Mariners let go hitting coach Alan Cockrell Sunday morning, calling up Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers Alonzo Powell. The move was sparked by the Mariners continual struggle to win despite having one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. Their offense is one of the worst in the league.To Continue...
Powell has been a part of professional baseball for 27 seasons, including the last four spent with the Mariners. Of those, the last three have been as hitting coach. He played professionally for the Montreal Expos in 1987 before being sent to the Mariners in 1991, where he hit .216 with three home runs.
That average would put him tied for fifth with Ken Griffey, Jr. in this year’s offense—fourth if you removed .500-hitting Michael Saunders, who has only had two at-bats on the season. The Mariners are currently tied with Houston for the worst batting average in Major League Baseball, hitting only .225 as a team.
Reach M. Wend at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
