How does the Mariners rotation compare with others in the American League West?
Reed has those things, too, but manager Mike Hargrove has liked him a little farther down in the order when he’s had another option (like Randy Winn during the first half of the 2005 season). Has there been any indication Meche and Pineiro are ready to win consistently? There was in 2003, but they have regressed ever since. This spring, however, they have rallied under new pitching coach Rafael Chaves to add sinking fastballs to their repertoires. These are guys with big potential, but they have to master the mental aspects to break through with big seasons. The last two years have been discouraging for both. How good will the Mariners be defensively? Last year Seattle committed the fewest errors in the American League. With Jose Lopez spending a full season at second base and Joe Borchard a month or two at least in center field, that number is likely to climb, but not horrifically. Lopez and Betancourt have above-average range up the middle, and the corners, first baseman Richie Sexso
