Double-Digit Base Hits

The Mariners have won their last four games. They’ve combined timely hitting with solid starting pitching and sound defense to sweep three against the Tigers in Detroit and then take the series opener at Fenway Park tonight.

One of the more compelling offensive statistics from this road trip is that the Mariners, in each of their games in Detroit, notched double-digit base hits. On Tuesday, they had ten hits (10x36--.278); on Wednesday the offense had eleven (11x38--.289); and on Thursday, the offense had twelve (12x37--.324).

Coming into Tuesday’s series opener in Detroit, the team was batting .226. The Mariners left Detroit batting .235. The team’s on-base-percentage improved five percentage points (to .314) over the course of that series; and, the team slugging percentage improved twelve points (to .344).

Prior to this week’s series in Detroit, the 2011 Mariners had a total of five games with ten or more base hits (the Mariners were 3-2 in those games). On only one occasion last season did the Mariners string together three consecutive games with double-digit hits—May 30 through June 1. Contrast that offensive effort with that of the 116-win 2001 Mariners, a club that achieved double-digit base hits in at least three consecutive games twelve times, including separate streaks of eleven and eight games.

In Boston tonight, the Mariners’ double-digit base hit streak ended, as Dice-K and the Boston bullpen held the Mariners to seven hits (7x32--.219). But, the offense supplemented those base hits by working eight walks, including two apiece for Jack Cust and Michael Saunders. And, despite stranding 21 men on base, the Mariners scrapped together five runs, just enough to pull out the win 5-4.

The Mariner road trip continues tomorrow at Fenway Park against John Lackey, who has a career 13-9 record and 3.64 ERA in 175.2 innings against the Mariners. The Seattle offense will have its work cut out for it as it looks to start another double-digit hit streak.

Former Mariner Carl Everett Makes Headlines

On December 14, 2005, then-Mariners General Manager Bill Bavasi announced: “Today we achieved one of our offseason goals.” He had just signed veteran outfielder/DH Carl Everett to a one year, $3.4 million contract with a club option for 2007. Bavasi further stated, “Carl Everett is a clutch-hitting run producer with power. As a switch hitter, he provides our lineup with added versatility. Carl is a winner…His experience and intensity will be welcome additions to our clubhouse.”

Everett’s experience and intensity may have been welcome additions in December, but by July 2006, Everett’s on-field performance had worn out that welcome. The former two-time All Star batted just .227, with a .297 OBP and .360 SLG, including eleven homeruns and 33 RBIs. The Mariners sought more out of their designated hitter and went in a different direction. In June of 2006, the Mariners had sent Asdrubal Cabrera to Cleveland for Eduardo Perez, who Bavasi envisioned as a replacement candidate at DH, particularly against lefties. Then, the day after cutting Everett, Bavasi traded Mariner prospect Shin-Soo Choo to the Indians for Ben Broussard, who Bavasi could platoon with Perez against righties.

If signing free-agent Carl Everett was a metaphoric strike-one for Bavasi, trading Asdrubal Cabrera for Eduardo Perez was surely strike two. Strike three was watching Shin-Soo Choo join the Indian organization in exchange for Ben Broussard. Of course, Everett never played another MLB game after being released by the Mariners. Perez’s skills diminished greatly after joining the Mariners: not only did he hit below .200 for the M’s in 2006, but he retired after the season. Broussard’s Mariner career was slightly more productive in 2006-2007, before he was traded to Texas after the 2007 season. He played less than thirty games for the Rangers in 2008 before being released, thereafter spending time in three other MLB organizations, though never reaching the MLB level again.

But back to Everett. He is back in the spotlight, five years after his last MLB at-bat. This time, though, he’s not making headlines for any on-the-field achievements, nor is he contesting the existence of dinosaurs or doubting the moon landing (assertions he made while an MLB player). Instead, Everett was arrested earlier this week after allegedly pointing a gun at his wife’s head and breaking two phones when she tried to call 911 for help. Everett was arrested Monday after the alleged incident took place, and was released today on a $5000 bail on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and witness tampering. Hillsborough Circuit Judge Walter Heinrich, not surprisingly, ordered Everett to not have “violent contact” with the victim, his wife of eighteen years.

According to Everett’s attorney, since his retirement from professional baseball after being released by the Mariners, Everett, now 39 years old, has suffered from alcoholism and depression.

