The Seattle Mariners are playing some fantastic baseball after the All-Star break after putting together an eight game winning streak and at one point winning nine of their last 10 games, but after defeating the Minnesota Twins 8-2, the team lost rookie catcher Mike Zunino and after dropping the next game 3-1, the team brought in Humberto Quintero to help take over and the team may get involved in the trade market with names like Raul Ibanez, Michael Morse, Kendrys Morales, Oliver Perez and Brendan Ryan.
The team brought up Zunino to the majors after losing Jesus Montero to injury and also to some poor play and after bringing in Henry Blanco to help mentor Zunino and provide depth at the position, the team felt they had to add Quintero, as Blanco can't play every day. Quintero comes after being DFA'd by the Philadelphia Phillies and he will come to the team after they dropped a beautiful start by Felix Hernandez after being up 1-0 through eight innings.
The Twins tied the game after Felix went into the ninth with a 1-0 lead and eventually they won, but while Feliz doesn't get the W, he didn't get the L and he firmly is in place at the top of the Cy Young race right now. Catcher has been trouble for the Mariners over the past few years and this season they have used six different players, not including Quintero. Zunino was brought up earlier this season along with rookies Nick Franklin and Brad Miller and the young stars have given the Mariners a resurgence of sorts, as they are close to .500 after being about 12 games under and the team went on an eight game winning streak before losing to the Indians.
Zunino was helping along the winning streak, as his defense was very solid and he was hitting over .240 with two home runs and 10 RBIs and now he will be out for up to six weeks after taking a foul ball off the arm. After it happened, Zunino expected to be out for a few days, but after checking it out the next day, doctors realized that surgery was needed, but the young star says he still has a lot he can learn while on the DL and that injuries are part of being a professional.
