Seattle Mariners Bold Predictions By Sporting News

Jesse Spector of The Sporting News has put out a list of Five Bold Predictions for the Seattle Mariners in the 2015 season.

Check it out, it’s a decent read.

If you don’t have time for the full article, here are the highlights.

1. “Long Live The King”

Spector makes a claim that is likely to irritate Mariners fans. First of all, he predicts another 200+ inning and 200+ strikeout season for Felix. Nothing wrong with that.

But he then predicts a 17-win season (up from 15 in 2014) but he predicts that Felix will lose the Cy Young award again, this time to Chris Sale.

2. “Cruz Control”

Spector makes the point that Nelson Cruz hit 40 homers in 2014 and is unlikely to replicate that in 2015. But almost anything Cruz gives Seattle would be better than what they got from their DH last year.

"Still, Safeco Field is a terrible place for a right-handed power hitter, with only Bret Boone (twice), Edgar Martinez, Alex Rodriguez, and Richie Sexson (twice) having reached 30 homers for the Mariners since 2000. Seattle designated hitters put up a combined .190/.266/.301 line with 15 homers last season."

So what does he project Cruz will do in 2015? Pretty much what we projected, at least in homers. Check it out.

Spector: .260/.332/.498 with 28 HR.

SodoMojo (Dec. 1st): .245/.335/.443 with 28 HR.

3. “What’s Happ-ening?”

Spector points out the fact that the acquisition of J.A. Happ was a head-scratcher with James Paxton, Roenis Elias and Taijuan Walker waiting in the wings.

He ends by saying Happ will be moving onto his next stop by the July trade deadline.

4. “Cream, no sugar”

Spector is not a fan of the new Sunday home alternate uniforms. Despite the fact that ESPN’s Uni Watch moved the Mariners up several spots from last year – to 15th – based on the Sunday alternates.

The prediction is that after the Mariners lose their first five home Sundays of the season, the club will get rid of the new unis.

5. “How the West was won”

Spector predicts that the Mariners will win 24 of the first 26 games coming out of the All-Star break and open up a 12-game lead in the AL West.

"Things will get a little bit dicey when the Angels cut it to six in mid-September, but by taking two out of three at home from their closest rivals, the Mariners will have a seven-game lead with 15 to play. The clinch will come in Anaheim on the next-to-last weekend of the season."

But Spector ends the piece by claiming that the Mariners will lose the ALCS.

So, what do you think M’s fans? Where is he right? Where will he be wrong?

Tell us your five bold predictions in the comments below.