Seager
I've gotta start with him. Sure, he's not going to hit .400 either, but if he hits .275-.280 with 25-30 doubles (or MORE!) and some big hits in key situations, you've simply GOT to play him at least 5 games a week.
Ackley
Last night showed he's human. But he's bound to build on last year and hit better than .290 with some power.
Shortstop
Looks like it's going to have to be manned by committee, as Ryan's injury history led us to expect. Kawasaki the likely beneficiary, but I hope Seager is at least give a chance to show if he can play the position as well as, say, Rich Aurelia.
MOTO Madness
Montero seems to have been sick a lot. Has the stress and burden of being viewed as an Offensive Savior and Future HOF'er taken it's toll on him? Hope not, but if need be when Carp comes back and gets in a groove he can take some DH at-bats. The M's have been doin' what they been doin' without much contribution from Smoak and Montero. We definitely DO need power in the lineup, as the Rangers amply demonstrated last night.
Olivo
Watching Olivo makes me wish even more that Montero sticks as a catcher. The pitchers like throwing to him, but I can't stand his habit of whiffing on pitches. Not as a batter, as a catcher. To borrow and butcher some Little League trash talk, "We want a catcher, not a hairy scratcher." I still can't figure out how it seems he gets a PB or two AND a (catcher's fault) WP every game and still barely breaks double digit passed ball totals for the season. Seems like it should be triple digits.
Casper Wells
The Invisible Man.
Michael Saunders
Despite a great spring training and start, and despite a determination to implement less timid approach, why is it I feel like Saunders is gonna end up doing little better than what he's done in the past? Should he bring his big training rubber band to the plate to put around his knees?
Justin Smoak
There's a disconnect between my hopes and my fears. I must admit I'm beginning to wonder if there's some fundamental weakness that will frustrate him and keep him from making the necessary adjustments to MLB to reach his potential. He wouldn't be the first hyped player to suffer that fate even after showing flashes of superior ability.
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