SS NO LOVE FOR A-ROD!  I often forget that the man who signed the richest contract in Baseball history ever played for the Mariners, so that being said he won't make the cut.  Just another #### you to A-Fraud, courtesy of a loyal Mariner fan.

SS.  Omar "Little O" Vizquel (The only shortstop, who's excellent defense came close to that of the "Wizard" Ozzie Smith.  He didn't have the offensive game that he would later develop in his years with the Indians, but with the kind of defense he played, he didn't have to.  To think Butthead Bavasi damn near brought Little O back, a couple of seasons ago, which would have been a huge mistake.  Then again so was replacing Carlos Guillen (It pains me how good this guy is in Detroit) with Rich Aurillia made little to no sense either.)

Backup:  My brother would say Wilie "Boom Boom" Bloomquist, but he would fill my back up role as the team's super-utility man.  SS Yuniesky Betancourt (A star in the making, who many baseball still don't know about.  He is the Mariners current shortstop and forms a dynamic double play duo with last year all-star second baseman Jose Lopez.  This kid from Cuba, who's probably an old man, is the second coming of Little O, except he can consistently hit, makes me forget about the loss of Carlos Guillen.  The team has these two guys locked up for many years to come, and I guarantee they'll make regular appearances on ESPN's Web Gems.)

DH. Edgar Martinez, My personal favorite player in M's History (Edgar Martinez defined the position of DH, and may prove that it is Hall of Fame worthy.  He started the legacy that guys like David "Big Papi" Ortiz, as a player that could absolutely hit the stuffin out of the ball, but couldn't field to save his life.  The result, at least in the AL, the designated hitter.  Edgar was the best pure hitter I've seen since, my earlier baseball watching years, Wade Boggs, George Brett, and Tony Gwynn.  Edgar could hit the ball to any part of the field for a hit, and could hit with pop when necessary.  Still the greatest game I ever attended was Game 4 of the 1995 ALDS, where Edgar had seven RBIs to lead the Mariners to a series-deciding Game 5 (You know the one where Griffey slides into home and the crowd goes bananas?)  It was amazing how many doubles Edgar collected in his career, because he was never exactly a speedster on the base paths, more likely the complete opposite.)

Backup.  Vince Coleman (A catalyst for success on the '95 team.  Not much room in the crowded outfield for Vince but he cannot be forgotten.  It isn't or never has been the Mariner's style to do many July 31 deadline deals, but in 1995 the M's traded for Vince Coleman, who was a Royal at the time.  The Mariners were making a serious run at the AL West Crown and AL Wildcard, needed a decent option in left field to complete that transition to winning.  Vince Coleman was there guy.  His ability to reach base but to also advance via a steal or two, really was the icing on the cake for what the team needed to be a championship contender.  Every great team has a good lead off hitter (Juan Pierre with the Marlins, John Damon with the Sox, Ichiro with the Mariners, and maybe one day Reyes with the Mets)

OF.  Ken Griffey Jr.  (It kills me that he even wanted to play for his hometown Reds over the surging Seattle Mariners.  Griffey was the sugar in the fan base's Kool Aid during the late eighties and early nineties to mid nineties.  He was one of those rare five-tool players that come around once in a generation.  My father had such players with Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays.  Jr.  had some serious pop, and I had the pleasure to see some of his greatest games, like the game winning walk-off upper deck HR against the Yankees, and the game where he made an unbelievable catch while breaking his wrist in the process.  The Kid almost single handedly kept baseball alive in Seattle instead of re-locating the team to sunny Florida.  It was a shame he only played one season in Safeco Field, because the field was built perfectly to the strengths of a power hitting, left-handed batter.  Oh well.  It was a blast watching him play in Seattle, while it lasted.  And his return this season was priceless, as I don't think he knew of how huge an impact he had on the Mariners and their fans.  He was the one player, who despite many freak injuries, could have made a fair, realistic attempt at Hank Aaron's illustrious record.)

OF.  Ichiro Suzuki (Some of you may scoff at Ichiro's latest contract, but whatever keeps him in Seattle works for me.  Ichiro took Seattle and the world by storm in his rookie season 2001.  He won the AL MVP, Rookie of the Year, and three outfield Gold Glove awards.  He also contributed heavily, if not the most, to the record setting win season of 2001.  He broke the single season hits record easily, and gets 200 or more hits a season.  His speed down the first baseline is still unparralled by anyone else in the Majors.  The only knock against Ichiro is that he doesn't hit for power.  He recently said he could probably hit 40 homeruns, but that he would probably hit .220 of he made a habit of swinging for the fences.  Ichiro and Jose Reyes showed the world, the importance of the lead off man during this year's All Star Game in San Franciso.  Ichiro made other teams salivate at the possibility of him joining their team via free agency, but the M's have been playing well enough to lock him up for years to come.)

OF.  Jay Buhner/Mike Cameron/Phil Bradley/Raul Ibanez (It will would be very hard to pick one of these guys.  Cammie excelled with the glove, and made a Mariner fan forget or not miss Jr's defense as much.  Bone had the canon for an arm in right field, and the occassional, but inconsistent HR power you look for in a corner outfielder.  Bradley with the ability to drive in runs, for terrible Mariner teams during the 1980's.  My pick, Mike Cameron.  He didn't need to contribute much offense, to bring importance to the team.  He was the slickest outfielder I've ever seen.  He could catch up with any line drive or fly ball.  He would hit 15 to 20 HRs a season, and keep his average around the .260 area.  He was one of those role players you really like.  Will Adam Jones find his way into this group one day?  Will Jose Guillen end up in Mariner colors long term and if so will he continue to produce good numbers?  As for Raul Ibanez is doing a decent job of manning left field and was excellent last season (an RBI machine, team MVP).  He is kind of slumping this season, but I expect he'll snap out it shortly. 

Next time it's all about the pitching staff.  5 SP, 1 CL, and the Righty and Lefty set up men