Could the Mariners Model Michael Pineda's Development After CC Sabathia's?

Michael Pineda, the 22 year-old ace-in-the-making, who has baffled opposing hitters in his first four Major League starts, averages 95.9 miles-per-hour on his fastball—the highest average fastball velocity in the MLB this season among starters. And, this past weekend the Mariner pitching coach, Carl Willis indicated that the team would monitor Pineda’s workload to keep him fresh and not burn him out by overworking him his rookie season. He said, “we’ll come up with a number [of innings that Pineda will pitch], maybe another month in.”

Last season, Pineda split his time between AA West Tennessee and AAA Tacoma, and he worked 139.1 innings before the Mariner organization opted to shut him down before the end of August. 2010 marked Pineda’s career high in innings pitched. His previous high had been 138.1 in 2008. In 2009 though, an elbow injury interrupted his season, and he worked just 47.1 innings.

Coincidentally, both the pitching coach, Carl Willis, and manager, Eric Wedge have experience dealing with young, 6’7”, 260 lb. starting pitchers. They managed CC Sabathia during his developmental years in Cleveland. At age 20 in 2001, two years before Wedge’s staff arrived in Cleveland, Sabathia earned a spot in the Indians’ rotation and made 33 starts, logging 180.1 innings. But, he didn’t just come out of the box tossing 180 innings a season. He worked up to that point. His 2000 season, split between A and AA, Sabathia pitched 146.1 innings. And, prior to 2000, his career high was 68.1 innings in 1999. When Wedge/Willis assume their roles in Cleveland in 2003, they were certainly aware of Sabathia’s successful development into a perennial Cy Young candidate. They may look to body type shared by Pineda and Sabathia as they decide how to bring along their young starter.

Sabathia’s history and development may serve as a point of reference for Pineda’s development. But, even while both men are young, big-bodied power arms, their individual circumstances differ enough that it may be unfair to expect 33 starts from Pineda in 2011, though 180 innings may be attainable. First, Pineda did suffer elbow issues just two seasons ago, which shut down his 2009 campaign, and the Mariners won’t want to risk another elbow injury which could further sideline his development. Sabathia didn’t suffer a severe injury like this. Second, the 2001 Cleveland Indians were the American League Central champions before being bounced in the ALDS by the Mariners; accordingly, they needed their rookie seventeen-game winner to help seal a division title (the Indians ultimately won their division by six games). The 2011 Mariners will be nowhere near the division race, so they will have no reason to max out Pineda. They will be looking to groom him for future postseason runs. Third, even though Sabathia made 33 starts, he averaged less than six innings per start to reach 180 innings. So, if Pineda were to average six innings per start, that would put him at 180 innings. He may then be shut down his final three or four starts.

Michael Pineda could work between 165-180 innings this season, a jump of between 25-40 innings from last year’s career high. That kind of effort this season would position him for a 200 inning season next year, if he can stay healthy. And, maybe in the near future, Pineda will—like Sabathia—be a staff workhorse and perennial Cy Young contender.

Coco Crisp's Afro and Hair in Mariners History

Tonight the Oakland Athletics roll into town for a four game set at Safeco Field. Last week, the A’s leadoff hitter, Coco Crisp, wore his hair in a 1970s throwback “afro”, channeling his inner Oscar Gamble. The hairstyle drew significant interest from the media, though Crisp said he was glad that at least reporters were talking about his hair rather than the sub-.200 batting average he maintained at the time (his average has shot up to .239 since unveiling the afro). He has since hidden the afro away and gone back to braiding his hair, much to the dismay of hair enthusiasts everywhere.

Coco Crisp’s afro reminded me of a couple Mariners who were known so well for their hair that the team’s promotion department decided to incorporate them into ballpark promotions.

Of course, the most well-known hair style in Mariners history was the Buhner Buzz. The Bone was not so much known for the hair, but rather the lack of hair on his head. From 1994-1999 and again in 2001, the Mariners held an annual Buhner Buzz Cut Night at the ballpark, and fans who shaved their heads or who were already bald would receive free admission to the ballgame. Jay Buhner himself would shave a few heads as part of the evening’s festivities. T-shirts were printed up as well, with catchy slogans like “Take me out to the Bald Game” or “Bald is Buhnerful.” Over the years over 23,000 fans participated in this promotion, including 298 women.

