The Seattle Mariners Historic Starting Rotation for 2024

The Seattle Mariners are slotted to roll out one of, if not the best starting rotation in Mariners, and potentially MLB history. 1-5, each guys possesses the ability to dominate the opposing lineup and determine the outcome of the game.
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0:00 Intro
1:48- Luis Castillo
3:26- George Kirby
5:56- Logan Gilbert
7:26- Bryce Miller
10:57- Bryan Woo
12:21- Emerson Hancock

[@TheCouchGM]

Click this link unless you're an Astros fan- kzbin.info

[@keyzjingle7573]

I’m so stoked for the season if we can get in the playoffs with this rotation we could finally make a run!

[@jabbahut72]

It's great to have optimism, but time and time again this team has let its fans down. 2022 was great, but thanks to a boneheaded decision by Scott Servais, the Astros won and never looked back. You can't win games if your team can't score runs. That's a problem this team has yet to resolve. Sure they have a good bat or two and quite a few who have potential, but they can't rely on just Julio to carry the offense. Plus, they lack hitters with a "killer" instinct that was seen in Ichiro, Papi (Egar Martinez), Bone (Jay Buhner), & Junior. Still, I'm willing to eat crow cold if I am proven to be wrong.

[@NHENDU161]

^^^ the main theme of the Seattle Mariners. Forever.

[@anthonymartinez0865]

The mariners are a poverty franchise with zero rings.

[@CoffeeofSorts]

@@anthonymartinez0865They aren’t a poverty franchise, Seattle has one of the wealthiest sporting markets in the country. The problem is that the owner is too afraid to spend much of the large amount of money they have. Just remember, nobody has managed to beat the 116-46 season the Mariners put up.

[@Em022]

I think they were22nd in Batting average with runners in scoring position. It's ironic how their front office says they're dedicated to winning championships yet make smooth brained moves in the name of profit. Mariners prefer profits over prestige.@@jabbahut72

[@zack2920]

What's amazing is we lost a Cy Young winning starter in the offseason, and yet we can still say this. We're lucky. Just praying the lineup can stay healthy.

[@TheRandalHandle]

I really enjoyed this video. Kirby has unlimited potential. He is literally Maddux with better velocity.

[@sl-bo4lb]

RandalHandle you got it right. Kirby is Maddux with better velocity. Cy Young stuff

[@chrisschauble8314]

Great video man. Very well put together and hits on the key different styles of each pitcher. It's going to be awesome watching this group cook.

[@TheCouchGM]

Appreciate it! Can’t wait for the season

[@joebarr725]

Best in history? What a bunch of crap.

[@weirdbeard1980]

There's no one I'd rather have on the mound in a one game playoff than George Kirby. He the best pitcher on this squad, imo. So glad they dumped Ray. That was a bad signing and an albatross of a contract.

[@sl-bo4lb]

Weirdbeard1980 is totally right. Kirby has Cy Young award stuff. If Seattle doesn't acquire, during the course of the season, a quality right handed bat that can play third and platoon in the outfield they are committing GM and President malpractice.

[@frankzvonec6817]

Third base and the outfield may be just fine. And if you’re acquiring a “quality bat” to play third, why would he ever platoon in the outfield?

[@crystal_pepsi]

George Kirby is so ridiculously good under pressure. He didn't give up a single run in his 8 innings in the playoffs in 2022. And in his last 2 starts in 2023, in must-win games against the Rangers and Astros, he goes 6 innings scoreless in both games and gets 2 wins. The clutch factor is undeniable!

[@TheCouchGM]

Mariners 2024 Preview Series- kzbin.info/aero/PL-Fr2S07xb8OY63OqSAHVAcBdSmvDu4K3

[@_HGTV_]

Very insightful. Well done. Great video thanks! Go Ms

[@TheCouchGM]

Click this link unless you're an Astros fan- kzbin.infoClick this link unless you're an Astros fan- kzbin.info

[@deannalane7717]

If they aren't the best rotation in MLB history, they will be by 2025 or 2026. They are all phenomenal. There are many many years in Mariner history where the 5th best in this rotation would have been the Ace.

