The King and his Diamond Table-A Seattle M's Franchise (MLB14-PS3)

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Franchise Settings/PS3 MLB14 The Show
Mariners-Full Control-minus Auto Scouting
Other 29 Teams-Will control Draft,Free Agency,Contracts and Trades
Play-Every 3rd game (starting SP #3,#1,#4,#2,#5)
Minors-Will post monthy updates
MLB Trades-Will use Trade Forum for ideas to keep fair and realism. Will limit # of trades I make to 2 per season plus 1 additional off-season.
Free Agents-Will assign players as I see fit due to injuries.

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FRANCHISE HISTORY





TRANSACTION HISTORY

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TEAM HISTORY

Since joining the league in 1977, the Seattle Mariners have posted a losing record in 26 of their 37 seasons and they didn't even post their first winning season until 1991.

The Mariners posted back to back playoff appearances in 2000 and 2001 including winning a record 116 games in 2001, but lost in both seasons to the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series.

Seattle followed up those playoff berths with back to back seasons with 93 wins (2002 and 2003), but then fell on tough times with 3 straight 4 place finishes in the AL West after failing to win even 80 games (63,69,78). In 2007 the M's celebrated their 30th year anniversary with 88 wins and a 2nd place finish in the division, but then followed it up with their worst year ever losing 101 games in 2008 and then did it again in 2010.


Mariner fans have seen some great players in the teams history, from the likes of Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr, Alex Rodriguez, Jay Buhner, Edgar Martinez, Harold Reynolds, Alvin Davis and most recently Ichiro and King Felix Hernandez, who has become the face of the franchise.

Now with a new TV network deal in place with Root Sports, the M's are ready to compete with the big boys, with over 2 billion dollars available over the next 20 years, the Mariners are no longer a small market ball club and now have the money to go after the best of the best available on the free agent market.

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OFF-SEASON NEWS

After missing out the past 2 years on Free Agents like Prince Fielder, Josh Hamilton and Justin Upton, the Mariners finally found someone to give some of their billion dollar TV money too as they sign Robinson Cano to a 10 year 240 million dollar deal.

Cano a 5 time All-Star, who owns a career .309 BA and has averaged over 24 HR's and 97 RBI's in his career is a great start to trying to turn the Franchise around but he can't do it alone.

Seattle also signed slugger Corey Hart to a 1 year deal with a base salary of 5 million plus another 8 million in incentives. Hart has 30 HR and 100 RBI capabilities but can injuries have plagued him in his career. He will likely spend the bulk of his season at DH.

The M's also dealt promising fireballer Carter Capps to the Miami Marlins for Logan Morrison. L-Mo once a promising prospect also has had injuries plague his career but Seattle is hoping the 1B/OF can provide enough production to offset that they currently are not getting from their current 1B and OF spots.

Seattle didn't stop their they also signed former Mariner Willie Bloomquist to a 2 year 5.8 million dollar deal to come in and provide a spark of the bench, added veteran catcher John Buck and his power bat to backup Mike Zunino at catcher and brought in a several veteran SP's to compete for spots in the rotation (Mark Rodgers, Randy Wolf, Chris Young, Ramon Ramirez, Scott Baker).

Another huge signing for the M's was that of Closer Fernando Rodney. Well he was just 37/45 in save attempts last year for the Ray's he was 48/50 in 2012 and back in 2008 was 37/38 for the Tigers proving he has the skills to be a 9th inning shutdown guy.


The M's let one of the LOGGY's go last season in Oliver Perez, but brought in a new one in Joe Beimel. A 12 year vet Beimel has logged over 600 innings in his career well pitching for 6 teams including 2 stints with the Pirates whom he made his debut back in 2001 starting 15 games and winning 7 of them.

