Hisashi Iwakuma Is Seattle Mariners' Most Overrated Player So Far In 2016

Let us take a look back to around Christmas time of 2015. The Los Angeles Dodgers had a three-year deal in place for Hisashi Iwakuma that had fallen apart due to some issues the Dodgers had with his medical evaluation. This was seen as a Christmas miracle to Seattle Mariners fans as the idea of Iwakuma back in Seattle soon took its place in all of our minds. Then, the dream became a reality. Iwakuma was back with the Mariners.

We are now in May of 2016 and things could not seem any different. Sure, Iwakuma has not had any health issues to this point, but his performance has been mediocre at best. His 4.39 ERA doesn’t look awful, although more was hoped for from the No. 2 guy in the rotation. The scary part is his 1.41 WHIP. His 61 hits against in nine starts leads the Mariners by 13 hits as of Sunday, and only three times has he held teams to less than three runs this season.

Iwakuma’s role with the Mariners is too important for him to be such a disappointment so far. His 2-4 record should be seen as a blessing considering the 27 earned runs against him. When watching him pitch, he does not seem like the same guy who threw a no-hitter just a year ago.

He looks slow and old on the mound, with no injury issues to boot. It is only May, so that doesn’t exactly provide confidence that he will turn things around as the season continues. He is still a fan favorite, but if he continues at his current pace that might not be the case much longer.

The Mariners are a team that is truly striving for the playoffs this season, and Iwakuma does not seem to be helping the situation. The problem is there is nothing to do with him. He is more valuable to the Mariners than any possible trade partner, he will never be sent to the minors and realistically the Mariners currently do not have anyone who could replace him in the rotation. The options would most likely fare worse than Iwakuma.

For a team such as the Cincinnati Reds or the Atlanta Braves, no one would blink an eye at Iwakuma’s struggles, but for a team with playoff dreams the struggles become more obvious. Mariners fans are just going to have to hope for the best. Luckily pitchers like Taijuan Walker and Wade Miley have been stepping up to fill the No. 2 role the Mariners need.

The sooner the organization and fans realize that Iwakuma is overrated, the better. He will have that gem game here and there, but he is not old reliable. All Mariners fans can do now is hope for Iwakuma to have more gems than bombs while thinking about how the team could have signed Kenta Maeda for a fraction of the price.