Opening Day!

Currently 90 minutes (give or take) from Erik Bedard’s first fastball thrown at the friendly confines of Safeco Field, and of the M’s taking steps to prove that their pre-season hype to win the division is nothing more than just hype.

Still, although the Safe can hopefully nullify the Rangers’ prodigious offense, fingers need to be crossed that Bedard’s debut in a Mariners’ uniform is successful.  Of course we have to ignore Bedard’s 9.50 spring training ERA (at the risk of overlooking the microscopic 0.95 mark he posted in last year’s spring), but some of the numbers don’t add up in Bedard’s favor.  The confines of the Safe have proven to be less-than-friendly for Bedard so far in his career.  Considering the small sample size, in nearly 23 career innings at the Safe, Bedard has allowed 36 base runners (2-1 hit-to-walk ratio) which led to an ERA a notch below 6.00.  Still, Bedard has won four of the six starts pitched against Texas, with 45 strikeouts against the swing-happy Rangers, allowing 32 hits and a 2.50 ERA in nearly 40 innings, allowing no home runs against the Ranger starting line-up.  (So don’t be surprised if a three-run blast is given up on the top half of the first inning.)

Texas starter Kevin Millwood also has a winning record against the Mariners, but in a far less dominating fashion, compiling a 7-6 record in 15 starts, allowing 139 base runners (119 hits)  in ninety-five innings.  Raul Ibanez has been a particular thorn in Millwood’s side, hitting Millwood at a .359 clip with five extra base hits in 39 at-bats.  Adrian Beltre has also demonstrated extra-base prowess against Millwood’s offerings, picking up six in 59 at-bats, while Richie Sexson has five, including three funk blasts, in forty-nine at-bats.

Although no set opening day line-up has been announced, manager John McLaren’s projected line-up, according to the M’s home page:

CF Ichiro

2B Lopez

LF Ibanez

1B Sexson

3B Beltre

RF Wilkerson

DH Vidro

C Johjima

SS Betancourt

Though the M’s may not blow the Rangers out of the water on Opening Day, they should pull out a close win, barring any dramatic implosion by the team’s bullpen.