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SPRING TRAINING NEWS



A LOOK AT THE 40 MAN ROSTER

Catcher

Mike Zunino showed his ability to hit for power hitting 13 HR’s in 2013 in AAA Tacoma and hitting 5 HR’s in 52 games when called up to Seattle. He will enter the season as the starter but if he can’t get his average up, the M’s will at least have a new and better option behind him.

John Buck comes in with 134 career HR’s including 15 in 2013 with the Mets and has hit double digit HR’s in 8 MLB seasons including a career high 20 in 2010 with Toronto.

Jesus Sucre enters camp hitting .174 in 23 AB’s last season, unless he wows in the spring he will likely start the year in AAA Tacoma.

1st Base

Justin Smoak hit a career high 20 HR’s last season but it came with a .238 BA, not exactly the #’s that had M fans where dreaming about when he was acquired via the Cliff Lee trade.
With 39 HR’s, 100 RBI’s and a .225 average over the past 2 years it could be time for Seattle to move on.

That’s where Corey Hart and Logan Morrison come in.

Hart missed all of 2013 but before that he averaged 29 HR’s and 83 RBI’s over 3 seasons with the Brewers well hitting a .279 average.

Morrison however looks to be more of a Smoak clone with a career best 23 HR’s and 72 RBI’s in 2011, it came with a .247 BA which happens to be his career average.

2nd Base

Robinson Cano takes over and gives the M’s their best 2-bagger since Harold Reynolds with a 5-year average of 29 HR’s 100+ RBI’s and .300 BA, but can he really put up that kind of #’s for the next 10?

Nick Franklin made his MLB debut last season logging 369 AB’s hitting .225 with 12 HR’s and 45 RBI’s. Once the #3 prospect on the Top-20 board (2012), Franklin’s future is full of ???’s Does he change positions to remain a starter, does he become a super utility player like that of Bloomquist or will he be dealt to acquire a new arm or more proven bat.

SS

Brad Miller like Franklin made his MLB debut last season. Once rated the #9 prospect on the Top-20 board (2012), Miller hit .265 with 8 HR’s and drove in 36 runs after hitting .319 with 12 HR’s and 53 RBI’s in AAA Tacoma.

Willie Bloomquist made his debut for Seattle back in 2002, hitting .455 in 32 AB’s. He left the M’s in 2009 spending a year with KC logging a career high 435 AB’s hitting .265 with 25 SB’s in 31 attempts, which turned led to a Sept trade to the Reds and then a Free Agent deal with Arizona where he spent 3 seasons. Now is he is back to provide veteran leadership behind Miller and give the M’s a nice utility option as he can play anywhere on the field except Catcher and Pitcher.

3B

Kyle Seager made is Mariner debut in 2011 but had a breakout year in 2012 hitting 20 HR’s and driving in 86 runs well batting .259. He followed it up in 2013 hitting .260 with 22 HR’s and driving in in 68 runs

LF

Dustin Ackley like Seager made his debut in 2011 as the Mariners 2B logging 333 AB’s hitting .273. In 2012 he had a career high 607 AB’s hitting .226 with 12 HR’s 50 RBI’s and 13 SB’s. Then in 2013 he had a setback hitting just 4 HR’s and stealing just 2 bases well hitting .253 as he made the transition to the OF. Now with a move to the OF fulltime for the start of the 2014 season, can the former #2 Overall pick in the 2009 hit enough to keep the job.


CF

Abraham Almonte hit .264 with 2 HR and 9 RBI in 72 AB’s last season, but it’s his 206 career Stolen Bases in the minors that have the M’s hoping he can hit well enough to play CF and bat leadoff in 2014.

If Almonte can’t then the M’s could either turn to either Michael Saunders who has the ability to hit 20 HR’s and steal 20 SB’s (hit 19 and stole 21 in 2012) or Seattle could look to other minor league options like James Jones, Julio Morban, or veteran Endy Chavez.

