Entering the 2011 Season

Entering the 2010 major league season there was a lot of hype surrounding the Mariners and their new roster. Seattle had acquired ace lefty, Cliff Lee; traded for a big potential bat in Milton Bradley; signed the speedy third baseman Chone Figgins; and signed the sure-handed first baseman Casey Kotchman. These high profile additions would go along with the young ace Felix Hernandez, the always great Ichiro Suzuki, and Franklin Gutierrez who was just coming off of the best season of his career. It was hard not to get excited about the team as we headed into the season especially with the best one-two punch at the top of the rotation in all of baseball. Many experts began picking the Mariners to finish first or second in the division.

High expectations put pressure on a team regardless of who the team is. In 2009, the Mariners barely finished above .500 and in 2008 they lost 101 games! They have not won more then 90 games since the 2003 season. To have people predict a near 100 win season for 2010 puts pressure on the players. A clubhouse mixed with young players and new faces might not handle the pressure well together.  

Well, we all know how the season turned out. The Mariners certainly disappointed people through all of baseball. As we enter the 2011 season, people do not have high expectations for the Mariners at all. Is this such a bad thing?

                                                

Seattle has a handful of young guys with the opportunity to break camp with a starting job at the big league level. Justin Smoak, Adam Moore, Dustin Ackley, Michael Pineda, Michael Saunders, Mauricio Robles, Dan Cortes, and Josh Lueke are among the guys that I think have a chance. The average age among these players is 23.5 years old. There is a very good chance that the Mariners have one of the youngest teams in 2011.  

Obviously Mariners fans want to win now, but with the current roster the second best outcome to wish for is for the young players to develop in the majors. A low-pressure environment is ideal for prospects at the big league level. Being in a lower-pressure environment, there are less possible distractions that could affect these prospects for the worse. They won’t be getting caught up in the hype or attention that they would receive while playing for a large market team that people expect a lot from. The key for their development is focus focus focus! They must focus on the repetition of their mechanics. Repetition leads to muscle memory and allows fundamentals to be more sub-conscious. We want players to do the right things because it is natural and they are used to it.

The overall point I want to put across is that no body expects much of the Mariners in 2011. The low-pressure environment will reduce distractions and in return allow younger players to focus more on the development of repetition in their mechanics at the big league level. The Mariners are being dealt all the right cards. Now it is up to the coaching staff and front office to play their cards right.

   

Figgins on the Move?

Reports have been coming in today that the Oakland Athletics are trying to acquire Chone Figgins from Seattle. The name that the A’s are putting out there for a deal is Kevin Kouzmanoff. To make things even more interesting, there are reports that there could possibly by a third team entering the trade talks and it could very well by the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays are reportedly in search of a third baseman and Kouzmanoff could be that guy. I want to take a look at all the different ways a deal like this could go down and who might be involved. One thing to note is that Figgins does have a no-trade clause and it includes the Athletics so he would have to waive it for a deal to happen.

If the trade is involving only the Mariners and Athletics then I think it would be Chone Figgins for Kouzmanoff and possibly a pitcher, which the A’s have a lot of. This wouldn’t be a bad trade for Seattle at all. Kouzmanoff is 29 years old, four years younger than Figgins. Not only is he younger but he is also a lot cheaper. Kouzmanoff is in the final year of his contract and is set to make $4.75 million in 2011. Figgins on the other hand, will be making $9 million this year and is under contract through the 2013 season. It would be great if Seattle could dump a large majority of his contract in a trade.

Figgins is the better player but it really isn’t by much. Kouzmanoff is nowhere close to as fast as Figgins. Kouzmanoff rarely steals a base so the Mariners would be taking a hit in the speed category. Kouzmanoff offers a lot more power. Season after season he is hitting just fewer than 20 homeruns. Figgins only has 32 HR in his 9 professional seasons which is only 2 more than what Kouzmanoff has hit in 2009-2010 combined. Kouzmanoff posted a WAR of 2.9 last year. Figgins had a WAR of only .06. I really think Figgins will bounce back this year but the Mariners could use the extra salary space. If a pitcher was involved in the deal it would really sweeten things up for the Mariners. 

If the Blue Jays were involved in the deal I would imagine that Kouzmanoff goes to the Blue Jays and Chone Figgins would still be going to the A’s. Now who would the Mariners get? I assume that they would possibly get a combination of players from both teams. The Athletics have a lot of young pitching who would fit well in the middle or back end of the Mariners rotation. On top of a pitcher from the A’s, the Blue Jays could send one or two prospects the Mariners way.

