[Willie Bee]

2005 Record: 69-93, 4th in AL West

Of all the teams I’m picking last in a division this season, Seattle probably scares me the most. But someone has to finish last just like someone has to finish first.

Addressing their offensive woes from 2004, the Mariners went out and spent a bunch to get sluggers Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre for their infield corners before 2005. Sexson did ok, maybe even better than expected coming off shoulder trouble. But Beltre really slid back, cutting his homers by more than half and watching his average drop 80 points. Beltre also was held of out action in the WBC this spring due to a strained hip flexor. His bat is critical to this team.

The middle of the infield finds youngsters Jose Lopez at second and Yuniesky Betancourt at short. Combined, they’re barely older than Roger Clemens. Lopez is not a good bet to hit more than .250 or so, but he does have a little pop. Betancourt has been hyped as the second coming of Omar Vizquel defensively, and has so far lived up to that. Baseball America’s Jim Callis noted, “Multiple veteran scouts called him the best defensive shortstop they ever had seen.” He’s hitting over .300 so far this spring and has the ability to steal 15-20 bases.

Infield backups are a tough call right now. Willie Bloomquist is the most versatile and will make the team in some role. Other candidates are Roberto Petagine, Erubiel Durazo, Mike Morse and Fernando Viña, though Viña has been slowed this spring with a minor hip injury.

The outfield begins with Ichiro Suzuki in right. Coming off a record 262 hits in 2004 that netted him a .372 average, Suzuki ‘slumped’ to 206 hits and a .303 mark in 2005. But he also hit a career-best 15 homers while driving in and scoring more runs than his outstanding 2004 campaign.

Jeremy Reed should be the primary centerfielder with Raul Ibañez in left. Reed has the speed necessary to cover center field and swipe 20-25 bases or more, but he will need to start getting on base more frequently. Ibañez has been a steady performer the last five seasons, hitting from .280-.304. The Mariners just acquired Joe Borchard from the White Sox, and he teams with Matt Lawton to give Seattle solid depth in the outfield. Shin-Soo Choo and converted shortstop Adam Jones could also see action in 2006.

Working behind the plate this year will be Kenji Johjima after bringing the longtime Japanese all-star over in the offseason. Johjima brings a stick with decent average potential and a strong mitt. Backing him up will be either Rene Riviera or Corky Miller.

GM Bill Bavasi inked Carl Everett over the winter to serve as the club’s primary DH. The sullen Everett is still capable of swatting 20 flies, but he’s also still capable of being a wet blanket in the clubhouse. Seattle also could use Durazo or Petagine at DH.

The club’s biggest problems in 2005 were pitching related as both Gil Meche and Joel Pineiro disappointed. Both are relatively young (each turning 28 in September), so they could still get it together. The Mariners still have veteran lefty Jamie Moyer, who was lights out at home in 2005, and spent a lot this winter bringing in another southpaw starter, Jarrod Washburn, from the Angels. At 43, you could hardly blame Moyer if he really fell off. But Washburn will need to make his 32+ starts in order to prove Bavasi’s near $40 million investment.

Seattle also has one of the brightest young pitching stars in the game, Felix Hernandez. As a 19-year-old in 2005, Hernandez started 12 games and recorded a 2.67 ERA with nearly a K per inning while surrendering just five long balls in over 84 innings. Still raw, it will be interesting to see how he responds this year now that teams have seen him.

‘Everyday Eddie’ Guardado isn’t quite everyday any longer, but he’s still the closer entering the season. Nursing a shoulder and knee that are probably never going to be 100% again, Guardado will be backed up by JJ Putz and Rafael Soriano. Either or both could step into the closer’s role should Guardado go down. Julio Mateo is a very underrated middle reliever. With Matt Thornton dealt this week to Chicago for Borchard, there’s a chance that Luis Gonzalez --- Yes, another Luis Gonzalez --- could take over the lefty specialist job though he has displayed a penchant for not being able to find the strike zone. Kevin Appier is also in camp and was looking good before leaving a game last week with a strained right calf. A couple of youngsters to keep your eyes open for at some point this season are Francisco Cruceta and Clint Nageotte. Cruceta actually has a good shot of making the Opening Day roster with his fine spring so far.

The Mariners aren’t a bad team, but it’s hard to perceive them moving ahead of the A’s, Angels and Rangers in the AL West right now.

Key Performer(s): Beltre and Washburn need to earn their fat paychecks.

Camp Question(s): Johjima is the most publicized question behind the plate. The middle of the infield defense is another.

My Play: My math said 70 wins, and that could be a little low. But I don’t see them going over the 75 wins posted at Pinnacle. If they really suck pond water this year, then bet on Bavasi not lasting much longer in the front office.

[Illusion]

Under 75 wins should be a safe bet. This is another great team for you totals betters. I play alot of unders when Seattle is playing at home.

[Willie Bee]

No movement this week according to my notes.

The Greek has it 74½ ... o(-145) and u(+125).

Pinnacle is 75 wins ... o(-121) and u(+105).

[Willie Bee]

My Play: My math said 70 wins, and that could be a little low. But I don’t see them going over the 75 wins posted at Pinnacle.

The M's entered this afternoon's contest on the road at Texas sitting perfectly on the one-third point in their season with 54 games under their belt. At their present pace, they'll win 66 and lose 96.

The good news is the defense has been solid with just 24 errors in their first 54 games, 2nd-fewest, and 54 double plays, good for 7th-best.

The bad news is fielding isn't the only phase of baseball and poor efforts on offense and on the mound have a tendency to jump up and bite a team on its collective keester.

Seattle has scored but 4.4 runs per game entering play on the last day of May, their team .705 OPS good for 2nd-lowest in the AL. Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre are batting a pathetic .213 combined with just eight homers. Kenji Johjima has been about as advertised and Ichiro Suzuki is on pace for a 220-hit season while the young middle infield tandem of Jose Lopez and Yuniesky Betancourt are showing signs of being a fine DP duo for years to come. But without the power they were expecting when huge contracts were doled out to Sexson and Beltre on the infield corners, it's going to be tough for this team to score many runs.

The mound has been better than the offense, though not by much. A team 4.73 ERA is good for eighth in the AL and their staff leads the Junior Circuit with 362 strikeouts. Except for some bumps in the path of development for young right-hander Felix Hernandez, the rotation has been remarkably consistent, albeit a mediocre consistency. Too much was expected of Hernandez after his brilliant showing late in 2005. But none of the other four starters --- Jamie Moyer, Gil Meche, Joel Pineiro and Jarrod Washburn --- have done anything to step up and help take up the slack for Hernandez who is still being looked at as the staff ace amidst a bunch of veterans.

Eddie Guardado lost his closer's job after a bad start to 2006, though JJ Putz has picked it up with Rafael Soriano and George Sherrill adding nice setup efforts.

With a 12-5 lead in the seventh right now in Texas against the Rangers, it looks like the Mariners will snap their 6-game losing streak. After today's game, Seattle heads home for seven against the Royals and Twins before going back on the road against the Angels and Athletics. Following those games they're home opposite the Giants, back on the road at the Dodgers, Padres and Diamondbacks, then in Seattle against the Rockies, Angels and Tigers leading up the All-Star break. That's a lot of time spent in their own time zone, so no time like the present to get things turned around.

[bigboydan]

i really didn't know what to expect from this team this year. now after 55 games, i guess we all know what to expect from them now. absolutely nothing !

[Illusion]

I hate Seattle!!! This team has cost me so much money the past two years. If you ever see me taking a side in one of their games bet the opposite.