The 21 best walk offs in recent M's history: #8-14

Hello! I hope that the previous week has treated everyone well. We're back today with the middle section of this silly/fun three-part series, which is taking a SUPER SERIOUS look at the best walk-off hits in Mariners history since 2009. (CLICK HERE if you missed last week's article.) Let's get to it.

14. Luis Rodriguez hits a solo home run to right field

• Date: September 14th, 2011
• Situation: Bottom of the 12th, M's tied 1-1, 0 outs, bases empty, 2-1 pitch
  
• WPA of at bat: 0.37

I imagine this is true for quite a few Mariners fans, but Luis Rodriguez occupies a space in my brain that is very similar to the one occupied by Ryan Langerhans. Rodriguez was signed as a utility man in November of 2010 and ended up with 139 PA in 2011. He had an OPS of 0.633 with the M's, which was good for a wRC+ of 82, but he had some prettttty memorable hits at Safeco.

13. Carlos Peguero singles to center field to score Jack Cust

• Date: May 19th, 2011
• Situation: Bottom of the 9th, M's tied 1-1, 2 outs, runner on 3rd, 1-0 pitch
  
• WPA of at bat: 0.38

I could watch this clip on repeat all day. "Fighting the sun. He's ther... OH HE MISSED IT. AND THE MARINERS WIN IT! For me, this is kind of the ultimate form of schadenfreude. Not only do 1) the Mariners win, but 2) the Angels lose and 3) Torii Hunter looks like a complete buffoon. BALL DON'T LIE, TORII. MAYBE CONSIDER BEING LESS OF A JERK.

12. Jason Bay singles to left field to score Kendrys Morales

• Date: May 26th, 2013
• Situation: Bottom of the 13th, M's tied 3-3, 2 outs, runner on 3rd, 0-0 pitch
  
• WPA of at bat: 0.38
  

I don't know if this is necessarily true, but it sure does feel like an inordinately large portion of the walk-off hits in this countdown have ended loooong losing streak. There were a couple in last weeks segment and now we have this single by Bay, which ended an eight-game losing streak. Interesting. In any case, even though it was just a few years ago, I often forget that Bay played for the M's. His numbers in 2013 actually weren't terrible, but he was completely overshadowed/made redundant by the insanity that was Raul Ibanez (reminder that Rauuul had an OPS of 0.892 at the break in '13). Bay was released on August 6th; it's nice that he got this final walk off before hanging up the ol' baseball cleats.

11. Eric Thames singles to right field to score Chone Figgins

• Date: August 14th, 2012
• Situation: Bottom of the 9th, M's tied 2-2, 2 outs, runner on 3rd, 1-2 pitch
  
• WPA of at bat: 0.38
  

The Mariners entered the ninth inning of this contest down 2-1. Rodney, who was having an incredible season, was set to close for Tampa (this was one of only two blown saves he surrendered all season in 50 opportunities). Things looked BLEAK. Fortunately, the M's were able to string together some hits, benefit from an error, and steal this win away from the Rays. I was always a little bummed the Mariners didn't give Thames more of a chance to figure things out; he showed flashes of being pretty fun when he was with Seattle. Oh well. The last two seasons, Thames has played for the NC Dinos in the KBO, and he's done pretty okay for himself over in Korea. Last season he 1) became the first KBO player to hit for the cycle twice in a single season, 2) won the Golden Glove award as a first baseman, 3) became the first player in KBO history to join the 40-40 club (40 SB and 47 dingers), and 4) was awarded the league MVP award. Not too shabby. Here's a link to a video compiling all 47 of his home runs if you'd like to see a large man hit baseballs very far.

10. Franklin Gutierrez singles to left field to score Ronny Cedeno

• Date: May 17th, 2009
• Situation: Bottom of the 9th, M's tied 2-2, 2 outs, runners on 1st and 2nd, 1-0 pitch
  
• WPA of at bat: 0.39
  

Guti, Guti, Guti. Guti? Guti! Watching these old Gutierrez highlights feels a lot different now than it did a year ago. Sooo much more joyful. I will never not love Guti, but his performance last year has made rooting for him much less bittersweet. Hopefully he's able to stay healthy and contribute in 2016.

9. Ichiro Suzuki "singles" to second base to score Ryan Langerhans

• Date: June 2nd, 2010
• Situation: Bottom of the 10th, M's tied 1-1, 2 outs, runners on 1st and 2nd, 2-2 pitch
  
• WPA of at bat: 0.39
  

I have watched this play so many times and I cannot understand how Wilson is called safe at second. I mean:

Unless the ball hits the ground and bounces after it's flipped to second base? But it really doesn't look like it does... I don't know. Seems like a blown call. Hooray for instant replay not being a thing for a few more years! Regardless, that was a quintessential Ichiro swing on a ball well out of the zone and some heads up baserunning by Langerhans. Go team!

8. Ken Griffey Jr. singles to right field to score Adrian Beltre

• Date: August 12th, 2009
• Situation: Bottom of the 14th, M's tied 0-0, 2 outs, runners on 1st and 2nd, 1-2 pitch
  
• WPA of at bat: 0.39
  

Imagine being a Mariners fan in 2008 and being told that, the following season, Griffey would pinch hit in the 14th inning of a scoreless game with two outs and two strikes to deliver the winning hit. How would you have felt? What might you have given to make that scenario come true? Because that shit happened. God damn was 2009 an amazingly enjoyable and goofy year.

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That was fun. We'll finish up next Saturday with the top-seven walk offs. And do you know what also happens next Saturday? THE FIRST OFFICIAL WORKOUT FOR MARINERS PITCHERS AND CATCHERS. We've almost done it, you guys. Mariners baseball (or at least a version of it) is nearly here. Go M's!