Seattle Mariners 2010 Baseball Predictions: The Seattle Mariners made a big turnaround last year, going from 61 wins in 2008 to 85; however, the improvement was not enough to oust the Angels from the top of the AL West or even get by the second place Rangers. The 2010 M's are hoping off-season maneuvers change all that and put them in line for the division crown. 2010 Baseball Predictions at online sportsbook Bodog.com have the Mariners listed at 16 to 1 odds to win the 2010 World Series and 8 to 1 odds to win the 2010 AL Championship.
Seattle made a 24 game improvement from 2008 to 2009, quite obviously, due to a superior pitching staff. Proof of such is
the fact that the Mariners actually scored 31 more runs in 2008 than they did last season. Their team ERA, however, dropped from 4.73 to 3.87. That should only get better this year with the addition of former Cy Young winner Cliff Lee.
Adding Lee to the rotation gives Seattle one of the best one and two starter combinations in the league. Twenty-three year old sensation Felix Hernandez was runner-up for the Cy Young in the American League last year after putting together a 19-5 record to go along with a 2.49 ERA and 217 strikeouts. Lee produced a 3.22 ERA while splitting time between the Indians and Phillies. Joining the two standouts in the rotation, most likely, is a serviceable group that includes Ian Snell, Ryan Rowland-Smith, and Jason Vargas.
Offensively, as mentioned, the Mariners left much to be desired last year. They ranked in the bottom third of the league in almost every meaningful offensive measurement, including runs (640), batting average (.259), RBI (613), and on-base percentage (.314).
The off-season additions of Milton Bradley, Chone Figgins, and Casey Kotchman should bolster those numbers. The combination of Figgins and Ichiro Suzuki at the top of the order should, without question, result in more runs on the scoreboard. And if Bradley can return to the form he displayed in Texas and San Diego, as opposed to last year's Chicago version, he should increase the club's power numbers.
Seattle's bullpen was one of the better ones in baseball in 2009, posting a 3.89 ERA and 49 saves. David Aardsma (closer), Brandon League, Garrett Olson, Mark Lowe, and Shawn Kelley should make it a competent one in 2010 as well.
Bodog.com Seattle Mariners 2010 Baseball Predictions:
Odds to win the 2010 World Series 16/1
Odds to win the 2010 AL Championship 8/1
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