Nick & Hayden's 2014 MLB Preview: 18. Seattle Mariners

The Brain-Trust running the Seattle Professional Baseball Team

18. Seattle Mariners

by Hayden Hughes

In today’s world of excess and music videos with money being thrown around dancing ladies, “slugging” second basemen have the opportunity to make a $240 million-payday. The real P.I.M.P. of the baseball world, throwing cash around to support a club (a baseball club) and players (not playas), is none other than Seattle Mariners owner Jack Zduriencik.

Or as his “friends” refer to him, Jack-Z.

But what’s amazing about what Jack-Z has done is – even after Robinson Cano – are they any better? The 2013 Mariners went 71-91 and now their starting lineup has desperate rebound-candidates Dustin Ackley, Mike Zunino, Corey Hart (who missed all of 2013), Logan Morrison, as well as a first baseman who's yet to fill his potential in Justin Smoak. Now add Robbie Cano, Brad Miller, and Kyle Seagar to that lineup and you officially have the slowest team in MLB history, then there’s Michael Saunders who should steal some bases - some being 10.

That’s also a pretty incompetent defensive squad. Only Brad Miller (0.2) and Robinson Cano (1.2) have Defensive WARs over 0. That’s it. Not exactly ideal to winning.

The Mariners come into 2014 trying to get the taste of their 2013 season out of their mouths. So let’s be optimistic here as they leave their 71-91 season in the past. 71 wins would get a team in last place in 2 of the other 5 divisions in 2013 - those being the NL West and AL East. The only reason the Mariners came in fourth place was the division got to beat up on the rebuilding Houston Astros, who won 51 games.

But let’s say Cano has a great year and brings a WAR of 8 games to Seattle. Take into account 2014 will see full seasons from prospect starters James Paxton and Taijuan Walker. So the Mariners may win…ten more games? Let’s be really optimistic and call it 12 more games. That’s 83 wins and 79 loses. Last year that would have landed them in third place in the AL West.

Oakland has had their taste of winning and will be thirsty for more. And one has to assume Anaheim will finally figure it out this year. Then Texas has only gotten better since adding Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo.

There’s no doubt that between Felix Hernandez, Walker, Paxton, and a repeat-year from Hisashi Iwakuma when he’s healthy, this rotation is stronger than both rotations in Texas and Anaheim. However, even if that rotation reaches their fullest potential in 2014 – which Walker and Paxton probably won’t – Seattle’s Achilles Heels are their hitting and their defense.

So I’ll ask again, how much better is Seattle?

See, here’s my problem with Seattle. Our favorite baseball P.I.M.P. Jack-Z threw all his cash at one attractive booty-shaker named Robinson. See, rappers are actually economically savvy. If you’re going to throw cash, throw it at multiple booty-shakers. Maybe an outfielder whose hips don’t lie and has full-functional legs? Just a thought. 

1. Last Season and Offseason

      a. 71-91

      b. Signed Robinson Cano, Fernando Rodney, Willie Bloomquist, Corey Hart, John Buck, Scott Baker

      c. Traded Carter Capps to MIA for Logan Morrison

      d. Lost Franklin Gutierrez for the year. Lost Hisashi Iwakuma for the start of season.

2. Lineup/Rotation

Lineup:

      1. Dustin Ackley LF

      2. Kyle Seager 3B

      3. Robinson Cano 2B

      4. Corey Hart DH

      5. Justin Smoak 1B

      6. Logan Morrison RF

      7. Michael Saunders CF

      8. Mike Zunino C

      9. Brad Miller SS

Rotation:

      1. Felix Hernandez

      2. Hisashi Iwakuma

      3. Scott Baker

      4. Taijuan Walker

      5. James Paxton

      6. Brandon Maurer*

3. Favorite/Least Favorite

      a. Hayden's Favorite – No Jesus Montero

      b. Nick's Favorite – Underrated rotation

      c. Hayden's Least Favorite – Signing Hart, Trading for Morrison, Not trading Ackley to AZ, losing Gutierrez

      d. Nick's Least Favorite – Below average OF

4. Impact Player

      a. Dustin Ackley

               i. Left handed bat, flexible

              ii. Get AVG up and keep walking

             iii. Not really a lead off guy

5. Impact Prospect

      a. James Paxton

               i. Good fastball, but walks too many

              ii. Doesn’t give up homers

             iii. Has to throw 175 innings

             iv. 25 years old

6. Mid-season Status

      a. In it, but not 1st place

      b. Traded away Ackley, Franklin, Stefen Romero, Chris Taylor, and D.J. Peterson

      c. Corey Hart injured for season after stubbing toe

7. Bold Prediction

      a. 80-82

      b. No different than any other season 

      c. Trade Dustin Ackley, Nick Franklin to ATL for B.J. Upton, $10M and RHP J.R. Graham

               i. OR Trade Dustin Ackley to TOR for OF Colby Rasmus

      d. Jesus Montero back in MLB for Hart

Podcast Playlist:
"Paper Cuts" - Nirvana
"Even Flow" - Pearl Jam