Mariners' Studs 'N Duds of the First Half

(Photo by Scott A. Schneider/Getty Images)

Considering the fact that the Mariners lost 101 games in 2008, they have had a great first half. They're 46-42 and four games back of the division-leading Angels. Last season at the all-star break, they were 37-58 and 20 games back of the Angels.

They have a legitimate chance at making the playoffs, and plenty of players have contributed to that reality.

I'll call them studs.

There have also been a few players who haven't helped the team nearly as much, and even some that have hurt the team.

I'll call those duds.

Studs:

Ichiro:

Coming off a down year, for him anyway, Ichiro is back to his old ways in 2009. He is on pace for well over 200 hits, despite missing the first two weeks of the season. He's hitting .362 and (at the end of this season) will become the first player in history to record over 200 hits in nine consecutive seasons.

He's cut down a bit on the stolen bases, only 19 at the break, but he's getting as many infield hits as ever, and his speed is still fully intact. He's scoring fewer runs than usual, but that's not his fault, and his defense has been good.

Franklin Gutierrez:

The Mariners got Franklin Gutierrez in the three-team deal last offseason, in which they also acquired Endy Chavez, Jason Vargas, and Mike Carp, but it's become clear that Gutierrez was the real prize.

Not only has he been the best defensive center fielder in all of baseball this year, but he's also hitting over. 290 with 10 bombs.

Franklin has been a huge part of the Mariners' success this year, and, at age 26, we should have the privilege of watching him play here in Seattle for a nice, long time.

Russell Branyan:

After signing a one-year deal with the Mariners for a mere $1.4 million, Russell Branyan has been one of the most underrated players of the first half. The journeyman is on pace for around 40 home runs and 100 RBI, and he's hitting .280.

He strikes out a lot, and the Mariners knew that about him, but he also has the ability to draw a lot of walks, shown by his on base percentage of .382.

Russell Branyan is giving the M's the type of production that usually costs closer to $10 million, and has hinted that he intends to resign.

Felix Hernandez:

King Felix is 9-3 with a 2.53 ERA, 121 K's, and a 1.14 WHIP. He's also right in the thick of the AL Cy Young race with Zack Greinke and Roy Halladay.

He has been a true stopper for the Mariners this season, and is perhaps the biggest reason that the Mariners have had success. He is also one of the M's two all-star game representatives, with the other, of course, being Ichiro.

Jarrod Washburn:

Jarrod Washburn has not been nearly as good as a lot of people would think by looking at his sparkly ERA. That being said, he has been better than he was last year, and he's been able to do something that the Mariners have really needed—eat innings.

He's gone seven or more innings in nine of his 17 starts.

The M's bullpen has been shaky, especially recently, and Wash has been able to spare them a lot of work.

David Aardsma:

When Brandon Morrow was knocked out of the closers role after a couple of meltdowns in Texas, David Aardsma stepped up to temporarily take on the role.

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