Best of the Mariners the past 10 seasons, and why I picked ‘em
Published 10:53 am Thursday, December 31, 2009
Earlier this week, we ran a collection of “best of” lists in the sports section looking back at the 10 years in local and Seattle sports.
Interesting stuff, and if you comb through the lists elsewhere on this website, you’ll find anything from the top 10 moments from 2000-2009 to the “Top 10 Good Riddance” in that timeframe. Richie Sexson makes that list; in fact, it’s the most impact he’s had in the No. 4 spot since he popped 39 homers for the M’s in 2005.
My task was to select the top 10 Mariners players from 2000-2009. Tempted as I was, I could have chosen 10 from the 2001 team and called it a day. As it is, nine of the 10 played on that 116-victory team, but all but Ichiro Suzuki also played on the 2000 playoff team as well as the 2002 team that appeared headed back to the postseason before a late nosedive.
Here’s my list:
1, Ichiro Suzuki
2, Edgar Martinez
3, Felix Hernandez
4, Jamie Moyer
5, Mike Cameron
6, Bret Boone
7, Dan Wilson
8, John Olerud
9, Kazuhiro Sasaki
10, Freddy Garcia
For more details on each of these players, check out my expanded version of this list.
Debatable? Did Sexson strike out a few times?
One e-mailer asked for an apology because Ken Griffey Jr. didn’t make the list Unfortunately, Junior batted .214 for the M’s from 2000-09 . Of course, he played for them only in 2009. Yes, his presence in the clubhouse made a difference, but if I put Junior on the list for that, shouldn’t Mike Sweeney be there as well?
There were questions why Alex Rodriguez didn’t make it. Alex played a wonderful 2000 season for the Mariners, then couldn’t ignore the $252 million tossed at him by the Texas Rangers. The Mariners were a better team in 2001 without him.
You can argue the order of the list, especially that Jamie Moyer and his two 20-victory seasons should rank higher than Felix Hernandez, who’d never won more than 14 games before his 19-victory season in 2009. Moyer went 93-63 in seven seasons from 2000-06 before the M’s traded him to the Phillies, and he also went 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in three postseason starts in 2001. So, yeah, I think he should rank higher than Hernandez, who probably blinded me with his breakout season this year.
Who should have made it that didn’t? I’m kicking myself for leaving off J.J. Putz. The guy saved 101 games (second in club history behind Kazu Sasaki’s 129) with a 3.07 ERA. He’s a good guy and was a much-needed leader during a dismal period when the Mariners averaged 87 losses.
But if Putz makes the list, who comes off?
Dan Wilson? I just can’t discount his presence on the 2000 and 2001 playoff teams, plus what he meant through 2005 before he retired. Sasaki? I’m not bumping off the franchise saves leader. Freddy Garcia? He’s third in franchise history in victories, fourth in winning percentage, fifth in strikeouts, fifth in starts and fifth in innings.
Got a different idea of the top 10 Mariners from 2000-09? Go to the comments section below and have your say. And then let’s hope that we can all come back here in 2019 and go through the same exercise.
Above all, have a Happy New Year.
