Meet at the Mitt: A Seattle Mariners podcast

Hello! This week Kate, Jon and Joe are back with another riveting look at future potential Mariners, After a strong year across the organization in terms of prospect performance, the crew digs into the lowest levels, the youngest of the young prospects. Starting with a look at the kids in the Dominical Summer League, followed up with the newest draftees tearing up the Arizona League. Lastly, they dig into the Modest Nuts; a roster housing some of the high upside young prospects in the entire organization. DSL Roundup AZL Mariners Harry Ford Danny Chang Edwin Arroyo Blake Townsend Joe's Sleepers Modesto Nuts Noelvi Marte Alberto Rodriguez Sam Carlson Conner Philips Joe's Sleepers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello! What a dreadful pun for this episode title. This week we check in on the seemingly but not mathematically "out of it" Seattle Mariners with only 16 games remaining. We lament the players the mariners could have, maybe should have signed to be the separators when the team needed it most. We discuss how much fun this team was this season, all the way up until the end, and compare the watching experience to some of the other recent Mariner teams. We look at Ty France who has struggled a bit since getting pegged by Kendall Graveman earlier this month. There is a listener question about Evan White, and we all agree he very much still has a role with the team moving forward, through probably starting 2022 in Tacoma. We dig into the bigger news of the week: the 2023 all star game will be held at T Mobile Park! We each pick something about the event we are excited for and express our enthusiasm for the event and the week long extravaganza it seems destined to be. We talk new uniforms and a general team makeover and the chances the team might see some new asset designs in the near future, particularly with newcomer Katie Griggs at the helm of those decisions. Assorted Musings: · Jersey/Uniform talk · Ownership discussion · Future Mariners All Stars for the 2023 summer classic · Things to look for in the final 16 games · Promote Julio to AAA? I also managed to call Kevin Martinez "Kevin Mathers" on both this and INSIS on two consecutive days, but I'm chalking it up to PTSD and Mariners/Mathers induced trauma. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello Everyone! We are back with another hot, spicy episode of the lookout landing podcast. This week is particularly exciting for several reasons. First off, the Mariners are done playing the Houston Astros until next season (unless we meet our dreaded rivals in the American League Championship Series of course). Secondly, because after defeating the pitiful, husk of a baseball team that is the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Mariners sit with an identical 77-64 record to the Oakland As, and are a single game out of the second wild card spot. Obviously the competition both within the division from the As and from the rest of the league remains stiff, with critical series against the Red Sox on the horizon. But the biggest topic for todays episode ponders the question you, the fans, have been clamoring about for some time: IS IT JULIO TIME? Kate brings her wealth of Julio specific expertise to the discussion, as we approach all angles, pros and cons of promoting the best prospect in the organization to the big leagues for a playoff chase. We also dig a bit into some of the existing and upcoming holes in the roster, and some interesting names of potential future Mariners to fill said holes. We talk briefly about the short stop and starting pitcher markets, but ultimately lament the high risk nature of such endeavors as it pertains to the Mariners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two Podcasts in Two Days? Incredible. But in all seriousness, John, Kate and prospect maverick Joe Doyle collide in this episode to break down the current state of the Mariners most heralded young prodigy, and what potentially ails him. Joe breaks down his controversial piece that has taken lookout landing and the greater internet Mariners community by storm. Is Jarred's stance fixable? Is he broken? Why so serious? The only way to find out is to let us break it down. Other assorted musings from across the farm: The Young Arms Cometh Kirby and Hancock continue to gently build innings, but where will they end up? Matt Brash; hottest prospect in the system Alberto Rodriguez continues to impress at the plate and in the field Noelvi Marte's improving defense Every Mariners minor league affiliate has a winning record, but what does this really mean? Players to watch going forward! Cade Marlow Luis Curvello Milkar Perez The good, the bad and the mostly just pretty good of the early returns from the 2021 draft class So, so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well hello! We are back, and it's been a little while. Despite about a month off the podcast, it feels like so much yet so little has changed. The team sits a mere 3 games back of the second wild card spot as of this writing, with games against the feeble Diamondbacks and the freefalling (but still ahead of the team in the wild card standings) Red Sox over the coming week. On Tuesday night, Abraham Toro became the first player in MLB history to hit a grand slam off of (mole and Mariners insider saboteur Kendall Graveman) the player he was traded for. It was also the Mariners sixth go ahead grand slam of the magical and absurd 2021 season. The following morning the announcement many have long expected was finally made: Jerry and Scott each receiving a multi-year extension from the Mariners. After consecutive seasons with a (the?) top ranked farm system in baseball and a season where the major league team has outperformed both expectations and a dismal -56 run differential to swim 10+ games above .500, ownership opted to keep the band together. Evaluating Jerry at this stage in the rebuild still feels incomplete, but we dig into to our generally positive feelings about the move, and what it all could mean going forward. Does this mean the Mariners will spend? What's the deal with Jerry's