History Repeats: Comparing the 2001 and 2010 Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners have a history of success when they set aside traditional baseball theories about power and home-runs and think more on the lines of pitching and defense. 

Looking over the current roster that comprises the 2010 Seattle Mariners, I started noticing subtle similarities (okay, maybe they weren't so subtle) between this team and the team that won an American League-record 116 games back at the start of the decade, in 2001. 

I decided to do a side-by-side, position by position comparison of the 2001 and 2010 Seattle Mariners.

Catcher

2001: Dan Wilson

2010: Adam Moore

Dan Wilson and Adam Moore are very similar. Both are considered better defensively than offensively, both have a little power, and both are home grown talent. Adam Moore Projects as a .270-.280, 25 HR, 80 RBI player with solid—if not Gold Glove-caliber— defense behind the plate. Dan Wilson was never considered a great or even good offensive baseman, but he was there for his glove. 

First Base

2001: John Olerud

2010: Casey Kotchman

Olerud was brought into the Mariner fold for his ability with the glove, not at the dish, as was Kotchman when "Trader Jack" brought him in last month. That's where the similarities stop. Olerud was considered good for a .285-.300 average, 20-25 HR, and 80-100 RBI. Kotchman, on the other hand, has never hit .300 over an entire season, is good for around 15 HR, and 60-80 RBI. However, he has never been given a full season as a starter to show what he's capable of. He'll get that this year. 

Second Base

2001: Bret Boone

2010: Jose Lopez

Bret Boone was one of the top defenders at a premiere defensive position when the Mariners brought him in. They never expected him to explode offensively for a .331 average, 37 HR and 141 RBI. Some things just click at the most opportune times. Lopez on the other hand, is almost all bat and no glove, and that's saying something because technically, if he played any other position on the field, he would be considered a below-average major leaguer. However, at a premier defensive position, any positive in the offense department is considered a big plus, so he has value. 

Third Base

2001: David Bell

2010: Chone Figgins

David Bell and Chone Figgins are essentially complete opposites of each other. Bell was alright defensively, Figgins excels defensively. Bell never hit for a high average or for power, as a matter of fact, he never really hit, whereas Figgins hits for a high average, steals a lot of bases, and gets on base a lot. 

Shortstop

2001: Carlos Guillen

2010: Jack Wilson

The 2001 version of Carlos Guillen and the 2010 version of Jack Wilson may as well be clones. Neither Guillen nor Wilson brings much to the plate, but both are slick fielding middle infielders who prevent runs from scoring. Wilson actually gets the slight edge over Guillen at the plate. 

Left Field

2001 Al Martin/Stan Javier/Mark McLemore

2010: Milton Bradley/Michael Saunders/Eric Byrnes

In both 2001 and this coming season, the M's have no clear cut "best performer" to plug the hole in left field. The platoon of Al Martin et al was a light hitting light fielding group, while the platoon situation this year is a much more clearly defined defensive unit. While all of the players mentioned have potential to contribute in a big way at the plate, it's almost all but assured that they will contribute more defensively (except Bradley who will also be sharing time as the designated 

Center Field

2001: Mike Cameron

2010: Franklin Gutierrez

Looking at the centerfielder of the future in Franklin Gutierrez is like a flash from the past. In 2001, Mike Cameron was widely considered one of the top defensive outfielders in all of baseball. He also was able to contribute with the bat and with good baserunning skills. Gutierrez may as well be a clone and is considered the best defensive player in the majors, and he has the potential to hit 25-plus HR and have 30-plus stolen bases. 

Right Field

2001: Ichiro 

2010: Ichiro

Some things never change. All things age, but some things never change, as is evidenced by Ichiro. In 2001, Ichiro was a fresh faced kid at the relatively young age of 28. He was coming over for his first season as a MLB player after a successful career in Japan. Nobody knew what to expect from him, but everyone in Seattle was excited to see the man who went by only one name. That season, he put up 242 hits, .350 avg, and 56 stolen bases. Flash forward 9 years, and you can expect more of the same from Ichiro. Only a few things in life are sure: Death, Taxes, and Ichiro putting up 200+ hits, .300+ avg, all while playing gold glove defense with a rocket arm. 

Designated Hitter

2001- Edgar Martinez

2010: Milton Bradley/Ken Griffey, Jr./Ryan Garko

I'm not even going to bother comparing this position. Suffice it to say that in 2001 Edgar was significantly better as a hitter than any of the three platoon members. 

Starting Pitching

2001: RHP Freddy Garcia, Aaron Sele, Paul Abbott, Joel Piniero. LHP Jamie Moyer, John Halama

2010: RHP Felix Hernandez, Ian Snell, Doug Fister. LHP Cliff Lee, Ryan Rowland-Smith

In 2001, the M's had a bunch of nobodies filling out their starting rotation. They had a few kids with some upside. They had some veterans that still knew how to put the ball over the plate. But they really didn't have a superstar pitcher.

In 2010, the Mariners have not one, but two superstar pitchers. Not many teams can say that they have two of the pitchers on a list that has about five names on it, competing for the honor of being considered the best pitcher in baseball. Filling out the rest of the rotation in 2010 are a bunch of names, players who either haven't been given the spotlight yet (Fister) or who haven't quite put it all together yet. RRS is the exception, as he has been nothing if not consistent throughout his entire career. 

Relief Pitching

2001: RHP Jose Panigua, Ryan Franklin, Jeff Nelson. LHP Norm Charlton, Arthur Rhodes.

2010: RHP Mark Lowe, Brandon League, Shawn Kelley, Sean White. LHP Garrett Olson, Jason Vargas. 

In this department, the 2010 M's have the slight edge. Although it would be virtually impossible for this year's M's to replicate Arthur Rhodes 2001 season, as a group they are better. 

Closer

2001: Kazuhiro Sasaki

2010: David Aardsma

Kazuhiro Sasaki was a good closer in his own right, but David Aardsma is a great closer.

If you start looking over this year's roster and get an eerie flashback as you think about how similar it is to the 2001 team's roster (on paper), just remember you're not alone. 

I'm not saying that this year's M's team is going to go out and tie the record that was set in 2001, or that they are going to outscore their opponents by 300 runs (an almost impossible feat.) I'm not even saying that they will go the entire season without losing 3 games in a row (which, once again, is almost impossible). What I am saying is this: pay attention to history because if you don't, it's bound to repeat itself.