How bad were the Mariners’ bats last season? Worst in the majors in every major category — batting average, OPS, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and, yes, runs scored. And that’s with the advantage of the designated hitter.
You don’t change that in one offseason. But Seattle traded pitcher Michael Pineda to the Yankees for young slugger Jesus Montero, one of the game’s top prospects, and that move should help immediately. But manager Eric Wedge has another tweak to his lineup in store: moving leadoff batter Ichiro Suzuki to the No. 3 spot in the order.
That seems a little unorthodox considering Ichiro has just 95 homers in his career. It doesn’t really inspire confidence, either, that his on-base percentage fell to .310 and he’s 38. But according to ESPN’s Jim Caple, Wedge believes Chone Figgins can handle leadoff duties, allowing Ichiro to fill a hole in the middle of the order.
If that on-base percentage rebounds to Ichiro’s career norms, it might just work. But the Mariners are the only big league club that would be desperate enough to try.
– Brian McNally