A lesser-known promotion was J.J. Putz Soul Patch Night, held April 12, 2008. The event was described: “The first 20,000 fans through the gates will receive a ‘stick-on’ version of the tuft of facial hair sported by the Mariners flame-throwing closer.” The Mariners won that game 8-3 against the Angels, but Putz did not make an appearance. Over 34,000 fans turned out for the game that night, either to take home their faux soul patch, or to check out the then-newly-acquired Carlos Silva pitch eight innings of solid baseball.

But J.J. Putz Soul Patch Night was not the first Mariner foray into facial hair promotions. On June 28 of the memorable 1995 season, the Mariners hosted Bobby Ayala Goatee Night where fans wearing goatees could receive free admission to the game. Only 15,165 fans showed up to take in this game at the Kingdome. The Mariners were defeated by Oakland 7-5, though Ayala didn’t appear in the ballgame. Randy Johnson had started the game, and he earned the loss.

There are undoubtedly other hair promotions that I haven’t identified. We can only hope they are not lost to history.

Finally, in the spirit of awesome hair, Nike has unveiled a tribute to Randy Johnson’s 1990s-era golden facial hair and mullet in a new t-shirt. Classic.

Playing With A Lead

Coming into tonight’s game, the Mariners had scored a total of one run in the first inning over their first seventeen games. Against Phil Coke tonight, the Mariners notched four first-inning runs, on just one base hit. Remarkably, tonight was the first night all season that the Mariners had a lead going into the second inning of a ballgame.

Frankly, the Mariners haven’t led in too many games this season. Prior to tonight, they’ve only led one game at the start of the third inning. They’ve only led two games at the outset of the sixth inning. Playing from behind is not a recipe for winning, and it puts incredible stress on even the finest of pitchers.

To this point in the season, the Mariner offense has averaged just 3.29 runs per game. So, when a Mariner starter takes the mound, he knows that he is working with the slightest margin for error. If the ballclub falls behind early, chances are that the game will be out of reach if the opponent scores four runs.

Contrast the Mariners’ season with that of the Cleveland Indians, who have the best record in the American League right now, at 12-5. The Indians have led nine of their games at the start of the fourth inning. Hence, the best record in the American League. Playing with a lead forces opposing teams to press offensively; and, pitchers with a lead are more likely to attack opposing hitters, and are also in a position to set the game’s tempo.

This team can’t consistently wait around until the seventh and eighth innings to get going offensively if it wants to win. Also, with leads, teams can extend their starting pitchers deeper into games and lessen the burden on the bullpen. If the Mariners are going to win enough to avoid 100 losses in 2011, they need to score earlier and establish leads in ballgames.

Buster Olney Compares Mariners to Pirates

Over the weekend, ESPN Senior Baseball Writer, Buster Olney, compared the Mariners’ current situation to that of the Pittsburgh Pirates: “Zduriencik's challenge is a lot like Neal Huntington's [Pittsburgh’s General Manager] when he took over PITT: Work from almost nothing in the farm system. A long process.”

Olney’s statement reminds Mariner fans just how devastated the Mariner minor league system was at the conclusion of the Bavasi era. Many of us recall the many ill-advised Bavasi-era moves that saw our most prized prospects land with new organizations. Bavasi shipped out prospects Shin-Soo Choo and Asdrubal Cabrera out to Cleveland in separate lopsided deals. Then, Chris Tillman and Adam Jones were included as key pieces in the now-infamous 5-for-1 deal with Baltimore for Erik Bedard.

The farm system Jack Z inherited when he was hired was not only plagued by Bavasi’s poorly-conceived trades, but a series of first-round draft selections that either didn’t pan out or were groomed as relievers: Jeff Clement (2005), Brandon Morrow (2006), Phillippe Aumont (2007), and Josh Fields (2008). Essentially, Zduriencik had to start over from scratch and rebuild the Mariners organization at all levels of the minor leagues.

When Buster Olney describes the long rebuilding process, he is referencing players, many of whom are between 18-24, that are currently working their way through the Mariners minor league affiliates. They are playing in places like Tacoma (Ackley, Halman, Cortes, Peguero, French, Beavan, Liddi), Jackson (Chavez, Triunfel, Seager, Poythress, McOwen), Clinton (Littlewood, Baron), and High Desert (Franklin, Almonte).

I agree with Olney, in that developing an organization to the point that the farm system produces MLB-ready players is a long (and frustratingly painful) process. With very few exceptions it takes years of seasoning to take a kid straight from high school and prepare him for the big leagues.

The good news for the Mariners is that, in addition to having young talent on the way, they have more financial resources at their disposal than do the small-market teams like the Pirates. In recent years, the Mariners have maintained a payroll double that of the Pirates. Remember, in 2008 they were the first team to lose 100 games with a $100 million payroll. After this season, a couple of the big contracts that Bavasi inked will finally come off the books, freeing up resources so as to more aggressively pursue the free agent market. On top of that, the Mariners have the second selection in the 2011 June draft, which should net them another top-tier prospect that will become part of the nucleus of the future.

In professional sports, no general manager’s job is safe. There is a constant pressure to win now. Though, even as painful as 2010 was, and as painful as 2011 already is, there may be hope on the horizon. Cross your fingers, Mariner fans.

Batting With Runners in Scoring Position

For teams with offenses not built on power production, their reliance on batting with runners in scoring position becomes much more imperative. They can’t wait around for a 3-run homerun, but instead must string together multiple singles/walks. But, if a team like the Mariners can’t get hits once it moves runners to second or third base, it will struggle to put up runs. Such has been the case thus far in 2011.

Today, the Mariners were shut out by the Royals, 5-0, despite outhitting them 7-6. Yet, the M’s offense left eleven runners on base, going 0-9 with runners in scoring position. The Royals, on the other hand, only left four runners on base, batting 4-9 with runners in scoring position. Today’s performance with runners in scoring position evidences what appears to be a trend with this team.

To this point in the young season, the offense’s collective batting average with runners in scoring position has been a key reason why the Mariners are 4-11. Coming into today’s game (and before going 0-9 today), the Mariners were hitting .196 (22-112) with runners in scoring position. To put this into perspective, last year, when the Mariners lost 101 games and posted historically-low offensive numbers, their team batting average with runners in scoring position was thirty points higher, at .226 (119-604). At last season’s end, many of us thought things couldn’t get worse in 2011. Were we wrong?

Typically, teams that hit with runners in scoring position win ballgames. The 2001 Mariners were no exception. That team won a record 116 games. The offense batted .295 with runners in scoring position. The 2001 Mariners were good; the 2011 version is not. The good news is that the season is still very young, and there is plenty of time to improve.

Celebrating Jackie Robinson Day 2011

On April 15, 1997 MLB retired Jackie Robinson’s number 42 throughout the Major Leagues. That day, Mariner Ken Griffey, Jr. with the permission of Jackie Robinson’s widow, wore number 42 in Jackie’s honor. Here is a nice story summarizing Griffey’s role in shaping Jackie Robinson Day.

The Mariners won their April 15, 1997 game that day in Cleveland, 8-4. Bob Wells earned the win in relief of Bob Wolcott, and Norm Charlton worked two innings to pick up his third save of the season. Former Mariner Mike Jackson picked up the loss in relief. Griffey, with his high socks and number 42 jersey, collected two hits and scored two runs, adding a walk and an RBI.

On April 15, 2004 MLB declared April 15 to be Jackie Robinson Day, and the following year, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig declared that each April 15 thereafter would be commemorated as Jackie Robinson Day.

In 2007, the sixtieth anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier, Griffey again received permission from the Robinson family to wear number 42. Bud Selig then extended an invitation to other players around the MLB to wear 42 in Robinson’s honor. Over 150 players, and five entire teams, opted to honor the Hall-of-Famer by wearing his number, prompting some controversy. C.C. Sabathia, then of the Cleveland Indians, said, “It [having so many players wearing 42] kind of waters it down. I could see the Dodgers since that was his team, but not everyone else.” Torii Hunter, at that time with the Twins, shared Sabathia’s concern: “This is supposed to be an honor, and just a handful of guys wearing the number. Now you’ve got entire teams doing it. I think we’re killing the meaning. It should be special wearing Jackie’s number, not just because it looks cool.”

Griffey, though, didn’t share the distaste of Sabathia and Hunter. Instead, he embraced the mass support in honor of Jackie: “I didn’t know so many guys planned to wear the number. I sure wasn’t expecting whole teams to wear it. But, I’m not going to look at it as a negative. This is a tribute for what the man has done, a day to celebrate.”

