The Seattle Mariners announced the firing of veteran manager Scott Servais, who was in charge for the past nine seasons, amid a slump in the American League West.
The move, which also includes relieving hitting coach Jarrett DeHart of his duties, comes after the Mariners lost 8-4 to the Los Angeles Dodgers to drop to a .500 tie on the season at 64-64.
With just over a month left in the regular season, Seattle sits six games behind the Houston Astros in the American League West lead and 7.5 games out of the race for an American League wild-card spot.
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Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais, No. 9, walks onto the field for the national anthem before the game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 29, 2024 in Chicago. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
In short, the Mariners need some kind of spark to break out of a skid that has seen them lose eight of their last nine games, including a sweep to the Dodgers.
The Mariners once led their division by 10 games until June 10. However, they have since fallen to 20-33, while the Astros, a team that got off to a horrendous start, found their feet and have been rallying ever since.
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“Where we were in mid-June and where we are today, it's actually hard to believe how quickly everything dissolved for us,” Jerry Dipoto, president of baseball operations, said via ESPN.
“We collectively decided that our organization needed this. We needed to do something to create a different theme, a different atmosphere in our headquarters. I'm not trying to tear Scott down. I can't say enough positive things about the things he did to contribute here, but I think we needed a new voice.”
Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais, No. 9, stands in the dugout before the game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 29, 2024 in Chicago. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
The Mariners have the best ERA in MLB this season at 3.53 entering Thursday, but are last in batting average at .216, three points behind the MLB-worst team, the Chicago White Sox, by record.
Seattle received a jolt when it added Randy Arozarena and Justin Turner at the MLB trade deadline, but they have continued this streak after initially winning six of nine games with them on the roster.
Players like JP Crawford, Mitch Garver and Mitch Haniger have not performed well, and Jorge Polanco was expected to provide a boost as a switch-hitter and has also been mediocre this season.
Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais, No. 9, leaves the field after making a pitching change during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on June 18, 2024 in Cleveland. (Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
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The Mariners are hopeful under new leadership from Dan Wilson, the team's minor league coordinator, who will serve as interim manager.
In his nine seasons as manager, Servais went 680-642 with just one playoff appearance in 2022, where they lost in the ALDS to the Astros.
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