RF

If Morrison can stay healthy and prove he is capable of being the everyday RF then the job is likely his. If not the M’s will go with a platoon of Saunders in RF along with rookie Stefen Romero. Romero is a former corner IF and Top-10 prospect and his Right handed bat is likely going to be needed as Ackley, Saunders, Morrison, Chavez,Jones, Morban all bat Left handed.

DH

See combo of Hart/Morrison/Smoak plus don't count out former #1 Overall prospect and drug user Jesus Montero. Once considered to be the future #1 Catcher, Montero's defense caused him to lose his job, but his 15 HR's and 62 RBI's in 2012 proves he has power and a move to DH/1B is his future. He will likely start the year in AAA, but if Hart or Morrison can't stay healthy expect him to get a call up.




Starting Pitching

Going into the Spring it appeared the M’s rotation would be their strength with Felix and Iwakuma projected in the #1 and #2 spots.

Hernandez is coming off a 12-10 season with a 3.04 ERA, but he has proven he has the stuff to win 20 games with some run support.

Iwakuma stepped up last year leading the team with 14 wins (14-6) well posting a 2.66 ERA

Top prospects (#1) Taijuan Walker, (#3) James Paxton and Danny Hultzen (was #2 in 2013) are all projected to battle with Blake Beavan (11 wins in 2012), Erasmo Ramirez, Hector Noesi, Brandon Maurer (14 starts in 2013 #11 prospect in 2012) and Roenis Elias for the #3-5 spots.

Now with Iwakuma,Walker and Hultzen all on the DL to start the year, veterans Mike Rodgers and Chris Young were brought in to compete

Young won 12 games back in 2005 well with the Rangers and followed it up in 2006 going 11-5 with a 3.45 ERA for the Padres in in 2007 he went 9-8 with a 3.12 ERA, but since 2009 he has won more than 4 games.

The likely hood is that Ramirez, Paxton, will now start as the #2, #3, with Young, Elias, Maurer and Beavan batting for the #4 and #5.

Bullpen.

Lefty Oliver Perez was let go, but veteran Joe Beimel was invited to camp to compete with Charlie Furbush and Lucas Luetge for the LOGGY role.

Former Closer T. Wilhelmsen (24/29) and Danny Farquhar (16/20) will move to the 7th and 8th inning with new closer Fernando Rodney taking over the 9th inning.

With Stephen Pryor also projected to start the year on the DL, Y. Medina will likely make the club as another righty after winning 4 games and posting as 2.91 ERA last season.

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M'S ANNOUNCE THE 25-MAN ROSTER

ROTATION

#1-RHP Felix Hernandez (91 Ovr)
"Had 3 wins and a 0.50 ERA in this spring"

#2-LHP James Paxton (73 Ovr)
"Had 4 wins and posted a 3.50 ERA in 5 starts this spring"

#3 RHP Chris Young (77 Ovr)
"Had 3 wins and a Era in the 5's this spring"

#4 RHP Blake Beavan (71 Ovr)
"Also had 3 wins and 2nd best era among starters at 3.31"

#5 LHP Roenis Elias (68 Ovr)
Posted 2 wins and a ERA in the 5's"

Deuce's take on the rotation

Quote:

"With ERA's in the 8's Ramirez and Maurer will head to Tacoma. Iwakuma and Walker will need to get healthy quickly, if not a deal will need to be made"

BULLPEN

LR-RHP Hector Noesi (67 Ovr)
"Had 2 wins and a ERA in the 4's, but Elias being a lefty earned him the spot in the rotation. They could switch early on in the season"

MRP-RHP Tom Wilhelmsen (78 Ovr)
"Posted a ERA in the 5's. The days of closing out games for this bartender are over"

MRP-RHP Yoervis Medina (74 Ovr)
"Had a 3.50 ERA in 11 IP but did manage 12 K's"

MRP-LHP Lucas Luetge (64 Ovr)
"Won the other Loggy role over Beimel (6.50 ERA in 10 IP) with a. 3.72 ERA in 9 IP."