In 2008, even more players and teams were wearing Jackie Robinson’s number, and this time, Sabathia appeared more accepting of players choosing to wear Jackie’s number 42: “It's pretty cool that guys are going to be doing it [wearing 42] again.” And, since 2009, all uniformed MLB personnel—players, managers, coaches, umpires—have worn forty-two on April 15.

Since Jackie Robinson Day was first established in 2004, the Mariners are 5-1 on April 15 games.

How Michael Pineda's Home Debut Stacks Up

Last night, 22 year-old Michael Pineda, in his Safeco Field debut, earned his first MLB win. He worked into the eighth inning (7.1 IP), allowing just two runs (one earned run), on five hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts. He worked ahead of hitters and had command of all his pitches. Mariner fans will look forward to witnessing many more performances like that this year and into the future.

But, how did Michael Pineda’s Mariner home debut stack up against other young Mariner pitching prospects’ home debuts? Let’s stroll down memory lane. You may recall many of these young Mariner starters.

Mike Moore (1st overall pick 1981 by Mariners) (age 22, 4/17/1982 vs. Oakland, Kingdome)—Loss, 1.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP.

Mark Langston (2nd Round pick 1981 by Mariners) (age 23, 4/7/1984 vs. Milwaukee, Kingdome)—Win, 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K.

Bill Swift (2nd overall pick 1984 by Mariners) (age 23, 6/11/1985 vs. Chicago, Kingdome)—Loss, 5.2 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K.

Scott Bankhead (16th pick overall, 1st round 1984 by Royals, traded to Mariners in December 1986 as centerpiece in a package for Rick Luecken and Danny Tartabull) (age 23, 4/14/1987 vs. California, Kingdome)—Win, 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K.

Erik Hanson (2nd Round pick 1986 by Mariners) (age 23, 9/16/1988 vs. Milwaukee, Kingdome)—Loss, 8 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 11 K.

Randy Johnson (2nd Round pick 1985 by Expos, traded to Mariners in May 1989 as part of a five-player deal which sent Mark Langston to Montreal) (age 25, 6/4/1989 vs. Texas, Kingdome)—Win, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER (1R), 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HBP.

Roger Salkeld (#3 overall pick 1989 by Mariners) (age 23, 4/28/1994 vs. New York, Kingdome)—Win, 6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 5 BB, 3 K.

Freddy Garcia (signed as free agent 1993 by Houston; acquired by Mariners from Houston in a 1998 deadline deal as part of a package in exchange for Randy Johnson) (age 23, 4/7/1999 vs. Chicago, Kingdome)—Win, 5.2 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K.

Felix Hernandez (signed as free agent 2002 by Mariners) (age 19, 8/9/2005 vs. Minnesota, Safeco Field)—Win, 8 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K.

I’d venture to say that Mr. Pineda’s home debut stacks up well against some of the most heralded pitching prospects in Mariner history. His box score from last night resembles those of guys named Langston, Johnson, and Hernandez. That’s not bad company.

Mariners Baseball: Ready to Play

The first week of the season has been really disappointing to all Mariner fans. Many of the frustrating things we’ve seen were largely expected. For example, we have watched some young guys in the bullpen get roughed up a bit in games; and, the offense has struggle, as it did pretty much all last year. Now, we are 2-7, losers of seven straight.

The boo-birds are already out at Safeco during home games, and frankly, the fans have good reason to express their irritation over the current level of play.

Yet, as expected as the struggles from a shaky offense and young bullpen were from the get-go, one dimension of the Mariners’ shortcomings is far more alarming: what appears to be a lack of concentration involving baseball’s most basic fundamentals. Manager Eric Wedge was brought in following the second 101-loss season in the past three years, and one of his tasks was to have his guys playing smart, fundamental baseball—something noticeably absent from recent Mariner teams. Wedge has a reputation for managing smart, fundamentally-sound baseball teams. But, to this point in 2011, we are seeing a lack of fundamentals out of players from whom we, as Mariner fans, have come to expect more.

We see Jack Wilson making two errors at second base in one inning. I realize he is a shortstop by trade, and second base is a new position for him. But Jack Wilson, who has won a Fielding Bible Award at shortstop, should be capable of catching feeds from shortstop and making throws to first base.

