Meet at the Mitt: A Seattle Mariners podcast

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

0:00-14:15: Amanda Lane Cumming is here to discuss her spectacular “War, Pandemic, and Seattle Baseball in 1918” three-part series. But first, we introduce Amanda and the things that make her baseball heart sing. Listen closely to this part for some juicy cocktail gossip. 14:20-29:20: What inspired Amanda to research a 100-year-old pandemic and the way that affected baseball? This is the part where you learn a library’s worth of information about shipyard baseball teams. As one of America’s shipyard hubs, Seattle was heavily involved in World War I baseball as a morale-building activity. Kate and Amanda also have a thoughtful discussion about history and the things we learn, or don’t learn, from it. It’s also finally time to examine Daddy Warbucks and his fetishization of orphan culture. 29:25-40:55: Which, shall we say, icky organization sponsored one of these offshoot baseball teams? Which current Midwestern MLB team used to have a much different, much bleaker, name? After the big reveal, Amanda shares some of the things she had to cut from the published versions of her stories. Spoiler alert: Babe Ruth is involved! 41:00-48:55: Not necessarily baseball related, but during WWI, the fervor of America’s anti-German stances led to several German items getting a name change. That and more as Amanda explains the process behind her extensive research and the challenges she ran into. 49:00-59:27: Now that Amanda has all this glorious information in her head, and has published so much of it so cohesively, what’s next for the “War, Pandemic, and Seattle Baseball in 1918” series? Finally, some lessons we can all learn from the early 20th century. Music: “My Brain is Hanging Upside Down” by The Ramones // “In For the Kill” by Shamir Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate, Joe, and Mikey examine the trade return for Austin Nola and his reliever buddies, talk about the future of the franchise, look at how the Mariners are set up in 2021 and beyond, and make some very immature jokes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-12:25: John is gone so we’ve called upon the indelible Mikey Ajeto to take his spot! Mikey joins Matthew and Kate to discuss the Mariners’ recent turnaround and dig into possible trades. But first, let’s dump on the Angels! They’re really bad! One of the worst teams in the league, as it turns out! 12:30-32:55: Kate breaks down some of the reasons why Evan White’s hitting has improved lately. We also shower Austin Nola with the All-Star hype he deserves before going down the trade rabbit hole. How would we feel about the M’s trading Nola? What about Taijuan Walker and the bullpen guys? 33:00-44:55: How has Taylor Williams been so effective? Let Mikey, our pitching analytics expert, explain. We also mentally prepare for the possibility that Kyle Seager, father figure for the entire Pacific Northwest, could get traded. The most interesting part of this discussion, of course, is that there are already so many good third basemen across the league. Five dollars to anyone who has some dirt on Las Vegas’ totally legal sounding Bonanza High School. Should the Mariners try to build the whole team out of Kyles? 45:00-53:53: A eulogy for Daniel Vogelbach, who is not dead, just in Toronto now. Also, after literal years of putting up with audio issues, we are in the market for a new website or recording software to record and edit the podcast! If you have any experience with this, please suggest some good ones in the comments below. Ideally, we’d love a service that lets us edit each person’s vocal track individually, let guests call in via telephone, and adjust audio levels for individual stretches of the conversation. Thank you kindly. Music: “Freelance” by Toro y Moi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-30:00: We’re…a third of the way through the season? None of the Mariners have contracted the ‘roni, but strangeness still dominates this whole year. How do we fell about the way MLB, and specifically its players, have handled all this? Please refrain from getting horny at the team hotel. A good chunk of our happiness comes from being extremely correct. We’ve also reached a Zen state from watching inconsequential bullpen guys. This is part of the Tao of Mariners. 30:10-43:35: What is really the goal of this season? How does having a perennially on fire bullpen actually help the Mariners? Then we get lost talking about J.P. Crawford for an extended period of time. 43:40-57:15: We now move to the negative parts of this season, which go by the name White, Evan. He is, sadly, approaching a dangerous zone. Can someone check to see if Mallex Smith’s bat has a barrel? Sending either of them to the alternate site will do more harm than good though. Let people struggle without bullying them online or trying to diagnose things from your couch. 