Can Two Returning Players Help the M's Recapture Last Seasons Magic?

                The 2009 version of the Seattle Mariners far exceeded everyone’s expectations after a 61-101 2008 record. Behind the likes of Jarrod Washburn, Adrian Beltre, Russell Branyan, and David Aardsma the team finished the year a surprisingly decent 85-77. Heading into the 2010 season General Manager Jack Zduriencik went out and signed former Angels 3B Chone Figgins and traded for former Cy Young winner Cliff Lee, while choosing not to resign Washburn, Beltre, or Branyan. Flash forward to June 29^th and the Mariners are a disappointing 31-44, 15 games out of 1^st place about to head into a three game series with the World Series Champion N.Y Yankees.

                While the team pitching is ranked in the top 10 with a 3.90 ERA, the Mariners batters are 27^th with a .239 and a league worst 44 homeruns. Chone Figgins hasn’t been the same batter who terrorized the M’s for years, and our team leader in homeruns is the often ill-tempered Milton Bradley with a staggering 7 long balls. The Mariners desperately need to find a way to recapture the magic that had the Pacific Northwest hoping for a playoff run after the offseason moves.

                What a better way to recapture the “mojo” from last year then bring back two pieces that made the team good. Seattle recently made a trade with the Cleveland Indians to bring back Russell Branyan and have him be our everyday 1B and power hitter. Branyan was hitting .264 with 10 homeruns. Another guy that will be back soon is former Baltimore Ace Erik Bedard. Bedard missed the majority of the last two seasons thanks to a torn Labrum that he finally had surgery on in August. As an Oriole in 2007, Bedard had 28 starts posting a 3.16 ERA with 221 strikeouts, which ranked 4^th amongst major league pitchers. Bedard is scheduled to return to the M’s on July 6^th against Kansas City Royals. It’s been rumored that the M’s might not trade Cliff Lee in order to get a draft pick in next year’s when he signs somewhere else. Imagine a rotation that is Felix, Lee, Fister, Vargas and a healthy Bedard. With that pitching staff the Mariners could keep teams within reach and hope that their bats finally get hot.

                By adding Russell Branyan and getting a healthy Erik Bedard back, the Pacific Northwest could once again feel the magic that they felt during the 2009 season.

-Miguel Pierre