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Seattle Mariners: The franchise all-time bracket

By Bill Felber

SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 02: A gold Florida necklace sits over the Mariners logo on the jersey of Mallex Smith #0 in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at T-Mobile Park on April 2, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 2-1. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 02: A gold Florida necklace sits over the Mariners logo on the jersey of Mallex Smith #0 in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at T-Mobile Park on April 2, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 2-1. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /
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Alex Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners shortstop. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Alex Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners shortstop. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

Seattle Mariners: The franchise all-time bracket

No. 4 vs. 5 seed

Save for Suzuki, the 2000 Mariners had most of the same elements as 2001…plus Alex Rodriguez, in his last season with his original team. A-Rod batted .316 with 41 homers and 132 RBIs before leaving for Texas via free agency.

Martinez hit .324 with 37 home runs and 145 RBIs. Olerud drove in 103. This was, in other words, a very good offensive team.

The pitching was at least adequate. Aaron Sele was 17-10 in 34 starts, and Sasaki picked up 37 more saves.

In 1997 the Mariners won their second AL West title. Rodriguez hit an even .300, Ken Griffey Jr. batted .304 with 56 home runs and 147 RBIs, and Martinez produced a .330 average with 108 RBIs. Jay Buhner added 40 homers and 109 RBIs. This Mariners team had some sticks.

Randy Johnson, at 20-4 in 29 starts, led the staff. Johnson struck out 291 opponents and was runner-up to Pedro Martinez in Cy Young Award voting.

Related Story. Oakland Athletics: The franchise all-time bracket. light

Game 1: The 2000 M’s had a 91-71 record and .562 percentage. The 1997 team finished 90-72 .556. That’s a one-game win for 2000.

Game 2: The 2000 team compiled a .500 post-season record, sweeping Chicago in its division series before losing the ALCS to New York in six games. The 1997 team lost a four-game division series to Baltimore.

Game 3: The 1997 Griffey-Rodriguez-Martinez Mariners had a team 119 OPS+. Without Griffey, the 2000 Mariners only rose to 108.

Game 4: The 2000 Mariners’ staff ERA+ of 101 tops the 1997 team’s 97.

Game 5: The 1997 club compiled a 46.7 WAR. That’s enough to beat 2000’s 45.3.

Game 6: The 2000 Mariners fielded .984, two points better than the league average. The 1997 Mariners fielded .979, and that was three points worse than the league average.

Result: 2000 in six games

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