Simon in Buffalo, New York asks…
Jake, the MLB’s Spring training is here and I couldn’t be more excited. Which team do you think has improved the most I like the Mariners. Your thoughts?
Answer: Seattle Mariners
Your assessment is sound, Simon!
With the additions of Cliff Lee, Chone Figgins, and Milton Bradley, the Seattle Mariners, barring injuries, should compete with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for a division title in the American League West.
The M’s now possess the best 1-2 punches in Major League Baseball.
Offensively, Ichiro Suzuki and Figgins should be a force to be reckoned with. Last season, they posted .386 and .395 on-base percentages respectively. Their career OBP are .378 and .363 correspondingly. Both men have excellent speed. In 146 games last year, Ichiro stole 26 bases. In 2008, he swiped 43 bags in 162 contests. Figgins had 42 stolen bases in 2009. His career high is 62. Ichiro and Chone will reach base a lot and wreak havoc on the paths.
On the pitching front, Seattle also has an incredible duo. Newly acquired Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez would be aces on most teams across the league. Enough said.
While some view Milton Bradley as a headache who monopolizes (pun intended!) clubhouses, the Harbor City, California native thrives in the OBP department. He recorded a .378 clip with the Cubs last season, .7 points above his career average. And, whom did the Mariners surrender for the outfielder? The club dealt Carlos Silva, who has had earned run averages of 6.46 and 8.60 over the last two campaigns.
General manager Jack Zduriencik certainly had a productive off-season.
P.S. Sorry for the lack of posts lately. This is really busy time of the year!
