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I would submit to you the fact that while the 1996 Yankees weren't a team that hit tons of Home Runs, they hit enough doubles to move folks around the base paths and had a line up without holes. There team was pretty well rounded and finished the season with a very respectable team OBP.
The Mariners have Saunders/Langerhans, Wilson and Ryan. That hurts. The top half of the Mariners order needs to rake in order to make up for this. Ackley will relieve some of this pressure but he is two months away. Bradley, Cust and Smoak are good hitters but I wouldn't be afraid to challenge them with a fastball on an 0-0, 1-0, 2-1 or 3-2 especially with the bases empty..