[@mpaulm]

I’m liking this video so I can look back on it years from now and see what happened to them.

[@jngdrew7161]

our pitching rotation has been great.. its just our bat sucks.

[@LetTheWrite1inn]

Julio would disagree

[@iseabeck9488]

I'm a title examiner in the Puget Sound. Love the business plug.

[@Sniff_Jenkem]

I wouldnt say the best ever. 2014 Detroit Tigers had: Verlander Scherzer David Price (after his Cy Young year) Anibal Sanchez (ERA winner) Rick Porcello That's a scary rotation man.

[@user-ry2tq2hp5h]

Might want to look up the Braves rotation from the 90s

[@claudettechristensen9652]

Great analysis and video. Nicely done

[@jumperhighpd]

so hyped for the season

[@notsosilentmajority1]

Only time will tell but it's going to be a lot of fun to look at this staff during Spring Training next year. It's going to either be really amazing or a bunch of people saying "I told you so", whether they really told us so or not. It feels like they're going to be a special staff in 2024, let's see what the offense does to help them out. In the past we've seen some really good pitching staffs have teams that seem to rely on their great pitching so much, that they don't put up as many runs as they should.

[@revenger32]

Optimistic, but now its time to perform and show that they are the best

[@alejandroloeza9239]

got me hyped for the start of the season tomorrow

[@stephenduwe9251]

I’m prone to agree! It’s nice to not hang your head when you show up to a game and your number five starter is going against their ace. We can win any game, any match up this year if our offense can do anything.

[@tythegolfer6279]

Over the Dodgers? Even without Ohtani it's hard to top. I'm a Braves fan and idk if Mariners even beat them

[@TheCouchGM]

Fully healthy it’ll be close between them assuming Miller and Woo take the next step. Big health concerns with Glasnow and Kershaw. Of course Ohtani would take the Dodgers over the top

[@itsthunder8492]

What a banger video.

[@sethheasley9538]

I got everybody but Gilbert on my Fantasy team this year. Should be fun.

[@jackvenera3024]

George Kirby could really be a top 3 MLB pitcher after this season imo

[@OtterPup_]

I’m excited for the season, go M’s

[@austinebner4905]

Solid video man.

[@TheCouchGM]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bucc_360]

2001 mariners was pretty good Freddy Garcia, Aaron Sele, Paul Abbot, John Halama, also seen Ryan Franklin, and Joel Pineiro

[@brandonbrooks6780]

Imagine what this team could be with another plus bat

[@Johnknappe22]

Lowk worried about our pitching(bullpen and Starters) more than our offense. Am I weird?

[@therealbs2000]

I bet if you put all five starters in a game you might have a combined complete game

[@billdashiell6258]

The problem is, they never let pitchers go deep in a game anymore. They go 5 or 6 innings, then it's a crap shoot with the bullpen.

[@therealbs2000]

@billdashiell6258 i dont see why thats a problem, who says a pitcher needs to go deep into a game. Its all about the team not the individual.

[@billdashiell6258]

@@therealbs2000 I saw the problem last year. The starter is rolling along, then gets pulled because he's thrown maybe close to 100 pitches. The bullpen comes in and blows it. Develop these guys to go deeper into games. The goal is to win. By going deeper into the game, this set of starters give the Mariners the best chance to win. Going deeper into games saves wear and tear on the bullpen. If the bullpen is fresh, maybe they'll be more effective. So, it benefits the team if they stay in the game longer....and, as you said, it is a team game. I don't think it's a problem with the pitchers. Rather, I question the organizational philosophy of developing starters to go just a few innings.