There are still a lot of questions up in the air in regards to a deal but in the next couple hours watch for progress to be made.

Adam Kennedy Arrested

Reports are coming in that one of the newest Mariners, Adam Kennedy, was arrested Wednesday night. He was arrested on an Orange County freeway under the suspicion of DUI. He was released several hours later.

Kennedy talked with Shannon Dreyer of 710 ESPN Seattle just recently and Kennedy admitted it being a huge mistake. A quote that really stood out to me from the discussion between Dreyer and Kennedy is when Kennedy stated:

"I want everyone to know that this is not who I am and what I am about. It is something I am ashamed of and certainly a bad way to start out with an organization."

I believe he was very sincere in this statement. It is a good sign that he is taking an early initiative to come out and apologize so that he can move on from this incident. Dreyer also reported that Kennedy has talked with Jack Zduriencik on the issue and Zduriencik is being very supportive but is also laying down the law.

Kennedy is the second Mariners player that has just recently been in the news for trouble with the law. Milton Bradley, the other player in the news, was arrested on January 18^th on suspicion of threatening a woman. Both of these incidents have taken place in California.   

Kennedy is now 35 and is signed to a minor league contract with an invite to Major League spring training.

What to Expect From Gerut

The Mariners recently signed outfielder Jody Gerut to a minor league contract. He is also invited to Major League spring training. In a previous article I posted a bio on the outfielder and here it is:

“Jody Gerut is a left handed outfielder and is 33 years old. He is 6’0” 190lb. He previously played for Eric Wedge in Cleveland. Early in his career he was of to a decent start showing he could be an average outfielder hitting for a .270 AVG. In 2004 his season ended with a Torn ACL. He played very little in 2005 and then missed the entire 2006 and 2007 season due to the injury. He saw his career get back on track at the age of 30 with the Padres. That season (2008) he hit .296 in 356 plate appearances. After that season he served as a back up outfielder with both the Padres and the Brewers. He saw only 74 major league at bats last year with the Brewers. His career AVG is .262 and over his career he has put good contact on the ball. He is capable of playing all 3 outfield positions. He could very well compete as a back up outfielder this season”

His career has been back and forth. There have been seasons in which he posts very good numbers as a solid contributor and then there are other seasons in which he really struggles. The following WAR graph really shows this pattern.

As you can see, his career has been up and down. So what will the Mariners get out of Gerut this season? Well first of all he has to make the team. I’m not sure the details of his minor league contract but some minor league contracts for veterans allow the player to become a free agent following spring training if they do not make the team. I’m pretty confident that he does make the team especially if Bradley is not on the roster so we shouldn’t have to worry too much about Gerut not making the team.

For those of you that really believe in patterns well then things are certainly looking good for Gerut and the Mariners this year. If his career continues on this pattern of good vs. bad seasons then it appears that Gerut is due for a solid season. Another thing to consider is that his BABIP over the last 2 years has been very low. This could very possibly mean Gerut has had poor luck and he is capable of posting good numbers again. His BABIP in 2008 (one of his best seasons of his career) was .317. In 2009 it dropped to .239 and it again dropped in 2010 to .231. Those numbers in 2009 and 2010 are very low. The above stats aren’t the most reliable stats to base projections on but you can’t rule anything out. Players always surprise you and there is no reason why Gerut can’t do that this year.

Regardless of where he plays or how much he plays I think he could be a very important factor. I’ve heard talk that Gerut could compete with Saunders for the stating job in Left Field but I think the most likely situation is that he serves as an important bench player. He can play all 3 outfield positions relatively well. He makes good contact and does not strike out a lot which is always a plus to have as a pinch-hitter late in games.

We are only 21 days until pitchers and catchers report so let’s get out the baseball gear, purchase our spring training tickets, and get ready for baseball season… The best season of the year!

Rommie Lewis

As you have heard, there has been a trade involving the Blue Jays and Angels. The Blue Jays will be sending Vernon Wells and cash to the Angels for Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera. What you may not know is that immediately following the trade, the Blue Jays designated Rommie Lewis for assignment to make room for their newest additions.

Lewis is an intriguing player. He is a left handed pitcher with a good build at 6’5” 230lb.  At the age of 28 he was originally drafted by the Orioles out of high school in 2001. He was granted free agency in the fall of 2008 and signed with the Blue Jays prior to the season. He is a local Seattle player. He grew up in Seattle and attended Newport High School in Bellevue, WA. Playing in Tacoma and possibly even his hometown of Seattle would certainly appeal to him.

