Seattle Mariners

This is one of the things Mariners fans such as this writer look forward to most every spring.

The Mariners commercials.

From the classics like Edgar installing "The Clapper" for late night BP, and the garage door opener that opened Safeco's roof to Jay Buhner using his bald head to reflect light into opposing batter's eyes, there have been some great ones. Every year, the crop of Mariners ads are viewed as some of the best in baseball.

Hey, you have to be good at something.

About a month ago, I wrote about some bold predictions for this upcoming Mariners season. In it, I said that Ichiro will win a batting title.

It really isn't an insanely bold prediction since this is something entirely possible in any given season with Ichiro. That doesn't make it something that is a lock, though, either.

I'll expand on that prediction a bit, and give five reasons that show he can still do it.

How do you fix a team that has lost 100 games twice in three seasons?

That's the glaring question that general manager Jack Zduriencik and manager Eric Wedge are tasked with in 2011.

After a few nice trades and additions propelled the team a giant step forward in 2009, they took another giant step back in 2010. Though most assumed that '09 team overachieved, the additions to the club last season led those same pundits to believe we'd at least see a similar outcome, perhaps even a better one.

After an award-winning 2010 campaign, with trade rumors constantly swirling around him, Felix Hernandez is set to enter his 10th season of professional baseball in the Seattle Mariners organization. Hernandez has enjoyed several successes in his 10 years in professional baseball, but he has much higher sights for himself.

Bobbleheads, t-shirts and refrigerator magnets.

Oh, my!

One of the pleasures a fan of a lousy team has to look forward to every season are the cool promotions that sucker you in to handing over a hundred bucks you may not have otherwise.

I've become an expert at this in recent years rooting on the Mariners, unfortunately. I have more dolls than any 31 year old man should, thanks to the annual Ichiro bobbles. Though, they're sucking me in again this season.

Ask people who was selected right after Stephen Strasburg went first overall in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, and there's a good chance you're left with blank faces.

Dustin Ackley, the second overall selection, or rather, the player picked after Strasburg, was a highly touted selection from the University of North Carolina.

One key to winning a fantasy baseball league is finding value in the latter stages of the draft, especially starting pitchers who can provide help with wins and strikeouts without hurting a team’s overall ERA. Late-round value picks who pan out can also be excellent trade bait to help bolster other weak areas of a fantasy roster.  

It's fair to say that on the diamond Milton Bradley has been given his fair share of chances. Bradley has worn out his welcome with the Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs already. Anyone with knowledge of Bradley's career would safely assume that he is a ticking time bomb, waiting to destroy the Seattle Mariners and their clubhouse.

Let's face it, the Mariners 2010 season was forgettable, just down right awful. At 61-101, only the Pittsburgh Pirates were worse in 2010 at 57-105.

The Mariners will likely struggle to compete in the AL West again this season. The Texas Rangers are the reigning American League Champions, the Oakland Athletics spent the offseason improving every part of their roster, and the Los Angeles Angels are poised to improve on their 80-82 season if health cooperates this season.

Prior to 2010, Chone Figgins was viewed as a viable third-base option, bringing speed to a position that rarely brings any.  Of course, that was before he signed with the Mariners, who promptly moved him to second base and saw him struggle at the plate. 

However, from 2005-2010 (not including Figgins in ’10 since he played 2B), there were seven seasons where a third baseman posted 25 SB or more: