Meet at the Mitt: A Seattle Mariners podcast

MLB great John Kruk joins Sam Wilson, John Stolnis, Brady Klopfer and a host of community guests from around SB Nation to watch the 2021 MLB Home Run Derby! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SB Nation’s all-star cast (Sam Wilson, John Stolnis, Eric Stephen and guest Jeremy Brener) breaks down everything that happened in the 1st round of the 2021 MLB Draft! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SB Nation welcomes you to it’s coverage of the 2021 MLB All-Star Week, powered by T-Mobile! On today’s episode, Sam Wilson, John Stolnis, and Brady Klopfer break down the rosters, set the state of the league, discuss trade rumors PLUS Talking Chop's Demetrius Bell joins the show to talk about the move from Georgia to Colorado! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like an adder in a wheat field, the 2021 MLB Draft has crept up upon us all and gets underway this Sunday, July 11th! The TMBM crew convenes for a mock draft, going five rounds deep and indulging in our ideal outcomes, likeliest prognostications, and something somewhere in between! Among some of the most intriguing selections... Kate digs into the Pac-12 for some upside and solidity. Joe goes fishing for some fun prep infielders. John takes a hack with a muscle-bound prep backstop. We take questions on Harry Ford, when Seattle might go for a prep, whether they'll go underslot and try to swing big with later picks, what the odds of Kumar Rocker falling are, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we look at red hot Mariners as the stone cold Yankees come to town. In order to further our analysis we feature the return of the prodigal son, current shadow manager of the New York sports teams, Mr. Matthew Robertson. He dishes on the morbid state of the 4th place Yankees team, his close relationship with Aaron Boone, the ghost of Brett Gardner still haunting New York, and their new "hit by pitch" secret weapon Tim Locastro. We also look at some potential Mariners trade and free agent targets as we move closer to the second half, and generally reflect on what has been an excellent run of baseball for the team over the past month. In the future we aim to be releasing this very podcast on Wednesdays, so be looking out for it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're nearly two months into the 2021 MiLB season and goodness gracious it's been an interesting one. Cal Raleigh looks like a world-beater, Julio Rodríguez is an international sensation, and Brandon Williamson cannot help but strike people out. John, Joe, and Kate go through their stars and express some concern with a few laggards, but on the whole things have been positive down on the farm thus far this year. On the back half, we dig into some draft-focused questions, with the 2021 MLB Draft just under two weeks away. Who are some folks Seattle should be narrowing their focus on, and what is their likeliest strategy with pick No. 12? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An interview with Mariners fan and T Mobile patron Dae Shik Kim Jr. on an altercation with the Mariners security and staff at the game on 6/18/21. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello Lookout Landing! My name is Evan James and I have taken over podcast duties for our dearly departed (to bigger and better things) Matthew Roberson. While I know I can never match his energy and I certainly can’t imitate his accents or impressions (RIP “New York Guy”) I hope to bring a unique perspective of my very own. This episode we introduce myself and Addie, our new staff writer who has been doing recaps lately. We have a little state of the union regarding the Mariners, discussing the highs of JP Crawford and the lows of Kyle Lewis’s injury. We reminisce about the “Daniel Zamora Era” which marks a fraught time for the Mariners struggling bullpen. We speculate a bit on whom the Mariners might kick the tires on in free agency, despair about the still open wounds inflicted by Kevin Mather, and ultimately ponder the myriad of outcomes for the current rebuild. We wonder why Cal Raleigh hasn’t been recalled while marveling at his current hot streak in AAA, and try to understand the Mariners major league catching situation. Lastly, we examine the “Foreign Substance” crisis, and the response from both the MLB and the players most affected. You can find Addie on twitter, and you can find me on Twitter, Youtube, Instagram and through my Website. We’re both very excited to be a part of LL, and I hope you guys enjoy our contributions as we move forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end. In the case of the Mariners, that means that the good vibes from a surprise April are rapidly dissipating. In the case of the Lookout Landing podcast, that means losing a beloved host. This is Matthew’s last episode, as he is leaving us for a job at the New York Daily News. If any of you run in to New York Guy, please be sure to give him the good news. We couldn’t let Matthew escape without commiserating over the M’s one more time, and boy was there a lot of material. Seattle is rolling out one of the worst offensive teams in the league every single night, and on top of the injuries they already had, now the entire bullpen has become stricken with the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Tune in for a natural and necessary conversation about how to healthily detach yourself from the Mariners. Listener questions include: Why are the Mariners like this? How do we convince Kyle Seager that his walkup songs are consistently trash? Who is responsible for freeing the hounds of misery upon this team? [Note from Matthew]: Hosting this show has been one of the purest and most rewarding joys of my entire life. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much to everyone who’s listened to the Lookout Landing podcast and entertained our wild theories on M*rk C*nha, horrendous bullpen arms, Brodie Van Wagenen, and so much more. You listened when we huddled around one microphone in John’s living room, occasionally recorded in the least populated corners of various Queen Anne and Fremont bars, and stuck with us as the pandemic made all of this even harder. We hope you enjoyed our serious interviews with actual baseball players and media folk as much as you enjoyed us trying to figure out which snack companies would sponsor us. Thanks to you, a baseball-obsessed degenerate from Sammamish gets to pursue his dreams in New York City, all because of a little corner of the internet where his friends and co-workers allowed him to make cool shit. I think that’s just the best. Music: “Gigantic” by Pixies // “10,000 Miles” by Cam’ron Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The day has come! Two of our supposed saviors are finally in Seattle, and they’re playing on Thursday night at T-Mobile. It’s been a season of deflation in a lot of ways, so does this news put the air back in our bouncy house? That’s really for Jarred Kelenic to decide. Matthew reminds everyone that Brodie van Wagenen is the driving force that made this happen, while also revealing that he tried to record this song only to realize that his voice was trash. Do we have any concerns about Kelenic’s game? While we were having a nice, relaxing talk, the news that Logan Gilbert was also coming up came across the wire. We react calmly and normally. Is it a little messed up that Gilbert’s first start will naturally get overshadowed by his left fielder? Kate warns us not to sleep on Gilbert’s competitiveness, even if it’s less outward than his blonde-haired teammate. More questions about Kelenic include: Is it possible to be...too strong? Where does he hit in the lineup? Could he be the best left fielder in team history? How long will it take for him to join that conversation? How do we feel about him as a person? The listeners want to know what our definition of success would be for these rugrats, who will be on the receiving end of Kelenic’s first pimp job, and how much fans should tame their expectations to avoid getting over their skis. The last part of the show is dedicated to fighting one of nature’s most adorable birds. Music: “24 Hours” by Sky Ferreira // “100% Pure Love” by Crystal Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the first episode of They Might Be Mariners, Lookout Landing's prospects-focused podcast, to be recorded during a minor league baseball season. We're flabbergasted yet again at the time surpassed since affiliate clubs have stepped on the field, and eagerly cover all four levels in a weekly review. We briefly discuss Jarred Kelenic, the man of the next 48 hours, and what his call-up means and how he may compare to other call-ups of yesteryear. We each award our Gold, Silver, and Bronze performances, non-Jarred edition, including most of the Everett AquaSox rotation, a pint-sized power UTIL, and somehow Kate picked seven people. We also take a swing at your questions, including timelines for other top prospects, matching the 2021 AquaSox against the 2019 Travelers, and culinary pairings for each top prospect. Music: "Chances" by KAYTRANADA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been what felt like a decade, and in actuality was a year and a half on the