Writing block happens. Everybody gets it. So when trying to come up with a timely piece about the Mariners I just stared at the depth chart. And this is what I got.

Possible Strengths-

• Outfield- This might be more of a necessity due to the amount of depth the M’s have. When the team has the quality of players the M’s do, some group of the nearly 30 possible outfield groups the M’s have is going to work, offensively and defensively they should be fine.
• Middle Infield- Brendan Ryan led the league in defensive WAR last year. While his offense can leave more to be desired, he still is the best defender at a defense-first position in the league. Dustin Ackley, on the other hand, saved 16 above average in the field per 1,200 innings last year. Pretty remarkable for a guy who is known for his bat and for someone who transitioned to the position for the first time in his life in 2010.
• Middle of the Order- I don’t think we’ve been able to say this since Edgar Martinez was in uniform. Like the outfield, the Mariners have a wealth of middle-of-the-order options. If Kendrys Morales, Mike Morse and Franklin Gutierrez all return to the form they have shown in the past, they and the developing Jesus Montero, Kyle Seager and Ackley form a potentially deadly middle of the order. It won’t be Detroit or Texas per se, but it probably is good enough to push them into playoff contention if their pitching holds up.
• Scheduling (The Houston Astros basically…)- Houston joins the division this year, and while the M’s won’t win every game against the ‘Stros, there is still a good chance that the Mariners will take the majority of the games against their newest division rivals. Houston is at the stage Seattle was at not too long ago in terms of rebuilding. They will get to the point of being a good team at some point, just not this year.

Possible Weaknesses-

• Power Positioning Defense- Mike Morse, Kendrys Morales and Jesus Montero all have at least one thing in common. And that one thing would be ability with a baseball bat in their hands. All three have the potential to be deadly power hitters. The kind of hitters that makes opposing managers lose sleep because they have to face them the next day. While all three could do this, they also have another thing in common, fielding. None of the listed three are described as gifted fielders. Their defense, again, leaves more to be desired. This could be an issue in left field, at catcher and at first base should any of the three get a start there.
•  Bullpen- This is an inexperienced bunch. “Green,” as the pros say. There are some established arms in the group, notably closer Tom Wilhelmsen, but the majority of the bullpen was born after the year 1986. The group has shown flashes of being really good. Which I think they can be, but they could also go the other way. This isn’t going to be like the time Washington designated their entire bullpen for assignment for a bad game, but you could see mixing and matching of guys between Seattle and Tacoma.

The fact that the Mariners have more strengths than weakness is another strength in and of itself. Overall, I think that the defense at first and in left, and the bullpen will all work fine and will end the season closer to being a strength than a weakness.

What potential strengths or weaknesses do you think I left out? Tell me in the comments section below. (Makes pointing gesture to below comments section.)