Mariners' WBC Stumbles Don't Matter. Here's Why.
The World Baseball Classic is mercifully over for Seattle. And honestly? That's probably fine. The Mariners sent 17 participants to the tournament, the most of any MLB organization. Now they can finally get their full roster back together just over a week before opening day in Peoria, Arizona. The good news: fans can stop worrying about spring training drama and focus on what actually matters. A possible run to the franchise's first pennant in real time.
The Awkward Moments Nobody Needed
Look, the WBC gave us some unforced errors. The biggest one came when Cal Raleigh declined to shake hands with Randy Arozarena during a USA versus Mexico game. Arozarena fired back in a Spanish-language interview, telling Raleigh to "(expletive) off" and "go to hell." What followed was exactly what you'd expect: Raleigh emphasized there's "no beef" and that he "loves Randy," while Arozarena released a statement saying he's "focused on the season and helping this team compete for a World Series." It was the silliest, most needlessly spicy story of the spring.
The Stats Were Actually Pretty Rough
Here's the thing about the WBC: it's celebrated scrimmages with national pride cranked to 11. Spring training, basically. So take the numbers with a grain of salt. But the numbers were rough. Raleigh went 0 for 9 with four walks and five strikeouts across three games. Will Smith ended up as Team USA's starting catcher in both the semifinal and championship games, surprisingly replacing the 2025 AL MVP runner-up.
Julio Rodriguez started hot, recording three hits with a homer and three RBI in the Dominican Republic's debut against Nicaragua. Then he went 0 for 12 in his next four games. Sunday's semifinal loss to Team USA included a scary moment when Paul Skenes' 98-mph fastball clattered off Rodriguez's wrist.
Randy Arozarena went 2 for 13 with five strikeouts in four games. The bullpen pieces stumbled too: Andrés Muñoz, Gabe Speier (who posted a 7.71 ERA in three games), and Eduard Bazardo all had shaky tournaments.
Rodriguez stirred the pot again when he told FOX's "Foul Territory" that winning the World Baseball Classic would rank above winning a World Series in his career accomplishments list. Strong take at a tough time.
The Bottom Line
Here's what matters: Raleigh is an incomparable catcher and clubhouse leader who's so much more than a three game slump or an awkward handshake moment. The Mariners as a team are more than this microscopic sample size. Players and teams get judged over six month marathons for a reason. That's what's coming. And that banner about to hang above T-Mobile Park? That's what we're really focused on now.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.