[enemy Lines]

an opposing team's scout sizes up the Mariners

"Pitching and defense are the strengths of this team. The Mariners are short a bat, but they might be O.K. because they won't have to score seven runs every night....

Freddy Garcia and Aaron Sele are two tough righthanders. Garcia is outstanding: 95-mph fastball, nasty curveball and a terrific changeup that he throws to both lefties and righties. Sele is nothing exciting—he just knows how to pitch. Jamie Mover and John Halama are of the same type: lefthanders who change speed and keep hitters off balance. That Randy Johnson trade really worked out: In Halama and Garcia the Mariners got two key guys....

I can't figure out why Brett Tomko doesn't win more games. With his stuff he should get 11 or 12 wins every year....

The bullpen did a great job last year, and it got much stronger by picking up Jeff Nelson . He's been effective in some big spots over the last few years. With Nelson , Jose Paniagua and Arthur Rhodes , the Mariners have some quality major league arms out there. Rhodes is filthy on lefthanders—he's got a nasty slider, and you don't see many lefthanded relievers who throw as hard as he does. Kazuhiro Sasaki was almost unhittable in the second half. He's solid....

John Olerud has a chance to win a batting title every year; same with Edgar Martinez ....

Ichiro Suzuki has some tools and won seven Pacific League batting titles in Japan , but in spring training major league pitchers are just knocking the bat out of his hands. He can't hit the inside pitch; he just keeps fouling balls over the third base dugout. He can really run, but right now he's a little overmatched.