How About Those Mariners?

     Barry here, and the new M's season has gotten underway, in case you missed it.  This season will answer a lot of questions for the Mariners, and I believe there will be surprises in store!  Cactus League play has wrapped up, with the M's at 14-9-1.  They've played very well during the spring.  The Mariners have set their final 25-Man roster.  A few surprises there, already.  Rule 5 draft pick Lucas Luetge and rookie LHP Erasmo Ramirez have made the team as lefties out of the pen.  Charlie Furbush, a starter late last year, was sent down despite posting an 0.87 ERA over 11 2/3 spring innings.  The starting rotation is headed by Felix Hernandez, followed by Jason Vargas, Hector Noesi, Kevin Millwood and Blake Beavan.  They opened the season in Tokyo last week, and did not play particularly well, dropping both exhibition games to the Hansin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants before the opening split with the A's.  Hernandez took a no decision in the Mariners 3-1 Extra Inning victory over the A's in the opener, with Vargas pitching very well (also a no-decision) in the 4-1 loss the next day, with the bullpen serving three HR's in the late innings to break a 1-0 Mariners lead. 
     On the offensive side of the ball, the injury bug has bitten the M's early once again.  Mike Carp (LF/DH) and Franklin Gutierrez (CF) both open the season on the 15-day DL.  In case you haven't heard, Ichiro has been moved to the #3 spot in the order; a move that I'd been calling for for the past four seasons.    The lineup will be as follows, to start the season:  Figgins (LF), Ackley (2B), Ichiro (RF), Smoak (1B), Montero (DH/C), Olivo (C), Seager (3B), Saunders (CF), Ryan (SS).  As usual, manager Eric Wedge will be using a lot of different lineups and bench players.  Casper Wells will see a lot of playing time in the OF and newcomer Munenori Kawasaki will fill in at SS and 2B.  Also making the team is Alex Liddi, who will see time at 3B, 1B and DH.  Joining Olivo behind the plate are off-season acquisition Jon Jaso and the aforementioned Montero.  Once Carp and Gutierrez return from the DL, I think the lineup gets a whole lot better.  One of the other big questions is how long Wedge sticks with Chone Figgins, who has been a bitter disappointment since coming over from the Angels.  He's back in his familiar spot in the leadoff role, but will that be enough to spark him at the plate?
     The Mariners season will live or die with the offense.  If they can average over 4 runs per game, they have a shot to challenge even the mighty Rangers and Angels.  With the addition of Jesus Montero in the middle of the order, and the re-vamped lineup, this is a group than can do some damage.  If they struggle again to hit with runners in scoring position, it will be another 90 loss season.