There is no denying that Seattle Mariners closer Andres Munoz has been a rollercoaster through the first month of the season.

Through 10 games, Munoz is 3-2 with an 8.00 ERA. He's got three saves, but he's blown multiple others, including a disastrous outing against the San Diego Padres on April 15. He also surrendered a game-tying home run in the ninth inning on Wednesday against the Athletics, but the Mariners eventually walked it off in the bottom of the ninth to win.

He's struck out 15 batters in nine innings, still showing good stuff, but his command has suffered with five walks, all of which came in a three appearance span. He's spoken about having "to find myself," projecting a lack of confidence in himself.

And look, I spent the offseason telling you all that I was cognizant of Munoz's velocity drops and control lapses. However, with his velocity actually holding better than in previous years, I've been less worried than I was in the offseason. And the most recent blown save against the A's, it doesn't bother me as much as you would think it would.

I explained more on the most recent episode of the 'Refuse to Lose' podcast, which was released on Friday.

"I'm not trying to write off that home run he gave up to Nick Kurtz, but Nick Kurtz is one of the best hitters in the league. Nick Kurtz was the Rookie of the Year last year, playing a partial season. Hit 36 home runs in a partial season. I mean, like, he is that dude for the A's. He's gonna hit a lot of home runs this year and a lot of home runs in his career. Could Andrés Munoz' slider that he threw him have been below the zone, been a tougher pitch to hit? Of course it could have. Not a lot of hitters, still, are taking that 438 to dead center at T-Mobile Park. I'm gonna tip my hat to Nick Kurtz on that one.

As far as Andrés Munoz goes, I'm just gonna say that's not repeatable by most hitters in the league. Yes, get the ball down, but that's not repeatable by most hitters in the league. The thing that worries me about Andrés Munoz is a lack of strike throwing. He threw strikes on Wednesday. He threw strikes when he came in on Saturday against Texas. He threw strikes on Sunday against Texas. I think Andrés Munoz' last three outings should be encouraging.

There are people here that want to demote him. There are people here that want to insert Matt Brash. I am not one of those people right now. What Andrés Munoz did on Wednesday is not related to the fears that I ever had about him. Yes, he gave up a home run. Look, he got the leadoff guy out. Took a good play by Rob Refsnyder, but he threw strikes, he got the leadoff guy out. He gives up the home run. He came right back, and he struck out a great hitter in Shea Langaliers, and then he got the next guy out as well.

So he showed the mental fortitude to get the leadoff guy, the mental fortitude to come back after the home run, and the ability to throw the ball over the plate. I am encouraged, actually, by what we've seen from Andrés Munoz the last three times out. What I don't wanna see is somebody who walks the ballpark, and that is, you know, that is my bigger fear about Andrés Munoz."

Munoz and the Mariners will take on the Cardinals on Friday night at 5:15 p.m. PT. George Kirby is on the mound against Andre Pallante. 

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