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Edgar Martinez is the reason the Mariners could sneak into the playoffs

SEATTLE — Homecomings in sports can be a dangerous thing. Anytime legendary former players come home and take on a new role with the team that they helped put on the map, they run the risk of tarnishing their legacy. So, when the Seattle Mariners hired Edgar Martinez to turn around the worst offense in the majors last season, there was plenty of reason for concern.

Martinez is adored in Seattle. Known as one of the best hitters of his era, he’s a sure-fire Hall of Famer among locals, even if the actual voters haven’t seen it that way. He’s also a reminder of better times. Martinez was the No. 3 hitter on the last Mariners team to reach the postseason back in 2001.

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The Mariners are currently fighting to end that 14-year gap, and Martinez is once again at the center of their success. His name may no longer show up in the box scores, but Martinez is still helping the Mariners score runs.

Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, Seattle can still sneak into the playoffs. With three games remaining, the Mariners sit just two games out of a wild card spot in the American League. The team faces an uphill battle, but they are still in the race.

A big reason for that has been the team’s offense. Since being hired as the club’s hitting coach last June, the Mariners have been one of the best offensive teams in baseball. They have Martinez to thank for that.

Edgar Martinez has the Mariners offense rolling. (Getty Images/Hannah Foslien)
Edgar Martinez has the Mariners offense rolling. (Getty Images/Hannah Foslien)

“He’s really good,” says All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano.

That might be an understatement. When Martinez was hired, the Mariners’ offense was in a sad shape. Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times laid out the club’s offensive woes the day the team brought in Martinez to right the ship.

As a team, the Mariners have a .233 batting average that ranks 30th, or last, in the majors. They are averaging 3.36 runs, which is last in the American League. Their batting average of .213 with runners in scoring position was also the worst in the AL. It doesn’t stop there. Seattle also has the second-worst on-base percentage (.295) and slugging percentage (.375) and the second-most strikeouts (559) in the AL.

Over the first half of 2015, Seattle’s offense produced an 88 wRC+, an advanced stat that measures offensive performance. That figure ranked 22nd.

During the second half, things changed drastically. The Mariners hit the fourth-most home runs, scored the eighth-most runs and hit .264 with a .328 on-base percentage. Both figures ranked eighth. The team’s slugging percentage shot up to .446. That ranked third. All told, the team’s 115 wRC+ over the second half rated the Mariners as the third-best offense in baseball over that period.

That success has carried over into this season. The Mariners offense ranks fourth in home runs, eighth in runs scored, ninth in average, 10th in on-base percentage and ninth in slugging percentage this year. The team’s 106 wRC+ is tied with the Chicago Cubs for second-best in baseball.

The Mariners, who have been known for their anemic offenses throughout most of their history at Safeco Field, have been the second-best offense in baseball.

While some of that can be credited to a roster that underwent a lot of changes in the offseason, Martinez’s ability in his new role can’t go unnoticed.

“He’s obviously one of the best hitters in the game. Of all-time,” says catcher Chris Iannetta. “He had a very simple approach. He was very mechanically sound. So he was able to convey some of those things to us and make our game better.”

Robinson Cano has been complimentary of Edgar Martinez's role this season. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Robinson Cano has been complimentary of Edgar Martinez’s role this season. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

That’s been the key. Anyone who watched Martinez during his prime knew he was one of the most physically gifted hitters of his era. From 1990 to 2003, Martinez put up a .317/.426/.531 slash line, averaging 21 home runs per season. He made seven All-Star games, won five Silver Sluggers and had two seasons in which he finished in the top-6 in MVP voting.

Hitting seemed to come naturally for Martinez. Maybe too naturally. While no one doubted his ability on the field, there was a question of whether he would be able to effectively pass along his knowledge to others as a coach. That hasn’t been a problem.

“He knows how to teach guys,” says Cano. “That’s the biggest thing. No matter how much you know about hitting, it’s about how good you can teach others. He’s really good at that.”

In fact, Martinez’s legendary numbers on the field have actually made it easier for players to approach him.

“He’s probably the most relatable coach as far as knowing what goes on day-to-day,” says first baseman Adam Lind. “The confidence he has in himself … knowing that he has a lot of career at-bats, and has seen a lot of different pitches. He has the respect of everybody.”

As he should, Martinez has been in this spot before. He’s knows what it’s like to play in Seattle, and be in a tight playoff race in the AL West. When you have that level of familiarity in a situation, and stats on par with some of the all-time greats, players tend to listen when you give advice.

“He’s a guy who played in this division for a long time and was very successful,” says Cano. “When he says something, you have to pay attention.”

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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik