Seattle Mariners preview: There's More than Ichiro

Seattle Mariners

Record: 39-33, 2nd in AL West
Last Ten: 4-6
@ Home: 21-15
June: 13-9
Team BA: .283
Team ERA: 4.74

The Lineup:

Kenji Johjima - Catcher
.308/.336/.475, 7 HR, 28 RBI

Johjima is putting up better numbers in 2007 than he did in his 2006 rookie campaign. He's strong defensively, too, as he's only committed one error on the year.

Richie Sexson - First Base
.206/.292/.425, 14 HR, 44 RBI

Sexson doesn't get the bat on the ball often, but when he does it's guaranteed to be hit far -- somewhere. Power is still his game, but strikeouts are too, so the Sox will try and exploit that.

Jose Lopez - Second Base
.279/.322/.413, 7 HR, 41 RBI

Even Lopez has the power swing this season. Lopez's career-high in home runs is 10, set last season. Lopez is on pace to blow that out of the water and be one of the best second basemen in the American League both offensively and defensively.

Adrian Beltre - Third Base
.257/.300/.443, 9 HR, 28 RBI

Beltre has been, simply, average this season, just like every year of his career except 2004 when he was the NL MVP runner up. He's still on-pace for 20+ home runs, but he can't hit his way out of a wet paper bag.

Yuniesky Betancourt - Shortstop
.292/.312/.403, 4 HR, 28 RBI

Betancourt is hitting well at .292, but that's basically the only way he gets on base. His OBP-AVG differential is .020, one of the worst in the league for any regular starters.

Raul Ibanez - Left Field
.280/.332/.440, 6 HR, 49 RBI

Ibanez is a solid hitter all around, but he's capable of more power than he's showing in 2007. I expect him to breakout after the All-Star game.

Ichiro Suzuki - Center Field
.364/.416/.470, 5 HR, 37 RBI

It's Ichiro being Ichiro in 2007. He's hitting well over the .350 mark and he's stealing bases efficiently, going 22-for-24 in attempts. The Sox will try to do one thing: keep Ichiro off base.

Jose Guillen - Right Field
.255/.325/.414, 9 HR, 40 RBI

Guillen looks to be healthy after a poor 2006 season with the Nationals. Guillen has good power and a great arm out in right field, so don't test him at home plate and don't leave him a meatball over the middle.

Jose Vidro - Designated Hitter
.297/.354/.367, 3 HR, 22 RBI

I guess we're fortunate as Sox fans to have David Ortiz as our designated hitter, but when you only have 3 home runs out of your DH that's pretty sad. I think Vidro is a good hitter, but he's not a DH, no matter how bad he is defensively.

Probable Pitchers:

Monday: Jeff Weaver (1-6, 8.56)
Weaver has been bad in his career, but he's never been this bad. He has his work cut out for him against the Red Sox fifth starter, Julian Tavarez monday night. Never thought I'd say that...

Tuesday: "King" Felix Hernandez (4-4, 4.00)
Hernandez slapped the Sox around in April, but since his injury he's been average. He looks to be back in shape, though. His last outing against Pittsburgh was fantastic: 8 IP, 6 hits, no runs, one walk and 9 strikeouts. Which Felix will we see matched up against Kason Gabbard?

Wednesday: Ryan Feierabend (1-2, 8.20)
The 21-year-old lefty could give the Sox a lot of problems even though he's been bad in 2007. We know how badly the Sox struggle against green pitchers; especially ones that are left-handed. Feierabend was REALLY bad against the Reds last time out, giving up nine runs in 2.2 innings.