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The Drought, Part II: The 10 Most Underrated Mariners Since 2001 – First Five

By Ty Gonzalez

SEATTLE - MARCH 31: Fans walk up to the stadium before the Seattle Mariners game against the Texas Rangers on March 31, 2008 at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE - MARCH 31: Fans walk up to the stadium before the Seattle Mariners game against the Texas Rangers on March 31, 2008 at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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#8: RHP Joel Pineiro

ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 13: Pitcher Joel Pineiro #38 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the game against the Anaheim Angels on April 13, 2004, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Angels, playing in their first home game of the season, won 7-5. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 13: Pitcher Joel Pineiro #38 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the game against the Anaheim Angels on April 13, 2004, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Angels, playing in their first home game of the season, won 7-5. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

When you think of the Mariners in the early 2000s, rarely does Joel Pineiro pop into your head. But Pineiro was key to the Mariners’ success, especially after the 2001 season.

Many forget that the beginning of the Mariners’ playoff drought wasn’t ugly. In fact, it was pretty good. They just resided in a division that featured the Oakland Athletics and Anaheim Angels. Finishing 93-69 in both seasons, the Mariners received a huge boost from Pineiro.

Pineiro was worth 6.0 WAR (2.5 and 3.5 respectively) over those two seasons. In 2003, Pineiro was the dictionary definition of “stable,” pitching 211.2 innings.

He was not flashy by any means. He didn’t strike a lot of guys out and had an average walk rate. But he kept the Mariners in games and very rarely worked his bullpen.

Pineiro slowly declined more and more over his last three years, resulting in the Mariners stepping away from him after 2006.

But the contribution he gave the Mariners from 2001 to 2004 should not go unnoticed. That’s why he’s found himself on this list.

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