57:20-1:20:20: Ending, as always, with listener questions. This week’s batch is about Vogey and Mallex, the lack of minor leagues, and what the hell is happening in Tacoma? Find out which player Kate is secretly worried about. Music: “Moby Octopad” by Yo La Tengo // “Heatstroke” by Calvin Harris ft. Young Thug, Ariana Grande, Pharrell Williams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate and John are joined by Mariners RHP prospect Jarod Bayless from his current training grounds in Dallas, TX. The 33rd round pick from 2019 out of Dallas Baptist University by way of San Jacinto CC is an enthusiastic adopter of the many technological assets available to baseball players these days, and he breaks down the various ways in which devices like Rapsodo, Trackman/Hawkeye, Motus, and others specifically help him develop. Bayless has chronicled his development - and struggles - on his Instagram page (@JarodThrows), offering a great training resource for those interested in pushing themselves from borderline talents towards big league potential pitchers. Music: "Daniel, You're Still a Child" - Declan McKenna / "Space Cadet" - Metro Boomin (ft. Gunna) Editor’s Note: We originally recorded this with Jarod back in late July, before the season began. Due to bizarre audio issues that required heroic efforts from the developers at Cast, this episode comes to you at last. That said, a brief chunk of this episode was excised to fix a recording issue, so this may have moments of slight audio confusion, however we HOPE it may all be just fine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-27:20: Matthew is back from some extreme chillin’ in Idaho and is now Idahosting this podcast again, restoring balance in the universe. While Matthew was gone, the Mariners played roughly 10 percent of the season, so he’s got some catching up to do! We’ve gathered some headlines from that period, and it’s up to John and Kate to fill him in on what happened. After getting updates on Kyle Lewis, we start talking neck. Then it’s on to Joey Gerber and his first MLB game against a man who debuted before his fourth birthday. 27:25-39:50: A direct plea to Rob Manfred and an appreciation of Rebelution, a band that J.P. Crawford apparently loves? Our last headline centers on Yusei Kikuchi and his recent masterful performance against Oakland. 39:55-1:11:06: Time for listener questions! Which player does Kate already anoint as a dark horse MVP candidate? Is there any chance for trades during this loopy, hard to figure season? The only thing that derails our intellectual, stimulating conversation is the news that Kyle Seager’s middle name is DUERR. As per usual, the conversation steers toward Dylan Moore’s confounding ass, DMX quotes, and Puerto Rican hip power. Music: “Still D.R.E.” by Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg // “Masterpiece” by Big Thief Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The games at the big league level count at last, so John, Kate, and Joe take a look at how the Mariners prospects - hello Evan White and Kyle Lewis - are doing in their everyday roles. It's a listener mailbag episode, with questions on what the outfield will look like if Lewis turns into something like the player he's playing like right now, how to handle the pitching vs. hitting quality and development discrepancy in the Tacoma alternate site, and how Seattle's farm stacks up against the rest of their division. Music: "Space Cadet" by Metro Boomin' / "Mindmaker" by Lost Cousins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-31:30: We truly cannot believe we made it. Get in here, y’all. We’re gonna try to do a season real quick. We’re gathered here today to share three things that we’re excited to watch this year. Kate kicks us off with an awfully specific thing relating to Marco Gonzales. Then we talk some DEFENSE! Remember that the Mariners will be without infield wizard Perry Hill, at least in person, as the 68-year-old coach has opted to stay home. We’ll also have the wonderful joy of a balletic first baseman scooping and stretching for all 60 games. 32:00-49:15: Which starter’s pitch mix is getting John all riled up? Hint: it’s a guy who is, at least on a physical plane, embracing his new life on the west coast. What part of Kyle Lewis’ game is worthy of your number crunching? If any of you off the top of your head know what Jake Stahl is famous for, give yourself a pat on the back. 49:20-1:03:05: This could be an emotional season. Lots of things happening during these unprecedented times, folks! Somewhere in here the term “midnight breakfast” gets dropped for the first time in podcast history, surely. Matthew’s final pick involves inarguably the worst unit of the team. Henry Rowengarter gets a shout out too because we stay on topic around here. 1:03:10-1:29:00: Gather ‘round for listener questions. Check out Ben Gamel doing his absolute best to mimic everything Christian Yelich does, which ties into our first question. We end, naturally, by taking one wardrobe item from each Mariner and combining it on one body. We can’t wait to be mad about the Mariners with you again. Music: “Bodysnatchers” by Radiohead // “Foreplay” by Jalen Santoy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-20:55: We have an actual player for the Seattle Mariners on the show! Joey Gerber, who is currently at Summer Camp with the team, calls in from the team hotel. What’s it like to have your entire life distilled into a baseball stadium and a hotel? Who’s in charge? Are the feds watching? We also learn what players Joey has gravitated to and how they’re passing the time. Joey shares his excitement to be in a temperate climate after growing up in the Midwest and spending last season between Modesto and Arkansas. 