Out of Leftfield

The Mariners decided to non-tender outfielder Ryan Langerhans' contract. He may be brought back on a minor league contract or a bench spot, but one things for sure: he won't be starting in leftfield. Rumors still circle around free agents, such as Mike Cameron and Jason Bay, but it brings an interesting discussion as leftfield has been a spot that has switched hands more times than any other in Seattle. Here are the starting leftfielders for the M's from the last 2 decades.

1989: Greg Briley

1989 was the year that saw Junior become the Mariners' everyday centerfielder. It also was the year that Greg Briley, played his first full major league season as the an M's outfielder, playing 96 games in left. He had a career year with 13 homers and 53 rbis, only to fall quickly into mediocrity and end his career before the 1994 season.

1990: Jeffrey Leonard

With Briley shifting to right, Leonard started 74 games in left as he played out his 14th and final major league season. Somehow, I doubt he made any hall of fame ballot as he was a rather average player.

1991: Greg Briley

Yep, Briley again.

1992: kevin Mitchell

Mitchell had been a powerhouse for the San Francisco Giants for many years, having led the national league in homers, rbis, slugging percentage and intentional walks. He was sent with Mike Remlinger to the M's for pitchers Bill Swift, Mike Jackson, and Dave Burba. Mitchell did not have a remarkable for the M's and was traded midseason to the Reds for Norm "The Storm" Charlton.

1993: Mike Felder

Practially a definition of a place holder, Felder played left, put up unimpressive numbers and retired after playing the 1994 with the Houston Astros.

1994: Eric Anthony

Anthony followed suit with Felder by playing one year of unremarkable baseball with Mariners and finding himself in a whole other league in the next. He did however, reach double homer digits (10), being the first M's leftfielder to do so in 5 years, and only play a whopping 79 total games.

1995: Vince Coleman

The first year the Mariners won the divison and reached the postseason. It was a year where any long time Mariners fan would recognize nearly all the names of the startes: Griffey, Buhner, Wilson, Blowers, Martinez & Martinez (Edgar/Tino), Cora, and to a lesser extent Luis Sojo, though A-Rod was transition to starting a short this season, and of course, Vince Coleman? Coleman deserves a bit more respect than the previously mention leftfielders, as he had led the National leagues in stolen bases for 6 years straight (1985-1990), was a two time allstar, and the 1985 National League Rookie of Year. However, he only managed 40 games for the M's and the position was also filled by Darren Bragg, Warren Newson, and Marc Newfield that year. Vince filed for free agency after the season.

1996: Rich Amaral

Amaral is best known as an all purpose utility fielder that found himself at nearly every position at one time or another for the Mariners during his career with them. No surprise that he filled the constantly available position of leftfield for a season, playing 63 games, only slightly more than to Darren Bragg's 55. Let's not forget that bust of a free agent Mark Whitten (36), and bench outfielder Alex Diaz (19), picked up some playing time in left too.

1997: Jose Cruz Jr.

Well another run at the postseason, and another year where the leftfield spot remained influx. Cruz was traded midseason to Toronto where he had many productive seasons and the void was filled by Amaral, Roberto kelly, Lee Tinsley, and Rob Ducey.

1998: Glenallen Hill

Just like kevin Mitchell, Hill was picked up from the Giants with hopes that the glimmers of pop in his bat would come to life in the kingdome. Unfortunately, it didn't and his fielding was barely passable, so Hill was gone midway through the season and Amaral, with the help of Shane Monahan, took over.


1999: Brian Hunter

Hunter came in and for the first time in 10 years, he became the first Mariner to play over 100 games in left. Sure, his batting was atrocitious and his fielding was mediocre, but he had speed and led the American League in stolen bases that year. He was so fast, that he was off to the Rockies the next year.

2000: Rickey Henderson

Yep, for 1 year, Seattle had the king of base stealing roaming leftfield. He didn't disappoint, by leading the team with 31 stolen bags that year, but he didn't stay either. At least he was the first Mariner leftfielder to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

2001: Al Martin

So, Al Martin had come over in a trade from the previous year and was made the starting Leftfielder in 2001. He had some pop in his bat prior to coming to Seattle, but could not produce upon reaching the emerald city. and was easily, the least productive starting member of the team that won 116. If you ask me, Stan Javier should have been given more playing time.

2002: Mark McLemore

Like, Rich Amaral before him, Mark McLemore became the second career utility player to start the majority of games in leftfield for the Mariners for a season. McLemore was no slouch with a glove and could steal a base from you, but having him in that spot showed that finding an everyday leftfielder for more than a year was still no on the agenda. Ruben Sierra (59 games) and Charles Gipson (57) also had signifcant playing time in left.

2003: Randy Winn

Winn came in and played 157 games in left, by and far the most of any player on this list. He had a good amount of speed and occasional power, and if it weren't Ichiro, he would have probably batted leadoff. The most solid all around and consistent player to start in left, unless you include...

2004: Raul Ibanez

Winn porbably would have stayed in Left had Mike Cameron not left the club, but he got shifted to Center and Ibanez took over in left for most of 2004. Ibanez had come up in the Mariners organization, only to be shipped off the kansas city and then return as an everyday player in 2004.

2005: Randy Winn

Only then, Edgar Martinez retired and Raul's fielding wasn't stellar, so Raul took over most of the DHing duties and Winn was moved back to left for the 2005 season, though Raul did play 55 to Winn's 92.

2006-2008: Raul Ibanez

But then, Winn was gone and Carl Everett was picked up, but his fielding was worse than Ibanez's, so Raul was playing the field once again. Ibanez had a career year with 33 homers and 123 rbis. Raul then held down the fort for the next two seasons and was the best option the Mariners had in Left.

2009: Behemoth

Of course, this year, there really was no consistency. Endy Chavez probably would have taken the spot over, had he not succumbed to a season ending injury in July when he collided with Yuniesky Betancourt. In addition to Langerhans, Wladimir Balentien spent some time in left before he was traded midseason and Michael Saunders was an on and off again experiment. In fact, late season addition Bill Hall put in a few games, and it was the only field spot that Griffey played for a few games.

Hopefully, we can figure something out, because the tradition of having this continual void in left gets old. Definitely missing Raul these days.