I guess to start things off, I’m Nate, a DoD Project Manager during theday, but a huge Seattle Mariners (Seahawks, Cougars Football, Gonzaga Hoops)fan in the evening. Growing up in Spokane, baseball was the sport that I gothooked to from a young age. I played it growing up and continue to play todayin an adult baseball league here in San Diego, where I currently reside. My dadworked for the radio station in Spokane that aired the Mariners and we got tomeet a lot of former greats, to include a dinner with Gaylord Perry, lunch withFreddy Garcia, photos with the Griffeys. I’ve also got to meet Mr. Don Larsen.

From watching Ken Griffey, Jr. in the yellow and blue uniformsto the team today, I’ve always seemed to have fit the Mariners in my everincreasingly busy schedule. I’ve seen the Mariners play ball at Safeco, USCellular Field in Chicago (now Guaranteed Rate Field), Angel Stadium, PetcoPark, Dodger Stadium and Fenway Park. I’ve been to a lot of ballparks includingthose I just mentioned plus Yankee Stadium, Citizens Bank Park, Coors Field,and Citi Field.

When it comes to the Mariners, I’m a defender of theirhonor. They have been brutal at times (well, a lot of times) and they have beenawesome. I watched them come back from the Padres losing 12-2 in the 5thand win the game 16-13. All the Mariners fans were leaving in the 5th…Istayed and watched one of the greatest games I’ve seen them play. Regardless, they’remy team, they’re your team, they’re the Northwest’s team.

I like numbers, statistics, and anything that you can proveusing those two things. You will see a lot of statistical trends in the piecesthat I write if you’re looking for that information. I’m also open to questionsand I am willing to write to those questions based on research and statistics,if applicable.

Now that I’ve introduced myself, I want to dig right in. Formy inaugural article, I’ve decided to take a look at all the folks we gatheredfrom the shocking off-season trades and give a progress report of their Spring.Quick preface: Spring time stats don’t really mean a whole lot. I’m using themfor comparison purposes.

On November 8th, the Mariners sent Mike Zuninoand Guillermo Heredia to the Tampa Bay Rays and received Mallex Smith and JakeFraley. Zunino is currently hitting .286, going 8 for 28 with three homerunsand five strike outs. Heredia is 6 for 22 with seven RBIs. Mallex Smithsuffered a minor injury and has just been cleared to participate in baseballactivities. Jake Fraley started off hot but since cooled off and is batting.269, going 7 for 26, 0 for his last 10, with 2 home runs. He has struck outnine times and been caught stealing three times in four attempts.

On November 19th, the Mariners sent James Paxtonto the Yankees and received Justus Sheffield, Erik Swanson, and DomThompson-Williams. Pax has pitched 7.1 innings, walking three and striking out10. He has allowed five hits, one of which was a home run. His ERA is sittingat 1.23. Sheffield has pitched four innings, striking out six, allowing asingle walk and holds an ERA of nil. Erik Swanson has pitched 4.1 inningsstriking out five and walking four and holds an ERA of 6.23.

On November 28th, the Mariners acquired Ricardo Sanchez from the Braves for cash. He’s pitched a single inning, striking out two.

On November 30th, the Mariners sent Alex Colometo the White Sox for Omar Narvaez. Colome has pitched 4.2 innings and has givenup seven hits, one homerun, and has an ERA of 5.79. Omar is hitting .250 with 7hits in 28 at-bats, while striking out only three times.

On December 3rd, there was a blockbuster tradethat sent Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to the Mets. The M’s received Jay Bruce,Anthony Swarzak, Gerson Bautista, Jarred Kelenic, and Justin Dunn. Robbie hasgone 12 for 29 with a .414 average. He has two blasts and six RBIs. Diaz has pitchedfour innings and has only allowed a homerun and three hits. Jay Bruce is 13 for30 with a .433 average, has six RBIs and two homeruns. Swarzak has not appearedthis spring. Kelenic has four 6 plate appearances, with 2 walks and a run—zeroeselsewhere. Bautista has pitched 4.1 innings, striking out three and walking four.He holds an ERA of just over 2. Justin Dunn has pitched eight innings strikingout nine and holds a 4.50 ERA.

Also on December 3rd, the Mariners sent JeanSegura, Juan Nicasio, and James Pazos to Philadelphia for Carlos Santana andJ.P. Crawford. Segura is 9 for 31 batting .290. Santana never suited up withthe Mariners as he was traded back to Cleveland. Nicasio has an ERA of 9.82 in3.2 innings pitched striking out three. Pazos holds an ERA of 4.76 in 5.2innings pitched. He’s allowed four hits, two have left the park. J.P. Crawfordis batting .240 going 6 for 25 with a double and triple. He has struck out six times.

On December 13th, a three-team trade broughtEdwin Encarnacion over to the Mariners and sent Santana to Cleveland. Edwin isbatting a mere .129 going 4 for 31 and striking out ELEVEN times.

Merry Christmas, Seattle. On December 21st, theBrewers sent Domingo Santana over for Ben Gamel and his hair and Noah Zavolas.Ben is 5 for 26 batting .192 and has struck out ten times. Noah has not playedthis spring. Domingo Santana, however, has played this spring. A lot. He is hitting.400 going 10 for 25 with four home runs and nine RBIs.

What does this mean? Well, I’m not too worried about what the statisticssay…it just gives perspective on how these players are performing before thestart of the regular season. Like many of you, the trade that still bothers meis Segura to Philly. I know J.P. Crawford has a ton of potential to be a topplayer in the Majors, but he’s just not there yet, and he’s entering the primeof his life.

Looking at nothing but numbers, it looks like the Santanatrade has worked out well for Seattle. He’s had a very good spring and it isexciting to see what happens when the season comes around. The same holds trueabout Fraley. Some sources are saying that Fraley is like Mitch Haniger in thistrade with Tampa. While Mallex is the more known name, Fraley might actually bethe guy to watch. Keep your eye out as he may follow the same trajectory asHaniger.

This spring has me excited and it should you as well. Duringthis “restructuring” of the team, I believe the Mariners have an excellent opportunityto surpass all expectations. I’m going to make an early prediction that theMariners will win over 80 games this season. I may be way off track, but I’mlooking at this team and they have the potential to flourish.