Seattle has two new outfielders (left fielder Ken Griffey Jr. and center fielder Franklin Gutierrez), a new designated hitter (Mike Sweeney), a new first baseman (Russell Branyan) and a reworked bullpen.

Also there is a new manager, Don Wakamatsu, and an entirely new coaching staff.

Such is the job turned in by new GM Jack Zduriencik in his first five months at the helm.

What may come as a surprise is the fact that there seems to be a different attitude, too. The sullenness that dominated the team last year seems to have been purged, possibly because of the new management, possibly because of the new players or possibly just because it's a new year.

But Griffey and Sweeney have spent the last month introducing a collegial atmosphere into the Mariners' clubhouse, and it has carried over onto the field. A team with no appreciable leadership of note a year ago has those two to fall back on, and both seem more than willing to carry the burden.

On the field, the Mariners should hit for more power -- it would be difficult to hit for less than the 124 hit last year, 12th in the American League -- with the additions of Branyan, Griffey and Sweeney, even though the team's RBI leader, left fielder Raul Ibanez, now plies his trade for Philadelphia.

Perhaps more significantly, the Mariners figure to draw more walks with their revamped lineup, which could put the hitters in more RBI spots than they were in a year ago when Seattle seemed to go out of its way not to draw a walk.

The starting rotation could well be the backbone of this team, even though two of the key members, left-hander Erik Bedard (sore butt muscle) and right-hander Brandon Morrow (forearm stiffness) didn't get to pitch as much as hoped in the spring. Morrow, at least, figures to either stay in extended spring training or break with the Triple-A club in Tacoma while rebuilding his arm strength.

Those two and ace RHP Felix Hernandez give the Mariners what they hope will be a strong 1-2-3, and RHP Carlos Silva, LHP Jarrod Washburn and LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith will fill out the rest of the rotation, Rowland-Smith taking over for Morrow at least to start the season.

The bullpen could be a problem, however, because the spring did not see anyone jump up to grab the closer's role vacated when right-hander J.J. Putz was traded to the New York Mets. Wakamatsu says he doesn't want a bullpen by committee, but he might get just that from right-handers Miguel Batista, Mark Lowe and Roy Corcoran until, perhaps, right-hander Chad Cordero comes off the disabled list in May.

The Mariners don't look like a contender out of the chute, but most of the holdovers on the team save for second baseman Jose Lopez and right fielder Ichiro Suzuki are coming off down years. If the others rebound -- notably Silva, Washburn, Batista, catcher Kenji Johjima and suddenly defensively challenged shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt -- surprise is possible.

MARINERS WILL CONTEND IF ...: RHP Felix Hernandez, LHP Erik Bedard and RHP Brandon Morrow all are healthy and all consistently give the team 6-7 innings a start. It will be tough to get that from the injured Bedard and Morrow in April, but the talent is there once they build up arm strength. The offense will need to go from last year's 671 runs scored to about 750 runs to make it all work. If things don't click, look for Washburn and the team's 2008 home run leader, 3B Adrian Beltre, to be dealt by the All-Star break.

PRIMED FOR A BIG SEASON: 2B Jose Lopez had the best season of his career last year (.297, 17, 89), then crushed the ball throughout the World Baseball Classic for Team Venezuela. He could be the extra middle-of-the-lineup presence the Mariners need.

ON THE DECLINE: LHP Jarrod Washburn hasn't had a winning season in his first three years with Seattle. A 5-14 record and 4.69 ERA last year could have been better with some support, but Washburn simply might need to have a different address to get back to his form of the early part of this decade with the Angels.