He isn’t a stand out player but he would be bullpen depth for the Mariners and play at AAA or maybe even earn a spot on the big league roster. He has spent a majority of his career in the minors but he got his first taste of big league action in 2010 with the Jays. Throughout his career he has been used primarily as a reliever. His career minor league stats are a 3.94 ERA. His career BB/9 and K/9 are just about average… Nothing special yet nothing alarming.  In his stint with the Jays last year he pitched in 18.2 innings. He was at the big league level from late April to early June and then again in September as a September call-up. After one outing with the Jays in September (a very poor outing) he was sent to the team’s complex in Florida to have his throwing shoulder checked out. This was his last start of the year. His ERA in those 18.2 big league innings was 6.75. He also struck 15 batters in the short amount of time which is something to note.

Lewis does not have outstanding stuff but he shows some promise. A fastball in the mid 90s with a sharp slider to complement it. I’ve also read that he throws his change up well. He has good mechanics and is also somewhat deceptive with his delivery. The biggest struggle for him is his command. He really struggles locating his pitches especially his breaking balls. He is ok against left handed batters but he has struggled against righties. Another thing to note is that he has troubles keeping the ball in the park. As I have mentioned before, Safeco really helps pitchers keep the ball in the park, and that is no different for Lewis.  If he can improve his command he could very possibly be an average middle reliever.

Lewis has not been very impressive, which shows why he was designated for assignment. He could still very possibly turn it around and help another team out. That team could possibly be the Mariners. Why not take a chance on him? It’s always good to have more left handed reliever depth which is what Lewis would provide. It would not be a huge risk to acquire him at all. He would certainly be cheap and if things don’t go well then you can either leave him at AAA or cut him. Lewis was designated for assignment January 21^st therefore the Jays have until January 31^st before the DFA window closes. The Mariners are pretty thin when it comes to left handed relievers so again… why not take a chance on Rommie Lewis?

Mariners Add 4 More

I recently posted an article on the Mariners Major League Spring training invitees. When I posted it the amount of invitees was as at 15… today we are now at 19. The Mariners announced that they have invited Steven Baron, Blake Beavan, Nate Robertson, and Jody Gerut. Baron and Beavan are currently in the Mariners minor league system and Robertson and Gerut are veterans signed to a minor league contract.

Steven Baron was drafted by the Mariners in the first round (Pick 33) of the 2009 draft. He proved hard to sign as the Mariners were tens of thousands of dollars apart. He received a signing bonus of $980,000 which is $44,000 more than the recommended amount for that slot. Baron, a right handed hitting catcher, is credited for his defensive skills. Baseball America lists him as the best defensive catcher in the system. He has a very quick arm and does a great job keeping the ball in front of him. The defense is all there but the offense is what is missing. Seattle knew he would be a project offensively when they drafted him. His AVG last year between Short-Season and Low A was .222. He had an OBP of .258 and a K% of about 30.3%. He is still only 20 years old so he still has a lot more time to develop. If he improves his hitting and discipline his defense could carry him the rest of the way. This is a very big season for the young catcher as he will be answering lots of questions.

Blake Beavan was acquired by Seattle in the Cliff Lee trade. He was drafted by the Rangers in the first round of the 2007 draft. He is a right handed pitcher that figures to be a starting pitcher. He has a huge presence on the mound at 6’7” 250lb. His fastball sits in the mid to lower 90s but he has very good command. He walks batters at a very low rate which is great news for the 22 year old pitcher. Last year he spent only 18 innings with AA West Tennessee after being promoted to AAA Tacoma. He has spent time at AA in the Rangers organization prior to being traded. His overall line last year was a 3.90 ERA in 168.1 innings which is a high amount for a minor leaguer. He has showed that he can carry a heavy workload over his minor league career. He doesn’t have great strike out numbers but his command helps carry him. I think we could see time in Seattle’s rotation this year and he could very well end up as a mid-rotation pitcher that has a good work-load.

Nate Robertson is a LHP pitcher and is now 33 years old. He is 6’2” 225lb. He spent last year with both the Marlins and the Phillies. He didn’t post the best numbers; a 5.95 ERA in 101.1 innings. He had previously spent a majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers. His best major league season was in 2006 in which he posted a 3.84 ERA in 208.2 innings. After that it has not gone too well. His career ERA is 5.01. He does have a HR/9 above the league average so pitching in Safeco would definitely help him. His career ERA at Safeco is 2.75. He has to prove himself that he can pitch again so signing him to a minor league deal is a smart move. After a very strong spring he could certainly compete with Luke French, David Pauley, and Erik Bedard for a spot in the rotation.

