Colt Emerson made a big splash before he ever even reached the Major Leagues. He debuted with Seattle on April 17th, but two and a half weeks earlier, the 20-year-old shortstop agreed to an 8-year $95 million contract with the Mariners – the largest contract ever signed by a player prior to their MLB debut.

Emerson’s early returns are less than stellar, with a batting average south of the Mendoza line, but if you tune in to watch the Mariners on a nightly basis, it’s clear that Emerson brings energy to this clubhouse.

He profiles as a very selective hitter who draws a lot of walks and keeps his strikeouts low, but so far in his rookie campaign, Emerson has five times more Ks than walks. It could just be growing pains that will even out as he garners more experience in this league, or you could consider it an indictment of Seattle’s coaching regime.

For much of season’s first half, many analysts viewed the Mariners as a team that could reach the World Series. I never bought into that hype, but it was largely based on Seattle’s starting rotation. It’s one of the best in baseball. M’s pitchers occupy four of the top 25 slots in the American League in terms of ERA. Definitely capable of a deep October run. The problem? Their offense is atrocious. Dead last in Major League Baseball in batting average and slugging percentage, and next-to-last in runs scored. It doesn’t really matter how good your pitching staff is – if you can’t score runs, all you’ll ever do is tie.

I don’t trust the Mariners organization to develop hitters. Not only is Seattle’s offense the worst in the league this year, but this is statistically one of the worst if not THE worst offensive unit Seattle has had in the last 25 years.

So yes, I know that Emerson’s numbers probably have a lot to do with a rookie season learning curve, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that the rest of the offense blows too. In a city that’s known for the Pike Place Market and its flying fish, I’m reminded of an ancient proverb that seems fitting for the Mariners organization and its coaching staff:

“The fish stinks from the head.” And right now, it reeks in Seattle.