So, before we can talk about the exciting 2011 M's team, we need to briefly reflect on what the hell just happened this past year. Not unlike the 2008 season, the '10 Mariners were supposed to be a team that finally put all the pieces together. The 2009 team had been a surprising success, which saw the clubhouse issues of the previous year get ironed out, partially thanks to Ken Griffey, Jr.'s joyous return to the Pacific Northwest. Felix Hernandez became the superstar pitcher we all knew he could be, while Franklin Gutierrez and Russell Branyan proved that they were capable of greatness if they were given a chance. Things looked optimistic in Seattle.Like all offseasons, the winter of '09 saw some players leave. Longtime catcher Kenji Johjima decided to become the coolest person ever and returned to Japan without requiring the M's to honor his contract, saving us buckets full of money. We also knew that third baseman Adrian Beltre was unlikely to resign with us, eventually opting to take over the hot corner for Boston. Branyan, our '09 home run leader, would eventually get lured away by the Cleveland Indians.
But the additions to the team! Oh my! We signed Chone Figgins for four years, strengthening our team while simultanously robbing our rival Los Angeles Angels of their leadoff man. Griffey signed on for another year. We traded our useless starting pitcher Carlos Silva to the Chicago Cubs for their equally troubled, but productive outfielder Milton Bradley. Struggling starter Brandon Morrow was flipped to the Blue Jays for dynamic reliever Brandon League (forever more known as the "our-Brandon-is-better-than-your-Brandon" trade). Veteran guys like Casey Kotchman, Eric Byrnes and Ryan Garko were all brought into the fold, to play parts here or there.
Then there was the big trade: getting Cliff Lee from the Phillies for what essentially amounted to pocket change. The former Cy Young Award-winner had been shopped around so the Phillies could reduce payroll and the M's swooped in, offering three minor league prospects for possibly the best pitcher in baseball. Even though we only had contractual control of Lee for a single season, that's the kind of deal you make ten out of ten times. Suddenly, our starting rotation had two of the top ten pitchers in the game in Felix and Lee. We even resigned lost cause Erik Bedard to be our possible third ace. Suddenly, the M's seems to have an embarrassment of riches.
Smart observers pointed out that the 2010 Mariners had lots of problems. With Kenji's departure, we were counting on unproven production at catcher from Rob Johnson, fresh off two hip surgeries, and rookie Adam Moore. Losing Beltre and Branyan robbed us of much of our power. Milton Bradley's long history of personality conflicts did not bode well for the future. Finally, the M's management called an audible and decided that Jose Lopez and Chone Figgins would switch positions, now playing third and second base respectively. But all most fans could see was Cliff Lee wearing a Mariners uniform.
So Spring Training came and went. The team didn't perform exceptionally well, but we didn't embarrass ourselves. Spring Training stats are always a bad way to judge a team. The big stories that spring were Felix's utter domination, Cliff Lee getting slightly injured and the surprising offensive success of non-roster invitee Mike Sweeney and prospect Matt Tuiasosopo. When all was said and done, here's what the 2010 Mariners would be putting on the field April 5th to battle the Oakland A's:
Lineup: RF Ichiro Suzuki, 2B Chone Figgins, 1B Casey Kotchman, LF Milton Bradley, DH Ken Griffey, Jr., 3B Jose Lopez, CF Franklin Gutierrez, C Rob Johnson, SS Jack Wilson
Bench: C Adam Moore, INF/OF Matt Tuiasosopo, DH Mike Sweeney, OF Eric Byrnes, OF Ryan Langerhans
Rotation: RHP Felix Hernandez, RHP Ian Snell, LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith, RHP Doug Fister, LHP Jason Vargas
Bullpen: RHP David Aardsma, RHP Mark Lowe, RHP Brandon League, RHP Shawn Kelley, RHP Kanekoa Texeira, RHP Sean White
What could possibly go wrong...?
YAY! Mariners.
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