Cal Raleigh takes blame for Mariners’ struggles

Just a year ago, Seattle Mariners star catcher Cal Raleigh clobbered 60 home runs en route to finishing second in the American League MVP voting.

This season, Raleigh is hitting just .159 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI entering Wednesday. The Mariners have a 56-64 record and have lost five straight games, but Raleigh says it starts with him.

“It’s not good, We’re not playing well. That starts with me. I’m awful,” Raleigh said after Tuesday’s loss to the New York Yankees, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times.

Raleigh got off to a slow start this season, which included a career-worst 0-for-36 slump in May, although he finally broke it after taking a shower in full uniform.

Entering Wednesday, Raleigh has just one hit in the last five games. The Mariners haven’t won since August 5, and they were just swept by the Tampa Bay Rays at home before losing the first game of the series on Tuesday against the Yankees in the Bronx.

Seattle sits four games back of the final American League Wild Card spot and only 4.5 games back of first place in the AL West due to the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers floating around the .500 mark, so there is still a chance they can get into the postseason.

Still, the Mariners played in the ALCS just last postseason, and Raleigh’s struggles have also not helped this team.