Gregorian Calendar, but official, affiliated Minor League Baseball has returned at last. Our prospect team of Kate, Joe, and John are over the moon, and absolutely elated at the chance to see old friends and (functionally) new faces playing on a near-nightly basis yet again. The reoriented minor league schedule has no shortage of new tricks up its sleeves, including a schedule that leaves Monday as an off day every week, at every level except AAA. Nonetheless, from the intriguing arms and Latin lineup of Modesto to the prospect-drenched Everett pitching staff AND position player group, to the few hungry youngsters and longtime farm hands in Arkansas, to the three guys most likely to play in Seattle in the next few months licking their chops in Tacoma, we've got you covered on everything you need to know for a summer of minor league baseball. Music: "Chances" by KAYTRANADA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a banner episode for the show, as Seattle hip-hop legend Jake One aka Flamie Moyer blesses the mic. Jake usually makes his bones on the production side, which means he can still do his job from home. Which old white man sport (other than baseball) has he leaned into during the pandemic? When it comes time to talk about the Mariners, Jake takes us back to his favorite Kingdome memories from his summers in the ‘80s. Mike Schooler and Phil Bradley, stand up. When his career started to take off in the early 2000s, how did Jake’s baseball fandom evolve? One thing that took his career to a new level was making John Cena’s entrance music. Has he ever thought about making a walkup song for a ball player? Baseball and hip-hop aren’t exactly a natural marriage. How do we get baseball on the same level of mainstream coolness as basketball or football? Is it even possible? Which rapper that Jake has worked with is the biggest baseball fan? Which one faked it all the way to an MLB Network appearance? Jake shouts out a Dave Magadan name drop in an early Fat Joe track, leading Matthew to list some of his favorite baseball bars. Finally, let us praise the man, the myth, the legend: Rick the Peanut Guy. Music (both produced by Jake!): “Betta Ask Somebody” by G-Unit // “Forgive Me” by Chloe x Halle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the long awaited beginning of the minor league baseball season right around the corner, Joe, John, and Kate convene once again to kick off a more regular schedule of They Might Be Mariners. This week's episode takes on three major topics: the current progression of the prospects at the big league level and down at minor league spring training, the developments of possible selections in the 2021 amateur draft, where Seattle picks 12th overall, and the upcoming assignments of minor leaguers to their affiliates, which should be revealed in full by this weekend. Much of our discussion centers around Seattle's drafting proclivities in past, and how their comfort in developing a certain type of player (read: college pitcher) can be a positive or a negative. We also look more specifically at some of the recent mock drafts put out by national sites, who have paired Seattle with a few players we have wide ranging opinions on, including University of Miami C Adrian Del Castillo. Music: "Chances" by KAYTRANADA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wazzzuhhh?!?!?! Matthew, Kate, and Mikey huddle around the glowing orb of winning baseball and try not to damage their eyes. The premise of this episode is simple: the Mariners’ record is good, but are the Mariners actually a good team? As many of us laid out in our recent “How much do you believe?” roundtable, the answer is probably no. The Mariners are not a good team. But right now, and maybe even for the rest of the season, they are a fun team! Let’s play a game of Is This Real? Topics include: Taylor Trammell’s strikeout rate This high-wire bullpen act Chaos as a market inefficiency Matthew coins a new term to describe the Mariners’ top three hitters, drawing inspiration from the highest-grossing American film of 1987. The Marmo-Marco early season polarity is discussed, and the gang re-analyzes their preseason predictions. NOTE: Someone in the group had laggy internet at some point, which leads to a couple moments of us talking over each other. Such is life. A sparkling waterfall of listener questions brings up some good points. If the Mariners are around .500 in July, does Kyle Seager stick around until the end? Is Seager leaving after this year even the inevitability we thought it was, or is it possible that Kevin Mather actually had no idea what was going on? If the Mariners keep Kyle, does that mean they can add a Corey? Kate puts her actual flesh on the line in the name of hot takes. Music: “4am - Bay Bridge Music” by Andre Nickatina & Equipto // “Busy” by Jawbreaker Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Good morning to your first place Seattle Mariners, frustrating and fascinating in, well, not equal measure, but hefty sums. With Matthew traipsing along the coastline of the Pacific Ocean, John and Kate commandeer the helm and break down their pleasant surprises and early disappointments, digging beyond the still-stinging loss of James Paxton and looking at a few starters who had more encouraging outings on Thursday. We talk Taylor Trammell, both in context of the present and future, with an eye on the 'ol service time manipulation requirement counter for Mr. Jarred Kelenic, which has ticked down to zero and is now smoking and threatening to burst. Also highlighted: the bullpen! Is this just what it's going to be with John Stanton pulling out the empty pockets of his casual fit Fendi slacks and making a frowny face at M's fans? As exciting as this club has shown it has the capacity to be, their penny pinching has already cost them a few games and should likely have cost them more with a bullpen of question marks. We rapid-fire a few more questions and finish with a discussion of what other clubs and players have caught our eye league-wide, as well as our... excitement(?) at the Astros coming to town as a test for these M's. Music: "Foreplay" - Jalen Santoy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew and Kate put their heads together and try to figure out how to save the Mariners’ season, which is only a week old and not even that bad record-wise. It was pretty evident that the White Sox were going to samurai sword the Mariners, but will that happen every time the M’s face an above-average team? The 13-2 Mariners from 2019 are not walking through that door. A few minutes of relitigating the San Francisco and Chicago series gives way to the topic of the day: James Paxton’s no good, dirty rotten luck. Listeners ask if we should already give up on the whole season, seemingly forgetting about on-base GAWDS like Jake Fraley and José Marmolejos. There’s also a conversation about pace of play that needs to be had, and the Lookout Landing podcast will surely solve it before the commissioner’s office. Now that we’ve seen every starting pitcher go at least once, let’s make some wild overreactions. Speaking of which, will this offense be unwatchable all summer, or just for right now? If you’re looking to release some way-too-early frustration about Justin Dunn and J.P. Crawford, don’t touch that dial. Kate preaches patience when it comes to Evan White, even though his wRC+ matched his jersey number at the time of recording. The home stretch lets us tackle an important, yet deeply morose question. Which member of the roster can have a fun plant-based nickname now that Big Maple has been chopped down? Music: “Vascular” by Public Pool // “All That” by Emotional Oranges & Channel Tres Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00 - 6:30: As we get settled in for the podcast and also the outset of the MLB season, we note a few fun facts that home in front of Matthew, Kate, and John. New Red Sox UTIL man Enrique Hernández is a surprisingly popular jersey, Matthew loves a flowy baseball pant for the summer season, and John manages to successfully quiet and calm a woebegone Corgi before diving into the questions. 6:30 - 31:00: Questions!!! Some of the topics include... what's the outfield going to look like in the early days with Kyle Lewis OFFICIALLY on the 10-day IL to start the year? We remain mildly flabbergasted by José Marmolejos sidling his way onto the roster once more. John considers getting his Jeff Feagles on for Matthew's cheerful suggestion of a Mitch Haniger trade return, and Kate and John spar over Haniger's relative value to the Mariners versus another club. Where might Haniger be shopped to if Seattle is in fact in such a flush position midseason when their young outfield is potentially runneth over? Also, Kate uncorks a secret tip of the trade for teachers everywhere. 