Jody Gerut is a left handed outfielder and is 33 years old. He is 6’0” 190lb. He previously played for Eric Wedge in Cleveland. Early in his career he was of to a decent start showing he could be an average outfielder hitting for a .270 AVG. In 2004 his season ended with a Torn ACL. He played very little in 2005 and then missed the entire 2006 and 2007 season due to the injury. He saw his career get back on track at the age of 30 with the Padres. That season (2008) he hit .296 in 356 plate appearances. After that season he has served as a back up outfielder with both the Padres and the Brewers. He saw only 74 major league at bats last year with the Brewers. His career ERA is .262 and over his career he has put good contact on the ball. He is capable of playing all 3 outfield positions. He could very well compete as a back up outfielder this season.

Mariners Non-Roster Spring Training Invitees

The Mariners have brought in 15 players to minor league contract with a spring training invite. Greg Johns, the Mariners beat writer, states that the Mariners typically sign 15-20 players with a contract like this. Here is a look at the 15 guys and a little bit on each player. I still think we will see the Mariners bring in a few more guys, possibly a starting pitcher and/or an outfielder.

Pitchers:

• Denny Bautista: Right handed pitcher who is now 28 years old. 6’5” 190lb. Bautista’s first major league appearance came in 2004 at the age of 21 with Baltimore. Seattle will be his seventh team and he has served primarily as a reliever over his career but he has also seen some limited time starting. Last year he played for the San Francisco Giants and it was one of his best seasons. He had an ERA of 3.74 in 33.2 innings. He also struck out batters at a great rate striking out 44 batters, a K/9 of 11.8. Sits in the mid 90s but he can touch the upper 90s He needs to work on lowering his walk totals. He is a fly ball pitcher and Safeco if friendly to those types of pitchers.
• Royce Ring: Ring, a LHP, was drafted in the first round of the 2002 draft by the White Sox. He is now 30 years old and stands 6’0 220lb. He made his major league debut in 2005 with the Mets at the age of 24. He has served as a reliever only in his 68.0 major league innings. His career stats at the big league level aren’t pretty; A 5.29 ERA with a WHIP of 1.574. He played with the Yankees last year but only pitched in 2.1 innings in the Majors. The one thing that the lefty does have going for him is that he has fared well against lefties over his career- a lefty specialist (to some extent) which could help the Mariners bullpen.
• Charlie Haeger: Haeger stands at 6’1” 210lb and is now 27 years old. He was drafted by the White Sox in the 25^th round of the 2001 draft. He has seen a majority of his career at the minor league level. He has played in the Dodgers organization over the last two years. He pitched in 30.0 innings in the majors last year. He had a very high ERA of 8.40. He has served as a reliever at the big league level with the very occasional spot start but in the minors he is a starter. One more thing to note is that he does throw a knuckleball that has worked well for him from time to time in his career.
• Fabio Castro: Castro now 25 will be turning 26 shortly… January 25^th to be precise. The LHP does not have much of a presence on the mound at 5’7” 185lb. Castro began his career with the White Sox as an amateur free agent signing in 2001. He made his Major League debut in 2006 with the Rangers. He spent all of last year with the Red Sox AAA as a starter and a reliever. Has only seen 43.2 Major League Innings with an ERA of 3.30. He has posted impressive strikeout rates over his career. I’ve read reports that really like his curveball-change up combo. One last note is that he was the #1 pick in the 2005 Rule V draft by the Royals.  
• Justin Miller: Miller a RHP was originally drafted by the Rockies in the 5^th round of the 1997 draft. He is now 33 and stands 6’2” 200lb. He made his ML debut in 2002 with the Blue Jays. In the early stages of his Major League career he was a starter but since 2004 he has worked only out of the bullpen. He has pitched in 375.2 innings at the big league level. His career ERA is 4.82. The majority of his career has been spent at the minor league level. He played for the Dodgers last year and he pitched in 24.1 innings and had an ERA of 4.44.  
• Chris Seddon: Seddon has been in the Mariners organization the last two years. At the age of 27 he stands 6’3” 220lb. He was drafted by the Devil Rays in the 5^th round of the 2001 draft. The lefty made his debut in 2007 with the Marlins. He has spent the last two years at AAA Tacoma and saw a limited 22.1 innings with the Mariners in 2010. He compiled a 5.64 ERA in that stint. Seddon has been used in the Minors as a starter but has only seen 4 major league starts, the rest of his appearances have been out of the pen. His K/9 is on average very low and K/BB is typically high which is the opposite of what you want!
• Yusmeiro Petit: Petit was in the Mariners organization last year as he spent all of 2010 at AAA Tacoma. He is a RHP, 26 years old, and stands 6’1” 255lb. He was originally signed by the Mets in 2001 as an amateur free agent. He made his debut in 2006 with the Marlins. He has seen time starting in the majors. He has pitched in 229.1 major league innings including 26 starts. His career ML ERA is 5.57. He is very much a fly ball pitcher. For AAA Tacoma last year he had an ERA of 4.85 in 59.1 innings. 
• Chris Smith: Smith is 29 years old, a Right handed reliever, and stands 6’0” 190lb. He was drafted in the 4^th round of the 2002 draft by the Red Sox. Smith made his Major League debut in 2008 with Boston at the age of 27. He has pitched in 67.2 Major League innings. His career ERA is 5.19. He played with the Brewers last year but only pitched in 3.1 innings in which he had a 5.40 ERA. At AAA his stats were better especially the 11.63 K/9. Smith does not have too much velocity but he has great command.