Another player whose defensive fundamentals have lapsed in the early stages of the season is Ichiro—a ten time all-star and ten-time American League Gold Glove recipient. We are nine games into the season, and he’s already made two errors from the outfielder. Last week, he misjudged a ball lined at him and ended up with his glove turned the wrong way, as the ball ricocheted off the heel of his glove, then off his chest. Then, yesterday afternoon, he airmailed the cut-off man on a throw to home, forcing cut-off man Justin Smoak to jump into the air and extend his arm for it. The ball tipped off the top of his glove and trickled away, allowing runners to advance. These are the types of things fans may expect to see from outfielders like Milton Bradley or Jack Cust (if he were to get a start in the OF), but not Ichiro. We expect more from our perennial Gold-Glover, and manager Eric Wedge must demand the same.

Ichiro may not make another error for weeks, and he may finish the season just those two. He and Jack Wilson may very well earn Gold Gloves at their respective positions when all is said and done. But for now, Mariner fans need to see more from their defensive stars.

The lack of fundamentals from an offensive standpoint are even more numerous. For a further breakdown, complete with examples, read through a play-by-play account of Saturday night’s 2-1 loss to the Indians.

The Mariners Call on Chris Gimenez

Adam Moore injured his knee scrambling for a ball that got away from him in the eighth inning against the Rangers during the series finale Wednesday afternoon down in Arlington. It turns out Moore suffered a tear of his menial meniscus in his right knee. The tear will require surgery and Moore has been placed on the 60-day disabled list for now.

With Moore’s injury, many Mariner followers believed the team would call up Josh Bard, who spent significant time with the club last season (39 games), to serve as Miguel Olivo’s backup. But, instead the Mariners went in a different direction. They opted to call up super utility man, Chris Gimenez.

Typically, the most “versatile” utility players can play different infield spots, and maybe a corner outfield position. Some guys, like Willie Bloomquist, can do all that, plus play centerfield. Gimenez, though, is unique, in that, in seven seasons of professional baseball, he has logged innings playing corner outfield positions, corner infield positions, and catcher. At the MLB level, in 73 games over the past two seasons, Gimenez has played both corner outfield positions, first base, and catcher.

Eric Wedge knows Gimenez well, as Gimenez spent the entirety of his seven-year professional career, prior to 2011, in the Cleveland organization, before joining the Mariners organization this offseason.

As versatile as he is defensively, though, Gimenez hasn’t been able to stick around at the MLB level because of his bat. In 169 career MLB at-bats, he’s batted .160, with a .267 OBP and .272 SLG. In almost 600 games spanning various levels in the minor leagues, he’s batted .268/.377/.463.

Here, Gimenez is being called up from Tacoma to backup Miguel Olivo at catcher. And on paper, he appears a competent backup catcher. Gimenez, over his MLB career, has thrown out 12 of 39 potential base-stealers, a 31% rate. To put this into perspective, Josh Bard has thrown out 21% of would-be base-stealers, Miguel Olivo has thrown out 35%, and Adam Moore has thrown out 17%. Granted, a pitcher’s ability to hold on base-runners, or the pitch on which a runner attempts to steal, is just as significant as the catcher’s “defense” in evaluating this statistic, but the numbers do demonstrate that Gimenez is capable of doing the job behind the plate twice a week. Finally, over his MLB career (32 games behind the plate, and just under 225 total innings caught), Gimenez has allowed a single passed ball and committed just one error.

Welcome to Seattle, Chris Gimenez.

Finding Signs of Improvement

Today, at the Oakland Coliseum the Mariners played more like the 2010 Mariners than the team that has found ways to win its first two games of the season this weekend. On six hits, the M’s scored only one run—a Ryan Langerhans solo HR. Unfortunately, at the plate the M’s looked reminiscent of last year’s offensive struggles: in six at-bats with runners in scoring position, the Mariners went hitless. On top of that, defensively, the outfield had problems tracking flyballs in the high Oakland sun, and by the seventh inning, the game had unraveled.

Despite today’s ugly loss, however, the Mariners faired pretty well in their opening series on the road, in Oakland, particularly compared to last year’s opening set in Oakland. Last season, the Mariners went 1-3 in a four-game series to open the season, and the ballclub wouldn’t win their first road series until the end of April in Kansas City.