34:00 - 1:05:41 (END): Further email questions dig into the pitching staff and third base position. Yusei Kikuchi is a hot topic, particularly wondering about how his 2021 could lead to the Mariners choosing to take his 4-year, $66 million team option after 2021. Kate creates a new type of guy, John makes a comp for Kikuchi that his cohosts do NOT accept gladly. Not much love is cast Ty France's way defensively, but the group is split on how Kyle Seager might be replaced (or not replaced) after 2021. Matthew learns a little French in attempting to locate Shed Long Jr. and we conclude by discussing what a successful/unsuccessful 2021 looks like, along with some predictions. Music: "Send The Fishermen" - Caamp / "Honest Mistake" - The Bravery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-21:15: Before anything even remotely resembling a baseball conversation, Matthew learns about some new snacks. Kate directs her anger toward the concept of electricity, particularly the part how it can just stop. The team bravely decides that they’re going to drink beer this summer but debates where that will be. The noise you hear around the 16th minute is the presses stopping for vital Matt Magill and Gerson Bautista news. 21:20-45:05: How does one effectively follow Spring Training when the games are nowhere near a working television camera? Listening to the opposing teams’ broadcast is always fun, but it’s also Spring Training and everyone’s phoning it in with basic information. Everyone, that is, but our boy John Trupin, who wrote the best headline of camp after the Mariners went off on Trevor Bauer. You know what will eventually be great entertainment? Bauer facing Jarred Kelenic. 46:05-1:17:00 The people who submit listener questions to the Lookout Landing podcast are the most intelligent, powerful, and respected group on Earth. Everyone knows this and nods agreeably when told it. The first question gives us a chance to talk about Ty France. One day we’ll get to stop talking about the Mariners’ eternal left field issue, but today is not that day. The last heated discussion of the episode centers on a potential trade of a former All-Star. Music: “Hello Operator” by The White Stripes // “Check the Rhime” by A Tribe Called Quest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-15:20: Longtime beat reporter Shannon Drayer was kind enough to call in and give us the low down on Spring Training. What’s it like to be one of the few people who’s actually on the ground watching this stuff happen? How do the players seem to feel about it? Shannon tells us that with so few people in the stadium, managers on the field can hear writers in the press box talking about them. She also acknowledged that even though last season was only 60 games, there was an unquestioned element of fatigue when it was over. 15:25-35:55: A firsthand story of what it was like to be at Spring Training last year when the initial shutdown happened. Some gabbing about Kyle Seager’s pandemic looks open us up for a larger conversation. Shannon shares her thoughts on the Kevin Mather situation, and how much it’s still lingering over camp. Kate asks straight up if Marco Gonzales is boring. 36:55-51:15: Let’s talk about some of the personalities on the Mariners that we haven’t been able to see yet. There’s a relief pitcher who, according to Shannon, threw himself into the leadership van’s driver’s seat. We get some fascinating insight as well into the young players and how they gather like moths around certain veteran lights. One thing about Lookout Landing dot com, Julio Rodríguez gonna come up. 51:20-1:07:45: Shannon helps us figure out these final roster spots! Dunn or Margevicius? Who goes to the bullpen? What does the back end of the bullpen look like, both in terms of usage and in terms of stuff? How close is Logan Gilbert, who we’ve already seen punch Mike Trout out? We all have our own opinions about the rugrats and when they should make their big-league debuts. What does the actual organization that makes those decisions think, though? 1:07:50-1:15:00: We get some very heartening news when Shannon Drayer, queen of the Mariners’ beat, admits that even she struggles to recognize some of these guys. One guy who is always recognizable, though, is Ichiro. What’s it like watching him transition from legendary player to legendary quasi coach? Music: “Somthing’s Missing” by The Internet // “Miles From Nowhere” by Cat Stevens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate, Joe, and John are joined by Mariners 2019 3rd round pick, RHP Levi Stoudt out of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The one time 97th overall pick has shot up some scouting lists over the winter, including ranking 12th in the organization according to Baseball America. Stoudt has yet to pitch in an official professional game due to Tommy John surgery he underwent shortly after draft day in 2019 and the cancellation of the MiLB seasons in 2020, but he turned plenty of heads in the fall instructional league Seattle was able to put on with a few other clubs. We asked him about what it's like to be entering his third year as a pro, with plenty of momentum and enthusiasm, but not having technically debuted. His mid-90s heat and Vulcan changeup work alongside a sweeping slider, and we ask him about how he developed each pitch. The Eastern Pennsylvania native also shared his opinions on several of the state's finest fare, and potentially making a case for water ice to finally sweep the West Coast, with Kate's enthusiastic backing. We also hear Stoudt's draft day story, his intense on field face-off against one of the top starters in his draft class, and what exactly someone does in Peoria, Arizona when they've spent over two years almost exclusively rehabbing and adding strength without games to play in. Music: "Them Changes" - Thundercat / "I CAN'T WAIT" - DROELOE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-24:25: Matthew praises the long sleeve T-shirt and introduces his new beef with a cookie company, as well as Brent Flyberg, a very funny comedian who is this week’s guest. Brent played some college baseball in the northwest, which is a natural jumping off point for our conversation. Several C and D-list MLB players get name dropped. 24:30-40:55: Why is the pivot from jock to artist so tough to nail? As we discuss, it’s a famously tricky leap accomplished by very few people. Brent then shares a story about doing comedy for Randy Johnson. Once the Mariner juices start flowing, memories of the early days inevitably come flooding back. If you, like us, have been watching old Mariner games and Premier League highlights, drop some links to your favorites in the comments below. 41:00-50:00: Sadness, how’s that been for you? Excessive? Oddly charming? Self-affirming? You just might be a Mariners fan, my friend. Naturally, disgraced team president Kevin Mather catches a few strays. Listen in to this part for a new theory on the whole Rotary Club debacle. 50:05-1:13:00: Do we have any regrets about our relationship with the Mariners? Brent bemoans the fact that he never made fandom physically permanent and gets in one last reminder that he was a dominant athlete at one point. The boys tee up an opportunity to make fun of the Angels and then things come to their natural conclusion after a way too long dissection of bat flips. Music: “World Domination” by Joey Bada$$ // “Freak Scene” by Dinosaur Jr. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-30:00: Dear Mariners, give us one reason to stay here, and we’ll turn right back around. To unpack all of the terrible, no good Mariner news of the past week, we got Ryan Divish. The Seattle Times’ beat reporter and self-admitted Lookout Landing reader takes us through his experience with the infamous Kevin Mather self-immolation and his disappointment to find out that Jarred Kelenic’s public comments went to USA Today. Within the first 20 minutes, Ryan drops his favorite Jarred story, which is from the same day as “Smell you later”. 30:05-58:35: The Mariners have a cataclysmic mess to clean up. Matthew wonders how that process will unfold and asks Ryan if the things he’s seen within the organization point to any particular crisis management strategies. Where do the players – who have taken an increased percentage of the team’s overall power – fit into this equation? Ryan also dives into the age-old question, “What does a manager actually…do?” 59:40-1:22:25: We can all admit that several parts of this debacle are very funny. Let’s have a roast. We also find out that Ryan was moonlighting as a substitute teacher and get his account of watching the Mather video for the first time. He turns the tables on us with a question of his own about our comfort level with returning to T-Mobile Park in 2021. 