A 5-2 loss to the Athletics on Tuesday night was just the latest punch in what's been a rough April, and the offense has been the main problem. But Cal Raleigh isn't panicking, and he's asking his teammates and the fanbase not to either.

"I have faith in this group," the 29-year-old catcher said after another tough night. And yeah, that's easy to say when you just homered and drove in a run, but Raleigh's point runs deeper than one game. He's looked at the numbers, and he knows what this team is capable of.

The Hitting Is Broken (For Now)

Let's be real: the Mariners can't hit right now. Raleigh is sitting at just .177 with a .538 OPS through 25 games, his worst output since his rookie year. Josh Naylor, the first baseman, is still underwater in the batting average department despite breaking out of his slump last week with two home runs. Even Julio Rodriguez, who's heated up recently, isn't delivering the power the team has come to expect from him.

Seattle has only 23 home runs as a team so far. That's 15th in baseball. And their collective .218 batting average? Only two teams in the majors are worse. The Mariners are getting guys on base okay, and they're taking their walks, but they're not driving in runners with clutch hits or home runs when it matters most.

A Banner Year Can Create Expectations

Here's the thing though: Raleigh finished runner-up for AL MVP last season after launching 60 home runs as a catcher, a single-season record. The Mariners came within one win of the World Series. Those are the kinds of accomplishments that set the bar impossibly high for April, and everyone in the clubhouse knows it.

"I know the swing is good," Raleigh said about his approach, a switch-hitting technique he's trusted since he was nine years old. "Really just trying to trust the approach, trust the plan, commit to it every single pitch."

He's not trying to press. He's not blaming the pressure. He's just saying that when you've been where this team has been, and when you've accomplished what these guys have, you have to believe it'll come around again. The Mariners sit in fourth place in the AL West right now, ahead of only Houston, who are tied for the most losses in baseball at 9-16. But it's only late April.

One Win Won't Fix This

Raleigh also knows that one game or one series won't turn this season around. Seattle learned that lesson the hard way after sweeping Houston, then losing six of its next eight games. The Mariners need sustained winning, better plate discipline, and clutch hitting when it counts.

That's coming, according to Raleigh. At least, that's what he believes. And right now, in a 10-15 season, that belief might be all this team has to lean on.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.