Seattle Mariners preview The best thing about the Mariners' 2008 season was that it finally ended. After 101 losses and a summer of discontent, Seattle enters this season with the hope that the rotation will be improved, the bullpen will have decent options and the offense will be better. THREE QUESTIONS 1. Will the new regime turn things around in Seattle? Things can't get much worse. The mess in Seattle last season was as close to toxic as you'll ever see in the big leagues. It was a combination of many things, including bad clubhouse chemistry, underperforming but overpaid stars, a rash of injuries early in the year and way too many losses. The Mariners expected to compete for a playoff spot; instead, they finished 39 games behind the first-place Angels in the A.L. West. New general manager Jack Zduriencik and new manager Don Wakamatsu have their work cut out for them. This is Wakamatsu's first turn as a big league manager, but he has coached under managers such as Mike Scioscia, who knows a thing or two about running a successful franchise. 2. Why do the Mariners hate Jeff Clement? OK, they don't hate him, but they're not making it easy for the power-hitting catcher to establish himself in the majors. Clement, the No. 3 overall pick in 2005, hit .335 with 14 homers in 48 games in Class AAA last season before his call-up in mid-June (he hit .227 with Seattle, .321 in his final 78 at-bats). Clement had arthroscopic knee surgery in September, but spent the offseason expecting to split time between catcher and DH this season (his full-time job behind the plate is blocked by Kenji Johjima and his three-year, $24 million contract). But then the Mariners brought back Ken Griffey as a DH/left fielder. So, Clement must wait for at-bats when Johjima sits or Griffey plays in the field. Clement has been working at first base this spring, where the starter is Russell Branyan, a veteran slugger who has yet to start for an entire season. Clement also could begin the season at Class AAA. 3. Who will close? For two years, Seattle simply handed the ball to J.J. Putz in the ninth inning, but his injuries opened the door for 10 different Mariners to record at least one save in 2008. With Putz now with the Mets, the closer job is wide open. Newcomer Tyler Walker and veteran Miguel Batista have the most experience in the role (34 and 38 career saves, respectively). Mark Lowe has ninth-inning stuff but had an unsightly 1.76 WHIP last season. Roy Corcoran had a 3.22 ERA in 50 games for the Mariners in 2008 but doesn't have typical closer velocity on his fastball. David Aardsma and Randy Messenger are in the mix, too, though likely more as fill-ins than full-time options. Former Nationals closer Chad Cordero could emerge around midseason if he completes his recovery from a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder. PROJECTED LINEUP 1. RF Ichiro Suzuki. Has 200-plus hits all eight seasons in the majors. 2. SS Yuniesky Betancourt. Has 64 errors at short the past three seasons. 3. 2B Jose Lopez. One of few Mariners to actually improve in 2008. 4. 3B Adrian Beltre. Had 48 HRs, 121 RBIs in his last contract year (2004). 5. DH Ken Griffey. Seattle hopes homecoming, healthy knee will spark resurgence. 6. 1B Russell Branyan. Power still there; so are the gaping holes in his swing. 7. CF Franklin Gutierrez. Hit .313 in final two months for Indians last season. 8. C Kenji Johjima. Suffered major offensive drop last season (.227 average, 7 homers). 9. LF Endy Chavez. Excellent defender will share time with Griffey in left. PROJECTED ROTATION 1. RHP Felix Hernandez. Getting better every year (ignore the win totals). 2. LHP Erik Bedard. Returning from September shoulder surgery. 3. RHP Brandon Morrow. Forearm soreness could force him to miss start of season. 4. RHP Carlos Silva. Made horrible first impression in Seattle (4-15, 6.46 ERA) in 2008. 5. LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith. Battling veteran Jarrod Washburn for this spot. PROJECTED CLOSER RHP Mark Lowe. Hard thrower must cut down on baserunners (78 hits, 34 walks last season) to beat out field of contenders. GRADES Offense: D. The loss of outfielder Raul Ibanez will hurt. It is hard to imagine a lineup with Branyan (797 strikeouts in 2,000 career at-bats) in the middle of the order producing consistently. If many things fall into place, Seattle could finish in the middle of the pack in the A.L. in runs scored, but that isn't likely. Pitching: C. This grade could be an A-minus by the end of the season. Felix Hernandez is a true ace, and Erik Bedard and Brandon Morrow could be very good -- if healthy. Ryan Rowland-Smith had a 3.50 ERA in 12 career starts. The bullpen has some uncertainty, but there are enough arms to form a decent unit once roles are defined. Bench: C. Seattle added infield versatility by trading for Ronny Cedeno, who can fill in at second, third and shortstop. Veterans Mike Sweeney and Chris Shelton are vying for backup time at first base and DH. Wladimir Balentien looks like the fourth outfielder. Manager: C. This grade eventually could tick upward also, but Wakamatsu is an unproven commodity. He has learned under some of the best, so there definitely is hope. Joe Maddon would have gotten this same grade when he took over in Tampa Bay, and look at him now. Sporting News prediction: Barring a massive run of injuries, the Mariners won't have a triple-digit loss total again. They'll still finish fourth in the A.L. West, but there will be more hope for contending in 2010 than there is this season. --

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