1:22:30-2:06:00: Do the Mariners’ coaches and executives keep their jobs or is a major shakeup coming? Ryan then placates John by pointing out how perfect a Kolten Wong signing would have been. Some of y’all will be delighted to hear your Lookout Landing usernames mentioned on wax. This wide-ranging conversation ends with us debating who the next face of the Mariners is. Music: “Give Me One Reason” by Tracy Chapman // “Boomer” by Bartees Strange Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We called an emergency podcast to discuss the breaking news of Sunday, disgraced Seattle Mariners Team President & CEO Kevin Mather's comments to the Bellevue Rotary Breakfast Club. John and Kate are joined by recently returned staff writer Isabelle Minasian to, honestly, rage. The well-publicized comments run the gamut of unforced errors by the highest ranking official in the organization below club Chairman John Stanton, and Mather is hardly without previous marks against him. Thank you to all who sent in questions, including on what the long term implications of Mather's statements might be on the Mariners, and if there is anything the club can do to begin getting back in the good graces of their fans, players, and player development group. No music today, let the frustration, disappointment, anger, and hopefully a few drops of catharsis flow through you. Intro, as always, by OF Julio Rodríguez himself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re back! Kate, Joe, and John emerge from a healthy winter break to take a look at the Lookout Landing 2021 Preseason Top Prospects List. Who just missed? Who were we relatively high or low on? And what does each prospect need in 2021 to take a big step? We also touch on the new minor league baseball alignment as it has become formalized and of course take listener questions throughout. We recognize this is a Big ‘Ol Pod, and future episodes should hew closer to an hour or so, but we... had a lot to talk about! Grab a few cups of coffee. 0:00 - 13:45 - We start things off with discussion of the minor league realignment’s certification. The Mariners come out with a good deal of convenience, large (geographical) regions of the country are left in the cold. It’s a sad day for the West Virginia Power and many other communities around the country. For baseball fans in the Pacific Northwest, however, there will be full season baseball all across the state of Washington, Western Oregon, and Vancouver B.C. 13:45 - 1:28:00 - Let’s get into the list! We each talk about our favorite honorable mentions, with a few listener questions on guys like LHP Adam Macko and RHP Michael Limoncelli, as well as some love for recent LL podcast guest RHP Jarod Bayless. We take a pick ‘em approach to the list, highlighting a few players in each tier who really could show something. How much of the time is spent marveling that the back of the system is full of players who’d have been in the top 15 a couple years ago? Plenty, y’all. Plenty. Joe takes us down the Max Povse memory lane and joins Kate in some discussion of the variance on lists for how the organization’s system is perceived. John quibbles about depth issues in the system. At the 44-minute mark we take a quick deviation into discussing top international amateur prospect SS Felnin Celestin and how and when he might be eligible to sign with the Mariners as rumored. We have some lengthy discussions on a few players, including the Cal Raleigh (Rollie) timeline, what Sam Carlson’s Ivan Drago physique could translate to in games, and who we’re more enamored with between Logan Gilbert and Emerson Hancock. 1:28:00 - End - We take ten minutes at the end to hit a few more questions we didn’t get to, on some of the top prospects in particular. Who do we expect will debut this year among this list? Have the Mariners damaged their relationship with the Jarred Kelenic camp too severely by keeping him in the minors instead of calling him up and attempting to generate an extension as soon as possible. What should the Mariners be focused on developing and acquiring right now? Music: “Top of the Pops” - Art Brut / “Top of the World” - Alex Wiley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-14:30: Matthew and Kate brave a John-less podcast. Things get simmering with a conversation about the Ooples and Boonoonoos song. This quickly leads to us wondering if we’re annoying. 14:35-33:50: What to make of Ken Giles and his Astro past. Even if it doesn’t work out, the Mariners really won’t be any worse for it. The reason for that? A good farm system, and depth! This is still kind of tough to get used to, but the Mariners do have a good farm system, and it is definitively better than any other team’s in the AL West. We also marvel at how thoroughly Giles dominated the M’s while playing for Houston. Matthew gets in a “Go Mets baby love da Mets” and remembers the time Chasen Bradford acknowledged us online. 33:55-49:30: Matthew gets surprised by the recent news linking Taijuan Walker to our best friends. Then, we talk about the big guy. If you missed it, the Mariners are bringing back James Paxton on a one-year deal. This is brain-tingly exciting. The only real, legitimate knock on Pax is injuries, so if he stays healthy and earns himself another lucrative deal, we’re all in. Kate then talks about cysts and the dreaded Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Finally, importantly, shout out to the Maple Grove forever and always. 49:35-1:17:15: Listener questions! If you asked us a question on Twitter, congratulations. You are now, by law, eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Is there such a thing as too many lefties in the same rotation? The last question before some good ol’ fashion riffing: which quad-A player breaks out this year? Music: “E.V.P.” by Blood Orange // “Oldie” by Odd Future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-15:25: A top 100 prospect joins a top one podcast. Taylor Trammell calls in from Atlanta, meaning we had to record at nine in the morning on the west coast. What physical activity caused Taylor to wake up early and without warning? Taylor also recently got engaged, and he shares that story with us. When the conversation shifts to baseball, Taylor tells us about the things he’s been focusing on this offseason. 15:30-33:40: After getting traded to Seattle, which Mariner prospects impressed Taylor the most? Kate makes Taylor re-live his experiences facing the Arkansas Travelers and drops yet another new pronunciation of Margevicius. This is the part where we learn that Taylor has an incredible baseball memory, which helps him remember the rare occasions when he’s lost his cool on the field. 33:45-47:25: What’s it like to be traded, and how did getting traded from Cincinnati to San Diego prepare him for later being traded from San Diego to Seattle? How did Yasiel Puig complicate things? Taylor peels the curtain back on the aesthetic issues that come with being traded, then reveals which Mariner jersey – which he calls “very impressive” – he’s most excited to wear. Is there any friendly competition within the team for the title of Best Dressed? 47:30-1:04:55: Griffey story! Find out which other giant of the game, besides Griffey, left Taylor starstruck. Our next question [Marc Maron voice], who are your guys? As a Black man, Taylor lists a lot of Black players as influences and mentors. Since he’s started making his way through the ranks, what has Taylor seen improve in terms of broadening MLB’s reach? What are some things that still need to be addressed? The importance of providing resources and education are the top things on the list. 1:05:00-1:21:00: Being from Atlanta, Taylor has some hard opinions on hip-hop. Matthew ends with the most hard-hitting questions of our time: Young Thug or Future? Outkast or Migos? Some prime early-2000s reminiscing sparks up before we sign off. Music: “U Played” by Moneybagg Yo (feat. Lil Baby) // “Slick Talk” by JID Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-27:00: These intros get drier and drier as we sink deeper and deeper into the pandemic, but this week we have John extolling the virtues of Rat-a-Tat Cat. This week’s guest is Jordan Shusterman of Céspedes Family BBQ, who is holed up in Maryland with his family, buried under nine inches of snow. We get going with a discussion on emergency catchers, inspired by Shed Long Jr. and Carson Vitale. Speculation about Raúl Ibañez’s new job at the league office follows. So does an open conversation about how many vegan prospects there are across the baseball landscape. 27:05-42:25: The Mariners’ offseason...why? Matthew sees an opportunity to make this about Ginuwine and goes for it. A certain “superstar” is discussed, causing Kate to spiral toward misery, before reminding all of us that there are just some fans out there that will never be satisfied. 42:35-1:07:10: Has Jordan been vibin’ with J-Rod? There’s a pretty good conversation here about how to get the most out of baseball players, who often want to give you the least. Nobody in the entire Milky Way galaxy needs to hear about what minor league players like to hunt or see another video of them working out. 1:07:15-1:22:00: The news of Félix Hernández signing with the Orioles breaks as we’re recording! Live reactions! Matthew ends the show by hitting Jordan with some hard-hitting, rapid fire questions about Major League Baseball. Music: “Keep Their Heads Ringin’” by Dr. Dre // “Anybody” by Young Thug feat. Nicki Minaj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-12:00: We’re back! Two episodes in two weeks, who knew that was even allowed? This week’s guest is Sam Delaplane, relief pitcher in the Mariners’ minor league system. Sam was with Arkansas in 2019 and took part in Spring Training, Summer Camp, and all the goings-on in Tacoma during the pandemic before recently being added to the 40-man roster. Sam is currently in Arizona, where he’s been bored enough to call in to our podcast! 12:05-35:00: How has being short influenced Sam’s baseball journey? Industry consensus tells us that the jump to Double-A is tricky, so let’s here what someone who’s done it in real life has to say. Which Twins legend with a .248 career batting average gave Sam a bunch of trouble in Arkansas, where he played with Kyle Lewis, Evan White, Justus Sheffield, and a truckload of current and future Mariners? 