MLB: Seattle Mariners and the doping case Robinson Cano

The Seattle Mariners look like a serious play-off contender in 2018, but after already having to overcome some obstacles, the news of the Robinson Cano doping case hit like a bomb. Will the team be able to overcome this low blow and end a long dry spell?

Will 2018 be the year for the Seattle Mariners? Are they finally making it back into the playoffs since Ichiro Suzuki’s fabulous rookie season? Or has it been like every other season since then?

If you look at the first weeks of this season, the Mariners have already experienced an emotional roller coaster. It started with a serious injury that went so far that the team brought back the now 44-year-old Ichiro, because everyone felt injured except one outfielder.

However, the hospital gradually dissipated, which ultimately led to the somewhat surprising quasi deportation of the Japanese. In a strange step, the team legend was praised in the front office in order to help the team and whatever. Despite the official title as “Special Assistant of the Chairman”, he should still stay in the cabin with the team, train with them and simply be himself – except for the self-playing part, of course.

But this was not even the most bizarre episode of this still young season. James Paxton, on whom an eagle – a real living eagle – had landed, already holds the prize. The left-handed survived the potentially dangerous attack relatively confidently and was then, so to speak, hardened for everything else that was to come.

Paxton is of course also the biggest history of the M’s this season. In a positive sense anyway. Paxton played a game of 16 strikeouts. And because that wasn’t enough, he also pitched a no-hitter! Both, of course, brought him into the Cy-young discussion.

But the Mariners wouldn’t be the Mariners if negative things hadn’t happened.

In general, it is remarkable how this franchise always finds a way to somehow drive some really promising seasons against the wall. In the last few years, they’ve been said to have what it takes to make it to the playoffs, because they just came across as damn talented. In the end, however, it was never enough.

Since 2001, Washington has been waiting for games in October. This is the longest current playoff thirsty stretch in US sport. Even more: since then the M’s were nine times fourth in the AL West. It should be mentioned here: Until 2012 there were only four teams in this division…

The Mariners are currently only one and a half games behind the Houston Astros, who naturally lead the division despite numerous injuries. Designated Hitter Nelson Cruz missed just over a week, First Baseman Ryon Healy more than two, as did Outfielder Ben Gamel. And yet, so far, no one has been deterred.

The start of this week was all the more bitter. Not only did Robinson Cano break a bone in his right hand, which would have put him out of action for about five weeks, he was also banned for doping. For 80 games, because he is considered the first offender.

Robbie Cano is easily the biggest star of this franchise as far as the position players are concerned. Only Pitching Ace Felix Hernandez is seriously competing with him when it comes to the “face of the franchise”. Cano came to Seattle in the winter of 2013/2014 as the Mariners’ big statement from the Yankees and signed the record franchise contract worth 240 million dollars over ten years. The clear signal: We are someone again and we now want to attack again.

In this respect, the news that Cano has doped is in several respects an absolute low blow for this organization. In principle, it is missing the whole summer and can only intervene again in the final phase. And: Due to the doping offence, he should not take part in the playoffs if it is actually enough this time.

Furthermore, it puts the Mariners in an extremely awkward position. Not only did he destroy his good reputation, he also makes the Mariners doubt whether his performances so far – in 2016 he still beat 39 home runs and 103 RBI – were based solely on his sporting skills or whether he had already helped back then. And if that were the case, what will his future achievements be? Cano’s contract runs until 2023 and he is guaranteed 24 million dollars a year. A treaty that seemed questionable anyway could quickly become a disaster.

But the question for now is: How do you replace your best player? Cano was defensive as offensively a bank and it is not as if Seattle had a clear replacement ready. First, Gordon Beckham was activated by Triple-A Team Tacoma Rainiers. However, the is a .240 hitter in his career, which began in 2009. Last year he had eleven Big League appearances and his best season was probably his first (.270, 14 HR, 63 RBI).

One possibility would be to get Dee Gordon out of Center Field back to second base, where he has shone in Miami in recent years. But who would go to Center Field? Maybe Guillermo Heredia, who is currently the platoon in Left Field with Gamel. But wouldn’t that also compromise the stability of the batting order?

The team remains well staffed even without Cano. But Cano’s absence further increases the pressure on the pitching. And that’s not good! Also with Paxton and his great season the pitcher of the M’s are only at 3.1 “Wins above Replacement” and thus on place 16 in the MLB (7 AL). The offense with Cano was good for 6.1 WAR (10th place in the MLB/6 AL). Cano himself has so far achieved 1.4 WAR. If you subtract this value quite bluntly, the Mariners would still rank behind the A’s and Tigers!

This may not look like much, but if you consider that the Mariners are currently only half a game behind the second AL wildcard, then you have to worry about this team.

So far, however, the Mariners have still sailed around the imponderables that present themselves to them quite confidently this year. The cano situation now “only” takes the challenges for the team to a new level. Now we’ll see what Seattle is really made of. Is the team something special or is it just one of a long list of disappointments in this franchise?

This article was published without previous view by the Major League Baseball.