Mariners explain reasoning behind firing manager Scott Servais: 'Needed a new voice'

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The Seattle Mariners announced the firing of long-time manager Scott Servais, who has been in place for the past nine seasons, amid a skid in the AL West. 

The move, which includes relieving hitting coach Jarrett DeHart of his duties as well, comes after the Mariners lost 8-4 to the Los Angeles Dodgers to become an even .500 on the season at 64-64. 

With a little more than a month to go in the regular season, Seattle is six games back of the AL West lead, which is held by the Houston Astros, and 7.5 games behind for an American League Wild Card slot. 

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Manager Scott Servais, #9 of the Seattle Mariners, walks on the field for the national anthem prior to the game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 29, 2024 in Chicago. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

In short, the Mariners need some sort of spark to get them out of a stretch that has seen eight losses in their last nine games, including a sweep from the Dodgers. 

The Mariners were once leaders in their division by 10 games as of June 10. However, they have gone 20-33 since then, while the Astros, a team that got off to a horrendous start, found themselves and have been climbing back ever since.

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"Where we were in the middle of June and where we are today – it’s hard to believe, actually, how quickly it all dissolved for us," Jerry Dipoto, president of baseball operations, said via ESPN. 

"Collectively, we determined that our organization needed this. We needed to do something to create a different theme, a different vibe in our clubhouse. I'm not