Originally published Saturday, October 2, 2010 at 10:13 PM
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Mariners' offensive numbers just don't add up
Mariners offense is the worst in baseball this season, and the lowest-scoring in any full season since the start of the DH era in 1973.
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| Bringing up the rear | ||
| The Mariners rank last in the major leagues — yes, including National League teams — in most major offensive categories, including all of the following: | ||
| Mariners | ML average | |
| Runs per game | 3.16 | 4.40 |
| Batting average | .235 | .258 |
| Hits | 1,264 | 1,403 |
| Doubles | 226 | 280 |
| Triples | 16 | 29 |
| Home runs | 101 | 152 |
| Slug pct. | .339 | .404 |
| On-base pct. | .298 | .326 |
| RBI | 482 | 670 |
| Worst offense in DH era | ||
| The Mariners will finish the season with the fewest runs scored in a full season by any team since the designated hitter rule was adopted in 1973. The lowest-scoring teams since 1973, excluding strike-shortened seasons in 1981, 1994 and 1995: | ||
| Runs | Team | Year |
| 510 | Mariners | 2010 |
| 531 | Expos | 1976 |
| 532 | Athletics | 1978 |
| 541 | Padres | 1974 |
| 545 | Reds | 1982 |
| 548 | Dodgers | 1992 |
| 548 | Padres | 1973 |
| 550 | Orioles | 1988 |
| 550 | Angels | 1976 |
| Wrong kind of team history | ||
| The Mariners will set lows in several team offensive categories this season and have challenged a few others. Previous Mariners lows in full seasons: | ||
| Category | Current | Previous low |
| Runs | 510 | 558, 1983 |
| Batting avg. | .235 | .240, 1983 |
| Hits | 1,264 | 1,280, 1983 |
| Doubles | 226 | 211, 1980 |
| Triples | 16 | 19, 1996 and 2009 |
| Home runs | 101 | 97, 1978 |
| Slug pct. | .339 | .356, 1980 |
| On-base pct. | .298 | .301, 1983 |
| RBI | 482 | 536, 1983 |
By the numbers
73 Runs scored by Ichiro, by far his lowest total in 10 seasons with the Mariners, despite the fact he has 212 hits.
64 Runs batted in for Franklin Gutierrez, the team leader. The low for a Mariners team leader is 67, by Pat Putnam in 1983.
15 Home runs with the Mariners by Russell Branyan, the team leader. That will tie the previous low for a team leader, Tom Paciorek with 15 in 1980.
Bill Reader
