Lookin' forward to 2008

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Joined: Mon Apr 01, 2002 1:00 am
Name: Ben L. Montgomery

Lookin' forward to 2008

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After suffering through numerous injuries in 2007 the Mariners roster is getting younger in 2008. The lineup will be enhanced by the additions of young standouts like Asdrubal Cabrera and Adam Jones, along with the return of the remade lefty slugger Rick "Wild Thing" Ankiel. Lineup could use a legit leadoff hitter but a platoon will have to do for now. 3b is definitely a need, however I'll probably have to settle for picking up a lefty platoon partner for Ensberg.

The rotation is anchored at the top by AJ Burnett. When he is healthy his "stuff" is as nasty as anyones. Health is always an issue with him though. Hard to believe D-Train is still only 25 years old (26 when the season starts). The high work loads of 2005 and 2006 definately took their toll on him in 2007, however looking for a big bounce back season in 2008 as the Marlins are bringing back Willis' old pitching coach from 2005. In 2007, Blanton proved 2005 wasn't a fluke and he's now seen as a solid middle of the rotation workhorse.

The addition of Anibal Sanchez to the #4 spot in the rotation provides the Mariners with another solid young starter who has flashed brilliance and suffered from injury in his young MLB career. Having thrown the first major league no-hitter in two seasons during his rookie year Sanchez flashed TOR stuff if he can fully recover from shoulder surgery last season. Returning from two elbow surgeries in order to place a claim on the #5 spot in the rotation is Mike Hampton. After leaving the rarified air in Colorado for a much more pitcher friendly environment in Atlanta, Hampton had returned to being a solid innings earter winning 14 and 13 games respectively, before going under the knife.

The bullpen is full of exciting young arms and should prove to be a strength for the Mariners in 2008.

The roster is probably a season from really coming together, as I'm looking for big bounce back seasons in 2008 for Willis and Sanchez which will make the Mariners future rotation extremely tough. As the young lineup matures, I'll need a replacement for Delgado eventually, however have the flexibility to play Swisher at any of the OF positions along with 1b.


Starting Rotation
1. A. J. Burnett, RH - 10-8, 3.75 ERA, 9.8 K/9, 3.7 BB/9, 1.19 WHIP
2. Dontrelle Willis, LH - 10-15, 5.17 ERA, 6.0 K/9, 3.6 BB/9, 1.60 WHIP
3. Joe Blanton, RH - 14-10, 3.95 ERA, 5.7 K/9, 1.6 BB/9, 1.22 WHIP
4. Anibal Sanchez, RH - 2-1, 4.80 ERA (2006 - 10-3, 2.83 ERA)
5. Mike Hampton, LH - Returning from TJ surgery - 5-3, 3.50 ERA (2005)

Starting Lineup
1. Ryan Church, LF - .272/.349/.464, 15 HR, 1 3b, 43 2b (.287/.360/.506 versus right handers)
2. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS - .283/.354/.421, 3 HR, 2 3b, 9 2b (.310/.380/.448 total in AA/AAA)
3. Nick Swisher, 1b - .262/.381/.455, 22 HR, 1 3b, 36, 2b
4. Carlos Delgado, DH - .258/.333/.448, 24 HR, 30 2b
5. Adam Jones, CF - .246/.300/.400, 2 HR, 1 3b, 2 2b (.314/.382/.586 in AAA)
6. Rick Ankiel, RF - .285/.328/.535, 11 HR, 1 3b, 8 2b (.267/.314/.568 in AAA) (43 HR's between AAA and Majors)
7. Bengi Molina, C - .276/.298/.433, 19 HR, 1 3b, 19 2b
8 Morgan Ensberg, 3b - .231/.320/.396, 12 HR, 13 2b, (.257/.345/.486 versus Left Handers)
9. Ryan Raburn, 2b - .304/.340/.507, 4 HR, 2 3b, 12 2b (.292/..394/.540 in AAA)

Bullpen
Rafael Soriano, Closer - 3.00 ERA, 9 saves, 9.9 K/9, 2.1 BB/9
George Sherrill, LH - 2.36 ERA, 3 saves, 11.9 K/9, 3.6 BB/9
Mark Madson, RH - 3.05 ERA, 1 save, 7.1 K/9, 3.8 BB/9
Jonathan Albaladejo, RH 1.88 ERA, 9.2 K/9, 1.5 BB/9
Ryan Rowland-Smith, LH - 3.96 ERA, 9.7 K/9, 3.5 BB/9
Virgil Vasquez, RH - 12-5, 3.48 ERA, 7.37 K/9, 1.92 BB/9, 1.11 WHIP (AAA)

Bench
Willie Bloomquist, 2b/SS/OF - .277/.321/.329
Bryan Anderson, C - .298/.350/.388 (AA)
Jose Lopez, 2b/3b - .252/.284/.355, 11 HR, 2 3b, 17 2b
Marcus Thames, OF/1b - .242/.278/.498, 18 HR, 15 2b (.310/.341/.586 versus left handers)
Brad Wilkerson, OF
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