Batters:

• Josh Bard: Bard is one of the most notable names to Mariners fans as Bard saw some time with the Mariners last year. The 32 year old catcher is 6’3” 205”. He was originally drafted by the Twins in 1996 and then later drafted by the Rookies in the 3^rd round of the 1999 draft. He made his debut in 2002 with the Indians. He spent last year at AAA Tacoma and saw some time with the Mariners. He hit .214 last year in 112 at bats. His AAA stats weren’t much better, a .235 AVG in 85 at bas. I figure he spends a majority of 2011 at Tacoma.
• Chris Gimenez: Gimenez is 28 years old and was drafted by the Indians in the 19^th round of the 2004 draft. He is 6’2” 200lb and was played a variety of positions over his career (C, 3B, 1B, RF, LF) but the majority of his appearances have been at catcher. He made his debut in 2009 with the Indians. He has only 169 at bats at the major league level and a very ugly .160 AVG. He has spent his entire career with the Indians.
• Adam Kennedy: At the age of 35, Kennedy has by far the most major league experience compared to all the other players on this list. He is 6’1” 195lbs and bats left handed. He was drafted in the first round of the 1997 draft by the Cardinals. He plays primarily second base but should serve as a utility player with the Mariners if he is on the active roster. His career AVG is .275 and he shows decent speed on the base paths. He has a good eye and is an above average fielder. Look for him contribute a lot off of the bench for the Mariners this year.
• Sean Kazmar: Now 26 years old, Kazmar was drafted in the 5^th round of the 2004 draft by the Padres. The right handed shortstop stands 5’9” 170lb. He made his debut in 2008 with the Padres. He has had only 39 ML at bats in which is AVG is .205. He spent all of last year at AAA in which he hit .275. He is a decent defender. Nothing outstanding but no gaping wholes. He could be a good MLB utility man.
• Luis Rodriguez: Rodriguez will be entering his 13^th professional season at the age of 30. The switch hitter was signed by the Twins as an amateur free agent in 1997. He stands 5’9” 190lb. He is quite the utility man as over his career he has seen time regularly at shortstop, second base, and third base. He has 855 Major League at bats in which he has hit .243. He played with the White Sox last year and he spent the whole year at AAA. He hit well as he had an AVG of .293 and he hit 16 homeruns. He has a good approach to the plate and does a good job putting the bat on the ball.
• Mike Wilson: Wilson has spent his entire career in the Mariners organization. He was drafted by Seattle in the 2^nd round of the 2001 draft. The right fielder bats and throws right. He is now 27 and stands 6’2” 215lb. He has yet to make his Major League debut. He spent all of last year at AAA Tacoma hitting .273 in 286 at bats. He showed some power with 17 homeruns but he struck out a lot which has been the story his entire career. He does have good range in right field. It would be nice to see him finally make his major league debut this year.
• Ryan Langerhans: The left handed outfielder is 30 years old and has spent the last 2 seasons in the Mariners organization. He was drafted by the Braves in the third round of the 1998 draft. He split time between AAA and at the big league level last year. With the Mariners he hit .196 in 107 at bats.  I think he will again serve as an outfielder back up that will play at AAA Tacoma. Bill James projects him to hit .237 in 151 plate appearances.

