I would argue that although RRS has not pitched as wlel as Snell to date...the club is trusting guys with leadership capabilities and mound presence (I think this is a positive step toward winning games) ahead of guys whose small-sample numbers may be better but who look worse doing it. RRS is not pitching well right now...but he's WAY more capable of adjusting his game and battling with a bulldog toughness than Snell...I would submit that the Mariners picked Vargas and Fister as fringe SP guys in ST because those were the two that had the right attitude (they could have gone with Olsen or French or Pauley or Hill or SILVA! (had they decided they needed someone who could eat innings and the entire clubhouse buffet to keep the rest of the club healthy)...they went with Vargas and Fister because they wanted the guys who would battle and limit damage during rallies and be leaders on the diamond. And they picked RRS over Snell for the same reason.