Time for the Mariners to get out of their offensive rut...and soon

If there's a few things out there that you can consider positive if you're a Mariners fan like myself, there's two of them: pitching and a far better record at the All-Star break than last year. It shouldn't be considered a bad thing even if you're 7.5 games out of first place in your division. But there's one thing that's remained the same: the offense is still in a major rut.

While they have one of the top pitching staffs in all of baseball, which includes defending Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez and rookie sensation Michael Pineda in the starting rotation, the Mariners are last in the majors in runs scored, batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage. It's one thing to have a great pitching staff, but if you're going to contend for the postseason regularly, you have to have both elements in fine working order.

One would think that the free-agent signing of catcher Miguel Olivo would add a spark to the offense. It's certainly helped in the homerun department, but with a .223 batting average entering the second half of the season, it's time for the veteran to pick up the slack at the plate and increase a relatively pedestrian batting average.

Designated hitter Jack Cust has been nothing more than a disappointment. Brought in over the offseason as a big left-handed bat, his numbers have been just that--a disappointment. Three home runs, 23 RBIs, and a dismal .211 batting average. And now Cust isn't in the lineup as much now.

And then there's Ichiro. It's been 10 years since he won both American League MVP and Rookie of the Year honors, and he's been very un-Ichiro-like this season. While he's still fast as ever at 37 years old, his production at the plate could mean it might be the first time in his MLB career that he won't end the season batting .300 or better, unless he can put together a strong second half.

But there are a couple of bright spots offensively. One of them is second baseman Dustin Ackley, called up from Triple-A Tacoma in June. The former North Carolina Tar Heels standout has made a big splash in the Mariners lineup, and certainly has what it takes to positively contribute to their offense. The other bright spot I speak of is Dutch-born outfielder Greg Halman. While he only played sparingly last season and put up less than spectacular numbers, he's shown considerable improvement since coming back to the show. If both Ackley and Halman continue to improve and show their potential the rest of the season, they could both be dangerous in the Mariners' lineup next season and in future years.

But still, the lack of a big bat not named Justin Smoak is part of the Mariners' problem offensively. And that's why general manager Jack Zduriencik needs to pull the trigger on a deal to bring in a bat that can lift up a flat offense without having to sacrifice any top-tier prospects working their way through the minor league system. One player I could think of the Mariners trading for is outfielder Hunter Pence from the lowly Houston Astros. While he does possess some strong offensive upside, I imagine the Astros will be asking for a lot in return as they're bound to enter a rebuilding mode much like the one the Mariners are in right now. And a deal with Houston would not include Jack Wilson or Chone Figgins, whom have both proved to be expensive flops in Seattle.

At least the positive thing about starting the second half of the season is hoping that your team can make a run for a playoff spot if you're within reasonable striking distance. I firmly believe that's where the Mariners are, and if their offense can be as smooth as their pitching staff, they'll have a shot at making their first postseason since their 116-win season in 2001. But it's going to take another bat to get there, and the right deal to get the job done.

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What a British Open win would mean for Rory McIlroy

Remember when some fella named Tiger Woods exploded onto the golf scene? Safe to say Rory McIlroy is beginning to make a similar splash coming off a dominant U.S. Open win last month. And with the next major coming this weekend at Royal St. George's Golf Club in Kent, England, this is a great opportunity for McIlroy to establish himself as the next big superstar on the PGA Tour.

The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland has had himself a pretty good haul in 2011. He almost left Augusta National with their famed green jacket at The Masters, but a dismal final round dashed any chance of that (he shot an 80, 8-over-par), and he ended up tied for 15th in the final rundown, ten strokes behind eventual Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa. Then came the U.S. Open at Congressional just outside of Washington, DC. His final 72-hole score was 268, a tournament record, as he finished eight strokes ahead of runner-up Jason Day of Australia (who also finished tied for second at The Masters).

Come Thursday morning across the pond, McIlroy will be entering the British Open as an obvious favorite. He's coming off a three-week break from his U.S. Open triumph, and should he win the tournament at Royal St. George's, it wouldn't just be his second-straight major victory, but it may also be a very popular victory in his home country given Northern Ireland's geographic proximity to England. And with Tiger Woods not on the entry list for the tournament, I say McIlroy's chances of winning his second straight major look very good, despite some other big names on the list like Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and countless others looking to make history of their own as a champion of the British Open.

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