35:05-39:55: What’s the plan for 2021? What does a successful season look like for Sam Delaplane? He has something very specific and somewhat obvious in mind. 40:00-1:02:50: Let’s get silly, we know what you came here for. Kate fawns over Sam’s dog, who has picked up its own version of a slider. Stories from Summer Camp, living in a hotel, taking the T-Mobile mound, and peering into Kyle Seager’s mind come next. Sam tells us some of the inside information he learned about HOW TO BE A PROFESSIONAL. The show ends with his best stories about weird karaoke on a bus and his favorite minor league cities. Mad love to Utah Jones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-21:00: None of us are doing “well”, in the traditional sense, but today we’re doing better than other days. Braden Bishop, outfielder for the Seattle Mariners, is on our podcast! Braden kicks things off by recalling his experience at the Spring Training shut down of 2020, revealing how he’s staying in shape, and making fun of Carson Vitale’s dance moves. For those who didn’t know, Braden also created the 4MOM Charity after his mother was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s. 21:05-38:25: What happened on a routine trip to CVS that altered his perception of America forever? The decision to scale back on Twitter, even though he was using it mostly to embarrass idiots, has gone a long way for Braden. Find out which former UW football player reached out to help him reach that point. What does his family, which includes several active police officers, think of Braden being so outspoken in support of Black Lives Matter? 38:30-50:25: What have other athletes said to Braden about being so open with his opinions? With so few athletes, particularly white MLB players, willing to speak out, he occupies a very interesting space. Kate points out that the WNBA has been leading the way for several years, while MLB is, uhhh…not. 50:30-1:12:25: Let’s get an MLB debut story! Braden had the (mis)fortune of debuting in Japan, during the game where Ichiro retired, as Ichiro’s replacement. Then, we get Griffey AND Ichiro stories! Don’t say we never did anything for you. Braden then shares some memories about his first games in America and the “welcome to MLB” moments that came with it, including the list of All-Star pitchers he had to face right out of the gate. 1:12:30-1:33:00: In normal Lookout Landing fashion, we gush over prospects, talk about lacerated spleens, and fawn over Braden’s barber skills. We apologize for the loud laughter during this part. Pay us for better editing equipment, Vox. Music: “This Thing” by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard // “Callin’ on Me” by Matt Martians Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-27:30: 2021 is here, and so is Roenis Elías, but that’s not why we’re here. Bradford William Davis of the New York Daily News and Baseball Prospectus has blessed the mic for an episode about MLB at-large. As a New York-based writer, Bradford has some extensive thoughts on the Mets and their innovative, cutting edge strategy, which is trying to win baseball games by acquiring the best players. Where does he stand on the players that went from New York to Cleveland in the Lindor deal? What about the practice of pretty good teams actively trying to be the opposite of pretty good? 27:35-49:15: We discuss this clip of Bradford asking Francisco Lindor about Cleveland’s spending habits after they were eliminated from last year’s playoffs. What does this response tell us about the rest of the league? Baseball players’ general lack of knowledge about the union and labor relations, detailed in this 2019 article by Stephanie Apstein, also seems like an issue. Kate openly asks if the Tampa Bay Rays are a pyramid scheme. Matthew makes his claim for abolishing divisions and a new system for determining who gets the No. 1 overall pick. Bradford calls people who care about the draft “dorks”. 49:20-1:03:00: The Mets are interested in…Kyle Seager? Is this anything? You have to think Jerry Dipoto will at least make a phone call or six to Queens, just for old times’ sake. Right around this point the episode takes a vicious left turn toward blaccents, hip-hop tattoos, how every white guy is named Tyler, and public masturbation. 1:03:05-1:19:57: Getting back on track by forcing Bradford to talk about the Seattle Mariners before we say goodbye. Terms like “upside” and “not embarrassing” are bandied about. Music: “ST. PERCY” by BROCKHAMPTON // “Fade Away” by Susanne Sundfør Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the dead of winter, but that doesn't mean the farm is without activity. Joe, John, and Kate convene to discuss the latest moves, answer your questions, discuss the recently dropped MLB Pipeline Top-100 Draft Prospects list, and more! Seattle's trade of Jose Corniell and what it means for the farm, 0:00 - 20:00 - Fare thee well, Tim Lopes and Jose Corniell. We discuss our feelings on Seattle making a trade from their pitching depth, and the positives of such a move versus the concerns about dealing away a 17 year old with promise. Is it a sign of worrisome things to come that Jerry Dipoto is moving the youth out again? Or simply something the club can do thanks to the array of pitching prospects they've assembled at this point? We also fret at the uncertainty of the dreaded PTBNL and wonder which other players in the system might have been showcased at the instructional league with the purpose of trading. 20:00 - 36:00 - Who is next to go off the 40 man? Seattle's roster is stuffed full of relievers, but the club says they intend to add upgrades in the bullpen. Will we see DFAs of some of the players Seattle claimed this winter, or are longtime prospects like Braden Bishop or Donavan Walton at risk? Relatedly, what to do with left field? Jose Marmolejos gets a decent helping of disrespect from the hosts, albeit mostly due to his preferable role being not in the outfield, but what is the plan with Jake Fraley for that matter? Plus, a fun Willie Bloomquist factoid! 36:00 - End - Draft Talk! Kate thinks the tiers of this class break down pretty solidly for Seattle, even if they'll likely miss out on the current "Tier 1" group. Joe suggests this is the year the Mariners might finally go prep position player with their first pick, to the delight and shock of his compatriots. Kate is affronted at some C Ian Moller disrespect, John picks his 2021 Tyler Keenan, and Joe breaks down why the current climate is making it much easier on prep prospects than college ones. We also discuss the high ranking of local prospect OF Malakhi Knight, who comes in at No. 38 on MLB Pipeline's list, and why that's a well-earned bit of recognition at this point. Joe also breaks down what this time in winter looks like in the draft prep process for teams and prospects, and why the dead period isn't so dead for everyone. We finish out with a few listener questions, looking for the next Dylan Moore and crossing our fingers with a bit more optimism that attending live baseball might not be too far away in our futures. Music: "YO VISTO ASI" - Bad Bunny Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-7:45: Prior to the recent MLB-Negro League news, Andrea Williams, author of the upcoming book Baseball's Leading Lady: Effa Manley and the Rise and Fall of the Negro Leagues, called the Lookout Landing hotline. The prerequisite vibe check blends into a conversation about the parallels between today and some of the book’s themes. Andrea also reflects on the fact she’s publishing a book during a pandemic. 7:50-24:55: What caused Andrea to take an interest in baseball in the first place? After name dropping Johnny Damon and Jermaine Dye, a confession arises from the rubble of Kansas City fandom. To kick off the deeper Effa Manley conversation, a brief primer is required. Not only does Andrea explain who Effa was and what she did, but also the layers of Black baseball that enrich her greater story. Branch Rickey, catch this fade. Just because Harrison Ford played you in a movie doesn’t automatically mean you get off scot-free. 25:00-37:30: What did Andrea think about the way things unfolded this summer, as she began promoting a book about Effa Manley and the Negro Leagues as America started paying more attention to race relations? It turns out, writing a book is very hard. What are some things that need to happen moving forward to ensure that progress doesn’t stall out? Andrea shares her promise of becoming “obsessed” with Effa and how much knowledge she had before putting pen to paper. This portion of the show also includes an examination of Jackie Robinson under a different lens. 38:30-1:03:53: The logos and graphic design of the Negro Leagues were cool as hell. Andrea details the perspective of her writing for this book, what she hopes to accomplish with it, and how seeking information from the correct sources is the most important part of learning. To put a bow on this lively conversation about what is sure to be a wonderful book, Andrea reads a passage from it. If you pre-order the book now using this link, you can get a personalized version from Andrea herself! Music: “untitled 07 | 2014-2016” by Kendrick Lamar // “New Year” by Beach House Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-16:00: Things are happening! Jerry Dipoto and the Mariners are movin’ and shakin’. To make heads or tails of this, the podcast gang reconvenes to mostly just share their excitement about having actual news. While the acquisitions of Keynan Middleton and Rafael Montero are still just reliever acquisitions, there are things to get hyped about here. Kate also briefly forgets one of her longtime staff writer’s name. As someone who also hates Angels fans, we think Middleton will fit in beautifully with the Mariners. 