Moreover, so far, the Mariners appear a more patient team at the plate. Over this three game opening series, Mariner batters walked fourteen times and accumulated an on-base percentage of .346. To put this on-base percentage in perspective, last season, Mariners’ hitters accrued an on-base percentage of just .298, twelfth in the American League. Granted, the Mariners will not walk seven times each game, like they did on opening night; but still, if the team continues to prioritize patience at the plate, the offense, as a whole will improve.

Over the first three games, the Mariner starting pitching has also looked good. Felix threw like a defending Cy Young winner, Jason Vargas pitched like a rotation’s number-two should. And, Doug Fister was one out away from notching a quality start. The rotation, at this early juncture, seems prepared to continue from its successes of last year. But, the staff will be tested this week, as the team will travel to Arlington to take on the Rangers, a red-hot ballclub fresh off a sweep of the Red Sox and currently tearing the cover off the baseball. While the Mariners have clubbed two homeruns in their first three games, the Rangers already have two players that have knocked three homeruns apiece.

Stay tuned this week, as the Rangers will be taking their hacks against Erik Bedard, who hasn’t pitched in an MLB game since the summer of 2009; Michael Pineda, who will be making his MLB debut; and King Felix, looking to repeat from an Opening Day complete game.

Opening Day Post-Season Predictions: National League

Yesterday, I predicted who would win each of the American League divisions. Today I move to the National League.

National League West: Los Angeles Dodgers

I’m going with the Dodgers to win the West, as I expect them to really turn the corner this year in a big way. When they can roll out 3-4-5 hitters entering their primes like Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and James Loney, and then add in a rotation with guys like Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Ted Lilly, and Hiroki Kuroda, they appear poised to capture the West from the defending-World-champion Giants. Hong-Chih Kuo is an outstanding lefty out of the bullpen, though Dodger fans will hope Jonathon Broxton regains the touch he had the first half of last season. Adding Juan Uribe and Matt Guerrier should bolster the LA offense and bullpen, and when Vicente Padilla and John Garland return from injuries, they will provide a boost to an already relatively-deep pitching staff. The Giants, too, have an exceptional rotation, but I’m still not totally sold on their offense. For example, as easy as things appeared to have come for Buster Posey last year, I expect him to face some growing pains this year as the National League does its homework and makes adjustments.

National League Central: Chicago Cubs

The NL Central could be a three way race. I would have gone with the Cardinals, but with the season-ending injury to Adam Wainwright, Matt Holliday’s emergency appendectomy, and lingering bullpen concerns in Saint Louis, I’m going with the Cubs. They are a veteran team, which may make them more susceptible to injuries as the season progresses, but if they can stay healthy, with Matt Garza, Ryan Dempster, and Carlos Zambrano starting games and Carlos Marmol finishing them, I think the Cubs will match up well in the NL Central. Starlin Castro, now a second-year player, will be expected to step up his consistency both offensively and defensively, and Cubs fans will hope Carlos Pena makes a seamless transition to the National League. The Brewers will be another team to watch, particularly after acquiring Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum; but, I’m still not entirely sold on them at this point. So, by a sort of default, I’m going with the Cubs.

National League East: Philadelphia Phillies

Two words: starting pitching. With the R2C2 combination of Halladay, Oswalt, Hamels, and Lee, they will certainly be a team against whom it will be tough to score. Plus, they’ve got momentum on their side. These guys know how to win, with a key core of veterans: Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, Placido Polanco, and Raul Ibanez. Yes, Chase Utley may not be the same player with his knee issues, and Jason Werth’s departure will be significant, as their offense was already lefty-heavy. And, the bullpen seems really iffy, especially so long as Brad Lidge is sidelined; but, if the Phillies’ rotation covers the innings it is projected to, that should ease the strain on the bullpen. Even considering all those factors, Charlie Manuel will have his guys playing with the necessary confidence to win the NL East.

National League Wild Card: San Francisco Giants

I didn’t pick them to win the NL West, but the Giants are still a good-looking team. They still have Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner. Brandon Belt could emerge as this year’s version of Buster Posey. Aubrey Huff’s rally thong may still have some magic in it, and Pablo Sandoval apparently lost forty pounds. Thus, San Francisco will be in the playoff hunt throughout the season. They could take the West, though I have them securing the Wild Card.