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Seattle Mariners
With the Toronto Blue Jays making the playoffs last year, the Seattle Mariners now own baseball’s longest postseason drought, 14 years. Last year was supposed to be the year the streak was broken as hopes were high after the acquisitions of Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz, however the M’s slogged their way to a 76-86 campaign. As a result General Manager Jack Zduriencik and Manager Lloyd McClendon were shown their walking papers after the season.
New GM Jerry Dipoto is one the best minds in baseball and he wasted no time in putting his mark on the team by naming Scott Servais the team’s new manager. Dipoto also picked up Adam Lind to fill a need at first base and provide left handed balance to the lineup. Nori Aoki is another new addition who will give the team solid at bats at the top and get on base for the likes of Cano, Cruz and Kyle Seager.
While strength of this team still lies on the broad shoulders of Felix Hernandez, Dipoto was also quite busy retooling the pitching staff as well adding Nate Karns, Wade Miley, Steve Cishek to solidify the back end of the rotation and bullpen. The M’s also were fortunate to re-sign Hisashi Iwakuma and are counting on Taijuan Walker to fulfill his vast potential giving them the potential of a potent pitching staff. The Mariners and their fans, are counting on this season to be one all the chips finally all fall into place for a deep playoff run.
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