| Team Information
The Seattle Mariners, coming back from a less than desirable season last year, are expected to come up with a record better than 2005. Although the team finished with a position of last place in the previous season, don’t count Mariners at the bottom of the market yet. With some hot new draft picks, the team has high hopes for its 2006 season.
Last year left Mariners fans dismayed and disappointed. Despite several changes, including large player signings, the team was unable to leave their spot at the bottom of MLB standings. Though they won six games more than their previous season, the Mariners finished dead last at the end of their 2005 run. However, there were some bright spots among their murky season. One was the debut of nineteen-year-old Venezuelan pitcher “King” Felix Hernandez. This pitcher (who was generally agreed to be baseball’s overall best pitching prospect) was the youngest person in major league ball since Jose Rijo appeared in 1984. On top of Hernandez came some promising rookie middle infielders.
Becoming part of the Mariners were Cuban shortstop and defensive pro Yuniesky Betancourt and Venezuelan second baseman Jose Lopez. Though they seemed to be stacked in new players, many argue that rotation beyond Hernandez and an aging Jaime Moyer was lacking. Also the Mariners had the most suspendees under the new drug testing policy, leaving them without some key players. In addition to this, Mariners stars Ichiro Suzuki and Adrian Beltre failed to live up to their playing potential from 2004, leaving the team twisting. With all of these faults in the lineup, the once hopeful team fell and stuck in the bottom of the record books for the 2005 season.
This year, the Mariners don’t plan on making the same mistakes twice. In the 2005-06 off-season, the teamed signed Japan’s top catcher Kenji Johjima to a three year deal and rival Los Angeles Angel’s left handed pitching starter Jarrod Washburn to a four year deal. Among other additions were designated hitter Carl Everett and Matt Lawton. With this new lineup, a much better finish is projected for the Mariners this season. As fans crowd Safeco Field in 2006, Seattle Mariners tickets should be flying off the shelves.
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