2008 Woodie Awards
Mariners primed to surprise
By: Thomas Lawrence
Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: Sports
Red Sox Nation is looking to defend its second world championship in four years, the Yankees are chock full of talent as always, and the top tier of the American League Central appears ready to wreak havoc on the rest of the league.
But there is a potential monster preparing for battle in the forgotten corner of the United States: the northwest.
Mark my words, America - the Seattle Mariners are a contender to be the 2008 Major League Baseball champions.
The Mariners key off-season acquisition came in the form of underappreciated left-hander Erik Bedard.
Bedard is a legitimate rotation ace who has been hidden from the national spotlight as he has toiled in obscurity in Baltimore for the first part of his career.
Last season, Bedard posted a 3.16 ERA with 221 strikeouts and only 64 earned runs allowed. Also, he only gave up 57 walks - giving him a strikeout to walk ratio just near 4:1.
Finally, he had a respectable record of 13-5, even on the last place team in the American League East.
Bedard turns 29 tomorrow, meaning that he's entering the prime of his career as a starting pitcher.
Bedard, coupled with Felix Hernandez, who when healthy, has quite possibly the most devastating fastball/curveball combination in the game, will make for a miserable road trip to the pitcher's ballpark of Safeco Field in Seattle.
Also, Seattle has four potentially solid starters behind them in Miguel Batista, Jarrod Washburn, Carlos Silva and Cha Seung Baek.
Another hidden gem within the Mariners' franchise is J.J. Putz - the best closer you've never heard of.
Putz's numbers and overall dominance of hitters is right up there with the likes of Mariano Rivera and Jonathan Papelbon.
Last year, Putz posted a stick-thin 1.38 ERA and had an exceptional 40 saves on a non-playoff team. He also struck out 82 in 71.2 innings pitched, giving him an excellent strikeout per nine innings at just over 10.
Next, the Mariners defense is as solid as it gets - including relatively unknown shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, who is considered by many experts to be the best bet for the top defensive shortstop in the league for years to come.
Betancourt, along with second year Japanese catcher Kenji Johjima behind the plate and Ichiro Suzuki in center field, should make for a near "steel curtain" defense for the Mariners.
Finally, there's the lineup - one of the deepest in the game, along with the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees.
Johjima, Ichiro, Adrian Beltre, Richie Sexson, Raul Ibanez, Brad Wilkerson and Jose Vidro will be too much for most starting pitchers - especially in a depleted American League West. Anything the Mariners can get from Betancourt, Miguel Cairo, Willie Bloomquist and outfielder Jeremy Reed will be a huge plus.
So, as you have your fantasy drafts, sort out your picks for division winners and champions with your friends, and just talk baseball, remember the Mariners - the beast lurking in the shadows and rain of the Northwest.
But there is a potential monster preparing for battle in the forgotten corner of the United States: the northwest.
Mark my words, America - the Seattle Mariners are a contender to be the 2008 Major League Baseball champions.
The Mariners key off-season acquisition came in the form of underappreciated left-hander Erik Bedard.
Bedard is a legitimate rotation ace who has been hidden from the national spotlight as he has toiled in obscurity in Baltimore for the first part of his career.
Last season, Bedard posted a 3.16 ERA with 221 strikeouts and only 64 earned runs allowed. Also, he only gave up 57 walks - giving him a strikeout to walk ratio just near 4:1.
Finally, he had a respectable record of 13-5, even on the last place team in the American League East.
Bedard turns 29 tomorrow, meaning that he's entering the prime of his career as a starting pitcher.
Bedard, coupled with Felix Hernandez, who when healthy, has quite possibly the most devastating fastball/curveball combination in the game, will make for a miserable road trip to the pitcher's ballpark of Safeco Field in Seattle.
Also, Seattle has four potentially solid starters behind them in Miguel Batista, Jarrod Washburn, Carlos Silva and Cha Seung Baek.
Another hidden gem within the Mariners' franchise is J.J. Putz - the best closer you've never heard of.
Putz's numbers and overall dominance of hitters is right up there with the likes of Mariano Rivera and Jonathan Papelbon.
Last year, Putz posted a stick-thin 1.38 ERA and had an exceptional 40 saves on a non-playoff team. He also struck out 82 in 71.2 innings pitched, giving him an excellent strikeout per nine innings at just over 10.
Next, the Mariners defense is as solid as it gets - including relatively unknown shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, who is considered by many experts to be the best bet for the top defensive shortstop in the league for years to come.
Betancourt, along with second year Japanese catcher Kenji Johjima behind the plate and Ichiro Suzuki in center field, should make for a near "steel curtain" defense for the Mariners.
Finally, there's the lineup - one of the deepest in the game, along with the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees.
Johjima, Ichiro, Adrian Beltre, Richie Sexson, Raul Ibanez, Brad Wilkerson and Jose Vidro will be too much for most starting pitchers - especially in a depleted American League West. Anything the Mariners can get from Betancourt, Miguel Cairo, Willie Bloomquist and outfielder Jeremy Reed will be a huge plus.
So, as you have your fantasy drafts, sort out your picks for division winners and champions with your friends, and just talk baseball, remember the Mariners - the beast lurking in the shadows and rain of the Northwest.
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