[@therealbs2000]

@@billdashiell6258 the starter also rolls along and gets pulled at 100 pitches, and you never see the times when he loses the lead in the seventh, or goes 15 more pitches and gives up a hit and a walk and gets pulled at 115. what you're describing, the problem you saw, is heavily subject to bias--recency bias and confirmation bias, to be precise. you remember the times when the starter gets pulled at 100 and the bullpen blows the lead because they are memorable, and you forget about or disregard the times the starter gets pulled at 100 and the bullpen holds onto the lead. if the bullpen is fresh, they may be more effective, but the opposite is also true. if the starter is fresh from not having gone deeper into games, they will be more effective in the next start, and throughout the season, and for the rest of their career. for every old school argument that exists, there is a counter. to be clear, i am not saying it should not be considered that starters may produce a greater advantage if there was a way to train them to overcome injury and 3x through the order effects. i am saying that your take on its own is heavily skewed and not representative of the data (which is the whole reason the industry shifted away from going deeper into games in the first place), and if you want to have your argument make any progress, you're going to have to account for those points. there's no evidence that "training to go deeper into games" (whatever you mean by this) will reduce injury risk or exposure, and no one afaik has addressed the third time through the order effects (which clearly disfavors the starter going deep into games argument).

[@Sjguitarpnw]

I almost thought Bryce was adopting Will Ferrell's slurge pitch

[@TheCouchGM]

I’m gonna need to check out the slurge 😂

[@holterskolter]

4-7 start. Legends

[@mostly.sports]

I’m excited for this rotation! What are your thoughts on no lefties?

[@TheCouchGM]

I don’t think handiness matters very much in the rotation, especially when they’re all different looks and have the stuff like these guys do. Bullpen you need more guys from both sides

[@redjetsen1002]

Koufax led the league in strike outs for years, yet said, he became a better pitcher after he got hitters to to hit the ball. He kept his pitch count down, getting outs early in the count.

[@henryvalz93]

His best K years were near the end of his career, when he was also his most valuable. He was a mediocre pitcher (and in fact, barely a major leaguer, until 1959, when he started striking batters out, which is when he started actually being good). His best years (1962-1966) were also his highest strike out years.

[@redjetsen1002]

He certainly became a smarter pitcher@@henryvalz93

[@aguywithcommonsense7503]

Does the 2012-2014 Tigers rotation not exist?

[@brucez9600]

A top of the league starting five. For fun, go watch a podcast from the Cards or the Angels or the Red Sox or any other middling team. Their starting fives are more like starting 1's or 2's and three no-names or has-beens. This rotation shines in comparison. They are STILL getting better, only Castillo could be said to be at the top of his game, all the others are still learning and growing. Lots of room for even more. And the bullpen is the best in memory. Sweet God in Heaven I love this line-up!

[@donnydrips]

Remember we all said the exact thing last year? And how that lasted a total of a month? Dipoto did nothing to bolster the offense, and the defense is old and cracked.

[@williamabaker12]

If Sale continues to pitch like he has in Spring, i'll take the Braves top 3 over any others. It's close between the Braves, Dodgers and Mariners. I'd put the M's rotation over the Dodgers, even if all the questions about their rotation pan out.

[@sl-bo4lb]

williamabaker 12 you are correct. The Braves, Dodgers, Phillies, and I would add the Padres since acquiring Dylan Cease, have top notch top 3's. It's the 4 and 5 rotation spots with Miller and Woo that could make the Mariners overall rotation the best. williambaker12 you know your stuff.

[@frankzvonec6817]

Luis Castillo has NOT done everything we could have hoped for. He had twi abysmal starts last September

[@seanthedon6996]

Bruh......he ain't even hit his prime yet.....he's one of those guys that age like fine wine like scherzer and verlander

[@ajm2475]

@@seanthedon6996ok..he still didn’t show up in his biggest starts of the season.

[@seanthedon6996]

@@ajm2475 Ok? So he had 2 bad starts in September........what's your point? U can't base shit off of a couple bad starts lolol.

