As I’m sure you all well know, the Mariners recently traded John Jaso and brought in Mike Morse. This move left Jesus Montero as the only catcher on the roster, something that needed to be remedied. Everyone, meet Ronny Paulino, your… uh, remedy.

Seattle is Paulino’s fifth team, and he’ll make $1 million with the possibility of a small bonus should he make the team out of Spring Training. He started his career in Pittsburgh, moving to Florida, the Mets, and was most recently with the Baltimore. He’s not much of a hitter, he doesn’t have much of a reputation as a defensive backstop, and he’s almost 32 years old. Don’t look for Paulino to go dinger-for-dinger with Mike Morse or Kendrys Morales, or match someone like Yadier Molina behind the plate. But he’s a servicable backup catcher, and will be easy to get rid of should Mike Zunino absolutely dominate the minors.

One thing that looks obvious is the Mariners are going with Montero as their primary catcher to start the season, barring another move. Montero did well against lefties last year (.322/.366/.463), but struggled against righties (.228/.262/.346). He’ll have plenty to improve upon, including his catching defense. I should also mention that he’s a horrible baserunner. I have high hopes for Jesus that he’ll improve, and will do so this year. I’m glad to see Jack Z. and Co. have shown confidence in him.

So welcome Ronny Paulino now, Seattle. He may not be around for long.

Replaced on the field but never in our hearts.

It’s not Josh Hamilton, but it’s something. According to MLB.com’s Greg Johns, the Mariners have traded Trayvon Robinson to the Baltimore Orioles for Robert Andino.

Robinson, a 25-year-old switch-hitting left fielder, is coming off his sophomore year in Seattle. In 46 games, he batted .221/.246/.324 with 3 home runs, 12 RBI, and a 78 OPS+.

In 2012, Andino put up his worst offensive season since 2008, going .211/.283/.305 with 7 home runs, 28 RBI, and a 61 OPS+ over 127 games. His most valuable asset, however, will be the flexibility he brings to the Mariners’ infield, with significant experience at second base, third base, and shortstop. As Johns points out, Andino is a significant upgrade from Munenori Kawasaki, who provided infield depth in 2012.

Jack Zduriencik’s statement, per the official trade report:

“The addition of Robert Andino gives us some experienced infield depth with a player who has played multiple positions […] With Robert having Major League and playoff experience and still relatively young, we thought that it made sense to make this trade and let him come in and compete.”

Robinson was out of minor league options, facing the pressure of making the 25-man cut in the spring or being placed on waivers. Andino is out of options as well, but has two years of arbitration remaining before becoming a free agent in 2015.

Final score: Mariners 6, Rangers 3

After a week of Twitter giveaways and #FANtasticFriday hashtags, the Mariners celebrated their annual Fan Appreciation Night with a plethora of giveaways and awards. Felix Hernandez was given the Mariners Moment of the Year for his perfecto. Munenori Kawasaki took home the Heart and Hustle Award for, well, just being himself. Randomly selected fans won round-trip airfare, autographed jerseys, signed balls, and snazzy electronics.

The best giveaway of the night, however, was a long-awaited win over the Rangers. In September, the Mariners have gone 7-11 in 18 games, swept by the Athletics and Orioles, and stringing four consecutive wins over this homestand. Against Martin Perez and a Texas lineup missing Adrian Beltre and Josh Hamilton, the M’s managed nine hits and a consistent multi-run lead through five innings.

Hisashi Iwakuma posted another solid outing with eight hits, three earned runs, and four strikeouts in seven innings. For the first time since Sunday, the ‘pen—consisting of Stephen Pryor and Tom Wilhelmsen—did not allow a run.

Providing all manner of run support was Franklin Gutierrez (triple laced down the left field line), Casper Wells (RBI double), Carlos Triunfel (tie-breaking double), Justin Smoak (3-for-4), and Miguel Olivo (2-run mash wrapped around the left field foul pole). Triunfel made his first MLB start at shortstop, giving Brendan Ryan an extra day of rest and turning two double plays.

Tomorrow evening, Blake Beavan will face LHP Matt Harrison. Should the Mariners emerge victorious once again, it will be the first time they’ve strung consecutive wins since last week’s trek to Toronto.

Next game: vs. Rangers | September 22 | 6:10pm

H/T to Steven for the title of tonight’s recap. I can’t take any credit for this one.

Final score: Orioles 4, Mariners 2

When the Mariners began this game, I was still 21.

Nine hours ago, I arrived at Safeco for batting practice, eager to soak up the last little bit of baseball the Mariners have to offer this season. If only I had had an inkling of what was to come.

