A year ago, headed into spring training, the Seattle Mariners were coming off a dreadful season with a few unanswered questions.
Ok, a few dozen, maybe.
Going into camp, the frontrunner to close for them was newcomer Tyler Walker – who was released before opening day. Wladimir Balentien and Jeff Clement were favorites to win jobs in left field and catcher. Carlos Silva was in the starting rotation.
And some how, the 2009 Mariners won 85 games.
With less than two weeks to go before Camp 2010 opens, the Mariners have a roster with far fewer questions, though that doesn’t always translate into regular-season victories.
Still, compare the team that figures to open this season with the group that opened last:
Starting pitchers ’09: Felix Hernandez, Erik Bedard, Carlos Silva, Jarrod Washburn, Ryan Rowland-Smith.
Starting pitchers ’10: Felix, Cliff Lee, Rowland-Smith, Ian Snell, Jason Vargas – with Bedard in waiting.
Bullpen, ’09: David Aardsma, Miguel Batista, Roy Corcoran, Chris Jakubauskas, Shawn Kelley, Mark Lowe, Brandon Morrow – with Morrow closing.
Bullpen, ’10: Aardsma, Brandon League, Lowe, Kelley, Garrett Olson, Sean White – Aardsma closing.
Starting infield, ’09: Russell Branyan, Jose Lopez, Adrian Beltre, Betancourt.
Starting infield, ’10: Casey Kotchman, Lopez, Chone Figgins, Jack Wilson.
Starting outfield, ’09: Endy Chavez, Franklin Gutierrez and Ken Griffey Jr. – with Ichiro on the disabled list.
Starting outfield, ’10: Milton Bradley, Gutierrez, Ichiro.
Catcher, ’09: Kenji Johjima.
Catcher, ’10: Rob Johnson.
Bench, ’09: Ronny Cedeno, Mike Sweeney, Matt Tuiasosopo, Balentien and Johnson – with Griffey & Sweeney platooning at DH.
Bench, ’10: Adam Moore, Jack Hannahan, Eric Byrnes, Ryan Garko – with Griffey & Bradley platooning at DH.
Now that you see the two rosters, what are the strengths and weaknesses – where do you feel the Mariners are solid, where do they concern you.
And what changes would you like to see made, if any. Weigh in.
Now, for a few links:
- For those who think Erik Bedard signed with Seattle because no one else made an offer, his agent said 17 teams contacted him – and Baltimore was among the teams with strong offers.
- Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera, battling alcoholism, may get a six-week mentor in spring training - Andres Galarraga.
- Bill Hall spent much of the last two years in Milwaukee with Mike Cameron, and says Cameron will energize the Boston clubhouse in 2010.
- New York columnist Bill Madden evaluates the off-season remodeling of the World Series champion Yankees.
- If you haven’t kept up, this will help: Paul Hoynes writes about the off-season acquisitions by American League West teams.
- How will Mark McGwire do as hitting coach in St. Louis? Lou Piniella thinks he’ll be just fine.
Vargas over Fister?
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I would prefer Fister over Vargas.There really isn’t a big difference between the two of the them.The Mariners could still acquire one more starting pitcher.
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Will they really let Adam Moore sit on the bench, or will they use Josh Bard and give Adam a little more time in Tacoma?
This team will be better defensively and with pitching. It should be a little better offensively too, but still very much a work in progress. If Bedard is healthy enough to pitch effectively the rotation of Felix, Lee, RRS, Snell and Bedard should be very tough. If not, the M’s will wish they’d signed Washburn. I like Fister better than Vargas to start the year.
I think the Angels are still better, but the gap has narrowed. The M’s are still counting on some wishful thinking to win, but I’m not sure there’s anything wrong with that considering where they’ve been. The season can’t start soon enough for me.
My wish for the season is that Dustin Ackley and Michael Saunders develop into major-league ready players for 2011.
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Ryan or Larry, I’m interested in your opinions on why Bedard really chose Seattle? Ryan, I know you have addressed the Bedard Signing at length but on Seattle’s side of things. What about Bedards? From the feeling that I got as a fan, it didn’t seam like he was that good of a fit here. Is he well liked in the locker room?
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I love the change that has happened. However, you still need offense. You have:
1. Ichiro
2. Figgins
3. Bradley
4.5.6. Gutierrez, Lopez, 1B – some combination
7. LF/DH
8. Wilson
9. C
1 through 3, I would compare to anyone, however, 4 -6, how can we compete everyday? Who will drive in everyone? Gutierrez, Lopez, and 1b are nice complements for Run Producers, but as your main ones? It scares me a bit.
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I would like to see Michael Saunders make the team. Those reserves will change drastically by end of spring training.
Snell and Vargas do not spark any confidence. Neither do all those bullpen pitchers behind Aardsma and Lowe.
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Sgadman, we can compete with that 4,5,6 because we have the best defense is in baseball, and we have Felix and Lee at the top of our rotation. The rest of the rotation especially with Bedard is pretty good as is the bullpen. The bench is also very good. Driving in runs with power bats is not only one way to score more runs than the other team. Great defense and pitching keeps the other team from scoring which is just as good as us scoring more runs. Just ask the Texas Rangers of the last 10 years how having a good lineup is when the rest of team can’t run, pitch or play defense.
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Larry, I don’t know what you’ve done right, but appears you’re the only jurnalist Bedard will talk with!
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It’s obvious Carp isn’t in the M’s 2010 plans, but no Saunders, either?
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With Milton Bradley,Eric Byrnes, and Ryan Langerhans all seeing time in left field this season.There really are not whole lot of at bats for Michael Saunders this season.One more year in Tacoma isn’t going to hurt Saunders.
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