A Blast from the Past: Justin Leone

Last weekend, Saint Martin’s University held its annual alumni baseball games on its campus in Lacey, Washington. The University’s current roster of players hosted a team comprised of alumni for a pair of seven-inning games. This year, the game featured the Saint Martin’s baseball program’s most well-known Saint, Justin Leone. Leone made the highlight reel when, with a wood bat, he clobbered a homerun beyond the cavernous left-field alley, over the fence for the only homerun of the day, and one of the few hits notched by the alumni team.

Mariner fans may remember Leone from his run with the team in the summer of 2004.

Leone was drafted by the Mariners in the 13th round of the 1999 amateur draft after attending Saint Martin’s College (now University). He worked his way through the Mariner farm system, playing in Everett, Wisconsin, San Bernardino, San Antonio, and Tacoma as an infielder, predominantly at third base. In the minor leagues, Leone consistently posted promising offensive numbers that indicated he’d someday appear at the MLB level.

In 2003 Leone earned recognition for his play with AA San Antonio. In 135 games, he hit a .288 AVG, with a .405 OBP, 21 HRs, and a .541 SLG. His effort earned him the title Texas League Player of the Year, as determined by Baseball America. He was also selected as the Texas League Player of the Year by Topps. Finally, the Mariners named him their Minor League Player of the Year as well. Seemingly, he was on the verge of joining the big club.

He began the 2004 campaign with the AAA Tacoma Rainiers, but was promoted to the Mariners when Miguel Olivo was sent to the disabled list with kidney stone issues. On July 2, Leone made his major league debut in Saint Louis, pinch hitting in the top of the third inning for Jamie Moyer against Woody Williams. Two days later, he made his first start at shortstop. Then, from July 8 through August 17, he served as the regular third basemen, as Scott Spiezio moved across the diamond to play first base. But unfortunately, on August 17, against the Royals, Leone was hit by a Matt Kinney pitch, and was forced to leave the game prior to his next at-bat. X-rays taken that night revealed broken bones in his left hand. Leone was placed on the disabled list, and never appeared in another game in a Mariner uniform.

He spent the 2005 season with the Rainiers, and in October of that year was granted free agency. In 2006, he was in the Padres system, and appeared in one game at the big-league level. It was Leone’s last appearance in an MLB game. Since then, he spent time in the Giants, Yankees, and Rangers systems before being granted his free agency again at the conclusion of the 2009 season.

For his career, in 32 games, Leone hit .214, with 6 HRs (including a bomb off Cliff Lee), 13 RBI, and an OPS of .733. And, while his big-league career may very well be over, he will undoubtedly be welcomed at every future Saint Martin’s University alumni game to have fun and share his experience and knowledge of the game with players at his alma mater.

101 Losses: A Familiar Feeling

We can’t say that it was a total surprise. Just two weeks into the season, back in mid-April, many fans had already begun to feel as though the 2010 Mariners may mirror the 2008 Mariners. We were right, and we were wrong.

Here is a piece I wrote back then that drew some uneasy connections and similarities between the teams. When I wrote it, I remember still thinking that, even in a worst case scenario, the team couldn’t be nearly as bad as the 2008 team. Maybe the 2010 Mariners would lose 90 games; but 101? Never. Jack Z was not Bill Bavasi, and surely we were better than a team that trotted out guys like Yuniesky Betancourt, Carlos Silva, Jeremy Reed, and Kenji Johjima on a regular basis.

Boy, were we wrong. The 2010 Mariners were last in the AL in these offensive categories: runs (513), hits (1274), doubles (227), triples (14), homeruns (101), batting average (.236), on-base-percentage (.298), slugging (.339), (as naturally would follow) OPS (.637), and total bases (1836). On top of that, we were second to last in bases on balls (459). Not exactly an offensive recipe for success.

The 2008 team was last in none of those categories. They scored 671 runs (+158), hit .265 (+.029), homered 124 times (+23), slugged .389 (+.050), and were on base at a .318 clip (+.020). They were better in every offensive category.

The only thing that saved the 2010 Mariners—one of the historically-worst offenses of the DH era—was their pitching, which had the fourth-best ERA in the AL (3.95). Had Felix Hernandez not given 30 quality starts (in 34 chances), had Jason Vargas not contributed 21 (of 31) in a breakout season, and had we not had the luxury of watching Cliff Lee throw just over 100 innings in a Mariner uniform, we would have been staring at 110 losses.

We are all anxious to see what Jack Z will do this winter. The buzz from last winter’s acquisitions—trading for Milton Bradley, Brandon League, and Cliff Lee; and signing Chone Figgins—made the Mariners contenders in the eyes of some. It didn’t work out.

Looking ahead to 2011, the Mariners will undoubtedly win more ballgames. Mathematically, it will be difficult for them to fare worse. But one can be sure, with a new manager, and roster teeming with youth, there won’t be the same buzz. The Mariners won’t be a trendy pick for the AL West pennant come Opening Day, and that may not be a bad thing.