[@Manmanit80]

Did u plug ur day job? 😭😭 gotta respect the hustle

[@TheCouchGM]

Need to pay the bills one way or another!

[@erikhancock3186]

It's great but will it manifest into making the playoffs?

[@arrsequoia4087]

lol @3:33 😂😂 Sub for that alone. Keep up the funny, kiddo.

[@swampdweller5]

I like the rotation, but you still need to hit to win games. Same old story. There’s no excellent option at third, and this shifting idea moving infielders around sounds awful to me. Cautiously optimistic. But Go Mariners!

[@sl-bo4lb]

Swampdweller5 you are totally right. Seattle has 5 you can count on quality hitters in their lineup. Crawford, Raleigh, Rodriquez, Polanco, and Garver. The rest of the lineup is a collection of guys who could perhaps have a season like they had several years ago. Not good enough offense. Right again on third base. Seattle still needs a decent right handed bat that can play third base and platoon in the outfield.

[@denningfamily2145]

Jamie Moyer?

[@rylian21]

You don't have a career as long as Moyer did without being really good.

[@augustinrocha7548]

Hes an ace!!!

[@TheCouchGM]

Oops, all aces!

[@Fordry]

2010 starting top 3 had a significantly higher WAR than 2023 top 3. Even if you only count the WAR Cliff Lee generated before the trade they're still a bit higher...

[@Matt26644]

Many teams have. This is one of the most biased reviews I’ve ever seen. It’s a good rotation but if this video is accurate George Kirby may be the best pitcher of all time and this staff has 5 or even 6 superstars in it. Not one of these pitchers had an ERA or FIP below 3. Not one had a WHIP below 1. They’re all solid to very good pitchers and it will be a very good rotation, but he makes them all out to be elite and even hinted at it being in the conversation for best rotations of all time, which is laughable.

[@carlhicksjr8401]

I'll believe they're 'historic' after they get past the Mariners' traditional August-September choke streak. I've been watching this team for decades and no matter who is at the helm or who is on the mound, the Ms ALWAYS gag in the last month of the season and wind up missing the playoffs by 4 games. Now fair being fair, the Ms have gotten over their mediocrity years. The last 5 or 8 years they've tried to put a winner on the field and that effort has yielded some results. Not enough, but some. But they've got some work to do yet.

[@dennisrichards3993]

All that and the get just 86 wins !!

[@tsm9273]

You still have to hit. Last year should have taught us something about getting to stoked in march.

[@20minutes14]

Our lineup is significantly better this yeah. Garver, Polanco, Haniger, raley > Teo, geno, kelenic, caballero

[@meganb.2249]

I’m a Matt Brash fan girl personally. Here’s hoping he and Munoz finally become the 1-2 dominating punch to lock down their pen. I’m glad Penn Murfee is gone because this “slider specialist” BS was nonsense. I’m a little concerned about Eduard Bazardo, Snider, Santos, and Bolton though. Bazardo and Santos seem a bit wild. Bolton and Snider are quite raw. Don’t even get me started on how washed up the fly ball hurlers of Trent Thornton and Austin Voth are, but I guess they’re there for clubhouse presence? Austin Voth is just another Kendall Graveman. How do you feel about Taylor Saucedo (and the rest of the pen arms)? Sauce seems to be doing well….in spring training, but he seems more of a “stick in AA” candidate to me.

[@BroadwayJoe99]

Skinflint Stanton will have Jerreh Duh Pooter trade them all off to other teams for a few bags of beans by August.

[@johng4730]

Well, on paper it is a nice rotation. You know who else thought they had an epic rotation going into a season? How about the 2004 Cubs. They thought they would have Prior, Wood, Zambrano and recently aquired legend Greg Maddux. Didn't really work out the way they thought. I'm just saying, stuff happens.

[@rcl8464]

"Beacuse Cal Raleigh says the sinker sucks" 😂😂

[@JackieMesyeux]

Best 1-5 yes I think so.

[@user-dm2gr3vj2y]

Now do the bullpen. It's gonna be a filthy year.

[@TheCouchGM]

MLB's Best Bullpen for 2024 kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5nMnIt_eMZobas

[@rylian21]

That rotation is stupid good. If only they had decent bats to back them up, but alas, Stanton is a cheap bastard willing to squander this golden opportunity because he's unwilling spend what's needed to build a real contender.

[@totallynotmyeggalt6216]

As an Ms fan, this might age poorly

[@gkezele]

nope

[@danschmidt4404]

I mean … I don’t know. 1971 Orioles had 4 20 game winners and won 108 games. Saying “best ever” is … a stretch

[@no_regerts5176]

0 and 1

[@oak8728]

Peanut butter is made from peanuts.

[@DustinBowen1]

Lmao best in history? Stop. Maybe for the Mariners. There are several other rotations that will compete head on this season, and a handful will likely be better. Philly, Atlanta, LA come to mind to name a few.

[@Raigshow]

Seriously.. Castillo has fallen off a little, Logan Gilbert has looked terrible in spring , Kirby hasn’t looked great but he is definitely has ace potential, I just don’t think Bryce miller is that great maybe a good 5th man starter on an average team and until Woo can get lefties out consistently, I have to faith in him being able to not have 1 good start followed by a bad one

[@austinebner4905]

LA is the only team that I'd agree with. Philly has an amazing duo, Atlanta is in a similar boat.

[@DustinBowen1]

@@austinebner4905 Atlanta has two young potential studs bound to break out this season (or next). Sale is dominant when healthy, and Morton is well above average with little sign of regression. Philly, on paper, has a better starting 5 than Atlanta top to bottom but Atlanta has higher upside. I'd argue that LA will be worse than the Braves and Phillies, especially in terms of team pitching including the bullpens.

[@skalty9868]

We’ll see

[@boeraneth5263]

@@Raigshowbryce is not too shabby for a 5th starter on an average team…

[@zachbarlow25]

And we'll still manage to screw it up

[@JLPerez90]

Imagine if the Mariners got Bauer? He could be a fill in for when someone gets injured or just an extra rotational pitcher.

[@andreweisen3465]

I mean its the exact same rotation as last year 😂

[@yoyo-jc5qg]

For sure they're one of the greatest of all-time, i mean they had an elite 3.89 era in 2023 that was good for 4th place, u can't possibly get better than that, all 5 first ballot hall of famers its a lock 😄

[@seanedwards8123]

On Paper they look great, but greatest ever? That's yet to be seen. I mean, you got some REAL competition 66' Dodgers? 98' Braves? Oakland in the 70's? lets not jump the gun just yet

[@redjetsen1002]

Funny you mention Johnson and Moyer, both lefties. Mariners have all right handers throwing about the same speed. We really need a guy like Brandon Williamson. Don't build up expectations that could be dashed. easy does it on the superlatives.

[@kutz206]

While a lefty would be neat, there's so, so much more to our pitching than "a bunch of righties who throw hard". They all are unique which is why it's so exciting.

[@redjetsen1002]

We need a strong start. Are we good enough to beat the Rangers and Astros?@@kutz206

[@tinibigs6783]

Hopefully we will, and his name is Reid VanScooter. Had a solid year in single a last year and hopefully will continue on into AA this year

[@jaredcarrick3468]

It may look good on paper, but they will need to be historically good during the season for Seattle to even be a WC team. Seattle’s offense was bottom 5 in every metric last season, and this season their offense could be even worse. They got rid of some low OBP bats and added some better contact hitters who don’t strike out as much but still don’t have much better batting averages than the bats they subtracted from their roster. The big difference is the high strike out low contact/OBP bats they subtracted at least had enough HR power to hit 20-30 HRs in a season. The bats they added don’t hit for much better of an average than the bats that they subtracted only they don’t even have that level of HR power. Not to mention the bats they added have serious health/availability issues. Seattle’s front offense is clearly banking on their pitching and looks at any runs they score as being a little bonus. That type of roster imbalance has historically never been able to win a WS. Being really bad offensively also makes them a boring team to watch. I would love to see Julio get the chance to play on a legit team. Seattle just isn’t it and never will be unless they get management who is actually willing to spend on a legit contending roster

[@KingZimmer3018]

Why did they trade Robby ray

[@Dirkkkkk]

I think hitters will still prefer 5 game series at SEA than LAD or SFG after the All Star Break. All these guys are tough, but none are demoralizing or intimidating.