21:00-36:25: Joey has what scouts and writers love to call a “funky delivery”. Where did that come from? Being from a cold-weather area in an overlooked part of the country, how did Joey end up making a name for himself in baseball? Now that he’s here, what’s the approach to camp and seeing live hitting again? 36:30-49:55: What sort of dark magic had to happen for a dude from a town called Maple Grove to end up with the Mariners? Is there anything from back home that Joey wants to bring here, or vice versa? Who’s impressed Joey at camp so far? 50:00-1:26:00: Saying goodbye to Joey Gerber and hello to listener questions! Thank you to everyone who sent us things to talk about. We cover potential Mariner MVP’s, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Years while also re-casting The Breakfast Club with guys from Seattle’s roster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the season suddenly on, the TMBM crew scrambles to gather their thoughts. We discuss the draft, now further in hindsight, an eye-popping showcase for next year's high school studs, and of course the Mariners prospects-heavy taxi squad schemes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Note: At around the midpoint (30 minutes in) John’s audio quality drops off for some reason. It’s only a mild difference but he does get quieter, apologies for the inconvenience. 0:00-14:00: So they’re gonna do this baseball thing. Matthew, Kate, and John share their trepidation for the logistics of the MLB season in the throes of a resurgence (did we ever halt the first surgence?) of COVID-19 nationwide, and somehow end up talking about cup stacking and waveboards for a while. 14:00-28:00: We dig into the temporary (or not) rule changes. Universal DHs, runners on second in extra innings, no spitting, altered ILs, and of course, the wet rag. Whose ass is going to be soaking wet for us, the viewer? 28:00-End: Questions! What is an ideal shortened Mariners season in our eyes? Is there any way MLB doesn’t royally screw this up and get a ton of people sick? How should the Mariners handle their prospects? Where is Yasiel Puig at anyways? How will a trade deadline (and trade market) work or develop, and will it impact any of the potential short-term players on Seattle’s roster? Plus, who will have the most creative “safe” celebrations? Music: “Just” by Mark Ronson & Alex Greenwald (Radiohead cover) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-19:55: Ryan Rowland-Smith is here! The former Mariner pitcher and current Mariner analyst has his own podcast now, and he recently created an animation to go with it. What else has Ryan been up to during the lockdown? What does he miss the most about the rhythms of an MLB season? He mentions how unfortunate it is that many of the Mariners’ young pitchers’ development will be thrown off by this prolonged break. Find out which type of player Ryan thinks you should “never pick high up in drafts”. Of course, given that we are a serious baseball podcast, we also get into a conversation about the everyday hustles of Newcastle, Australia. 20:00-32:30: Ryan re-lives his first American experiences, which came in the lush meadows of Arizona. What would he do differently if he were a prospect today? This leads to some stories about how the Mariners ran their organization when Ryan was coming up through the ranks. Bill Bavasi, cover your ears. 32:35-47:25: It’s time to find out what was really happening in 2010. Were Chone Figgins and Casey Kotchman as toxic as we thought? (Spoiler alert: yes.) They didn’t even enjoy FanFest! Ryan also pulls the curtain back on those conversations that players have while shagging balls at batting practice. Which organization that he went to after leaving the Mariners had the most impressive player development system? 47:30-58:00: What is the state of baseball in Australia? Who are some of the kids Ryan is developing with his NxtGen Baseball program that we should know about? 58:05-1:39:00: Let’s remember some of Ryan Rowland Smith’s highest highs and lowest lows from a wild MLB career. Who does he remember having success against? Who does he remember having…not success against? What seemed to happen every time he pitched to Derek Jeter? We also get into Ryan’s experience on American Ninja Warrior an end with his definitive Jack Zduriencik story. Music: “This Is How We Do It” by Montell Jordan // “Charity” by Courtney Barnett Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-10:00: Dave Sims, the voice of the Mariners, joins Matthew to talk about life as a Black man in baseball and share some of his thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement. How do we get more Black people – and people from other underrepresented groups – in the broadcast booth? What about getting more Black kids into baseball, and eventually into the majors? Enacting an entire culture shift is a daunting task, but it’s the only option for both baseball and society at large. 10:05-21:05: What’s it like for Dave to travel around the league and typically be the only Black person in the room? When he meets people from outside of the sports world, what is their reaction to finding out Dave works in baseball? Breaking news: BLACK PEOPLE LIKE BASEBALL TOO, and as Dave says, “We’re sick and tired of being sick and tired.” 21:10-26:35: The Mariners have the largest population of Black players in the league. What has Dave’s experience with that group been like? How do we make sure this doesn’t become a one-off situation? 27:05-44:45: How did Dave, an East Coaster for life, end up in Seattle in the first place? How was it taking over for Dave Niehaus, and how did the community react at first? Which booth on the road is his favorite to call a game from? Which cities does he describe as having “good people, bad ballpark”? Where does Mike Trout rank among all the great athletes Dave has seen across the multiple sports he covers? What’s Dave’s favorite call from his 14 years of covering Mariner games? 44:50-51:37: Whenever MLB begins again, what should we expect from the Seattle Mariners? How would he feel about the legitimacy of a shortened season? At the end of the day, we just need to see these guys on the field again. Music: “Computer Love” by Zapp & Roger // “Broken Clocks” by SZA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All three of John, Kate, and Joe link our podcast-creation-stones once more to cover a highly educated crop of Mariners draftees with minimal pizzazz on the surface. We came into this recording with dissatisfaction in our hearts, but worked our way to a better place. Have a listen! Music: “Sister Surround” by Soundtrack to Our Lives / “CHANCES” by KAYTRANADA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate and Joe talk about the Mariners sixth-round pick Emerson Hancock as well as review the first day of the draft as a whole. They also discuss Day Two strategies and targets, and how the Mariners might address the gaps in their system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to draft week, where the slots do matter and nobody knows what's going on. John, Kate, and Joe join forces all the same to offer our last thoughts before things go down this Wednesday and Thursday. The topics of conversation include... Why is Emerson Hancock sliding in so many projections? And do we still want him if he's there at No. 6? Nick Gonzales or Max Meyer? Which of the top names could possibly slip to Seattle? What compels someone to go from Roswell, GA, to Roswell, NM? How do teams value organizational fit in a draft with so much talent? Who would we like most for Seattle at No. 6 and No. 43? And much more. Check out lookoutlanding.com for all our draft coverage, including Joe's final mock draft, with a big 'ol surprise at No. 10. Music: "Kin II" by Midnight Survivor / "CHANCES" by KAYTRANADA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-11:45: A lovely reunion conversation is immediately interrupted by Kate updating us on her mobile, liquor-slurping neighbors. As per usual, this portends another conversation that has absolutely nothing to do with the intended purposes of this podcast. Before getting back on track, Matthew addresses the recent events in America and implores you to do what you can. 11:50-24:45: We get into MLB’s proposed plans for getting the season going. This includes some talk about timelines, player payment, and locations. All of this stumbles into open suggestions for how certain teams can recreate the environment of their home parks. This is the part where we’re contractually obligated to wonder if the Mariners could sneak into the playoffs and subsequently start an unbearable discussion about whether it counts. 24:50-49:55: Digging into listener questions! Thank you as always to those who submitted, we know it’s been a while since we spoke to you directly. Questions cover topics like how players will come out of this physically, the upcoming draft, and Dan Altavilla’s swelling derrière. 