Seattle Mariners' Early Struggles Concerning

The 2008 Seattle Mariners were picked by many to finish closely behind the L.A. Angels for a second-place finish, and some experts even picked them to win the AL West. After one week and one day into the season and a disappointing sweep by the Baltimore Orioles, some things must be concerning to all avid Mariners fans and the experts who crowned them AL West champions. 

Some people might say that the 0-6 Detroit Tigers and the 1-5 Colorado Rockies have more to worry about than these 2-5 Mariners do, but I'd beg to differ.

With the Mariners, you've got to enjoy watching their starting pitchers with Erik Bedard, King Felix Hernandez, and Carlos Silva topping off the rotation. But age, run production, and bullpen help should make Mariners fans nervous. Just look at King Felix's numbers so far. 15 shutout innings with a WHIP of 1.00 in two starts and leaves the ballpark with a record of 0-0.

Let's be real Mariners fans, 34-year-old Ichiro cannot get any better, in fact, if he loses half a step in his speed, he may not reach 200 hits. Defenses know where to position themselves when he comes up to the plate and he has been able to beat out their throws before, but it is hard to believe that he can do that for longer than this year. If he cannot get on base and steal second, sacrificed to third, and sacrifice flyed home, these streaky Mariners have a hard time scoring on a consistent basis. 

However, the Mariners should still be in almost every ballgame with the top of their rotation looking like they do, but you just cannot count on anyone to throw a complete game every time they come out.

Last season every game that they won with a quality start from their starter, they used the same formula: Morrow, Sherrill, and Putz. Morrow is in the minors, and with Sherrill gone, this has already shown the effects on their setup game as JJ blew his second game of the season before being placed on the DL.

So far Sherrill's replacements at setup (E. O'Flaherty, 14.73 and M. Lowe, 13.50) have not been able to keep a lead and record a hold. Watching these guys pitch along with everyone else in that bullpen should make most Mariners fans stand up and scream for help!

With so many games left, what can the Mariners do to try to solve these problems?  First, they should realize that this may be one of their last years to win with the likes of a declining Ichiro, Ibanez, and Johjima (all over 30 years of age). They need a big bat and they need a setup man.

Either they wait and hope JJ Putz is as good as he was the last couple of seasons when he returns from injury and can pitch two-inning saves again, or they should hope Morrow can return from the minors and pitch well and take the setup role.

If Morrow is not a reliable option at setup, then watch out for the swap of Batista and Morrow from starter to bullpen.

Or all Seattle fans can dream for the Kenji Johjima for Ken Griffey Jr. trade to bring back the kid, and promote some players such as Jeff Clement, Wladamier Balentien, and possibly even Bryan LaHair from Tacoma.