07 Seattle Mariners

[Lester206]

saw a few mariner fans on the main board and thought we should have a place to talk M's baseball.

[Stoud]

I was thinkin' about making this thread, as well. Thanks for saving me the work! :P

I think the M's will either finish 3rd or maybe (hopefully) 2nd in the league, because they've got more depth than probably any team in the west IMHO. If anything goes wrong, we've got an answer -- that makes me feel pretty damn comfortable and happy. We've got probably the most realistic rotation in the league, with injuries plaguing all three of our AL West Rivals (Gagne on DL for Texas, Weaver and Colon on DL for Angels, and Loaiza on DL for the A's). Not to mention the fact that there is lacking power in this league after Guerrero, Texiera, and the next few guys on that list would be guys like Sexson, Ibanez, Beltre, and Guillen -- all of whom are currently on our team.

I'm pretty psyched about our team this year, although with the past few years hanging overhead, I don't expect much, and would just as soon expect another last place finish -- I'm just hopeful, and I think I have a reason to be with the depth of this team.

Oh, and BTW, howabout Richie with 2 homers in the first 2 games? Hopefully that is a sign of things to come. I also hope that Beltre finally picks it up, because he has gotten progressively better ever since he got here, and we can only hope that trend continues: 18 homers the first year, low average. 25 homers last year, .268 average. If the trend follows, possibly .275-.280 with 30 homers? That would be VERY nice. Hell, I'd just be happy if he hit 15-20 with a decent average.

[Seahawk76]

I was at the game tonight and it was a very solid performance by Washburn although I wish he'd been able to make it through the seventh. I've never been a big Mateo fan and blowing a two run lead in the seventh definitely didn't turn me around there. He did manage to pitch himself into being the pitcher of record, though, and got the win. That's one aspect of official record keeping I've never liked...how a crummy relief performance can take the win away from the starter and award it to a relief pitcher who blows the lead.

I'm very encouraged by the M's hitting tonight, too. Big innings have been excruciatingly rare the past few years and this is the second game in a row where they've put a four spot up on the A's in an inning.

Anyway the Mariners have now equalled the number of wins they had all last years against the A's (two) so hopefully that monkey's off their back now.

[Lester206]

great way to start the season 2-0 vs As. And Sexon coming up big in both games. Hopefully its a start of a monster year for him.

King Felix looked incredible. Washburn was solid. too bad MAteo got the win and not Washburn. Now we get to see the 3 new SPs in mariners rotation show their stuff. im excited.

[dieselboy]

I am as excited as you guys are about being 2-0, especially against the A's, but let us not forget there are 160 games left.

[Coug00]

Quote: Originally Posted by Stoud

I think the M's will either finish 3rd or maybe (hopefully) 2nd in the league, because they've got more depth than probably any team in the west IMHO. If anything goes wrong, we've got an answer.

I have just the opposite feeling. Top to bottom I think the M's have one of the best starting lineups in baseball, but the bench is TERRIBLE. When Willie Bloomquist and Jason Ellison are your right handed pop off the bench you're in deep trouble if anybody goes down. The only decent bats they could bring off the bench are Broussard, who's a liability in the field, and Mike Morse (whose an even bigger fielding liability and currently in Tacoma). If Johjima goes down Jamie Burke is the every day starter with Rene Rivera as the backup. Scary!

And if King Felix goes down the starting rotation is probably Washburn, Batista, Ramirez, Weaver, and Baek. And if Putz goes down who is the closer? Last year Soriano could have filled that role, but there's no one who can come close to filling the closer spot. Probably Rietsma by default, but he's been terrible as a closer the last few years.

I'm hopeful the M's can finish in the top half of the West. They have a solid lineup without a single easy out and every team in the West has serious question marks.

Quote: Originally Posted by dieselboy

I am as excited as you guys are about being 2-0, especially against the A's, but let us not forget there are 160 games left.

Exactly! It will be interesting to see how the M's do in the next 3 games with Batista, Ramirez, and Weaver on the hill.

[Seahawk76]

Hey, they can always bring Jeremy Reed up from Tacoma, too, if anyone goes down. He must be good since they traded Freddie Garcia for him!

[Stoud]

2nd inning and Batista has already given up 5 runs...

No offense, but I kind of expected this. Weaver should be in the #3 spot.

Oh well, it probably won't be a sweep with Harden on the mound, but we did take the series -- something to be said for that.

[Coug00]

2 on and no out. Time for a 10 run rally!

When does Harden's contract expire so the A's can trade him to the National League? Its tiring watching that guy dominate the M's year in and year out.

[Seahawk76]

Weaver got shellacked today. It's way too early to hit the panic button but the Mariners' rotation outside of Hernandez and Washburn has the potential to be a train wreck. I hope we're not pining for the days of Meche, Piniero, and Franklin by mid-season.