Rangers Manager Likes the M’s Chances

According to the P-I’s John Hickey, Teas Ranger manager Ron Washington has much praise for this year’s version of the Mariners.  Wrote Hickey:

“They came out of last year knowing there were some things they needed to do,” Washington said, “and they went out and did them. They got (starter Carlos) Silva and (starter Erik) Bedard. They’ve got the kind of rotation they want.

“All they have to do right now is to go out and catch the ball.”

Washington didn’t exactly explicitly state that the M’s were the team to beat in the AL West, favoring them over the Angels, but getting props from a manager in your division is always nice.

What’s also nice are the reports of outstanding defense being turned in by the M’s in recent days, with infielder Miguel Cairo, right fielder Brad Wilkerson, and second baseman turning in some web gems.  As long as the M’s can keep this sterling defense to back up their solid pitching staff, maybe the M’s could have a shot at winning this division, however many runs their moribund offense can manage.