On June 19, Scott Servais began his day as the manager of a high-performing Mariners team. The Mariners had recently secured an 8-5 win against the American League Central-leading Guardians, pushing their record to 44-31 and establishing a 10-game lead in the American League West. This was a significant peak for the team, highlighting Servais’s successful tenure up to that point.
However, this peak quickly faded as the Mariners experienced a dismal 1-8 road trip, which marked the beginning of a downward spiral.
Reports suggest that Servais will soon be replaced by former catcher and Hall of Famer Dan Wilson, with the official announcement expected on Thursday. Servais’s potential departure signals a major shift for the Mariners, who have struggled significantly since their peak performance in June.
The Mariners’ recent troubles have not been confined to just the road trip. Over the past two months, they have experienced a dramatic fall from their earlier success, compiling a 20-33 record.
This poor performance caused them to lose their commanding lead and now find themselves trailing the Astros by five games. Their record over this period is among the worst in the league, surpassing only the struggling Chicago White Sox.
As of their latest game on August 21, the Mariners’ record stands at an even 64-64, bringing them back to the .500 mark for the first time since April 24. Despite the team’s earlier promise, the recent series sweep by the Dodgers underscored the ongoing issues within the team. Servais leaves the Mariners with a 680-642 record, boasting a .515 winning percentage, which ranks second only to Lou Piniella in the team’s history.
Servais’s tenure, which began in 2016, included notable achievements such as leading the Mariners to back-to-back 90-win seasons in 2021 and 2022 and ending a 21-year postseason drought.
However, the 2023 season fell short of expectations, with the Mariners missing the playoffs after Game 161. Issues such as the team’s offensive struggles and financial adjustments have contributed to the challenging end of Servais’s time with the Mariners.
