Preseason 2015 MLB Playoff predictions
AL West: Seattle Mariners (93-69)
2014 finish: 3rd in AL West (87-75)
The Seattle Mariners made a run to get into the AL Wild Card playoff game last season, but they lost steam, finishing behind the Oakland Athletics by just one game. The Mariners signed a huge deal with former Yankees 2B Robinson Cano prior to the 2014 season and Cano led the Mariners in batting going .314/.382/.454. Cano had 187 hits but hit just 14 home runs after five straight seasons with over 25 homers (Yankee Stadium right field fence helped). Mariners 3B Kyle Seager also broke out last season and continued his exponential growth as he led the team with 25 home runs and 96 RBI’s and Seattle signed him to a 7-year $100 million deal this offseason.
The Mariners’ best player is pitcher Felix Hernandez, who has been an All-Star in five of the last six seasons. The season he wasn’t? 2010 when he went on to win the AL Cy Young Award. Felix Hernandez had another stellar season last year. He went 15-6 with a 2.14 ERA and 248 strikeouts, finishing second in the AL Cy Young voting. For the Mariners to win the AL West, King Felix will have to continue his dominant reign in the MLB.
Over the offseason, Seattle made some great moves, improving on a young team by adding some veterans and it’s going to pay off for them.
Key additions: OF Nelson Cruz, OF Justin Ruggiano, LHP J.A. Happ, OF Seth Smith.
Key losses: RF Michael Saunders, DH Corey Hart, OF Chris Denorfia, 1B Kendrys Morales, RHP Brandon Maurer.
The Seattle Mariners really didn’t give anything up except for a decent player in Michael Saunders this season, but the veterans they added will help this team immensely. First, the biggest signing is Nelson Cruz. Cruz had a huge year last season with the Baltimore Orioles hitting 40 home runs, the most in the majors with .271/.333/.525 batting numbers. Cruz is 34, but he doesn’t seem to be shaking out of his prime in the near future. Home runs will become a little more difficult for Cruz at Safeco Field, but you can expect good numbers for the designated hitter who is playing for Seattle under a four-year $57 million deal trying to get his first World Series title.
The Mariners also signed Justin Ruggiano and Seth Smith to their outfield. Expect Seth Smith to get the starting nod in right field after a good season with the San Diego Padres where he had 118 hits in 139 games with a .266/.367/.440 batting line. Lefty J.A. Happ will join Seattle in hopes of turning his game around after four straight seasons of pitching above a 4.00 ERA. Happ adds to a rotation of Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma (solid 15-9, 3.52 ERA 2014 season), and young James Paxton and Taijuan Walker who haven’t pitched full seasons for Seattle, but have strong potential with solid stats so far. Add that to a solid bullpen with Fernando Rodney (48 saves in 2014), Danny Farquhar (2.66 ERA), Yoervis Molina and Charlie Furbush, the Mariners have stacked quite a team.
The Mariners will need great supporting cast performances out of Cruz, center fielder Austin Jackson (who was acquired from the Detroit Tigers last season and had a rough time getting the bat on the ball, but stole 11 bases in 54 games), LF Dustin Ackley (123 hits in 143 games in 2014 batting .245/.293/.398) and C Mike Zuzino who struggled hard at the plate last season with a .199 batting average.
2015 team batting MVP: 2B Robinson Cano/3B Kyle Seager
2015 team pitching MVP: SP Felix Hernandez
2015 key under the radar player: CF Austin Jackson
The Mariners are going to be in a constant battle with the Los Angeles Angels for the top spot in the AL West this season, but the Mariners are going to bull away in clutch style and make a run deep into the playoffs this year.