SU-RHP Daniel Farquar (79 Ovr)
"Had the best spring of all RP's posting a 0.71 ERA in 11 IP"

SU-LHP Charlie Furbush (73 Ovr)
"Had #'s very similar to Medina with a ERA in the mid 3's"

CP-RHP Fernado Rodney (85 Ovr)
"Had a horrible spring with a 9.00 ERA but did manage to save 4 of 6"

Deuce's take on the Bullpen

Quote:

"The Bullpen has the potential to be really good, the best in years. LHP Beimel (61) and RHP Carson Smith (77) offer good options in AAA for promotions as does Dominic Leone (74) who will close in AA."

INFIELD/OUTFIELD

C- Mike Zunino (75 Ovr)
"Hit .250 with 3 HR's"

1B-S Justin Smoak (74 Ovr)
"Hit just .203 but did manage to hit 3 HR's and tied sever for #2 in RBI's with 10"

2B-Robinson Cano (97 Ovr)
"Did what he does, hitting .321 with 3 HR's and 10 RBI"

SS-Brad Miller (75 Ovr)
"Hit .293 with 1 HR and 8 RBI well stealing 4 of 4."

3B-Kyle Seager (77 Ovr)
"Hit .263 with 2 HR and 10 RBI"

LF-Dustin Ackley (72 Ovr)
"Lead the team with 4 HR's and 11 RBI well hitting .276"

CF-Michael Saunders (72 Ovr)
"Hit .311 with 2 HR and 10 RBI well Almonte hit just .195 and was sent to AAA"

RF-Logan Morrison (70 Ovr)
"Hit just .248 with 1 HR and 5 RBI, but will get a chance to do better when it counts"

DH-Corey Hart (82 Ovr)
"Hit .309 with 3 HR and 9 RBI in 42 AB's"

Deuce's take on the lineup

Quote:

"The starting lineup is lefty heavy. Hopefully Hart and Zunino can provide some much needed righty power. Saunders, Miller,Ackley all over decent speed, but his team still lacks a true base stealing threat. Jones is that guy, but can he hit himself into the lineup, or will the M's make a trade for a true CF"

BENCH

UTL-Willie Bloomquist (74 Ovr)
"Hit .273 with 5 RBI's"

IF/OF Stefen Romero (65 Ovr)
"Hit .242 in 33 AB's, but won the spot over Franklin for the time being"

OF-James Jones (66 Ovr)
"Hit .375 in 16 AB's earning the backup role over Almonte and Chavez, his speed 3/3 steals could factor in as well"

C-John Buck (66 Ovr)
"Hit just .195 in 18 AB's which has led to discussion of Montero going back to AAA to work on his catching skills as well as playing 1B"

Deuce's take on the Bench

Quote:

"Expect eyes to be on the Tacoma lineup early on as we look to find a hot bat. There is alot of OF depth in both AAA and AA, but the question is can they hit at the MLB level. Franklin and Montero both will look to work on playing multiple defense positions in order to be better fits for the bench likely replacing Buck and Bloomquist"

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GAME 1

Seattle Mariners at Los Angeles Angels
Mar 31, 2014	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Seattle ()								2		2	11
Los Angeles ()	1		3							4	5
W: Weaver (1-0) L: Hernandez (0-1) S: Frieri (1)

Scoring Summary
SCORING DETAILS			SEA	LAA

GAME RECAP

H. Kendrick doubles in the 1st and scores off a M. Trout single in the 1st, then Kendrick drives in Iannetta in the 3rd and then scores again along with Aybar on a Trout triple to the gap to make it 4-0 in the 3rd.

King Felix would leave after just going 5 IP giving up all 4 runs on 5 hits striking out 5.

Weaver stranded base runners all game until the 8th giving up back to back homeruns to J. Smoak and K. Seager.

Frieri comes in the 9th and strikes out 2 for the save.

