After suffering a terrible 4 seasons in the Great Northwest the Mariners were a contender last season and while they did not make the playoffs their pitching was stellar. <\/p>\n
\nMLB Lines & Matchup Insight<\/h3>\n
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Felix Hernandez leads the solid staff and the offense should be better this season with the addition of Nelson Cruz and Seth Smith and along with Robinson Cano Safeco Park should not be a place where runs are sparse this season.<\/p>\n
Seattle has high hopes this season and they are not only the favorite to win the AL West, but are tied with the Red Sox for the best betting odds to win the AL Pennant.<\/p>\n
2015 MLB Team Previews – Seattle Mariners<\/h3>\n
AL West: +120
\nAmerican League: 11\/2
\nWorld Series: 12\/1. <\/strong><\/p>\nKey Additions: Nelson Cruz, Seth Smith, J.A. Happ, Justin Ruggiano, and Rickie Weeks.<\/p>\n
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Safeco Park in Seattle is far from a friendly hitters\u2019 park, but if the staff is legit like last season and the new additions can come through the M\u2019s will be tough.<\/p>\n
Projected Starting Line-Up<\/h3>\n
1. Austin Jackson, CF
\n2. Seth Smith, RF
\n3. Robinson Cano, 2B
\n4. Nelson Cruz, DH
\n5. Kyle Seager, 3B
\n6. Logan Morrison, 1B
\n7. Dustin Ackley, LF
\n8. Mike Zunino, C
\n9. Brad Miller, SS<\/strong><\/p>\nCano had a slow start last season, but came through down the stretch and while his contract is HUGE he was the leader of the offense.<\/p>\n
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Cruz is a power hitter that has the pop, but can he get it done in Seattle? Austin Jackson is not the typical leadoff hitter and the end of the order is not impressive, but Cano and Cruz are players that opposing hurlers really worry about and if the others around them can be decent the offense will be a good one.<\/p>\n
Projected Starting Rotation<\/h3>\n
1. RHP Felix Hernandez
\n2. RHP Hisashi Iwakuma
\n3. LHP James Paxton
\n4. RHP Taijuan Walker
\n5. LHP J.A. Happ<\/strong><\/p>\nWith King Felix and Hisashi Iwakuma, who can be a #1 starter for almost every other team in the Majors the Mariners may have the bets 1-2 punch in the Bigs. Paxton had a breakthrough season last year and Walker is a development in the process that has a lot of potential. The 5th starter may be the weakness of the rotation, but that is it and it would not be a surprise at all if Seattle let the AL in team ERA like they did last season.<\/p>\n
Bullpen<\/h3>\n
Closer: RHP Fernando Rodney
\nSetup men: RHP Danny Farquhar, RHP Tom Wilhelmsen, RHP Yoervis Medina
\nMiddle men: RHP Dominic Leone, LHP Charlie Furbush
\nLong man: LHP Roenis Elias<\/strong><\/p>\nThe bullpen is solid for the Mariners as well and while Rodney has a great arm and is loaded with talent he can get shaky at times.<\/p>\n
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Still, the bullpen has the starting staff, especially 1-3, that can get them deep and the Mariners are expected to get many leads late in games this season.<\/p>\n
Many are jumping on the Mariners\u2019 bandwagon, but I am not one of them. I think they will be good, but they will not best the Angels in the AL West and the A\u2019s will find a way to get into the playoffs as well. Seattle will be over .500 and come close to making the post-season, but they will not get there and the offense will be the reason. Cruz will not find it as easy to hit it out of the park this season and while Cano may have another legit campaign the bottom of the order needs more guys that can knock in runs. Close, but no cigar for the M\u2019s this season.<\/p>\n