Through the first eight innings—the first game of the night, really—Erasmo Ramirez shut out the Orioles on two hits and six strikeouts. He returned in the ninth to a standing ovation, then surrendered back-to-back singles to Ryan Flaherty and Nate McLouth. Tom Wilhelmsen blew his fourth save of the year on the third single of the inning, an RBI from Chris Davis that tied the game.

I’m not going to lie: there’s little that excites me more than the prospect of extra innings. In 38 games this year, I had yet to see bonus baseball. So, although I probably should’ve been as sad as Steven was when Wilhelmsen allowed the tying run to score, I was practically bouncing up and down in my seat instead.

I still didn’t know what I was in for.

Over the final nine innings of the game, the crowd of 12,608 dwindled to a few hundred (pictured in the above photo). Eric Wedge brought in John Jaso. Buck Showalter countered with lefty reliever Brian Matusz. Wedge then changed his mind, forfeiting the chance to use his best offensive player, and opted for Alex Liddi.

The 14th stretch came and went. By the 15th inning, even the flocks of seagulls had vanished from the outfield. The field became so quiet that, aside from a few raucous cheers by the seven remaining Orioles fans, you could hear the game broadcast echoing on the main concourse.

It finally ended in the 18th. Lucas Luetge opened the inning with a walk, followed by a pair of base hits and an RBI groundout to give the Orioles a two-run lead. The bottom half of the inning went quickly, without so much as a baserunner for the Mariners.

When this game finally, mercifully finished, I was no longer 21. And although a walk-off would’ve made for an even sweeter story, I couldn’t be happier spending the first part of my birthday at the ballpark. See you tonight, Mariners fans.

Next game: vs. Orioles | September 19 | 7:10pm

Final score: Rangers 2, Mariners 1

Something is up with Justin Smoak.

On any other day of the year, the following sentence might look something like this: Smoak is 0-for-17 with five strikeouts in his four games as a Tacoma Rainier. Which, coincidentally, was true on August 11.

Today, however, Smoak is 5-for-8 in two games against the Texas Rangers, with five hits, two home runs, and four RBI. My first instinct is to bury this information with a lot of “temper your expectations” and “flukes, lucky breaks, etc.,” but I’d rather just enjoy these moments as the season winds down.

Aside from Smoak’s solo shot off Matt Harrison, the Mariners managed to reach base five times, stranding their only RISP on a game-ending strikeout from Michael Saunders. Although his efforts were wasted, Jesus Montero provided a big break for the Mariners late in the game, coming up with a line drive to scoot Guti over to third.

Courtesy of a flaky offense (and, to be fair, the Rangers’ superior pitching staff), Blake Beavan received his 10th loss of the season with 7 hits, 2 runs, and a walk in 7 IP and 26 batters. For the first time since his call-up, Carter Capps was selected to close out the game, shutting down the final three Rangers with 10 pitches.

Tomorrow, the Mariners kick off their last multi-game homestand against the Baltimore Orioles. As announced by the team earlier this week, the revised rotation has Hector Noesi on Monday, Erasmo Ramirez on Tuesday, and Felix Hernandez on Wednesday.

Next game: vs. Orioles | September 17 | 7:10pm

Final score: Mariners 5, Twins 4

When the Mariners made their eight-win run last week, we knew that their next road trip had the potential to kill any momentum they gathered at home. Not to discredit their run, fueled by a pair of walk-offs and a perfect game, but robbing wins from the Rays, Twins, and Indians is not exactly a sign of an impending postseason run.

Fortunately, or perhaps not so fortunately, this road trip lived up to our tempered expectations. Against a first-place team, the Mariners took three losses; against the Twins, they captured three of four games.

In this morning’s series capper, Blake Beavan earned his ninth victory with 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, and 1 SO over 7 IP. It marked his lowest strikeout total since a disastrous two-inning outing against the Dodgers in mid-June, and his longest outing since the beginning of August.

The offense kept up their end of the deal, scoring on back-to-back hits in the 1st for a quick dose of run support. By the 6th inning, the Mariners trailing 2-1 while Brian Duensing retired 12 consecutive batters, they managed a four-run outburst on a 2-RBI single by Trayvon Robinson and a pair of sac flies (well, one sac fly and one case of a blinded Josh Willingham).

Right now, the Mariners are hanging onto a postseason chance of 0.5%. Heading into September, they’ll split the remaining 30 games with the Angels (9), Red Sox (3), Athletics (6), Blue Jays (3), Rangers (6), and Orioles (3). With roster expansion beginning this Saturday, let’s hope that Seattle finds enough of a spark to be more than a stepping stone for teams still in playoff contention.

Next game: vs. Angels | August 31 | 7:10pm

Final score: Mariners 5, Twins 1

Forget the Rangers, their immovable position atop the AL West, their 11-2 pummeling of Toronto, their Josh Hamilton and Yu Darvish.