50:00-1:04:00: The part you’ve all been waiting for, infrastructure and Fourth of July “salad” debates! Thank you as always for listening to this beautifully weird show. Music: “Americans” by Janelle Monáe // “Ultralight Beam” by Kanye West (Chance the Rapper verse) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Among many other things, this was a grim few weeks for baseball in the United States. The Mariners cut 44 minor leaguers, including several players with longer tenures in the organization than anyone not named Seager. John, Joe, and Kate talk through a number of players whose careers in Seattle's affiliation came to an end this week, with a focus on the implications for the minor leagues going forward, what the Arizona Fall League may look like, and how independent baseball will be increasingly worth everyone's time. At around the 35:00 minute mark, the discussion turns to the draft. Georgia RHP Emerson Hancock has been mocked to the Mariners a couple times now, representing a surprising shift for one of the premier arms in the pool. We go into what's precipitated that perceived slip and whether we'd be on board if he's still available at No. 6 (you can hear Kate screaming 'YES'!!!! without the headphones). Afterwards, we turn our focus beyond the first round and each talk through a few names at every pick - 43, 64, 78, 107, and 137, who could be available and would fit our desires and Seattle's needs, to provide some "ones to watch" for next week's draft. If you have questions, next week's podcast will drop on Tuesday as a prep episode for the Wednesday and Thursday draft. Music: "The Space Program" - A Tribe Called Quest / "CHANCES" - KAYTRANADA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-28:10: Mourning a Memorial Day without baseball before welcoming Mariner legend Bucky Jacobsen to the show! Bucky breaks down the origins of his name and how he went from the smallest kid in his school to a hulking MLB slugger. Which earthly process does Bucky’s career most resemble, and how did it come out of eastern Oregon? He also shares a story about his athletic career in the aquatic world. 29:15-43:55: Let’s dig in to Bucky’s career, starting with the day he got called up in 2004. You might not remember which beloved Mariner got released to make room for big #33. You definitely don’t remember what happened in his first game, which was a disaster for the Mariners but memorable for Bucky, especially because of a pregame ritual that ticked off the second baseman. 44:00-55:55: What changes has Bucky noticed in baseball culture today compared to when he played? Which future Hall of Famer did Bucky describe as having a “dump truck ass” when they crossed paths in the Venezuelan winter ball? This leads to some talk about the Mariners’ current crop of prospects and how they might progress. 56:00-1:20:00: Time for trivia! We ask Bucky if he knows the only Mariner to hit more home runs than him in less than 180 plate appearances. Can he name every pitcher he homered off? Finally, we end with an Ichiro story. Music: “What’s Golden” by Jurassic 5 // “Knuck If You Buck” by Crime Mob Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate, Joe, and John tackle MLB's most recent proposals for how teams might handle the shortened season, and how minor league baseball and prospects may be impacted. With a taxi squad proposal involving 30 active players and 20 taxi squad "reserves", teams will be digging into their prospect pools for big league action this year if games take place. What might that roster look like for the Mariners? And are there players who might be better or worse suited for such an arrangement? We also discuss the news of the day, with the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim laying off and/or furloughing much of their scouting and player development groups. After this podcast was recording, the Athletics informed their minor leaguers they would cease paying them, but would not release them from their contracts, beginning June 1. We discuss how these circumstances may have lengthy ramifications for some teams, the AL West in particular, and how that will likely bleed into the MLB Draft as well. Music: "Wrecking Ball" - Bruce Springsteen / "CHANCES" - KAYTRANADA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-12:25: Gabey Lucas, a writer and editor for UW Dawg Pound and local comedian, joins the show to chat about the Mariners and all that surrounds this team. What has she been watching to fill the sports void? Korean baseball? Cornhole? Who’s been the biggest winner of quarantine? After exchanging pleasantries, Matthew and Gabey talk about SB Nation’s Dorktown documentary about the Mariners. 12:30-29:55: What are some of the similarities between the Mariners and UW football, or Seattle sports at large? It certainly doesn’t seem like a coincidence that a lot of the city’s sports history mirrors its dreary sensibility. As Mariner fans, the losing obviously hovers over a lot of our collective experience, but how often do you really think about the sustained failure? We also wonder how much sucking creates apathy in the players, as well as how Seattle’s personality as a city could be a turnoff for southern players. 30:00-45:35: Some Braden Bishop UW x Mariners crossover content! When will the Mariners have their next local kid make it with the big club? Why do we expect athletes to care about their job, and their employer, more than common folk? 45:40-1:08:00: How did Gabey get mixed up with the Mariners anyway? Which player’s name did Gabey utter as one of her first words? Who is her guy that wasn’t actually good at baseball? We end with a much-deserved appreciation of the changeup as a concept. Music: “Solitude is Bliss” by Tame Impala // “Heart of Glass” by Blondie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's mock draft day on TMBM, and we're so excited to bring you a heaping serving of 2020 prognostication. John, Kate, and Joe have divvied up all 30 teams and make their selections, serpentine style, to give a sense of who might go where, and who that might leave available for the Seattle Mariners at picks No. 6, 43, 64, and 78. We go in order from No. 1 thru No. 43 on air, as well as including our selections at No. 64 and No. 78, but the full draft, with explanations, can be found in the episode article on Lookout Landing dot com. Whether you're a Mariners fan or not, let us know if you'd be happy with how things shake out! Music: "Things Can Only Get Better" - Howard Jones / "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" - New Kids On The Block Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the grisliest work behind us, John, Kate, and Joe look into the cheerier tidings of more recent drafts, hoping to get a sense of what's gone wrong and right, and what we might expect from the Mariners in the 2020 Draft. We talk extensively about pitching development, and how Seattle's knack for it in recent years has been encouraging. Conversely, we address the way Seattle's drafts in recent years have directly led to the dearth of middle infield depth in the system, and how their preference for college talent in the top of the draft has become conspicuous. Kate claims the 2018 draft class is shaping up to be the defining one of Dipoto's tenure. We talk about 3B/2B Joe Rizzo, who has a magnifying glass on him for many of the reasons listed above. Plus, plenty of discussion on who Seattle might take with their options BEYOND the first pick. Colt Keith fans make some noise. Music: "Ken II" by Midnight Survivor / "CHANCES" by KAYTRANADA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-23:00: Emily Nemens, author of the recently-released book The Cactus League, graces the hallowed air waves of the Lookout Landing podcast. Emily grew up in Seattle as a Mariners fan, but also a fan of baseball in general, which led to the publication of this book! As book tours are illegal right now, we try to replicate that through the power of podcasting. Our conversation starts with a general conversation about the book and the characters involved before delving into some of the process behind it. She also shares a story of her real life experiences at Spring Training, featuring none other than George Steinbrenner. 23:05-34:35: Was there any moment in particular that made Emily want to write a baseball book? What sort of memory association will come with releasing a book during a global pandemic? What was the hardest part of writing The Cactus League? 34:40-56:50: Emily reads an excerpt from the book, which details an on-the-field moment between a pitcher and catcher. We end our conversation by talking about, what else, the Mariners. Like several past guests, Emily has left Seattle and had to adjust her fandom to the eastern time zone. How has the Mariners being bad re-shaped her brain, and does she think it affected the book at all? Music: “Can’t Keep Checking My Phone” by Unknown Mortal Orchestra // “All for You” by Janet Jackson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John, Kate, and Joe coalesce to discuss something far less appealing than the upcoming draft: Seattle Mariners drafts of the past. Specifically, looking at the waning years of the Jack Zduriencik regime, and what happened with the 2013, 2014, and 2015 drafts. Plenty went wrong, obviously, but many of the picks made sense at the time, and only with the benefit of hindsight can we piece together how truly awry things went. Together, we try to put ourselves in the mindset of those drafts, and draw connections between the decisions made then and what might lie ahead in the 2020 draft. A healthy discussion on player development, communication, and what we all want to see next from the Dipoto regime lies within. Music: "The Tune Up" - Stalley / "CHANCES" - KAYTRANADA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-7:25: Matthew drops a fire intro before teeing up his guest, Lookout Landing staffer Grant Bronsdon. The fellas are joined together, separately, to draft teams of Glue Guys. This is essentially the direct opposite of the last draft they did, in which they tried to create the best possible teams in Mariner history out of individual players’ seasons. For this one, the only players who are eligible are ones who were not very good. If you were worth 3.0 Wins Above Replacement, sorry, you’re disqualified. This draft was inspired by Matthew’s world-changing article from last week. 7:30-29:55: With the first pick, Matthew perhaps falls victim to recency bias. Grant responds by taking someone from the 2001 team, but probably not who you think! After Matthew makes his second pick, a quick Internet search reveals a hilarious story about him. After a defensive specialist and a superstar on the come up get picked, Grant grabs the first pitcher and Matthew takes a cartoonish slugger. 