2009 MLB Preview - Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners
Manager: Don Wakamatsu (1st season)
2008 Record: 61-101 (4th AL West)


Added: IF Russell Branyan (MIL), OF Ken Griffey Jr. (CHW), OF Franklin Gutierrez (CLE), OF Endy Chavez (NYM), RP Aaron Heilman (NYM)
Lost: Of Raul Ibanez (PHI), OF Jeremy Reed (NYM), RP J.J. Putz (NYM)

Projected Lineup (2008 Stats)
1. CF Ichiro Suzuki (.310, 103 R, 6 HR, 42 RBI, 43 SB) 2. LF Endy Chavez (.267, 30 R, 1 HR, 12 RBI) 3. 3B Adrian Beltre (.266, 74 R, 25 HR, 77 RBI, 23 SB) 4. 1B Russell Branyan (.250, 24 R, 12 HR, 20 RBI) 5. DH Ken Griffey Jr. (.249, 67 R, 18 HR, 71 RBI) 6. 2B Jose Lopez (.297, 80 R, 17 HR, 89 RBI) 7. C Kenji Johjima (.227, 29 R, 7 HR, 39 RBI) 8. CF Franklin Gutierrez (.248, 54 R, 8 HR, 41 RBI) 9. SS Yuniesky Betancourt (.279, 66 R, 7 HR, 51 RBI)

Projected Starting Rotation (2008 Stats)
1. Felix Hernandez (9-11, 3.45 ERA, 175 K) 2. Erik Bedard (6-4, 3.67 ERA, 72 K) 3. Jarrod Washburn (5-14, 4.69 ERA, 87 K) 4. Carlos Silva (4-15, 6.46 ERA, 69 K) 5. Ryan Rowland-Smith (5-3, 3.42 ERA, 77 K)

Bench
IF Ronny Cedeno, IF Chris Burke, OF Wladamir Belentien

Bullpen (2008 Stats for Closer only)
Brandon Morrow (10 SV, 64.2 IP, 40 H, 75 K, 3.34 ERA), Miguel Batitsta, David Aardsma, Mark Lowe, Roy Corcoran

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Fantasy Studs: SP Feliz Hernandez
Fantasy Sleepers: OF Franklin Gutierrez

Men In The Minors: C Adam Moore, SS Carlos Triunfel, OF Michael Saunders, OF Greg Halman, SP Juan Ramirez, SP Phillippe Aumont

Home Ballpark: Safeco Field (Grade 8/10)

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Team Outlook: My how far they have fallen. The last time Griffey Jr. was on the Mariners, they were chasing playoff spots. That surely was not the case last season when they lost 101 times. Things could change this season though. The lineup looks revamped. They did lose Ibanez but did a decent job of getting some other bats to replace him. Griffey, Chavez and Branyan are all good pick-ups for a team that needs to turn it around. Beltre and Lopez are also bright spots in the lineup while Gutierrez could become a star as an everyday player. The pitching staff is led by Hernandez, who has electric stuff. Bedard has not pitched well since coming to Seattle yet. Washburn had just an awful 2008 campaign that he hopes to turn around while Silva and Rowland-Smith should just strive to contribute 10 wins. With a new manager and plenty of new faces, there is reason to believe that the losing culture that has been around this team is now gone. There is hope for a good season with the pieces that have in place.

Next Preview: St. Louis Cardinals