Seattle Mariner's Preview: M's Infield Recieved a Face-Lift After 2008

Continuing my series of a Seattle Mariners preview, I will now be focusing on the M’s crowded infield. Three of the four starters are the same, the change being Russell Branyan is at first base, but the biggest difference is the infield bench.

Last season the Mariners infield was the following:

First Base: Richie Sexson
Second Base: Jose Lopez
Short Stop: Yuniesky Betancourt
Third Base: Adrian Beltre
Utility: Miguel Cairo and Willie Bloomquist

As for 2009, the M’s infield is shaping up to be something like this:

First Base: Russell Branyan
Second Base: Jose Lopez
Short Stop: Yuniesky Betancourt
Third Base: Adrian Beltre
Corner Infield: Mike Sweeney and possibly Russell Branyan
Middle Infield: Ronny Cedeno

Last season the Mariners were in shambles after the Mariners released stud turned dud Richie Sexson and replaced him with the young Bryan Lahair ,who managed to hit three home runs and compile a .250 batting average.  

Now they have Sweeney with the first call, if some one is unable to play followed by Chris Shelton, Bryan Lahair and lastly Mike Carp.

Shelton was currently leading the Mariners in spring batting average before getting sent down to the Minor Leagues due to the Mariners not being able to offer him enough if any playing time.

As you probably noticed, they Mariners don’t have one guy that can play every position as they have been blessed with the last two seasons when they had Cairo and Bloomquist, but the reserves they do have are even better in 2009.

Sweeney is a five-time All-Star who comes here with a magnetic personality and with hopes of a comeback bid to his prior 2006 form. Coincidentally, he hit his first home run against the Mariners back in 1996 off of now Phillie Jamie Moyer.

Cedeno was once a top-prospect for the Chicago Cubs but the Cubs followed their trade mark move by trading away prospects for veterans, in this case it was Cedeno and Garret Olson for Aaron Heilman.

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