16:05-39:05: 17-year-old pitching prospect Jose Corniell is gone. 30-year-old reliever Rafael Montero is here. What should we expect from the ex-Ranger, who was their closer in 2020? Also, he was a Mets prospect, because of course he was! Will we see Seattle add another bullpen arm from the AL West? Are the Mariners going to have a bullpen made entirely of 98 MPH fastballs? Matthew, Kate, and John wonder aloud who the M’s will deploy in the closer role. This segues nicely into a few of our listener questions. Now that the Mariners have added bodies to the bullpen, watching how they handle the fringe players will be an interesting dance. 39:10-1:00:45: Let’s recap all of the news that Seattle Times beat writer Ryan Divish blessed us with. Murphy and Haniger are back, Ty France is expected to play every day, and we have a second base competition. At one point during this section, John starts audibly talking with his hands. A Twitter user brings up an unspeakable atrocity, and debates about Taylor Trammell’s readiness and Jake Fraley’s anything-ness bubble to the surface. 1:00:50-1:13:45: Scott Servais has confirmed that they’ll roll with the six-man rotation, we just don’t know who will fill the final three spots. The 1993 comedic film Rookie of the Year gets some shine. Kate makes a late push to ghostwrite Scott Boras’ thoughts. Matthew sneaks in some content for the jersey number heads. Music: “Hard Feelings/Loveless” by Lorde // “Oh My” by Natalie Prass Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-10:45: Surprise! Things actually happened! We are forced to start with a Chris Flexen sesh. If you’d like to read more about Flexen, our own Michael Ajeto has you covered. We also try to figure out why Mariners Twitter seems to be so obsessed with signing Garrett Richards. Where does this utterly whelming transaction leave the Mariners in the AL West picture, at least in December? 10:50-25:15: Pour one out for the minor leagues, especially our homies in West Virginia. Kate schools us on the history of the Clinton LumberKings, a former Mariners affiliate who unfortunately were a casualty of these latest cuts. John also uses the word “hooey” during this part. In all seriousness, it’s a huge bummer to be losing some of these teams. However, as Lookout Landin often does, we attempt to find the bright side. A listener question then gives us an excuse to talk about this Zac Grotz video again. 26:15-37:15: We’re doing a draft, which is certainly not an original podcast idea, but it is a fun one! The draft topic is: ballpark food at T-Mobile Park. In a best attempt to replicate the ballpark experience for y’all, each of us draft four food items from the stadium that are near and dear to our heart. John goes first and takes a designated hitter’s delicacy. The reasoning? An anti-soggy agenda. Matthew’s first pick is named after a player who’s no longer on the team, which could spell trouble. Kate grabs a bougie item that is inaccessible to the greater public. 37:20-54:35: As a veteran of the chicken wars, Kate knows her way around poultry. Her pick to kick off the second round is perhaps the best value pick of the whole draft, and it derails Matthew’s entire operation. A divisive fan favorite – albeit a lightning rod for criticism – immediately follows. 54:40-1:16:48: After some sweets and an American classic are chosen, the fourth round begins with another hefty sandwich. Matthew’s final pick is sure to send a chill down some of your spines. We bring it back to alternative nachos at the Mr. Irrelevant spot. If you’d like to hear someone who actually knows what they’re talking about, check out our recent episode with Seattle chef Eric Rivera. Tell us who you think had the best draft, as well as your favorite items that we left on the board! Music: “Thinning” by Snail Mail // “88” by The Cool Kids Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-23:45: Who are these people buying metric tons of toilet paper at the grocery store? Show yourselves! Matthew, Kate, and John examine both sides of the great Thanksgiving debate before Harry and Sally catch this fade. We also urge you not to forget our anniversary with Brodie van Wagenen. Roughly two years since the Robinson Canó trade talks started heating up, the former Mariner second baseman went and made his complicated legacy even more complicated. If you’d like to weigh in on the Canó saga, share your thoughts here. 24:45-43:10: What does a successful offseason look like for the Mariners. Matthew, if you can believe it, wants his favorite baseball team to actively try and get better. Kate bravely goes out on a limb to say that one of Jerry Dipoto’s recent reliever acquisitions was “okay” and even “decent for a while”. John invokes a Canadian legend we’d all love to see in a Mariner uniform again. We all fawn over Taijuan Walker’s commitment to being in Seattle even though he is not technically on the team. 43:15-1:18:40: Look, it’s Mitch Haniger taking a real life swing with an actual bat! What does this mean? The whole gang then laughs at Tom Brady for being old and washed before entertaining the idea of some signings from the Asian leagues. Michael Brantley also comes up during this part, though Kate is convinced he’s heading to an entirely different country. Matthew angles for a roster spot with the Yakult Swallows and urges against the dangers of coming up with fake trades all winter. Take a walk and enjoy the fresh air, please. If we must play the hypothetical game, sound off in the comments with your ideas for free agents the Angels can overpay and then waste. Music: “Lighterless” by Microwave // “20 Something” by SZA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate and John are joined by Austin Einhorn, founder of Apiros Movement Training. Austin talks about the work he's doing with Mitch Haniger, who he describes as his "dream client", offers a better vision of practice, and explodes a lot of the myths we hold both about athletic training and about our own bodies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-17:25: Wesley Robinson joins the show all the way from Pennsylvania, where he works as the press secretary for a State Senator. Though he grew up in Tacoma, Wesley admits he’s both physically and emotionally removed from the Pacific Northwest, save for his Mariner fandom. How does one follow the team from the eastern time zone? Matthew and Wesley swap stories about moving away from home and how that affects your baseball life. It takes less than 20 minutes for a conversation about Mariner fandom to include the phrase “this is rough” and “I’m going to remember Charles Gipson for the rest of my life”. 17:30-33:10: Going back to the beginning of Wesley’s fandom, which he pinpoints in 1992. Omar Vizquel’s departure led him down a dark and confounding yet everlasting path. After being told about the Mariners’ eternal struggles, and watching them at an early age, seeing them build a competent team hooked him forever. How does McDonald’s factor in here? Which point in Wesley’s journey has been the most stressful for him? 33:15-46:35: When you leave the Northwest, what sort of things do the people you meet say about it? What about when you move to Kentucky and your friends back home start spewing misconceptions about it? The one constant feeling of home, as Wesley explains, is funneled through the Mariners. Both dudes grumble over the stadium’s name change and how no other fan base has any attachment to the name Safeco Field. Which non-Mariner sporting event from early-2000s Seattle made Wesley a lot of money? We also remind you that no matter how big Russell Wilson gets or how synonymous he becomes with the city, HE IS NOT COOL. 46:40-1:16:05: Matthew and Wesley end the episode by talking about their experiences as Black men who love baseball, how most people find that strange, and why it’s Major League Baseball’s fault. The official end of the episode comes after a nuanced look at the future. Music: “I Feel It All” by Feist // “Big Fish” by Vince Staples Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-23:00: First, a much-needed mental health check. Then, Matthew introduces Kate and Mikey who are here to bat ideas back and forth about the Mariners’ offseason plans. Who is everyone’s GUY, aka the player they want above all else? Do we think they’ll go old or young? Is this the part when they finally spend money? Is another international signing on the horizon? Are a pair of once-great pitchers cooked for good? If you wanted to hear the words chaos Muppet, you came to the right place. 