2007 was a good year for the Seattle Marines, but 2008 was not. Injuries and aging players really hurt the Mariners, which lead to their 61–101 record in 2008 (last in the AL West).
Projected Starters:
C – Kenji Johjima
1B – Chris Shelton
2B – Jose Lopez
SS - Yuniesky Betancourt
3B – Adrian Beltre
LF – Endy Chavez
CF - Franklin Gutierrez
RF – Ichiro Suzuki
DH – Ken Griffey Jr.
Projected Rotation:
#1 – Felix Hernandez
#2 – Erik Bedard
#3 – Brandon Marrow
#4 – Jarrod Washburn
#5 – Ryan Rowland-Smith
Closer – Mark Lowe
Position Battles:
C: Kenji Johjima is the starter for now, but Jeff Clement is a highly touted prospect that has great power potential. They should rotate throughout the year, but it is anyone’s spot to take.
LF/CF: The only safe player in the outfield for the Mariners is Ichiro, other than that no one in that outfield should slack. During the season the left and center field spots should be changing until somebody proves that they belong in the starter role.
Closer: Right now the closer spot is not decided and the Mariners will figure that out throughout spring training. It is a battle between Mark Lowe and Miguel Bautista really, but you never know who might step up.
Rotation: Felix Hernandez and Erik Bedard are the only guaranteed starters in the rotation. Everyone else will have to compete in spring training for the last spots because it seems like no pitcher in the Mariners organization wants to be in the bullpen, so many players will be vying for those spots.
2009 Outlook: The Seattle Mariners added Ken Griffey Jr. in the off-season to kind of help with the offense, but everyone knows that he is unfortunately prone to injury and he has not been producing like he used to. Their offense just seems average besides Ichiro and Jose Lopez and I do not think they have enough firepower to get the job done. Pitching wise there are a lot of questions and holes in the rotation. Can Felix Hernandez stay healthy and dominate like everyone knows that he can? Which Erik Bedard is going to show up and can he stay healthy? Will the rest of the rotation step up? I think there are still too many problems with this team and the rest of the teams in their division either improved or are already too far ahead for the Mariners to catch up.
Projected Finish: 4th place, AL West.
Clement is the starting catcher...Shelton is not higher than 3rd on the 1B depth chart behind Branyan and LaHair...Morrow is guarenteed a spot in the rotation (not just Felix and Bedard)...while Lowe might have the inside track to closer it is not between him and Batista, Tyler Walker and David Aardsma are in the mix and Josh Fields could even see some time in the late innings...
ReplyDeleteThank you for that information, I did not realize that. I appreciate the comment.
ReplyDeleteJust an update--the Mariners have said Morrow will be used as a reliever this year and Clement will start in the minors. Tyler Walker was released on March 29th.
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