That is a BIG ONE!

Have you ever noticed on your favorite team there is always a position that never is quite a solid place. It's an enigma or a BLACK HOLE.

I had known that that position for the Mariners has always been left field. Seattle Times writer Larry Stone did a great piece on the very subject yesterday. Read it here. What I found interesting was the number of players that have spent time at that corner of the outfield.

In what is the 35th season of the club, as of right now 271 different guys have played some time in left. There have been 22 different starters in left field on 35 Opening Days.  Some are funny like Randy Johnson being out there for an inning. Jeff nelson was out there for a batter, and Harold Reynolds did an inning out there too. In the last 22 years there have been 3 different full time Center Fielders( Griffey, Cameron, and Gutierrez, Ichiro did 2 years in center), and 2 Right Fielders( Buhner and Ichiro).

One thing I found really interesting was the carousel that has been there since the start of 2009. Look at this break down list of players for the position:
Year       Name                      Gms


2011 
              Milton Bradley          26
              Carlos Peguero           5
              Ryan Langerhans        5
              Michael Saunders       4
              Mike Wilson               2
2010
              Michael Saunders     74
              Milton Bradley         38
              Ryan Langerhans      28
              Matt Tuiasosopo      14
              Eric Byrnes              10
              Greg Halman              4
              Mike Carp                  1
2009
              Wladimir Balentien     42
              Michael Saunders       39
              Endy Chávez              40
              Ryan Langerhans        30
              Bill Hall                     21
              Ken Griffey Jr.            8
              Ronny Cedeño            7

Pretty sad to see that the last two years each have seen 7 guys in left, and already in 2011 we have had 5. I'm still not sure who the answer in left. There never has been a clear cut answer. I mean we have had 3 different Bradleys, 3 Hendersons- including Rickey, 2 Mitchells, 2 Hunters, a Tiny, and a Pee Wee. The last outfielder the Mariners have drafted was Dustin Ackley, but he's being converted to a second baseman. Before that, you have to go back to 1995 when they took Jose Cruz Jr. He was unfortunately sent to Toronto for two relievers we just as soon forget.

Question of the day: Where is the BLACK HOLE on your team's roster, and how bad has it been?