Lefty Ryan Rowland Smith and righty Brandon Morrow have both pitched very well since returning from the minors where they did a small conversion from the bullpen to the rotation. These two guys combined with Felix Hernandez give the Mariners a much better rotation than the one they started with last April. Smith has started 11 games for the Mariners this season and he is 2-2 with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Overall, Smith has pitched in 46 games in which he is 4-3 with 2 saves, a 3.39 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Morrow has started 4 games for the Mariners this season and he is 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. He almost no-hit the Yankees in one of his starts as his stuff is that good. Morrow has now pitched in 44 games for the Mariners this season and he is 2-4 with 10 saves, a 2.72 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He has whiffed 67 batters and only has allowed 34 hits in 59.2 innings this season for the Mariners. The Mariners will definately have a different look next season with Smith and Morrow helping the rotation out big time.

Erik Bedard’s first season in Seattle has ended as it has been revealed that he has a torn labrum and a cyst in his left shoulder. He will need surgery that will likely cause him to miss at least half of the 2009 season. Bedard started 15 games for the Mariners in 2008 and he was 6-4 with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Those numbers aren’t bad but when one considers what the Mariners gave up for him then they don’t look too good. Outfielder Adam Jones and pitchers George Sherrill, Chris Tillman, Tony Butler and Kam Mackolio was the ransom that the Orioles got for Bedard. Hindsight is always 20/20 and it appears that the Orioles’ GM should be arrested for robbery in this trade.

Adrian Beltre played his last game of the season for the Mariners on Sunday as he will undergo surgery on a thumb next week. Beltre played in 143 games for the Mariners this season and he was 148 for 556 (.266 avg, .784 OPS) with 74 runs scored, 25 homers and 77 RBIs. Beltre will be replaced at 3B by 22-year old righty swinging Matt Tuiasosopo. He has played in 4 games so far this season for the Mariners and he is 3 for 15 (.200 avg, .517 OPS) with 1 run scored and 1 RBI. He has also played in 111 games this season in AAA and he was 123 for 437 (.281 avg, .817 OPS) with 87 runs scored, 13 homers and 73 RBIs.

Jeff Clement will miss the remainder of the 2008 season for the Seattle Mariners due to him undergoing surgery to repair his left knee. Clement played in 66 games for the Mariners this year and he was 46 for 203 (.227 avg, .655 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 5 homers and 23 RBIs. It will be interesting to see what the Mariners do with Clement next season. I’m of the opinion that he should be the starting catcher and Kenji Johjima should move to first base.