Franklin Gutierrez

How do you fix a team that has lost 100 games twice in three seasons?

That's the glaring question that general manager Jack Zduriencik and manager Eric Wedge are tasked with in 2011.

After a few nice trades and additions propelled the team a giant step forward in 2009, they took another giant step back in 2010. Though most assumed that '09 team overachieved, the additions to the club last season led those same pundits to believe we'd at least see a similar outcome, perhaps even a better one.

Every year, there are those waiver wire wonders that carry your team through the fantasy baseball season. In 2010, fantasy stars like Jose Bautista, Buster Posey, Carlos Santana and Angel Pagan are just a few of the many players who made an impact despite their undrafted status on draft day. 

There are only five teams in Major League Baseball with a worse record than the Seattle Mariners.

The M’s are 14 games behind the red-hot Texas Rangers in the division standings. They’re 13 games off the pace for the Wild Card.

The Seattle Mariners should be sellers at the trade deadline, right? Well, they just gave up two minor-league prospects to the Cleveland Indians for 34-year old Russell Branyan whom they declined to sign over the off-season.

Well Mariners fans, lets face it, the 2010 season is a bust.

There will be no comeback, no 1995 style legendary run to the post season. No, I'm afraid the last exciting moment for the Mariners will be watching who they dump in the upcoming midseason fire sale.

Cliff Lee is a lock to be traded, and rumor has it that everybody not named Felix or Ichiro is up for grabs. I'd expect a lot of familiar names to be playing in different markets come August.

So, what does that mean for the 2011 squad? What does the future hold for Seattle baseball?

Let's be honest. The first week of the Seattle Mariners season has been a massive disappointment.

Thus far, the offense has underwhelmed and the pitching has struggled. The defense has been stellar, but it can't swing a bat or strike a batter out; therefore it can't solve the current Mariners' dilemma.

As several fans and writers have correctly pointed out, it's too early to abandon ship. This team has talent at several key positions, the best young pitcher in the American League, and a ballpark that is built to accommodate its playing style.

“Now this is what it’s like when worlds collide”

-Powerman 5000

That’s a fitting line from a mediocre band that I normally don’t like enough to be quoting.

I actually don’t like them at all, but I remembered hearing that line in a song growing up. I googled it, and here we are with that for the introduction to an article.

I spent last night drinking at a house where seemingly everyone was in a death metal band but me. And that’s not even the reference for which the lyric was included.

They say nobody's perfect.

That may be true, but that won't stop me from trying to create the perfect baseball player.

In this article I will combine players with specific talents to create the perfect baseball player.

P.S.: I want to apologize to Mo Vaughn in advance (you'll find out why momentarily).

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In 2008 the Seattle Mariners lost 101 games, second only to the lowly Washington Nationals. Last season, the Mariners finished with a record of 85-77, signaling a 24 game turnaround, best in the league. This year the Mariners have their eye on 95 wins and an AL West title, and neither is out of the questions.

The Mariners have some household names that every baseball fan is familiar with. Ichiro Suzuki, who holds the all-time record for hits in a season, is easily one of the game’s most recognizable stars.

Jermaine Dye hit 27 HR last season. That's tied for 37th most home runs among players in either league last year, one less than Joe Mauer and one more than Justin Upton. And he has no job.

Joe Pawlikowski did a good job breaking down why Dye doesn't have a job on FanGraphs . To recap for the lazy, he had a terrible second half and his defense is utter excrement.

How do you truly measure defense in Major League Baseball?

Some of the greatest defensive players to play the game have taken home numerous Rawlings Gold Gloves. Ozzie Smith didn’t get the nickname “The Wizard” because it was cool, his glove was simply magical.

Omar Vizquel will one day get into the Hall of Fame and it will not be largely due to his offense. Ivan Rodriguez is arguably one of the greatest catchers in the history of the game, thanks to the 13 Gold Gloves stashed away on his mantle.