The Mariners still tripping over pennies

Seattle balked at signing Kolten Wong two years ago when he would have made a real difference. The fact he's here now is driving me nuts, and that's not a criticism of him. At all.

Kolten Wong is not the reason the Mariners lost Wednesday’s conclusion to a six-game home stand. He actually had a hit, which is something he’s doing with more regularity this month.

Still, his presence on this Mariners team is driving me absolutely crazy, just not for the reason you think.

Well, OK. It’s partly for the reason you think. He’s hitting .195 and has struck out in nearly one-quarter of his plate appearances this season and the Mariners are (again) toward the bottom of the league in production from second base this season. The Blue Jays and White Sox are the only two teams getting demonstrably worse production from that position.

The reason I’m so mad about Wong’s presence on the team this year, is that he wasn’t here the previous two seasons when he could have really made a difference, and if you really stop and explore the reasons why he wasn’t on the team, it should concern anyone who’s hoping this team might finally get over the hump.