23:05-33:30: Throwing out some starting pitcher free agents and seeing if there’s any interest from the room. We land on a resounding no when it comes to a certain player who loves to start problems on Twitter. What does your heart sound like when you hear the phrase “James Paxton reunion”? Mikey and Kate get into an argument about Dan Wilson and then pitch an idea for a new statue outside the stadium. 33:35-52:45: Let’s talk relievers, famously a very exciting group! Would you rather go for quality or quantity at the bullpen grocery store? Who are some hard-throwing, wild thing-types that Seattle could target? Thankfully, there are a few who wear their hats in a crooked manner, which is a lovable baseball archetype. How do the Mariners current crop of relievers fit into this plan? 52:50-1:09:39: Is there any hope at all for the Mariners landing Francisco Lindor in a trade? What would that package even look like? Tell us in the comments what your offer to Cleveland would look like! The show takes a drastic turn at the end when Mikey learns about the Royals’ weird stance on pornography and Kate is overserved by 14 Hands. Music: “You Worry Me” by Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats // “River Deep Mountain High” by Tina Turner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Kate, Joe, and John, the offseason is the furthest thing from break time. That's because the draft order is now settled, which means we've got another layer of clarity on where Seattle might be picking at No. 12 overall and beyond. Despite *gestures in every direction*, high school baseball showcases have continued across the country, giving scouting departments and public scouting enthusiasts the chance to watch from afar as the next wave develops. We take listener questions on who the M's could target now that they're just outside the top-10. Is this the year that the M's finally go with a high-upside prep position player? Do guys like Marcelo Mayer have a chance of making it to the M's? And how might they look to add another competitive balance pick as they have the past couple years? Music: "Symphonies" by Kid Cudi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-13:25: Ashley MacLennan of DRaysBay is here to try and figure out how Mike Zunino ended up in the World Series. Her and Matthew begin by rejoicing over the fact that the Astros lost and how strange it is to not play an non-divisional opponent all season until the League Championship Series. Then we get into the Zunino zone. What were Ashley’s thoughts when the Rays traded Mallex Smith and Jake Fraley to land Z? Did anything surprise her about Zunino’s skill set? Also does Tampa want Jake Fraley back? 13:30-29:40: How did the Rays use Zunino during the regular season? Can we expect that to continue in the World Series? With a player like Mike, the non-quantifiable things are arguably the most important. How does Ashley feel about that, and how does that affect the way she watches the team? A discussion about players excelling after finding the best fit for them blooms out of this. Will Mikey be able to just sit fastball and feast off the Dodgers’ velocity? 30:10-41:34: The Rays are great y’all, get over yourselves. Watching bullpen games is weird, but it certainly helps when all the bullpen guys have the best stuff you’ve ever seen. Lastly, as this is a Mariners podcast dripping with self-immolation, we remind you of the Dodgers’ history of success vs. Seattle’s. To cap things off, Matthew and Ashley talk about the Rays’ chances to actually win this thing. Music: “Benzi Box” by DANGERDOOM ft. Cee Lo Green // “Close Your Eyes” by Kim Petras Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-8:00: We have three guests! Four total people! Dogs and cats living together! We’ve decided to examine each of the teams still playing in the League Championship Series and figure out how the Mariners can steal some of their ideas. On the American League side, Kate Preusser kindly chose the Astros while John Trupin covers the Rays. Isabelle Minasian, Lookout Landing emeritus member and current Digital Content Specialist for the Baseball Hall of Fame, talks about the Dodgers while Matthew Roberson breaks down the Braves. After briefly getting sidetracked by pleasantries and a discussion about the Pittsburgh Pirates (?), we get to the meat of the show. 8:05-30:10: How did the Astros get to this point after being laughably bad when they first joined the American League? As Kate explains, everyone stupidly continues to trade with them, they exploit the lesser teams, and they also nailed a bunch of draft picks in the pre-death machine days. Houston also remains fairly inactive in international signing, something their current opponent does the opposite of. Matthew chimes in to whine about how the Astros remain good at everything even though they should be shuttered like a failing Arby’s. 30:15-53:50: John puts on his marine biologist hat to do some research on sting rays. As they are ocean creatures, they do not have a lot of money, but that has not stopped them. Like the Astros, the Rays have had a good draft history, but they haven’t had a top ten pick in quite some time. They’re just a maddeningly consistent franchise that knows how to operate within their constraints. You may also remember them fleecing Pittsburgh in the Chris Archer deal. That, plus having three capable players at each position, is a great strategy. 53:55-1:09:15: Which small nation do the Mariners need to annex in order to equal the Dodgers’ payroll? Isabelle reminds us that no team will ever be able to match the Dodgers in either financial strength or ability to avoid a full rebuild. The term “nurturing to tremendous success” gets introduced. How has this super team built itself without making many blockbuster trades? Outside of Mookie, a lot of the talent comes from the draft or reclamation projects. We call this a recurring theme, children! Make sure you’re sitting down when you hear their 2016 draft haul. 1:09:20-1:32:22: Finishing up with the Braves, the team that the Mariners could feasibly use as an actual blueprint for themselves. Matthew explains where the Braves’ top three starters from this postseason came from and then laughs for hours about Arizona trading a number one overall pick for literally Shelby Miller. There’s definitely something here that smells like Logan Gilbert and Emerson Hancock. On the offensive side, Julio is on the Ronald Acuña plan, and Dansby Swanson, who had a tumultuous minor league career, is sort of Atlanta’s Kyle Lewis. Atlanta and Seattle have both also shown that they’re willing to give their prospects the space to struggle. Music: “Do Si Do” by Jenny Lewis // “House Work” by Jax Jones ft. Mike Dunn & MNEK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-20:00: Matthew calls up chef Eric Rivera (who was recently profiled in a wonderful Eater story by Alberto Perez) to talk about his experiences as a fan of the Seattle Mariners. Eric is also the owner of the restaurant Addo in Ballard, which is doing a lot of easy to make and inexpensive take-out meals. How did Eric feel about micro dosing a baseball season? How does he feel about what Jerry Dipoto has cooked up at his executive table? 20:05-39:35: Let’s talk about the unwritten rules, which are stupid, and if you like them, guess what? You are also stupid. Eric spent a lot of time in Puerto Rico as a kid, which means he also learned a lot about how the game is played there. What are the main differences? Why does America hate fun so much? 39:40-51:10: Where, when, and how did this whole journey of baseball fandom begin for Eric? Steroids and The Peanut Guy were heavily involved. He also talks about living in Chicago as the Cubs finally got over the hump and all the thoughts it invited. This portion ends with a sad retrospective on a summer without live baseball. 51:15-1:07:30: Let’s make fun of ballpark food! Eric is uniquely qualified to talk about this, and he has some THOUGHTS. To summarize, make the food represent more of the players on the field. While the stadium does a good job of highlighting local beers, it remains insane that you can’t get a Seattle dog at any of the thousand kiosks around the concourse. This gourmet conversation ends with Eric evaluating the current food scene in Seattle. Music: “Who You Are” by Mannequin Pussy // “Vanished” by Crystal Castles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00 - 46:00 - We go through the Mariners full slate of rookies, from the two Rookie of the Year candidates to those who never quite got started. What's the ceiling for guys like Kyle Lewis and Justus Sheffield, and have they established trustworthy floors? Who among us still believes in under-performers like Justin Dunn and Jake Fraley? And what do we expect from some of the pitchers who flashed potential, like Yohan Ramirez, Joey Gerber, and Nick Margevicius? 