In Search of a Starter

This offseason a lot of teams have been signing low risk pitchers to either a minor league deal or a cheap (in terms of major league money) major league deal. The Royals and Mets have been doing a good job bringing in these types of pitchers this offseason. It would be smart for the Mariners to bring in 1 or 2 of these guys. It appears there are only 3 guys that are locks in the rotation; Felix-Vargas-Fister. After them it is anybody’s game. Signing another pitcher would add some starting pitching depth and there are some cheap options out there that the Mariners can afford.



Jeremy Bonderman



Some notable guys that I think the Mariners should take into consideration are Rodrigo Lopez, Braden Looper, Doug Davis, Dave Bush, Jeremy Bonderman, Justin Duchscherer, and Jarrod Washburn (if he doesn’t retire).

The guys that I think would be the best fits and who I want to focus on are Dave Bush and Jeremy Bonderman. I don’t think the Mariners would be able to sign either one of these guys to a minor league deal but a cheap major league deal with some incentives would get the job done. Whenever you are considering pitchers like this I think it is best to look at how they might benefit from playing on your team, in your stadium, with your coaches, and with the other players on the team.

First I want to give a little background information on each pitcher.

• Dave Bush is now 31 years old and is a right handed pitcher. He is 6’2” 205lb. He has a career ERA of 4.66 in 1104.0 innings pitched. He has played for the Brewers the last 5 years. He had a 4.54 ERA last year in 174.1 innings. He offers a fastball, curve, slider, and changeup. He used his curve a lot in 2010, 22.6% of his pitches which was the 6^th highest percentage in the Majors. His stats are simply average as well as his stuff and that’s its exactly what Bush is… average That’s what you get out of a back of the rotation starter which is what Seattle needs
• Jeremy Bonderman, 6’2” 220lb, is only 28 years old which is surprising due to the fact that he has been starting regularly for 8 years with the Tigers. The righty made his debut at 20 and quickly put on a heavy work load at a young age. At the age of 24 he had already pitched in 923.1 innings. In 2008 he suffered a blood clot in his throwing arm which altered his mechanics and hurt his velocity. In 2008-2009 he pitched in only 81.2 innings at the big league level. 2010 was the first season he got back into things, pitching 171.0 innings with an ERA of 5.53. His career ERA is 4.89. One more thing is that he is a Washington Native from Pasco, WA.

Let’s take a look at the 2011 Bill James projections for each player:

	ERA	FIP	IP	K/9	BB/9
D. Bush	4.50	4.71	174.0	6.00	2.48
J. Bonderman	4.58	4.44	179.0	6.84	3.09

Now that you know a little more about these guys why would they be good fits in Seattle? Well, the one thing that stands out the most is that they do give up the homerun ball at a high rate. Both post a HR/9 that is above the league average. Safeco is one of the most pitcher friendly parks in the league which would greatly help these pitchers. Almost every Mariners pitcher last year had better splits at home compared to away. This was not the case for Bush and Bonderman.

Comerica Park in Detroit was Bonderman’s home field and Miller Park in Milwaukee was Bush’s home field. These stadiums are not much a pitcher’s friend at all compared to what Seattle pitchers have with Safeco. Each of these players had a higher HR/9 and homerun to fly ball Ratio at home.

	HR/FB (Home)	HR/FB (Away)	HR/9 (Home)	HR/9 (Away)
D. Bush	12.9%	9.3%	1.65	1.18
J. Bonderman	12.5%	10.3%	1.37	1.35

Looking at those stats, they certainly would benefit pitching in Safeco field. Jason Vargas is a prime for a player that has benefited from having Safeco Field as his home field. His HR/9 at home is .32 less compared to on the road.

I would like to point out another reason on why these pitchers would benefit playing for the Mariners.  I view the Mariners as having a much better defense compared to the Tigers and Brewers. Every pitcher enjoys having better fielders behind him.

One last thing to leave you guys with. Here are the 2011 Bill James projections that are available for the other Mariners’ possible starting pitchers so you can see how Bush and Bonderman would fit in.

	ERA	FIP	IP	K/9	BB/9
Vargas	4.29	4.39	195.0	6.23	3.09
Hernandez	3.31	3.30	223.0	8.23	2.91
Fister	4.33	3.93	183.0	5.95	2.07
French	4.38	4.41	156.0	5.13	2.83
Pauley	5.18	4.59	146.0	5.79	2.96
Bedard	3.55	3.56	66.0	8.86	3.55



Dave Bush



I would love to see Zduriencik bring in either Bush or Bonderman. They would fit in well as a number 3 or 4 starter. If I had to choose one I would take Bush. You don’t have the injury risk in Bush like you have with Bonderman and Bush would be cheaper. I also think Bush would benefit playing in Safeco field more and would therefore post better numbers.  

