"Along the dark, narrow hallway separating the clubhouse from the parking lot at the Seattle Mariners' spring training facility here, the team has hung larger-than-life pictures of its best-known players.

There's one of Ken Griffey Jr., of course, another of Ichiro Suzuki and one of 19-game winner Felix Hernandez. Closer to the door is one of the newest Mariners, Chone Figgins. And that seems appropriate since it is Figgins, as much as anyone, who is expected to guide the Mariners out of the dark depths of the American League West and into the light of the playoffs.

"Figgy cares about one thing. He cares about winning," says Seattle Manager Don Wakamatsu, who, like many on the Mariners' staff, coached the speedster at one point during Figgins' nine years in the Angels organization. "That's a great asset to have. That's part of why we wanted him so bad."

That is a big reason why Figgins came to Seattle as a free agent in December. The Mariners knew what they were getting and knew that was what they wanted.

"I'm a person that likes familiarity," Figgins said. "Sometimes players move over to different places, we're expected to do different things. To come over here, I don't have to change a thing."

Well, except for his spot in the batting order, since he'll be hitting second instead of leading off. And his position in the field, since Seattle opened the spring with Figgins at second, not third.

That's it — for now.

But as Wakamatsu is quick to note, if something else is needed, Figgins would be the first to volunteer. That, the manager suggested, is why Figgins has played in nearly twice as many postseason games as anyone else on Seattle's roster.

"When you have guys of that stature willing to do that, it kind of sends a message," Wakamatsu said. "If we want to win here, what are you willing to do?

"I've known him for a long time. I know his makeup. Presence in the clubhouse, leadership, the things he can do on and off the field were all reasons why Jack went out and targeted him right away," Wakamatsu said, referring to General Manager Jack Zduriencik.

Figgins wasn't the only player targeted. The Mariners also brought in outfielders Eric Byrnes and Milton Bradley, former Angels first baseman Casey Kotchman and 2008 Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee."