Seattle Mariners: The 'Boo-Boys' Need to Lay Off of Big Richie Sexson

When it comes to power hitting, many will agree that Richie Sexson is one of the best power hitters in the MLB.  Couple that with his staunch defending at first base and 'Big Richie' is a player that any good team SHOULD want to have.

Let's face it, he is just two home runs away from the coveted '300 Club' with 26 multi-home run games...

Now, it is true that the past few years have been a bit tough for Richie. He has suffered several injuries and had problems with his swing.

However, despite that, he has remained the true professional that he IS, not looking for excuses for his 'dip' in form.

Now let's take a quick look at some stats over the past five full seasons that really speak for themselves...

Total home runs: 152 = Average of 30.4 per season
Total runs scored: 252 = Average of 52.4 per season
Total RBI's: 451 = Average of 90.2 per season
Total bases: 1186 = Average of 237.2 per season

Add to this his defending at first base, where in 3,746 innings has committed just 15 errors in five seasons - that is one error per 250 innings! 

I know there are a LOT of people out there that have been disappointed with Richie's performance over the past few years, but no one has been more frustrated than Richie himself.

For example, let's take away his figures from the 2007 season (21 home runs, 58 runs scored, 63 RBI, 173 total bases) and the M's may well have finished the season on a 'losing note' once again rather than 10 games OVER .500 as they did.

The fans who persistently booed Richie last season were on his back AGAIN as early as the second game of this new 2008 season need. They need to lay off and give him a break.

The booing is NOT going to help and to be honest, right now he is actually one of the hottest hitters on the club. Just wait and see at the end of the season, Richie will, once again, be among the home run leaders among the M's.

Go Richie, prove the 'boo boys' wrong!!!