Location: Seattle, Wash. | Ballpark: Safeco Field (47,116) | Spring Training: Peoria, Ariz.
Owner: Nintendo | GM: Jack Zduriencik | Manager: Don Wakamatsu | World Championships: 0
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POWER RANKINGS
Power Rankings
Date
Ranking
Previous
07/07/2009
15
16
They don't lose series too often -- only to the Yankees and Rockies during the last six weeks or so -- and just completed a more-than-passable 5-4 road trip to Dodgerville, Yankeetown and the socialist republic of Boston. But here's why I have a tough time elevating them much above the middle of the pack: Their team OBP is an Ausmusian .316, which places them in the game's bottom five. Sooner or later, the pitchers are going to hit a rough stretch and, barring a miracle resurgence, the hitters won't be able to pick up the slack ... You wish that the kids and scrappers would spend more time aping the approach of Russell Branyan, who battled Brad Penny for what seemed like four hours on Saturday.
06/30/2009
16
17
I've been hatin' on Ichiro, figuring that his singles-n-speed act wouldn't age especially well. But damn, nowadays it's an upset if he doesn't notch at least two hits every game, plus he's on pace to shatter his career high in slugging percentage ... Playing Ken Griffey Jr. and his balsa-wood knees in left field? You first ... Meanwhile, replacing Endy Chavez on your roster with Ryan Langerhans is like replacing Jason Mraz on your iPod with James Morrison. Who can tell the difference?
06/23/2009
17
21
Would they deal a starter to an in-division rival? If so, you have to figure that Jarrod Washburn-to-Texas makes all the sense in the world ... I'd get Felix Hernandez's name on a long-term contract now, way before one of the big-market behemoths starts formulating plans to get its hands on him ... Yeah, they get to fatten up on the Padres this week, but the weekend brings a road trip with stops in L.A. (the Dodgers), New York (the Yankees) and Boston.
06/16/2009
21
19
Jarrod Washburn's back may have locked up during his start on Saturday, or maybe it didn't. Either way, expect trade-value-preserving obfuscation to ensue, perhaps via the introduction of comely "Marinettes" at Seattle home games ... I'm trying to think of a way the Mariners could've mishandled Brandon Morrow more than they did. Maybe by having him pitch in relief on the days when he wasn't starting, or by spotting him as a pinch-runner before those relief outings? If he explodes, somebody oughta get fired.
06/09/2009
19
25
Whenever the cameras flash on GM Jack Zduriencik during a Jarrod Washburn start, you can practically feel the please-lord-let-him-sustain-whatever-semblance-of-trade-value-he's-built-up vibe wafting from the screen. ... Kudos to Don Wakamatsu for doing fans of competent, enthusiastically rendered baseball a solid and sitting Yuniesky Betancourt for most of the weekend. You gotta love rookie skippers who don't hesitate to "send a message," whether by benching a lethargic stiff or by throwing a cinder block through the window of the team bus.
06/02/2009
25
20
Might it be a smart idea to offer Erik Bedard to the Phillies, Mets or Reds before the bottom falls out? It might! ... Ichiro and Russell Branyan are hitting, but nobody else is. M's fans ought to enjoy moments like Saturday night's game-tying, ninth-inning dinger for all they're worth, because they won't be getting too many of 'em in the months ahead. Sad.
05/26/2009
20
18
All you need to know about the current plight of the Seattle offense is that Ken Griffey Jr. hit cleanup the other night ... Lolligagger par excellence Yuniesky Betancourt makes me hate baseball and, by extension, humankind.
05/19/2009
18
18
You're not going to score a lot of runs if your guys are getting on base at a .307 clip. ... Pearl Jam's Mike McCready is performing his kickass guitar version of the national anthem before Tuesday night's tilt. ... It only feels like Adrian Beltre has gone hitless in five straight weekends. In reality, it was just the last one. ... The lesson to be gleaned from Brandon Morrow's struggles after being bounced around from the 'pen to the rotation and back: Don't bounce around your pitchers from the 'pen to the rotation and back. Capiche? ... I realize the Mariners have laid themselves prostrate on the defense-is-our-lord-and-savior altar, but that's still no reason to consider trading for runtballer Jack Wilson.
05/12/2009
18
5
That whole "the Mariners are pretty OK!" thing? Never mind ... It was inevitable that they'd stop hitting, given that their lineup boasts a mere three legit major-league bats. What I didn't anticipate was the pitching staff breaking down quite this soon ... Carlos Silva (imaginary shoulder inflammation) wins the invent-an-injury-so-you-can-disable-a-head-case derby, edging out Oliver Perez (imaginary bad knee), Dontrelle Willis (imaginary sadness) and Chien-Ming Wang (imaginary indeterminate malfunction of body part located somewhere between earlobe and pinky toe). Would it kill teams to be a little more creative here? During college, whenever I bumped into somebody I'd been blowing off, I wouldn't say, "I would've called, but I've been sooooo stressed and sooooo busy with studying." I'd say, "I tripped down the stairs the other day." The offended party seemed to appreciate the inventive line of B.S.
05/05/2009
5
5
Middle-relief performance varies wildly from week to week, but it's worth acknowledging how solid Seattle's middle guys have been so far ... From the "I read the media notes, so you don't have to" department comes the following nugget: Felix Hernandez recently tied J.J. Putz for the 10th-longest consecutive scoreless innings streak (22) in team history ... Please, Big Fella/Gal upstairs, keep me around long enough to hear Mets broadcasting legend Ralph Kiner attempt to articulate the surname of Seattle hurler Chris Jakubauskas. I'm guessing the end result, which will play out over several tortuous minutes, will sound something like "Chris Jakoobkoskie" or "Chris Jujubee."
Preseason Power Rankings
Date
Ranking
Previous
02/16/2009
28
-
But they'll lead the lead in huggy-heart ovations if prodigal son Junior Griffey returns. ... Any at-bats given to a veteran DH would come at the expense of potentially elite masher Jeff Clement, and that'd be the opposite of smart. ... The outfield as currently composed -- Wladimir Balentien, Franklin Gutierriez and Ichiro –- would be historically inept. How long will it be before some great wit coins the nickname "Ichiro-verrated"?... I'd feel much more optimistic about Erik Bedard's return to prominence if he weren't such a -- how can I phrase this articulately? -- giant, wheezing wussbag.
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