Carter Jensen's Eight Alarms and Why Your Mariners Need a Wake-Up Call
Alright, Emerald City, tough one out there today. Your Mariners just dropped a 5-1 game to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and honestly, it's a gut punch. We're midway through the 2026 season, and every game counts, so a performance like that leaves you scratching your head. While we're all out here wondering what's going on at T-Mobile Park, the rest of the league is getting weird awards from Jeff Passan. Seriously, the contrast is wild.
Another One Slips Away
It was a frustrating day, plain and simple. We watched our Mariners put up just one run while the Pittsburgh Pirates stacked up five. That 5-1 final score stings, especially when you know what this squad is capable of. Midseason, every game is a chance to prove something, and this one just slipped away. We're not out here for moral victories, right?
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We expect to see that fight every time our boys step on the field. Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez, our cornerstones, are out there, but as a team, we need to find that consistency to string wins together. The fans, the 12s, we want to see that grit that makes this team special. We've got to turn these close games into W's.
Meanwhile, Across the League, Things Are Getting Weird
So, while we're processing that loss, Jeff Passan over at ESPN decided to drop some totally unexpected midseason awards. And trust me, these aren't your typical MVP or Cy Young nods. I mean, sure, he's got Shohei Ohtani for National League MVP, Yordan Alvarez for American League MVP, Jacob Misiorowski for National League Cy Young, Cam Schlittler for American League Cy Young, JJ Wetherholt for National League Rookie of the Year, and Kevin McGonigle for American League Rookie of the Year. Those are the usual suspects, getting their recognition.
But then he rolls out the "Players Are People, Too Award." Get this: the Kansas City Royals put out a fun video asking their guys how many alarms they set to wake up. Most players, like Bobby Witt Jr. (who just gets woken up by his dog, by the way) or Nick Loftin (a "just one, discipline" kind of guy), keep it simple. But rookie catcher Carter Jensen? He admitted he needs *six to eight alarms* to get up every morning! "This is embarrassing," he said, but man, that's just a wild stat. It's a reminder that even these pro athletes are, well, people, even if we sometimes forget it!
Look, the season rolls on. We need our Mariners to shake off this 5-1 loss to the Pirates and get back to fighting for every single out. We know what our team can do, and we expect them to bring that fire every game. It's midseason, every win matters, and we need to see that urgency. We'll be watching every pitch, every swing, hoping they can turn it around and show us that classic Emerald City grit. Let's go, M's!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.