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Last year, Kennedy was legitimately one of the M's best hitters to start the year. However, since he was just a scrub, over-the-hill bench player pulled off the scrap heap, that was a very bad thing. With Figgins, Jack Cust, Milton Bradley and Jack Wilson as starters, Kennedy and Smoak had to carry the offense at the beginning of the season and there was no way that could last.
This year, if Guillen hits well it will serve to supplement a whole bunch of other quality offensive players instead of being a main driving force. That's a drastically better situation.