Notice M’s hitters making a hand gesture lately? Here’s what it means

In seasons past, the Mariners would be coy or guarded or even misleading when asked about their team celebrations.

Sometimes it was out of superstition, other times it was inside joke/meaning that wasn’t to be shared with the media or fans.

Recently, Mariners hitters have been making a hand gesture to their dugout after hard hits. They take the thumb and index finger of each hand and bring them together to make a small box or rectangle and show their cheering teammates.

Dylan Moore has been making the gesture quite a bit lately. He did so after a pair of RBI singles in Friday’s 8-1 win over the A’s and even did it as he walked to the dugout following his two-run homer.

First baseman Ty France did it after a big two-run double in the fifth inning.

So what’s the meaning?

“These are the boxes,” Moore said, referencing the team’s pregame hitting meetings and scouting reports on pitchers. “It’s the go zones and no-go zones. But it’s more about the go zones. Generally, when you get a hit, you’re in the go zone. Each pitcher has a specific tunnel that they want to tunnel their pitches into. And that’s what we are celebrating is that we got it in the go zone for the most part, but not all the time.”

The Mariners were making plenty of the gestures for hits in the go zones in the series-opening win over the A’s. Seattle banged out 11 hits in the game.

Moore has been outstanding since taking over at shortstop when J.P. Crawford suffered an oblique strain. Over his last 15 games, Moore has a .267/.340/.511 slash line with 12 hits, including three doubles, a triple, two homers and nine RBI.

A year ago, Moore’s season was delayed by offseason surgery for a core muscle injury and a spring training setback. This season he’s had no injury issues.

“Not having to worry about my body at all except just getting ready for the season. Getting in shape for the season was huge,” he said. “And just being able to go through a normal spring training and a normal beginning of the season it’s definitely a lot easier. You are just focusing on preparing and playing the game as opposed to getting your body right and watching your friends play.”

‘Woo is OK’

Bryan Woo was out on the field playing catch before Saturday’s game, which is a positive sign that the forearm tightness he felt in Friday’s start wasn’t serious.

When asked how Woo was feeling, manager Scott Servais replied: “Woo is OK. I fully expect him to make his next start.”

That start would come on Wednesday vs. the Royals at T-Mobile Park.

After starting the season on the injured list due to elbow inflammation, Woo made his 2024 debut on Friday night at T-Mobile Park.

But he was removed from the game with one out in the fifth inning due to tightness in his forearm. Woo’s first two pitches — both fastballs — were only 89 mph instead of his typical velocity of 94-95 mph. Catcher Cal Raleigh recognized the issue immediately.

Both Servais and Woo said the tightness was an issue during his three rehab outings with Triple-A Tacoma. If Woo had to sit for an extended period in between innings, the forearm would tighten up slightly.

Woo is working to adjust his in-between innings routine to find a way to avoid it from happening in the future. Mariners starting pitchers normally sit in an area behind the dugout and don’t watch the game, instead focusing on relaxing and resting for the next inning. It was started by Marco Gonzales.

“Throughout the inning, you try to catch your breath, get some water or whatever,” he said. “Then after an out or so, you get moving again, doing some stretches, throwing weighted balls. Obviously, I’m still trying to figure out what works for me, but I’m trying different things.”