GAME 2

Seattle Mariners at Los Angeles Angels
Apr 1, 2014	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Seattle (0-1)						2				2	7
Los Angeles (1-0)		2						4		6	8
W: Wilson (1-0) L: Luetge (0-1)

Scoring Summary
SCORING DETAILS			SEA	LAA

GAME RECAP

J. Hamliton hits a solo HR and E. Aybar hits a RBI single to put the Angles on the board in the 2nd off J. Paxton.

Paxton would go 7 IP giving up the 2 runs on 6 hits well walking 4.

Seattle would tie the game in the 6th off a 2-run C. Hart HR, but in the 8th L. Luetge would give up a base hit to Hamilton and was relieved by Y. Medina.

Medina then walked Kenrick, and later loaded the bases for JP Shuck to hit a grand slam..

GAME 3

Seattle Mariners at Los Angeles Angels
Apr 2, 2014	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Seattle (0-2)				1					3	4	9
Los Angeles (2-0)											5
W: C. Young (1-0) L: H. Santiago (0-1) S: F. Rodney (1)

Scoring Summary
SCORING DETAILS			SEA	LAA

GAME RECAP

R. Cano gives the M's the 1-0 lead on a solo HR in the 4th and that's all C. Young need as he gives up just 4 hits in 7 IP striking out 4 to give Seattle their first win of the season.

F. Rodney game in and pitched both the 8th and 9th to pick up his first save.

De La Rosa relieved Santiago in the 9th and gave up 4 hits including a 3 run HR to C. Hart.

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MARINERS FINISH MONTH OF APRIL IN FIRST

For Mariner fans hoping to see their team end a 13 year playoff drought, seeing their team sitting atop the standings at the end of April is a good start.

Winning 7 of their last 10 games, the M's (15-11) currently hold a 1 game lead over the Oakland A's (15-13) and a 1.5 game lead over the surprising Houston Astros (14-13) however the rest of the West isn't to far behind as the Angles finish (13-13) and the Rangers are just 3.5 games back at (12-15)

King Felix has been the star winning his last 3 starts since losing on opening day and has a team leading 2.25 ERA and has pitched 5 quality starts out of 6.

The rest of the rotation has left alot to be desired. #5 SP Roenis Elias currently is tied with Hernandez at 3-1, and has the 2nd best ERA at 4.21.

Rookie James Paxton has pitched 3 of 5 quality starts but is just 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA, and well Chris Young has 1 complete game shutout and a 7 IP shutout in 2 of his starts, his other 3 starts have not even been quality as he is 2-2 with a 4.73 ERA



Danny Farquhar has continued his strong spring, with 10 2/3 IP of relief posting a 0.00 ERA picking up a win and save.

Fernando Rodney has been lights out in the closer role saving 11/11 games well posting a 0.79 ERA.

The rest of the bullpen however has been horrible at best. Lefty Lucas Luetge is 1-3 with a 10.80 ERA in 3 1/3 IP. T. Wilhelmsen has a 6.00 ERA in 18 IP of work, Furbush has a 4.05, Medina has a 4.97 and H. Noesi has a 5.52

Corey Hart has stayed healthy has given the M's the power bat they have been craving hitting .289 with 7 HR's and 20 RBI's.

Justin Smoak is on fire hitting a team best .315 among starters adding 5 HR's and 14 RBI, well Kyle Seager has posted a .313 with 4 and 15.

The 240 million dollar man (Robinson Cano) however hasn't not been able to continue his spring success in the first month of the season hitting just .189 with 4 HR and 9 RBI, well LF Dustin Ackley after leading the team in all offensive cat's is hitting just .174 with 1 HR and 7 RBI

Ackley isn't the only OF struggling, S. Romero is hitting just .154 with 1 RBI in 13 AB's and James Jones is hitting .209 in 39 AB's and has just 1 steal.

Another key position (Catcher) has also been a huge disappointment. Starter Mike Zunino is hitting just .197 with 1 HR and 4 RBI well backup John Buck is hitting just .154 in 13 AB's