FanHouse continues its 2009 MLB Preview with a look at the Seattle Mariners.
The Mariners of 2008 provided a case study in why overachieving isn't always a good thing. The team won 88 games in 2007, which could be looked at in one of two ways. You could say the team was close to contending and should go all in for a run at the postseason, or you could look at their expected record and say that the team outperformed expectations and shouldn't do anything drastic.
Unfortunately, former GM Bill Bavasi wasn't much for newfangled statistics and opted for the former. He signed Carlos Silva and dealt top prospect Adam Jones and a host of other promising players for Erik Bedard. He subsequently lost his job, and the Mariners sunk to 101 losses last summer. That shortsightedness leaves Seattle in a pretty deep hole to start 2009, and it's likely they won't find their way out anytime soon.
| Lineup | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ichiro Suzuki | RF |
| 2. | Jose Lopez | 2B |
| 3. | Ken Griffey Jr. | LF |
| 4. | Adrian Beltre | 3B |
| 5. | Russell Branyan | 1B |
| 6. | Jeff Clement | DH |
| 7. | Franklin Gutierrez | CF |
| 8. | Kenji Johjima | C |
| 9. | Yuniesky Betancourt | SS |
| Pitching Staff | ||
| 1. | Felix Hernandez | R |
| 2. | Erik Bedard | L |
| 3. | Brandon Morrow | R |
| 4. | Carlos Silva | R |
| 5. | Jarrod Washburn | L |
| CL | Mark Lowe | R |
In: Ken Griffey, Jr., DH (free agent); Endy Chavez, LF (trade); Ronny Cedeno, SS (trade); Franklin Gutierrez, CF (trade); Chad Cordero, RP (free agent); David Aardsma, RP (free agent); Russell Branyan, 1B (free agent); Mike Sweeney, 1B/DH (free agent)
Out: J.J. Putz, RP (trade); Raul Ibanez, OF (free agent); Willie Bloomquist, IF/OF (free agent); Sean Green, RP (trade); Jeremy Reed, OF (trade); Aaron Heilman, RP (acquired in trade and then traded for Cedeno)
Storylines
The Z-Man Cometh...
The Mariners filled their GM opening with Jack Zduriencik, a man who makes Scrabble players heads explode. More importantly, he also comes from a very successful run heading up the scouting department in Milwaukee where he helped build one of baseball's strongest farm systems. The Mariners have a few good young players and a few intriguing prospects, but there are too many of Bavasi's mistakes clogging up the roster and payroll in the short term. Zduriencik will have to avoid such mistakes while upgrading the overall talent base in the next few years.
Zduriencik's first move was a good one. He dealt J.J. Putz and spare parts for Chavez, Gutierrez and, ultimately, Cedeno, three players who will help the Mariners this season. He seems to have a fuller appreciation of baseball than his predecessor and an outfield of Chavez, Gutierrez and Ichiro Suzuki will go a long way toward maximizing the team's strength in the rotation.
On the Mound or in the Trainer's Room?...The Mariners have the makings of a strong rotation, assuming they can keep their pitchers on the mound. Bedard didn't pitch the last three months of 2008 because of a sore shoulder and he's already having hip problems this spring. Brandon Morrow, who made a giant leap in the second half, has filthy stuff, but he's struggling with forearm issues that are keeping him off the mound. Reports on Bedard are more positive than Morrow, who may need to go to the pen to build up strength.
If they can stay in the rotation, they'll join Felix Hernandez in a nifty trio that many teams would envy. The outfield defense we mentioned, but the infield should be quite good as well, which should make the pitchers look even better. Because he's been around for so long, it's shocking that Hernandez is only 23. That he keeps getting better is only slightly less shocking, and he'll provide doses of optimism in cloudy Seattle.
Tools of Ignorance...
Catcher is home to another vestige of Bavasi's knuckleheaded era. Kenji Johjima signed a three-year, $24 million contract extension early in 2008 and then promptly went into the tank offensively. He posted a .609 OPS, woeful under any circumstances, but truly alarming because he'll be turning 33 in June. Thanks to Bavasi, he's Zduriencik's problem through 2011.
It's a sunk cost, though, and shouldn't stop the team from turning the catching position over to Jeff Clement full-time. He had a rough 224 plate appearances in 2008, but he's hit everywhere in the minors and the assorted placeholders signed in the offseason have effectively blocked off the DH spot. Clement may not be able to do the job physically or defensively, but there's nothing to lose by finding out what he can offer to an offense that's awfully short of runs.
The Kid Is Back in Town...
Ken Griffey Jr. is one of the placeholders alluded to above, but he's really much more than that to the Mariners. Last year's club rightfully generated a lot of ill will in Seattle, so bringing back the patron saint of baseball in the city was about more than on-field rewards. Watching him wind down his marvelous career will give people a reason to keep watching after the Mariners are eliminated, and, hopefully, they'll catch someone or something else worth watching while they're there. You can't say the same for Wladimir Balentien.
2009 Outlook
Why You Should Watch: There figure to be a lot of well pitched games in front of a good defense in Seattle this season, so if that's your cup of tea Seattle should be rewarding. You shouldn't need any coaxing to watch Hernandez and Ichiro go about their business, and seeing Griffey wearing Mariners threads is a guaranteed way to feel younger for a few hours.
What Defines Success: The Mariners have to think long-term so success isn't going to be measured by a particular win total. If Hernandez keeps progressing, if Morrow proves he can handle the load of a starter and if Clement shows he can hit big league pitching, that would constitute a big step toward future contention.
Related Links
- Fantasy Baseball Preview: Low Expectations for the Seattle Nine
- Better Know a Prospect: Seattle Mariners
