| So they won't make the playoffs. But who really | | | | had struggled, and Seattle felt the obligation to |
| thought they would when the season had begun? | | | | rise to the occasion for the beloved Griffey. |
| Think back to 2008 and you might remember | | | | The second major factor has been the |
| that this was one of the worst teams in baseball. | | | | effectiveness of Ichiro Suzuki. While he's great |
| This is a team that finished 61-101 in 2008, just | | | | just about every season, he was particularly |
| missing the "worst team in baseball" title by a | | | | effective this year, with a .355 batting average |
| mere two games. | | | | and yet another 200+ hit season. It's just |
| What happened in 2009, and why was this team | | | | incredible when you look at what he's done year |
| (now with a winning record) so much more | | | | in and year out. |
| effective? | | | | Lastly, the pitching dominance of King Felix |
| Well, there are a few factors that we can assign | | | | Hernandez has been invaluable to the Seattle |
| the responsibility to for this. First of all, the return | | | | Mariners. Hernandez has an earned run average |
| of Ken Griffey Jr. instantly provided a morale | | | | below 2.50 (second best in the American League) |
| boost to the franchise and its fans. This is a | | | | and has been responsible for many big wins |
| legend who made his name with this team for | | | | through the course of the 2009 season. |
| well over a decade, and in his final time spent as a | | | | There's no reason to believe that Seattle can't |
| pro baseball player, he decided to come back to | | | | build on this success in 2010. |
| play in Seattle. He very well knew how the team | | | | |