Nelson Cruz's HR Streak a Rare Feat That Mariners Are Failing to Capitalize on

Don't blame Nelson Cruz for the Seattle Mariners' early-season struggles. Cruz, the Seattle Mariners' big-name, big-bat free agent signing this offseason, is leading Major League Baseball with six home runs through the first week-and-a-half of the season after hitting yet another one out Wednesday night—his fifth consecutive game with a long ball.

The Mariners, however, haven't been able to take advantage of Cruz's rare feat and personal record, having lost three straight in getting swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wednesday's 5-2 defeat dropped Seattle—a popular preseason favorite to win the division—to 3-6, the worst record in the American League West.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

This dichotomy of a team's utter failure to capitalize on one player's overwhelming success on an individual level happens rather often in sports, especially baseball.

On one hand, the Mariners should be thrilled that the slugger they paid $57 million is launching baseballs out of parks on a daily basis. But on the other hand, they can't be, because the club's bottom line isn't budging.

So while it's inaccurate to call the M's sluggerless in Seattle anymore now that Cruz—who led the majors with 40 home runs a year ago—is around, they do need to do more than merely watch him do this:

"[Cruz has been] pretty impressive the way he's been swinging," second baseman Robinson Cano said after Cruz's fourth straight game with a homer, per Greg Johns of MLB.com. "He's a big guy that's been in this situation before. Last year, he had a great year. Hopefully this year, he continues and helps us win some games."

Indeed, Cruz is holding up his side of the bargain as he continues to mash, but it hasn't helped Seattle win much—yet.

It is still early in the season. (Heck, it's early even to say it's early in the season.) And the Mariners' slow start can be turned around with a good weekend, especially since the AL West is the only division in which not a single team sports a record over .500 entering play Thursday.

But it's still a shame that Seattle, who came into the campaign with all sorts of hope after finishing just a game out of the postseason in 2014, hasn't started as hot as a team as Cruz has as an individual.

Here are a few tidbits that put his five-game home run streak—and six homers altogether in that span—into better context: 

Meanwhile, the M's have gone 2-3 in those five contests overall. Despite Cruz hitting a pair of homers and knocking in three, they even lost Tuesday. In fact, that was the start of this three-game skid.

Fueled by Cruz's six long balls, Seattle has 13 combined, which ties the team for second-most in the sport. Yet because the Mariners rank in the bottom five in both batting average (.210, fifth-worst) and on-base percentage (.258, third-worst), they have scored more runs (32) than only nine clubs.

On the pitching side—which was supposed to be a strength again, what with Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma now backed by promising youngsters Taijuan Walker and James Paxton—their 5.16 ERA is better than only the Minnesota Twins' 5.78 mark.

The offense should start balancing out more once steady hitters like Cano (.176/.176/.353) and Kyle Seager (.226/.273/.419) get going. They're too good to be this bad, obviously.

Ben Margot/Associated Press/Associated Press

And the arms will find their form too, although it's discouraging that the durable Hernandez is dealing with a sore right quad, according to Johns. And it's particularly problematic that Walker, who was the loser Wednesday, has been hit around to a 17.18 ERA through his first two turns after having such a fantastic spring training.

Of course, it doesn't help that closer Fernando Rodney blew his last save opportunity, on Tuesday, and has surrendered six runs on seven hits and four walks in his first 3.1 innings.

Add it all up, and the Mariners' surprising 3-6 start actually isn't all that surprising. It is, though, rather unexpected, especially considering the hype surrounding this team entering the season.

And even more especially given Cruz's early intentions to defend his home run crown.

Statistics are accurate through Wednesday, April 15, and courtesy of MLB.com, Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.

To talk baseball or fantasy baseball, check in with me on Twitter: @JayCat11