Season Preview: Seattle Mariners
Projected MLB Rank: 30th — AL Rank: 14th — AL West Rank: 4th — Record: (62-100)

Back in 1997, the Seattle Mariners went 92-70 en route to winning the AL West. That year, Ken Griffey Jr. belted 56 homeruns and knocked in 147 RBIs while batting .304. That was also the year he won his first and only MVP award. The Mariners also played in the Kingdome. Joey Cora, Alex Rodriguez, Edgar Martinez, and Griffey all hit for .300 or better that season. Lefties Jeff Fassero, Jamie Moyer, and Randy Johnson all had over 15 wins and under a 4.00 ERA.

Well Seattle, I’m sorry but that’s the past.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m excited to see Griffey play in Seattle again, but I don’t think this year’s going to be any better than last year for the Mariners (okay, I have them winning one more game).

The bright spot on the team is the two frontline starters they have in Felix Hernandez and Erik Bedard. Bedard is coming back from injury and Hernandez is becoming a hiding elite talent in the league. Placing Brandon Morrow in the rotation could also be a promising move for Seattle. The downfall in the rotation is “big bucks” Carlos Silva who went 4-15 last season with a ERA well over 6.00. He started 28 games and averaged about five and a half innings per outing.

Losing JJ Putz in the bullpen will certainly hurt and right now, it’s not official who will step into the closer role. It could go to Miguel Batista who, as a reliever, kept his ERA under 5.00. There are many other options in David Aardsma, Ray Corcoran, Tyler Walker, and the one I believe to be the frontrunner — Mark Lowe. Lowe was one for five last year in save oppurtunities and had an ERA 5.37 out of the bullpen. But he wants to be in that role in the ninth and certainly has the stuff to do it. A hard fastball with a nasty breaking ball.

The lineup suffered when Raul Ibanez packed his bags. The left field spot could go to either Wladimir Balentien, Endy Chavez, or even Mike Morse. There is also competition at first base between Bryan LaHair and Russell Branyan. Behind the plate, they may platoon Kenji Johjima and Jeff Clement. At almost the worst offense in the AL last year (second to last in runs scored per game), this year will not be any better. Ichiro, Griffey, Adrian Beltre, and Jose Lopez will be looked to for production. New manager Don Wakamatsu has many options to shake up the lineup. Here’s how I would project it:

RF Ichiro Suzuki 
CF Franklin Gutierrez
3B Adrian Beltre
DH Ken Griffey Jr.
2B Jose Lopez
1B Bryan LaHair
LF Wladimir Balentien
C Kenji Johjima/Jeff Clement
SS Yuniesky Betancourt

Lopez could also bat two, then Griffey and Beltre would switch spots, each player would move up a spot, and then Gutierrez would be the second leadoff hitter in the nine-hole.

Overall, the Mariners have a good mix of veteran talent with some young talent but the AL West is a tough division and I can’t see them anywhere but the bottom.