Charlie Klein
Before I get into any of my reasoning, I will admit that this article is fairly biased and that the Mariners are my hometown team. With that being said, the way that the team finished their 2009 campaign and the steps that the organization has taken over the past six months have revived the city of Seattle from its baseball mortis.
In my June 20, 2009 post (http://thetruthhurtssobelievethelies.blogspot.com/2009/06/2010-seattle-mariners.html) I called for the Mariners to fill needs at 1B, 3B, SS, LF, and add two starting pitchers to their rotation. Almost immediately following my article the Mariners began to move to fill those needs. At the deadline the M's added Jack Wilson (SS), Ian Snell (SP), Luke French (SP) and dealt Yuniesky Betancourt (SS) and Jarrod Washburn (SP). In dealing Betancourt the Mariners were able to get a decent package back from Kansas City and freed themselves of a defensive liability at a position a competitive Major League club cannot afford to have. Jack Wilson came in and played great defense and batted .255, which were better than Betancourt's numbers.
The additions of Snell and French brought more youth to the Mariners rotation and both pitched decently for their new club. Snell went 5-2 with a 4.20 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. French was more of a mixed bag going 4-5 with a 5.21 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. Brandon Morrow, who has been on the whole a disappointment thus far in his Seattle Mariner career, finished 2009 strong with an eight inning, nine strikeout, shutout of the Oakland Athletics. Ryan Rowland-Smith is another good young arm in the Mariners rotation, returning from injury to go 5-4 with a 3.74 ERA and a WHIP of 1.18.
During the 2009 offseason the Mariners were able to welcome back the golden boy Ken Griffey Junior for what must be his final season in Major League Baseball. While I am certainly happy to have my favourite player of all-time back for one more trip down memory lane, I am concerned about how much production Junior Griffey can offer the Mariners from the DH position.
The most important acquisition made by Mariners General Manager Jack Zduriencik thus far has been the signing of Chone Figgins from the Los Angeles Angels. Figgins, 31, offers the Mariners something that they definitely were without last season. The Pocket Rocket offers great defense at 2B/3B/LF, fantastic speed on the base paths, and a knack for getting on base (.789 OPS in '09). Plugging him in behind or in front of Ichiro Suzuki offers one of the best one-two punches at the top of the order in the American League.
The Mariners remain players amongst all of the big name free agents this offseason. Jason Bay commented to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times that he would stand on his head to play in Seattle. Bay, 31, is from nearby British Columbia and makes his offseason home in the Seattle area. The Red Sox are still the favourites to sign him, but if he is willing to give the Mariners a hometown discount or if the Sox are not willing to meet his requirements, Bay could be a Mariner in 2010. I am a little leery about Bay joining the Mariners, especially at what has become his speculated price. Given Bay's age and given that highly paid older right handed power hitters do not have a history of repeating their numbers at Safeco Field, I do not think Bay is a great fit for what the Mariners are trying to do.
The Mariners remain a player in the John Lackey sweepstakes and could potentially add a No. 2 starter if they decide to move Jose Lopez. Here is what the Mariners 2010 Opening Day lineup could look like:
1. Ichiro Suzuki Rf
2. Chone Figgins 3b
3. Jason Bay* Lf
4. Russell Branyan 1b
5. Jose Lopez 2b
6. Franklin Gutierrez Cf
7. Ken Griffey Jr. Dh
8. Jack Wilson SS
9. Rob Johnson C
Bench:
Adam Moore C
Bill Hall 2b/3b/Of
Jack Hannahan 3b
Mike Carp 1b/3b
*if Mariners do not sign, replace with Dustin Ackley.
Rotation:
1. Felix Hernandez
2. John Lackey*
3. Ryan Rowland-Smith
4. Ian Snell
5. Brandon Morrow
*if Mariners don't sign, place Luke French at the 5 and move everyone up one.
Bullpen
Carlos Silva
Sean White
Shawn Kelley
David Aardsma
Garrett Olson
Mark Lowe
Doug Fister
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