Forget the Athletics, who somehow secured second place ahead of Mike Trout and his posse.

Forget the Angels, who have already been forgotten by the Rangers and the A’s.

The Seattle Mariners are now the best team in this division*.

*Since the All-Star break. I know, I know. Asterisks are not fun. Major League Baseball uses them for not-fun things like steroid usage. So, read on.

Since the All-Star break, the Mariners hold the second-best MLB record at 22-13. After today’s 5-1 win, they broke .500 at Safeco Field (30-30), taking 12 of the last 13 games at home.

Since the All-Star break, the Mariners won 7 of the past 11 series. They reached a low point during Baltimore’s three-game sweep, but accomplished three sweeps of their own, including today’s series cap against the Twins.

Since the All-Star break, the Mariners have inched their way along the division/wild card race. They sit a distant 13 games behind the Rangers, so you can continue to lower your expectations for another division title. In the grab for wild cards #1 and #2, they are just 8.5 games back.

Since the All-Star break, the Mariners have gone on a five-game winning streak, second only to the string of seven wins they strung from July 26 – August 1.

Since the All-Star break, the Mariners have pieced together two walk-off wins—one courtesy of John Jaso, who leads the team with a dozen game-winning hits.

Since the All-Star break, the Mariners have thrown a perfect game.

Since the All-Star break, the Mariners have started to become relevant.

Next game: vs. Indians | August 20 | 7:10pm

Final score: Mariners 4, Angels 1

On Saturday, Mike Trout robbed Miguel Olivo of a home run with a perfectly executed leap at the center field wall.

Yesterday, Trout made the same well-timed move… and watched a solo shot land just out of reach of his glove for Jesus Montero’s first home run of the game.

That’s right, I said first. After going 7-for-13 in his previous three games, Montero piled on two homers and 3 RBIs in Sunday’s rubber match against Anaheim.

These last two games notwithstanding, it’s been a rough week and a half for the Mariners. Coming off of a 7-game winning streak, they lost five straight games in a 6-3 road trip against the Yankees, Orioles, and Angels.

Today, they return to Safeco Field for a 9-game stretch against the Rays, Twins, and Indians—one that will hopefully follow the script of last month’s 8-2 homestand.

Next game: vs. Rays | August 13 | 7:10pm

Final score: Orioles 9, Mariners 2

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the latest trend in Major League Baseball is transforming harmless teams like the Athletics and Orioles into actual playoff contenders. No, really. It’s a thing. And the Mariners are the latest team to buy into it.

Tonight, Baltimore polished off the series with a 9-2 win on the back of Steve Johnson’s 9-strikeout performance. The Mariners did their best to play along, going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position, and waiting until the 6th inning to put up their only two runs of the night on a Kyle Seager home run.

Kevin Millwood completed his worst outing in recent memory, serving up 8 hits, 7 runs, a walk, and 3 strikeouts in 4 IP. Barring injury, it is his briefest start since a 5-inning, 7-run meltdown against the Royals this June.

The bullpen was of little help, but since I’ve highlighted enough of the Mariners’ failures tonight, let’s focus on the positives. Carter Capps made his second major league appearance for Seattle, with 2 hits and 2 strikeouts in 2 IP. Oliver Perez and Tom Wilhelmsen effectively took care of the 9th, striking out one of six Orioles.

Tomorrow, the Mariners take a much-needed break to regroup before facing the Angels and Albert Pujols for a weekend series. After the week they’ve had, I hope the only thing they take away from Baltimore is a little of that postseason luck.

Next game: @ Angels | August 10 | 7:05pm

Final score: Orioles 8, Mariners 7

There are some Mariners’ games where, as a fan, the end leaves you disappointed. Actually, let’s be honest. Over the past 10 years, there have been many of these sorts of games. You know that your team could’ve won the game if a player came through in the clutch. They could’ve won if only the outfielder reached that line drive in time or if his throw to the plate was a bit more accurate. The talent on the team, that night, just wasn’t up to snuff and their opponent emerged the victor.

Tonight was not one of those nights.

Tonight’s contest against the Orioles was one of those that, somehow, bring out emotions that generally are reserved for areas of life other than sport. After tonight’s loss, I felt cheated. I felt anger, but not at the Mariners’ players. Tonight just didn’t feel right.

I’m going to spare you the details of the first thirteen innings of this game and give you the gist of them: The Mariners were up by a lot and then the Orioles came back and tied it. After the seventh inning, the game was tied 7-7. Sure, sometimes pitchers can collapse, and neither Blake Beavan nor Lucas Luetge had their best nights tonight. Things like that can be overlooked – not each player on your team is going to perform like an MVP every single night.

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