Now that future Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. has officially signed with the Mariners, rookie general manager Jack Zduriencik and rookie manager Don Wakamatsu have some projections to think about.To Continue...
Catcher: Kenji Johjima and Jeff Clement will split time.
1B: Jose Lopez WILL NOT PLAY 1B now that the M's have Mike Sweeny, Russell Branyan in platoon.
2B: Is all Lopez's
SS: Yuniesky Betancourt shouldn't have any competition.
3B: Since the Minnesota Twins signed Joe Crede no trade will be made and the job belongs to contract year veteran Adrian Beltre.
OF(3): Here's where it gets a little tricky. Zduriencik has said repeatidly, "Franklin Guiterrez is going to be our everyday center fielder." So CF should be filled.
CF: Franklin Guiterrez
RF: Do I even have to type this? (OK I will) Ichiro.
Zduriencik also said Griffey will see quite a bit of his time in the DH role so it appears Griffey, Endy Chavez and Wladimir Balentin will share the duties (If Balentin gets his VISA that is).
LF: Ken Griffey Jr./Endy Chavez/Wladimir Balentin
DH: Ken Griffey Jr./Jeff Clement/Russell Branyan/Mike Sweeny/Wladimir Balentin and Felix Hernandez but only with the bases loaded against Johan Santana.
Now for the projected typical starting lineup:
1. RF Ichiro Suzuki
2. CF Franklin Gutierrez
3. DH Ken Griffey Jr.
4. 3B Adrian Beltre
5. 2B Jose Lopez
6. C Jeff Clement
7. 1B Russell Branyan
8. LF Endy Chavez
9. SS Yuniesky Betancourt
Then Wakamatsu has the option of shifting Johjima to C, Clement to 1B and Balentin to LF.
Stay tuned for the Starting rotation, Building for the future part VII and a new series, "Reading the competition."
