Bert Blyleven

With 101 losses, the Mariners were the worst team in the American League last year. Nowhere to go but up, you say? Agreed. But under new manager Don Wakamatsu, Seattle has been hard to gauge so far this season.

Six games into the schedule, the Mariners moved into first place in the AL West. And there they impressively remained for nearly a month, at one point lifting their record to six games over .500.

But a six-game losing streak hit, and Seattle fell to third in the division, but only a game and a half out. Where the Mariners go after starting out hot, and then going cold will determine how well the rebuilding blueprint of new general manager Jack Zduriencik is working.

Pick them to click – at least well enough not to fade from the Angels’ rear-view mirror. The Angels will take the AL West, but the Mariners could chase them all summer long, and perhaps even through September. That’s chase, however, not catch. Rebuilding from over 100 losses doesn’t happen overnight. But Texas can’t pitch, and Oakland looks like it will go plunk sooner rather than later, while the Mariners have some new blood to mix with some solid pieces from last year’s club.

The scroll of the players Zduriencik added in the offseason reveals why the team has fewer needs than a year ago. Leading that list are Ken Griffey Jr., Franklin Gutierrez, Russell Branyan, Mike Sweeney, Endy Chavez, and Jason Vargas. They are contributing, there’s no question about that. The Mariners had to bring in outfield help after Raul Ibanez signed as a free agent with the Phillies.

Along with Ichiro Suzuki in right field, Gutierrez in center field, and Chavez in left field, Seattle boasts one of the best defensive outfields around. These are three guys that can cover a lot of ground. Also, keep an eye on one of the Mariners’ most-hyped prospects in years, Wladimir Balentien, who will see some time in the outfield, especially if he proves he can hit major-league breaking pitches.

It’s the Mariners’ hope the strong outfield defense will make their pitching staff better -- that and getting some arms, both relievers and starters, off the disabled list.

When healthy, the rotation is one of the team’s strengths. Its back end was thrown into question with injuries to Carlos Silva and Ryan Rowland-Smith. Silva has inflammation in his right shoulder, and his loss of confidence has him stumbling. Rowland-Smith has been hampered by left triceps tendinitis.

One of those tabbed to help plug the holes created by the losses of Silva and Rowland-Smith is Chris Jakubauskas, who has impressed me with a good sinking fastball. His control could use some work so he could eventually be headed for the bullpen, but if he gets better command of his pitches, he might turn out to be a surprise for the Mariners.

And his story makes all remember that some of the roads traveled to the major leagues are as unpredictable as they come. Jakubauskas didn’t pitch in college, was not drafted, and played five years of independent-league baseball before being signed by the Mariners as a non-drafted free agent in June of 2007.

Vargas did not pitch last season as he rehabbed all summer from left hip surgery. He was part of a three-team, 12-player deal that involved the Mariners, Mets, and Indians last December. He’s hungry to pitch again, and will get a chance in the rotation due to the injuries.

The Mariners have a very good 1-2 combination at the top of the rotation in Felix Hernandez and Erik Bedard. Consistency has been the only issue for Hernandez while Bedard has a great curveball, and he can throw it for a strike at anytime. He simply needs to stay healthy. And Jarrod Washburn, who got off to a good start, is pitching for a new contract. Hernandez, Bedard, and Washburn should really help the Mariners from losing sight of the Angels.

Brandon Morrow is the new closer since J.J. Putz was moved in that three-team deal. Morrow has a great arm, but control could be an issue for him. He has to trust his stuff, and get ahead in the count. He had some success last year in closing games when Putz was on the disabled list so the Mariners know he can get the job done.

Besides Morrow, the bullpen has some other very good arms, including Miguel Batista, David Aardsma, Sean White, and Mark Lowe. Additional help could come from Shawn Kelley, Cesar Jimenez and Tyler Johnson when they get healthy.

Anytime a team has a lineup with Ichiro leading off, it’s a dangerous one because he has a chance to score two or three times a game because he is such a great hitter. But Ichiro can’t do it alone, and Seattle, which is near the bottom of the AL in runs scored, must produce more offensively. Expect Wakamatsu to have his team make some adjustments or maybe even changes in the lineup in an attempt to generate more runs.

The offense isn’t the only concern of Wakamatsu. Seattle’s defense could wind up worst in the AL. The biggest mystery here is third baseman Adrian Beltre, who has won two consecutive Gold Gloves. Inexplicably, Beltre had seven errors in his first 33 games.

Having Griffey back has created a lot of buzz and excitement. He provides the veteran leadership and presence the Mariners have missed since Edgar Martinez left. Griffey comes to the ballpark with a winning attitude, a good work ethic, and the Mariners are hoping that will rub off on the other players. They’re also hoping for a much better 2009 than 2008, and they should be because the now in Seattle is much sunnier than it was last year.