Interview With Kevin Rivers

Kevin Rivers is an outfielder in the Mariners minor league system. Rivers is now 22 and he finished the 2010 season with the Everett Aquasox which is where he spent the whole year. Rivers attended Bristol Eastern for high school and he went on to attend Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire. Rivers had great success at the Division II School which is amongst the top DII baseball schools in the nation year after year. He was then signed to a minor league contract by the Mariners in 2009. He then played in Pulaski in 2009. Last year, he put up terrific numbers and was awarded the Mariners Short-Season hitter of the. Rivers has really surprised people this far and he has been working hard this offseason. I want to wish the best of luck to him this spring training and regular season.

Growing up in Bristol, Connecticut, what was the role sports played on your life? Did you play any sports other than baseball growing up?

Sports played a huge role in my life growing up.  I really enjoyed being active and I like the team atmosphere when I was playing.  I met a lot of my best friends today while playing on sports teams.  Bristol is a big sports town especially when it comes to baseball. Our high school and legion teams are some of the best around and american legion is recognized throughout the country. While I was growing up I also played hockey, and basketball, but once high-school came I had to pick one that I really enjoyed playing and that was baseball. I kept playing basketball throughout high-school because it helped get me in shape for the spring.

While attending Franklin Pierce from 2007-2009, the team had great success, winning 2 regular season league championships, 3 NorthEast-10 championships, and many more impressive accomplishments including a program record of wins in 2007. How has this success and playing in important games helped you at the next level?

Playing at Franklin Pierce was a great experience. Our team was one big family which helped us achieve every goal we set at the beginning of the season. Being apart of this program really prepared me for the big situations. Playing in all the championship games helped me learn how to keep my self calm and composed throughout the game. Those traits have followed me into pro ball and it's help me to slow the game down and let it come to me. 

Head Coach Jayson King has really put together a great program at Franklin Pierce being one of the most recognized and respected Division II head coaches. How has he helped you get to where you are today?

Coach King was one of the best coaches that I have ever played for.  He taught us the right way to play the game and how to do it fundamentally sound.  He was able to break down every part of the game so we could perform at our highest level when the situation arose. Coach was able to take a weakness in a player and make it a strength and helped make the strength even stronger.  He was a phenomenal coach to play for and I thank him for everything he has done for me over the past 5 years.

Your first season numbers for Arizona in Rookie Ball appear to be a totally different story from your 2010 season in Everett despite the small sample size. The AquaSox 2010 hitting coach, Scott Steinmann had the opportunity to work with you. What kind of adjustments has he helped you make with your swing?

Steiny worked with me a lot over the course of spring training, extended spring, and Everett, and I have come a long way with his help.  He really helped to learn how to slow the game down and stay within myself at the plate.  Once I was able to achieve what he had taught me everything clicked and stuck throughout the season.  

Tell me about your Journey to where you are today in baseball? What difficulties have you had to overcome in the process?

Well my journey to the professional ranks is pretty interesting but I haven't had many difficulties over the years to overcome. I was invited to a showcase in Massachusetts the day before the Cape Cod League All-Star game. I had a terrific day: ran one of my better 60 times, threw well, and hit very well. I was asked to take some more swings and after I was asked if I would be willing to sign a contract. I was with my dad and we were so excited everything I had worked for had come true and I was a professional player. I would say my two difficulties were two injuries while playing.  One was when I was 13 I was hit the face by a arrant throw by catcher and I fractured 5 parts of my left orbital bone and the other would be getting through my sophomore season in college with a pulled groin. Other than that it was a smooth and fun ride.

You put up fantastic stats last year earning you the honor of Short-Season hitter of the year in the Mariners organization. Your stat line is as follows: .332/.466/.556 including a remarkable OPS of 1.022 which led the league by a large margin. Being an undrafted free agent from a DII school you have really surprised people. What has this success meant to you?

I have always believed in my abilities to play the game of baseball.  I have been working to accomplish this goal since I was a little kid. My success this season has helped my confidence in knowing that I can compete at the next level and be successful. 

The Mariners minor league director, Pedro Grifol, is a fan of your approach to the plate. You walked 60 times last year which was second best in the league and had a 19.4 BB% which led the league. Tell me about your approach/strategy when you are at the plate?

