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FIELDING This is still a pitching-heavy team, so glove work remains of paramount importance for the Mariners. A two-time Gold Glove winner, Cano is probably as pivotal a player on the defensive side of the ball as he is on offense. Seager was third in the AL with a .964 fielding percentage and committed just 15 errors in 160 games at the hot corner. Smoak showed considerable skill at first base. As many as six young position players are vying for regular playing time, and how they fare with the glove is important to their remaining in the lineup. STARTING PITCHING Hard to believe, but Felix Hernandez is going into his 10th season in the big leagues. He turned 28 a few days after Opening Day. The 2010 AL Cy Young winner is still one of the best pitchers in baseball, going 12-10 with a 3.04 ERA and 216 strikeouts in 204.1 innings in 2013. Hisashi Iwakuma became a Cy Young contender last year, but he’ll be slowed at the start of the season as he recovers from an injured finger. Highly touted youngster Taijuan Walker is also beginning the season on the DL. Capable Erasmo Ramirez and James Paxton round out the rotation. RELIEF PITCHING Fernando Rodney brings his bow-and-arrow routine to Seattle, and Mariners fans hope he sets loose many imaginary arrows in 2014. He’s coming off a season when he saved 37 games in 45 opportunities, and his 5-4 record and 3.38 ERA were serviceable. But those numbers paled in comparison to his 48 saves (in 50 opportunities) and miniscule 0.60 ERA in 2012. Tom Wilhelmsen moves to a setup role after being the Mariners’ closer the last two seasons. Yoervis Medina was excellent in relief last year, striking out 71 hitters in 68 innings while finishing with a 2.91 ERA. MANAGING Lloyd McClendon begins his first year with the Mariners after five years managing the Pirates without having a winning season. He’s going to see if he can get the most out of a team with young talent surrounding Cano. GM Jack Zduriencik has built different incarnations of the Mariners over his five years on the job. One year (2010) he even emphasized defense to a great degree, but the team didn’t hit, scoring just 513 runs on the season. His gamble on Cano is a big one that will need to pay off if the Mariners are to return to winning ways. Robinson Cano LISA BLUMENFELD/GETTY IMAGES SPORT


2014 San Francisco Gameday HQ
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