fancy new title? Will anyone else be joining the organization? We provide all the sultry, juicy details you desire. Assorted musings: Scott Servais - Manager of the Year? The Mariners still can't hit, what should they do about it? Jarred Kelenic and the trials of a rookie Logan Gilbert - finding sustained success? Mitch Haniger - Professional Streaky Hitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been an up and down few weeks for the Mariners, who have ultimately played pretty well but sit below .500 at 3-5 since the Kendall Graveman trade. After taking two of three from the Rays, all the way from Tampa, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times joins us to dig into his article regarding the trade and the reaction from inside the team. Ryan provides an inside look at the team on the ground level before and after the trade, and provides context for his story, which has turned out to be one of the major narratives around the Mariners so far this season. We tie it all back to Kevin Mather's preseason comments and dissect whether or not we think these are isolated or endemic issues. We discuss the state of the team, the immediate and long term futures, and what we would do if we had to steer this team to victory. Assorted musings: Katie Griggs Abe Toro Trades that didn't happen Merrifield Berrios Who would the Mariners have traded if the season had gone another way? Would we extend Jerry Dipoto? Would we make personnel changes within the baseball operations department? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Mariners roared into the deadline fronting a big game and came out with mostly a swap of relief pitchers, and a good infield prospect, but not the marquee name fans had hoped for. We dive into the return for Kendall Graveman and discuss our evolving feeling about what was a very contentious trade for the team. We reflect on the Mariners clutchness. so far and ponder whether or not it can survive such a drastic cultural shift. However, we also examine Graveman's role on the team, and conclude, as we did several weeks earlier, that he was always expendable given where he stood on the roster. We also briefly touch on the Mariners trade with Tampa Bay for Diego Castillo, whom we all like a great deal. We also wonder what on earth the Astros see in Montero, and are concerned the Rays will turn Austin Shenton into a bonafide star (if he can find a position). We touch on new Mariners president of business operations Kate Griggs and express excitement at her role within the organization. We conclude with a look at the wider trade environment in baseball, and why perhaps the Mariner chose to make the moves that they did, given the prices on the trade market. Apologies for the sound on this one, John's audio is a bit skippy here and there, and I smoothed it over as best I could, but its not perfect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Max Rieper of Royal Review guest stars to talk about The Royals and the trade deadline, and how they might be a good trade partner for the Mariners. Max provides a look at where the Royals stand, the promotions they are set to make, the prospects in their system and why it could mean Merrifield in particular gets moved. Kate dissects the return options for the Royals, and gives some insight into whom the Mariners might trade for Whit. Joe provides further insight on said players, and why perhaps Royals fans could get excited. Everyone agrees a package will probably be headlined by one of the Mariners MLB adjacent outfielders: Trammel, Fraley or Deloach specifically. Joe offers up some potential packages including other prospects as well. Assorted musings: Nori Aoki slander Cal Raleigh - The Last Undiscovered Prospect Royals Competitive Timeline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello everyone! We are back with another hot, sizzling podcast as the red hot Mariners roar into the trade deadline with pieces to sell, or maybe buy? Who knows, you’ll have to listen to find out where we stand on that junction. The team has played well as of late, spirits are tepid and fragile but still high, and we go over a number of hot topics as the team reaches a critical nexus in the season: The Oakland and Houston series and how they will shape the season going forward, and the Mariners buying versus selling of particular assets at the deadline THE CLEVELAND GUARDIANS?! Hot or not? we have differing takes on both the logo and the new feng shui of of the Cleveland baseball team. Do the Mariners need a rebrand? We discuss the merits of changing things like the team name, colors or uniform variants to maybe give the team a whole new vibe, or perhaps a new spin on a classic vibe (nautical). TRADE DEADLINE - Who stays? Who goes? Who buys? Who sells? Who do we like? Who do we think the team maybe likes? What can we actually get versus what to we actually want? How deep into the team’s reserves of coveted prospects is it appropriate to dive into for help? We discuss all this and more. Literally between recording this at 10AM and posting it at about 6PM the team DFA’d Rafael Montero, so to all those who clamored for such a move, congratulations? Sorry Mikey! How different competitive, do or die, all on the line baseball feels compared to the casual, tortoise pace of Mariners baseball that has been so prevalent in losing seasons and how we manage to cope (or not cope). Assorted musings (BOOOO Jake Fraley) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2021 MLB Draft has come and gone, and the Mariners drastically altered their draft strategy, taking three high school players in the first three rounds for the first time in General Manager Jerry Dipoto's tenure. Kate, John, and Joe discuss what this shift in strategy means for where the club views itself in the cycle of contention, and offer analysis on most of the 20 picks selected over the three days of the Draft, including who they view as having the highest upside, who profiles to make it to MLB first, and what later-round picks might have the most impact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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