I have a very relaxed approach when I'm at the plate.  I don't like to try and get ahead of myself and the pitcher because then you begin to think to much and get thrown off your rhythm. I know while in the on-deck circle what I need to do and what I need to look for at the plate.  I like to look for one pitch in one spot until two strikes then I shorten everything up and look to put the ball in play. I know the pitcher can't beat me only I can beat myself at the plate.

Spring training is quickly approaching. What have your workouts consisted of this offseason. Do you have a goal of where you want to start/finish the season as you head in to spring training?

This offseason I have been working hard to come into spring training ready to go.  I have been training at a place I have been going to since high school called Future Fitness. My trainer Pete has great workouts and running programs to get me ready for the season.  I have also been swinging three to four times a week at a place by house.  I feel like I will be ready when I go into spring. My goal is to have a good spring training and end up on the High Desert roster.  If I do go to Clinton I would like to end the season in High Desert.

You played alongside another Mariner in college, Scott Savastano who finished last year at AA West Tennessee. Could you give us a scouting report on him?

Scott is great player, he was a lot of fun to watch while playing with him. He has a great approach at the plate and knows he will never be overmatched. Scott was a terrific shortstop and third baseman when I played with him, but it seems he has settled in at first and the outfield.  He is a natural baseball player and excels no matter where he is on the field. I hope I catch him soon so we can be teammates once again.

Last question Kevin: Tell me about your favorite moments last year at Everett. What do you think of the city and where has been your favorite place to play thus far in your baseball career?

The city of Everett was a very exciting place to play, we always brought in a lot of fans and they created a very fun atmosphere to play in front of. Two of my favorite places that we went to this year were Vancouver, British Columbia and Eugene, Oregon. Vancouver was a very cool city to go and visit and see where the Olympics were held.  In Eugene we were able to play at the brand new University of Oregon field and have our locker room in the football stadium which was a very cool thing to see up close. My favorite moment last year in Everett was winning the Northwest League Championship.  There aren't many things that will top winning a championship, it's one of the best feelings.  

Scott Podsednik?

Mike Axisa recently posted an article on MLB Trade Rumors on potential suitors for outfield free agent Scott Podsednik. The Mariners were among 5 other teams on the list. Axisa went on to state that Podsednik might have to settle with a platoon/bench role due to the lack of possible suitors. This is exactly what I think the Mariners should do with Podsednik… Sign him for a one year deal and allow him to compete with Michael Saunders for the starting job in left field. It appears that the Mariners have been looking for an outfielder to platoon with Saunders and Podsednik could be just that.

Podsednik performed well last year as he hit .297 with 35 stolen bases in 595 plate appearances. The 34 year old has a career .286 average and consistently steals lots of bases. These stats are much better than those of Michael Saunders who hit .211 and struck out at a much higher rate than Podsednik. Yes last year was Saunders first season and people expect more than him but what happens if he doesn’t quite figure it out next year? Then where do the Mariners go in left field? Sure there is Milton Bradley and Greg Halman but I like my chances with Podsednik much more. Looking at the Bill James projections for each player in 2011 here is a look at how their projections compare:

Player	AVG	OPS	SLG	SB	K%	HR	RBI
Scott	.277	.335	.365	29	16.1	5	42
Michael	.242	.315	.388	10	25.8	10	34

Podsednik’s projected stats appear to better but you never know what could happen. I still really like Saunders’ potential but I think we will have to be patient with him. The perfect scenario for me, if the Mariners do in fact sign Podsednik, is that they platoon in left field with Podsednik seeing a small majority of the time at first. As the season progresses Saunders would begin to see a majority of the time. I think they would complement each other rather well as you have the greater power potential in Saunders but then you have the solid contact hitter in Podsednik. But remember this is all hypothetical.

Podsednik could not only serve as a platoon with Saunders but he can also play the other outfield positions. He could serve as a good back up for Ichiro and Gutierrez when they need a day off. He has shown that he is a good, reliable fielder. He would also be a very useful piece off the bench late in games. He has a great ability to steal bases and looking at potential Mariners bench players for 2011, none have the speed that Podsednik has. Not to mention his consistent ability to put the ball in play, this is always a great commodity to have off the bench.

As a side note, Podsednik played for Seattle in 2001 and 2002. He was signed as a free agent by the Mariners. He was then put on waivers and later claimed by the Brewers as we wasn’t able to put much together in VERY limited time with the Mariners.

Podsednik appears to be affordable for the Mariners so I would love to see them sign the veteran outfielder. With spring training quickly approaching, a deal would most likely occur soon if one happens.