46:00 - End - Let's talk Fall Developmental Camp! We take listener questions on the makeshift fall league/instructional league amalgamation Seattle is kicking off this week down in Arizona. While they take on the Padres, Rangers, and Royals prospects, we'll be hoping to get updates as possible, but it's hard to say how! We wonder about Taylor Trammell's time down in Arizona compared to a few of his new 17 year old teammates. Music: "No Tengo Para" by El Mayor Clasico and Rochy RD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-25:55: The show begins with Mariners’ minor league pitcher Jack Anderson giving us a few minutes of his time! Our conversation begins with some Midwest small talk before getting into the fear of losing the MLB draft’s late rounds. Jack is also a submarine style pitcher, which, as he puts it, was the first of its kind when his college team traveled to Cuba. Jack also tells us about how he stayed sharp during the COIVD shutdown. This segment ends with Jack explaining the work he’s doing for Young, Black & Lit, an Illinois-based organization committed to increasing access to children’s books that center, reflect, and affirm Black children. If you would like to help donate, or want to see videos from Jack’s Swings for Stories event, visit this page. The next part begins with a discussion of the Mariners’ Player Development Fall League roster, of which Jack is also a part of. 26:00-44:40: John Trupin logs on to talk about that roster as well as Jerry Dipoto’s recent comments about the team contending in 2021. Which free agent reliever is Jerry getting ready to overpay for? Kate thinks making a point of saying they will upgrade the bullpen is a distraction from the fact that he’s not spending on a Realmuto or LeMahieu. 45:40-1:08:29: Matthew takes a moment to regroup after learning that Chad Pinder is not Australian. He gracefully recovers in time to field listener questions. What to do with Justin Dunn? Which minor league starter could become a high-leverage reliever? Music: “Longshot” by Miike Snow // “The Creature” by La Luz // “Devil’s Pie” by D’Angelo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-15:40: We’re giving out awards! That are totally made up and hold no actual value or contributions to society! YAYYYYYYYYY! But first, a quick roundup about the state of the franchise and a shout out to the small sample gods. 15:45-57:15: Time for the awards, starting with favorite games, although Matthew takes a quick detour to make an important confession. When it comes time to actually pick games, we all veer into the Gonzales zone and learn about the existence of Jimmy Herget. Then, biggest surprises of this season, which was a surprise to begin with. Matthew and John talk about their experience in the Seattle Wiffle Ball League. The squad then picks their favorite newcomers to the Mariners’ organization. 57:20-1:30:41: Biggest disappointments of the year, come get y’all juice. To wrap up the festivities, we hand out the Tyler Smith Award for Most Forgettable and the Mark Canha Award for Best New Enemy. While it didn’t bring home the award, Kate mentions a new enemy in tweet form. We also all agree that baseball has progressed past the need for Sam Coonrod. Our lightning round at the end covers worst game and hottest player on the team. Music: “Harder Than You Think” by Public Enemy // “Deadlines (Thoughtful)” by Car Seat Headrest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-21:00: Hanna Brooks Olsen is here, just in time for plumes of ash to block out the sun and end humanity once and for all! As an Oregon resident, where does Hanna find the Mariners in the Oregon sports hierarchy? Hanna grew up in a household with dueling fandoms, which led to her grandfather’s ashes being scattered at a division rival’s field. After a brief rundown of the perceived itchiest player in Major League Baseball, we find out how Hanna fell hopelessly in love with baseball, which will always hit different on the radio. 21:05-45:20: Everyone’s got a beloved Mariner who wasn’t good at baseball. Hanna’s is a recently departed, perennially thicc middle reliever. During this segment, the concept of time takes Matthew behind the woodshed and absolutely beats him senseless. As Mariner fans, we have a protective turtle shell that shields us from danger but also allows us to hide in our own comforting isolation. Toomgis, Larry King, juggalos, and a Pioneer Square bar with carpeted tables also come up. 45:25-56:55: The Mariners, this year’s Mariners, aren’t a complete embarrassment! Thoughts? Feelings? We know we’re in a weird zone when Kyle Seager has a beard. Matthew and Hanna then talk about those moments where another person is confronted by the reality of how much you care about the Mariners. One more important announcement from this part of the show: Coors Light is good. 57:00-1:13:00: Asking Hanna about her favorite Mariner ever, the time she saw Daniel Vogelbach crushing chicken wings on Aurora, and Dave Niehaus’ death. Music: “Hella Good” by No Doubt // “Eugene” by Arlo Parks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-34:05: Great news everybody, your saviors are here. All of the troubles of the world will be fixed by this very episode of the Lookout Landing podcast. First, how do we feel about the Mariners playing baseball games on a field that looked like a Def Leppard stage? Second, which is funnier, the Mariners being okay enough to be in the race, or the Astros being bad enough to let them in? Third, are these weird circumstances setting the M’s up to be America’s team? 34:10-58:10: Guessing, successfully, who the unlikely gem of the Mariners’ bullpen has been. Guessing, unsuccessfully, why Jarred Kelenic is still taking reps against nobodies rather than in MLB games that matter. Matthew and Kate disagree on whether Kelenic or Logan Gilbert should be up with the big club. 58:15-1:14:05: Twitter questions for that ass. Does José Marmolejos make the club next season? Do the players actually call him Donovan? We also have a fun look into what it sounds like when news breaks during a recording session. At the very end, each member of the podcast gang picks their ideal World Series and Matthew quotes one of the world’s most respected minds. Music: “All Day Long” by New Order // “Try” by Jill Scott Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0 - 15:00 General intro, bemoaning of the MiLB season lost. At about the five minute mark we get into our first listener question and the general state of the 2020 Mariners, surprisingly not as awful as we thought they might be! This is good! We roundtable our choices for the prospect who has surprised us the most at the big league level, and the answers might surprise you. Namely, we get a little fast and loose with the definition of prospect. 15:00 - 30:00: It’s never too early to talk big off-season signings, so that’s exactly what we do. There’s also some talk about the bullpen, and how Jerry Dipoto has spent money on the bullpen, and for that, we are sorry. 30:00 - end: Perfect Game chat! Joe puts some respect on Benny Montgomery’s name and Borat impression. Kate continually calls James Wood “Ed” Wood and for that she is sorry. Brady House and Jordan Lawlar are marveled over in a class that is especially strong on shortstops, hooray! Please don’t disappoint us again, Jerry. At about the 55 minute mark is a discussion of the top arms in this draft class, including Chase Petty, Kumar Rocker, Jack Leiter, and how they all compare. There are a couple other questions in here too, because we can’t resist a little Ranger and Angel-bashing when the opportunity arises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-10:55: Calling our first ever guest (we think) in Europe to talk about all things Mariners. This week’s guest is author and podcast host Mike Duncan, who moved to Paris to write a book, while Matthew moved from Queen Anne to Fremont to have a quieter place to record podcasts. Mike and Matthew exchange pleasantries about life and baseball culture in France before diving into his history as an M’s fan. How has moving – first domestically, then internationally – molded Mike’s attachment to baseball? We also recorded this before the Bucks were eliminated from the NBA playoffs, so please do not make fun of Mike for saying they’re cool. 11:00-22:50: Favorite players from a 1980s childhood in the Pacific Northwest. The Mariners being a mystery to the rest of the world back then allowed for a singular experience and shameless bandwagoning once the playoffs rolled around. This opens a discussion about attending Seattle sporting events to see the other team’s great players. Then, an adorable story swap about seeing great pitchers in Seattle as their careers crawled to their conclusions. 22:55-41:25: How does Mike, a historian, feel about the general history of the Seattle Mariners? At what point does the mid-‘90s nostalgia become too much? We certainly didn’t expect a large chunk of this segment to go toward the 2016 team, but we’re glad it did. Most of you probably do this very often, but think about how truly, unfathomably, impossibly strange it was for Robinson Canó to willingly sign with the Mariners. 41:30-1:01:25: Mike hosts a podcast all about revolutions, so we ask the question, was there ever a point where you wanted the Mariners to stage their own revolution to depose their own leadership? Fill in the blanks: “_____ is a villain. ______? He’s a weird cat.” 1:01:30-1:21:20: Ending with a session on the current state of the organization and how we feel moving into the great unknown. Music: “Black Sheep” by Metric // “Numbers on the Board” by Pusha T Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices