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Sodo Mojo’s Mariners Round Table #2: It’s Prediction Time!

ByColPatnode|
PEORIA, AZ - MARCH 4: A hat and glove of of the Seattle Mariners is seen prior to the game against the San Diego Padreson March 4, 2015 at Peoria Stadium in Peoria, Arizona. The Mariners defeated the Padres 4-3 in 10 innings. (Photo by Rich Pilling/Getty Images)
PEORIA, AZ - MARCH 4: A hat and glove of of the Seattle Mariners is seen prior to the game against the San Diego Padreson March 4, 2015 at Peoria Stadium in Peoria, Arizona. The Mariners defeated the Padres 4-3 in 10 innings. (Photo by Rich Pilling/Getty Images)
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Question 4: The Mariner who needs to have the biggest year to make the playoffs in 2018 is… who?

SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 22: Nelson Cruz
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 22: Nelson Cruz

Ty Gonzalez:

Felix Hernandez, clearly. Felix will never be the same dominant pitcher he once was, but if he can be consistent in health and performance the Mariners will be in a much better spot.

Dan Clark:

The Mariners that need to have the biggest years this year to break the drought are King Felix and Robinson Cano. Without these two having big years and being injury free it will be nearly impossible for the Mariners to break the drought.

Jeff Nooney:

The mariners that needs to have the biggest year is James Paxton. And by biggest, I mean healthiest. The lineup is fine. If Cruz, Cano, Seager, Gordon and Segura play to what they did last season, the M’s will win ballgames. But they need their new ace to stay healthy, something he hasn’t yet done in his big league career.

Michael Johnson:

This one for me doesn’t have just one answer. Instead, it is a combination of two big years from the top two starters in the Mariners rotation. A good year from just Felix Hernandez or just James Paxton won’t be enough to get the job done. We have yet to see these two get through a season completely healthy since becoming teammates and that will have to change. 25 starts out of each of them may be a lot to ask, but if the M’s are going to have any hope at getting into that Wild Card game the King’s Court and Maple Grove are going to need to be rocking all year long.

Colby Patnode:

With very few questions surrounding the Mariners offense, the answer almost certainly lies in the starting rotation. While it would be great to get 30+ starts from James Paxton, it is difficult to go anywhere but Felix Hernandez. If he can return to his 2015 form, the rotation has a rock-solid 1-3 in the rotation. If he is his 2016-2017 self, this will be a long season.

Colton Swanson:

Felix needs to be lights out. As he goes, he Mariners go. I’m incredibly happy that he is going to start opening day and I feel like this is the year he puts his stuff together to get it done. If we can have a stable rotation, the M’s can be in the playoffs. Felix is a huge part of that.

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