Seattle Preview: Red Sails in the Sunset
We all know Safeco Field is a pitcher's park. But that doesn't fully explain the Mariner's awful offense -- the team managed a woeful .709 OPS last year, last in the league, and 25 points behind the West Division champion Angels. Not surprisingly, the M's finished 26 games out of first place.
1. GM Bill Bavasi brought in some more free agents. Any chance they'll help?
Well, there's always a chance. And with an offense as bad the '05 Mariners, things really can't get worse. (Maybe they can, as they outscored only Minnesota, out homered only Kansas City, and were dead last in OBP -- and that was with the much-ballyhooed arrivals of Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson).
Two of Bavasi's acquisitions will be expected to kick things up a notch: Carl Everett, and Kenji Johjima. Everett is a high-risk, high-reward pick up; if he remains healthy and (relatively) happy, he'll provide another power source for a lineup that didn't have much outside Sexson and Raul Ibanez last year.
Johjima is an automatic upgrade in the catching spot. He was an All-Star in Japan, and is the first catcher from Japan to break into MLB. But anything he can offer will be an improvement over any of the seven catchers the M's trotted out last year.
The rest of the new guys are extremely replacement level. Matt Lawton is a fourth outfielder. Who knows what Fernando Vina has left? Make your own jokes about Corky Miller and Cody Ransom.
2. Bavasi signed Jarrod Washburn. That has to help, too. Right?
Washburn was born just down the Interstate from me in beautiful LaCrosse, WI. He'll be good for 180-200 IP this year. And he'll probably win about ten games.
The Mariner's rotation lines up with Washburn, Jamie Moyer, Felix Hernandez, Gil Meche, and Joel Pineiro. If any of those guys falter, Kevin Appier and Clint Nageotte are next in line. Be honest, Mariners Fans -- outside of Hernandez, how many of those guys do you really feel confident about?
The bullpen is OK, but the biggest concern about this staff is that they don't miss too many bats. Their 5.62 K/9 IP ratio was lowest in the league. It's hard enough to succeed with a strikeout rate that low, even if they do improve on the 1,979 runners they allowed last year.
3. Can this ship be turned around?
Sure it can. But like most barges, it will take a slow, wide turn before it's headed in the right direction.
Mariners Fan might need to chug some of that famous coffee to stay alert this season. Another last-place finish is likely because the AL West isn't getting any softer.
On the brighter side, there are some rookies on the 40 man roster that the scouts seem to like. Jeremy Reed is still a good center field prospect, and Mike Morse might make a career for himself at short. The short-term may be bleak, but if Bavasi can hold the course he might enjoy some clear sailing in a few years.
1. GM Bill Bavasi brought in some more free agents. Any chance they'll help?
Well, there's always a chance. And with an offense as bad the '05 Mariners, things really can't get worse. (Maybe they can, as they outscored only Minnesota, out homered only Kansas City, and were dead last in OBP -- and that was with the much-ballyhooed arrivals of Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson).
Two of Bavasi's acquisitions will be expected to kick things up a notch: Carl Everett, and Kenji Johjima. Everett is a high-risk, high-reward pick up; if he remains healthy and (relatively) happy, he'll provide another power source for a lineup that didn't have much outside Sexson and Raul Ibanez last year.
Johjima is an automatic upgrade in the catching spot. He was an All-Star in Japan, and is the first catcher from Japan to break into MLB. But anything he can offer will be an improvement over any of the seven catchers the M's trotted out last year.
The rest of the new guys are extremely replacement level. Matt Lawton is a fourth outfielder. Who knows what Fernando Vina has left? Make your own jokes about Corky Miller and Cody Ransom.
2. Bavasi signed Jarrod Washburn. That has to help, too. Right?
Washburn was born just down the Interstate from me in beautiful LaCrosse, WI. He'll be good for 180-200 IP this year. And he'll probably win about ten games.
The Mariner's rotation lines up with Washburn, Jamie Moyer, Felix Hernandez, Gil Meche, and Joel Pineiro. If any of those guys falter, Kevin Appier and Clint Nageotte are next in line. Be honest, Mariners Fans -- outside of Hernandez, how many of those guys do you really feel confident about?
The bullpen is OK, but the biggest concern about this staff is that they don't miss too many bats. Their 5.62 K/9 IP ratio was lowest in the league. It's hard enough to succeed with a strikeout rate that low, even if they do improve on the 1,979 runners they allowed last year.
3. Can this ship be turned around?
Sure it can. But like most barges, it will take a slow, wide turn before it's headed in the right direction.
Mariners Fan might need to chug some of that famous coffee to stay alert this season. Another last-place finish is likely because the AL West isn't getting any softer.
On the brighter side, there are some rookies on the 40 man roster that the scouts seem to like. Jeremy Reed is still a good center field prospect, and Mike Morse might make a career for himself at short. The short-term may be bleak, but if Bavasi can hold the course he might enjoy some clear sailing in a few years.
posted by Bob at
8:49 PM
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