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Breaking Down the Mariners Lineup Order

By Nick Lee

Jul 30, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Leonys Martin (12) hits a single during the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 30, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Leonys Martin (12) hits a single during the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 30, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) runs the bases after hitting a two-run homer against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Robinson Cano, 2B

This one is rather self-explanatory. Your third hitter is your best overall hitter. He needs to hit for average and for power. Cano fits the bill about as well as anyone in baseball. Hitting .298 with 39 home runs and 103 RBI last season is exactly what the Mariners paid $240 million for. If he stays healthy again, expect similar results (maybe not 39 HRs but close).

Sep 13, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) looks up after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) looks up after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Nelson Cruz, DH

Another obvious one. The number four hitter is your “clean-up” hitter meaning he cleans the bases of baserunners by hitting the ball over the fence. That’s what Boomstick Cruz does best, as he has 87 home runs in his two-year Mariners career. This has a chance to be one of the most lethal heart of a lineup in all of baseball. Cruz is good at what he does. This should be fun.

Jul 10, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Seattle Mariners third basemen Kyle Seager (15) singles in two runs against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Seattle Mariners third basemen Kyle Seager (15) singles in two runs against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Kyle Seager, 3B

In a lot of lineups around the big leagues, Seager might be hitting clean-up.

But in this loaded lineup, he is fifth. The fifth hitter in the lineup usually has a combined skillset of numbers three and four. He might not have the raw power of your fourth guy but he has the extra-base skills of number three. Seager is that man. He had 69 extra-base hits last year (36 doubles, 3 triples, 30 home runs). He also drove in 99 runs. He would have had more if Cruz and Cano would have stopped hitting so many home runs.

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