30:00-39:40: Grant responds with a glue guy slugger of his own, who is also one of the best players in franchise history, because Mariners. This leads to a world of discovery at the next pick, when a Mariner legend from the early days is snatched up, causing two people who were not born at the time of his playing career to find out that he was a…free spirit. Then, a wild relief pitcher appears! 39:45-59:20: Matthew intentionally makes things harder on Grant by drafting a guy at his second position so Grant can have him at his first. We also accidentally go out of order because neither of our brains work anymore. The next bullpen pick sparks a conversation about relievers who received MVP votes, and then. 59:25-1:14:50: Grant takes to the skies for his final pick while Matthew identifies the keys to the game. Then, we go over some honorable mentions and recap our selections before disappearing into our quarantine caves again. Music: “The Ballad of Me and My Brain” by The 1975 // “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” by Fiona Apple Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate and Joe are joined by MLB.com's Jim Callis to talk the MLB draft and the current state of the Mariners farm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe and John are thrilled to be joined by Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com and MLB Pipeline, who has covered prospects, the minor leagues, and the MLB Draft there since 1999. 0:00 - 14:00 - How does a prospects writer’s role change when suddenly the baseball has all disappeared? Mayo details how his work has changed (and how it hasn’t) during the COVID-19 shutdown. We also go into the ways that prospect coverage has changed since he began, dating back to the earliest drafts Mayo covered. Conference calls have given way to online drafts, and now a fully televised event that demands live coverage and analysis. Mayo also discusses how the growth of visibility for, and fan interest in, prospects has altered and impacted his work. 14:00 - 40:00 - The discussion turns to the Mariners in particular. What does the progression of prospects like Jarred Kelenic, Julio Rodriguez, Logan Gilbert, and Evan White look like for someone who has spent decades seeing top prospects come and go? Expanding on a series the MLB Pipeline team has been undertaking looking for the most hyped prospects at shortstop this century, and discussing whether some of the current top prospects could become their team’s best player at that position, John and Joe quiz Mayo on if the best player in franchise history at any position could be in Seattle’s farm right now. While we had to really rack our brains for the best players in CF and RF in organizational history, there was plenty of interest as to if Evan White or Cal Raleigh might clear the (rather low) bar ahead of them. Mayo also offers an evenhanded assessment as to why Mariners fans might reasonably be gun-shy of prospects, but still believe enough to buy in on the current crop of players and player development. 40:00 - End - We finish off with draft talk, as the biggest milestone for the game inches closer. While it’s unclear still if the draft will feature five or 10 rounds, Mayo outlines how teams and prospective draftees may be inclined to approach it. Leaning on MLB Pipeline’s newly released Top 150 draft prospect list, Mayo talks through some players he’s been particularly impressed by, including a few who Seattle could target at No. 6 overall. While the class is generally viewed as one of the stronger in recent memory, Mayo notes it leans college-heavy, and doesn’t have the same quality depth at every position. Last but not least, we put him on the clock: who is he taking first if he’s got Seattle’s draft card this summer? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Corey Brock, the Mariners’ beat writer for The Athletic, joins the podcast to talk about the team’s past, present, and future. 0:00-23:55: Before we start, Corey checks in with John to make sure he has stockpiled all of Cooperstown’s best beers while quarantined. Recently, Corey published a story on Mario Mendoza, leading us to wonder how many other pieces he’s got in the chamber. Another pertinent question: are the replays of old Mariner playoff games getting old? While we’re remembering great moments in Mariner history, Corey recalls the days when fans were given weapons upon entering the Kingdome. 