Logan Gilbert deservedly named Mariners opening day starter

After much deliberation M’s manager Dan Wilson has picked Logan Gilbert to take the mound on opening day in Seattle, against the Athletics.

The Seattle Mariners have finally put to bed a question which has been on the mind of a lot of fans in recent weeks. As reported by Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, manager Dan Wilson has named Logan Gilbert as the starter for opening day on Mar. 27 in Seattle, versus the Athletics.

Wilson confirmed the decision, when speaking to the assembled media on Saturday. As per Kramer, he said:

“Logan Gilbert will be our opening day starter. A very tough decision. But you know Logan certainly deserves it, and we are excited about that and looking forward to getting started here on the 27th.”

There had been the possibility of Luis Castillo getting the nod for a third consecutive year, but in truth the correct decision was made by Wilson. Gilbert was the Mariners’ best starter last season, in a campaign which saw him named to his first All-Star game, albeit he was unable to play due to his schedule in the M’s rotation.

Gilbert was a workhorse, as he led the Majors with 208.2 innings pitched and tied for the league lead with 33 starts. He also led all Major League starters with a 0.887 WHIP, which producing a 2.8 WAR, 3.23 ERA and career best 3.27 FIP.

Accepting the opening day role with grace

The 2018 first round draft pick also spoke to the media, and was asked about his reaction when Wilson told him he would be starting on opening day. He gave a refreshingly humble answer as he said:

“I was super excited obviously. A little caught off guard because I didn’t want to expect it of course, with Louie being the veteran guy and he’s completely deserving. We have a bunch of guys on our staff who could be opening day starters. But when (Wilson) told me … it’s something you always dream of and it’s a really big deal, so I don’t take it lightly.”

After speculation during the offseason that the Mariners were at least considering trading Castillo, you have to wonder if he feels a little hurt, even though he was arguably the least effective of the Mariners’ main five starters last year. However, he still deserves credit for how he reacted to Wilson’s decision, as Gilbert said:

“Gosh, I can’t say enough about Louie, who he is as a person. … He was more excited for me than I was. He’s that type of guy. Dan told me and for five seconds probably I don’t think a word came out. I was just like taking it in, and Louie was like, ‘Say something!’ Like, super excited for me and giving me hugs and all this kind of stuff. I mean, that’s just the kind of guy he is.”

Wilson similarly credited Castillo for his response to Gilbert replacing him as the opening day starter. As per Kramer, the Mariners manager said:

“Obviously, Logan had a big year last year. Over 200 innings, and a guy that has stepped forward. You want to reward that, no doubt. But as we said, ‘The Rock’ has been the rock. He gets the nickname because of that. He’s been so steady. He’s been so consistent. And as I said, has really poured a lot into the young pitchers that we have. That’s been his M.O., and he’s the veteran of the staff. So, it’s hard to see the changing of that a little bit, but he has been tremendous about it all.”

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A special moment for Logan Gilbert

For Gilbert, this is something he has dreamed about for a long time, which highlights just how special it is for him to be named the starter on opening day. He said:

“I think back to high school and college, and it’s like it felt like a holiday on opening day. It’s the first game of the year, all the best pitchers are out there. To me, and I’m an extreme baseball fan so it’s probably different, but I felt like the world stops for that day and everybody just had their TV on and watched the best pitchers in the game go at it. So it feels like a holiday, it always has for me, and I’m sure it will this year.”

The Mariners have a special situation with their starters in general, with the group last year leading the Majors in team ERA, WHIP, opposing batting average and fewest walks. Such is the talent, you can easily see any one of George Kirby, Bryce Miller or Bryan Woo competing for the coveted opening day role in future years.

For this year though, the honor goes to Gilbert and you can’t imagine many people have an issue with this. Now the countdown really is on to opening day at T-Mobile Park, which is less than two weeks away.

Do you agree with the decision to start Logan Gilbert on opening day? If not, who do you believe should have got the nod for the Mariners and why? Let us know in the comments section below.