Seattle Mariners: 6 Reasons to Believe Team Still Has a Shot in AL West

Coming off two straight subpar seasons, the Seattle Mariners are still in the midst of rebuilding their roster heading into the 2012 season, and things appear to be trending in the right direction.  Still, with the offseason player-acquisitions of the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim, the Mariners are afterthoughts in the AL West.

Last year's record of 67-95 doesn’t exactly inspire visions of postseason play in 2012 but, as was seen by the Arizona Diamondbacks making the playoffs last season, anything can happen.  Here are the six reasons why the Mariners could be contenders in the AL West in 2012.

Player Development

The patience that has been preached by GM Jack Zduriencik in recent seasons began to pay dividends last season and will continue to do so this season.  With a host of young, talented players on the roster, the Mariners are now focused on developing these players from their prospect status into significant contributors at the MLB level.

Of course, if these players develop ahead of schedule, the Mariners could be a surprise playoff team much like the Diamondbacks were last year.  For the Mariners to leap into playoff contention in 2012, they will need players like Justin Smoak and Dustin Ackley to take their respective games up a notch.

Rotation

Despite losing promising No. 2 starter Michael Pineda over the offseason, the Mariners rotation is still the strength of the team heading into 2012.  Felix Hernandez will lead the rotation once again and will hopefully receive more run support than he did in 2011.

Behind King Felix in the rotation is Jason Vargas, who will continue to do his best Jamie Moyer impression as a soft-throwing lefty.  Blake Beaven figures to be the third starter with the last two rotation spots most likely going to offseason acquisitions Hector Noesi and Hisashi Iwakuma. 

The 2012 rotation will be relied upon heavily due to the question marks surrounding the Mariners offense.  If the rotation is up to the task, the Mariners could find themselves in the playoff mix.

Resurgence of Ichiro

The 2011 season for Ichiro was far and away his worst season in MLB.  This can either be attributed to his advanced age, as he will be 38 when this season starts, or a fluke down year. 

With talks of Ichiro being switched into the third spot in the batting order, the Mariners seem to think that Ichiro will rebound in 2012.  If Ichiro can play like he has in previous years, the Mariners offense would get a substantial boost in 2012. 

Better Health

Due to the grueling nature of a 162-game season, injuries are a constant factor in the MLB season.  The injury bug hit the Mariners particularly hard in 2011, as numerous key members were sidelined for portions of the season. 

Key contributors Justin Smoak and Franklin Gutierrez both missed substantial time last season along with closer David Aardsma who missed the entire season.  Having full seasons from these players wouldn't have put the Mariners in the playoffs, but certainly could have led to a better overall record.

Injuries are going to happen—but for a Mariners team that still doesn’t have great depth, avoiding injuries would increase their chances of contending in the AL West. 

Jesus Montero

The big offseason acquisition for the Mariners was the addition of catching prospect Jesus Montero.  There are questions as to whether Montero can handle the physical strains of a full-time catcher, but there are no such questions about Montero as a hitter.

After spending the majority of last season with the New York Yankees' minor-league affiliates, Montero figures to be a prominent member of the Mariners in 2012.  If Montero can step in and provide the Mariners with desperately needed offensive firepower in 2012, the Mariners could be a surprise contender.

Farm System

As recent as two years ago, the Mariners' farm system was viewed as average at best.  With strong drafting and player acquisition via trades, the Mariners have replenished their farm system, which is now filled with intriguing prospects like Taijuan Walker and Danny Hultzen.

With uncertainty present at a host of positions entering the season, there is an opportunity for a minor-league prospect to burst onto the scene.  Contributions from the Mariners' farm system in 2012 will be a key factor if the Mariners are to contend in the AL West.