[@fisheloph]

This might be good enough to win 54% of games, the maximum number of games the front office wants to win. I’m a lifelong mariners fan. This hype is propaganda from the ownership. This team is going to finish under 500 and miss the playoffs again. They just want our money, they don’t care about winning.

[@marksummers1700]

historic starting rotation....???? they haven't played a game yet... the1971 Baltimore Orioles had FOUR 20-game winners...!!!!

[@Michael-bf1jn]

Get ready to be disappointed!

[@MrTinfoilSombrero]

Depoto and especially Nintendo owners will squander this squad just like having Felix, Ichiro, and - on one team - Griffey, Edgar, Arod, and the Big Unit - and no fluppin' world series appearence. Sell the team to someone who wants to win. Bored with this repeat of Bottom-line decisions. Do Mariner fans a favor.

[@3LJ3F3]

how do the M's fire 9 managers in 15 seasons since 2000, yet let Scott Servais continue to bumble and fumble through almost a decade now ( while winning at a pathetic .513 percentage?) He had ZERO previous managerial experience, yet the Mariners thought he would be a good leader? Give me a break. As long as he is the skipper, this team will flail. The Mariners are the worst pro team in all of North America, they haven't even won a division pennant in more than 20 years. They were my FAVORITE team growing up, but I cannot stomach the joke this franchise has become. Great video, just know that when these young guns get set for a big payday, the M's will send them packing.

[@dougcarti8567]

Seattle isn't even in the top 5 ( that would be '14 Tigers, '98 Braves, '66 Dodgers, '88 Mets, and '11 Phillies--arrange the order how you like as there are arguments for and against each). 2014 Detroit Tigers David Price (2012 Cy Young Winner) Justin Verlander (2011, 19, 22 Cy Young Winner) Max Scherzer (2013, 16, 17 Cy Young Winner) Anibal Sanchez (led the league in ERA in 2013) Rick Porcello (2016 Cy Young Winner) '11 Phillies Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt, Vance Worley '98 Braves Maddux , Glavine, Smoltz, Denny Neagle, Kevin Millwood '88 Mets Doc Gooden, David Cone, Ron Darling, Sid Fernandez, Bob Ojeda '66 Dodgers Koufax, Sutton, Drysdale, Claude Osteen

[@OhNoTwisted]

Almost zero chance at the playoffs. It's likely the Mariner owners want to AVOID the playoffs where possible, based on what their management literally shared. Their goal was to be top ten in attendance while missing the playoffs as long as possible. So far, missing the playoffs regularly and somehow being top 10 in attendance has been something I never believed they could accomplish...but did. (1 playoff game every 20 years?) I honestly didn't think it was possible when they shared this goal in a meeting with a colleague of mine (apparently getting guys in the playoffs get them visible and increases their cost to keep as FAs or in arbitration? I forget the details but that was the gist). Maybe that has changed since, but I doubt it because they literally are nailing the goal they shared almost 15 years ago. (How to make the playoffs as infrequently as possible while still being top 10 in attendance).

[@STR8L8CED]

This team isn't even close to our record year.

[@marcballprogram]

I dunno if The Mariners have been blessed with starting rotation health. Robbie Ray went down after one start last year and Marco Gonzalez was out for most of the season. I'm hoping they've got all the bad luck out of their system!

[@ssfc117]

Yeah we’re still gonna barely get 85 wins and miss the playoffs