The Seattle Mariners were among baseball's biggest surprises in 2007, staying in the playoff race until late in the season following three straight last-place finishes.
They won't be fooling anybody this time around.Erik Bedard, the centerpiece of a bolstered starting rotation, will take the mound for the Mariners as they start the season at home on Monday against the Texas Rangers, with high hopes for their first playoff berth since 2001.After posting an 88-74 record in 2007 -- their best since 2003 -- the Mariners acquired Bedard from Baltimore in early February, giving up top prospect Adam Jones, reliever George Sherrill and three other prospects in order to secure the left-handed ace.Bedard, 29, went 13-5 with a career-best 3.16 ERA for the Orioles last season, striking out 221 in only 182 innings before being shut down in late August due to a strained oblique muscle.
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