24:00-40:00: Where was Corey on the day that baseball stopped? Has he talked to anyone in the organization about their thoughts on the situation, or their strategies for staying in shape? Who will be at the greatest disadvantage when baseball resumes? Will the Mariners ever get to unleash their swarm of quad-A utility guys? 41:00-46:50: Corey devoted many words to Mike Cameron this offseason. Cammy is also Matthew’s favorite player, so naturally we had to talk about that. 46:55-1:04:00: Listener questions! Corey describes his time around the Mariners’ facility in the Dominican Republic. What is it like to bask in Julio Rodriguez’s glow? Who are some free agents the Mariners could add when they’re ready to make a go at it? What does all of this mean for the Astros? (Please don’t let the Astros skate by un-booed.) Music: “Here I Am (Come and Take Me)” by Al Green // “Yours & Mine” by Lucy Dacus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-9:40: Matthew is joined by film producers Aditya Sood and Chris Miller to reflect on the paths that brought them from the suburbs of Seattle to Hollywood and how the Mariners figure in that equation. Both guys left the Seattle area for college and, upon ending up in Southern California, found themselves with tickets for a Mariners-Angels game in Anaheim on September 11, 2001. 9:45-31:05: How did Chris, a Lake Stevens native, and Aditya, a Bellevue native, end up meeting each other back in 1982? Why were they so into the Mariners at a time when they were the American League’s doormat? Aditya holds a certain Leslie Nielsen movie as one of the culprits. Chris sees an opportunity to merge his movie prop knowledge with his dislike of the Angels, and he takes it. What was it like trying to make it in the entertainment industry while the Mariners were simultaneously becoming the most entertaining team in the league? 31:10-48:05: Why are the Mariners always so good at doing the opposite of what they’re supposed to do? Why is Little Big League the best baseball movie of the ‘90s? Chris shares a delightful story about Lookout Landing having a tangible effect on the movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Aditya tells a tale of the Mariners and TiVo getting him in trouble with Warner Bros. What does a convertible and a Wal-Mart VCR have to do with Aditya and Chris’ fandom? 48:10-1:02:30: When did the devotion start to fade? Everyone takes a step back from their childhood obsessions eventually, but when was it for Aditya and Chris? For the finale, Chris remembers the time he threw a ceremonial first pitch to Rickie Weeks. Music: “Ain’t That Easy” by D’Angelo and The Vanguard // “Nearer My God” by Foxing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the top. Joe, John, and Kate convene at last at the summit of the system to rain critique and praise on Seattle’s best hopes for the future. The top five are all that remain, and we dive deep on the crème de la crème. Kate laments missing out on her planned summer project: following RHP George Kirby with the same hawkish eye she laid upon fellow top-fiver RHP Logan Gilbert a year ago. Joe notes that high floors needn’t come without strong ceilings, which epitomizes both pitchers, as well as 1B Evan White. Discussion of White spurs reminiscence of, and contrition for, draft day in 2017, when White’s selection drew more grumbles than cheers from all three of us. Can he break the Mariners’ lengthy first base curse? Next, Joe and Kate explain how OF Jarred Kelenic narrowly edged out OF Julio Rodríguez for the top spot on our list, and we all debate whether we would want to see either or both players signed to long-term extensions. We go into depth on just what makes these now-well-known names so exciting, and what could hold them back from reaching their star potential. Also, Kate refers to following prospects as “Road To The Show, but with real people”, if you wanted confirmation video games can rot even the sharpest of brains. All that and more in our top prospects finale! Music: On Top - Flume / CHANCES - KAYTRANADA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-16:50: Matthew and Kate, aka Quarantina Fey and Amy Loner, describe their typical quarantine outfits and encourage you to do whatever your heart desires and stay away from activities that are supposed to be fun but feel like work. They also debate if Seattle’s current run of nice weather is good or bad for quarantining? 16:55-37:30: Diving into our Twitter questions, which provides a natural jumping off point for Kate to talk about her first foray into video games. Matthew only knows about video games that are at least six years old. Which player did Kate take the most joy in striking out while playing The Show? After this spirited discussion, we answer one of the best Mariner questions we’ve ever received. 37:35-50:35: What are the actual Mariners up to? You can check out minor league sidearm pitcher Jack Anderson on Instagram for some woodworking content. Isn’t it wild how clocks don’t exist anymore and all we have is our stomachs telling us that it’s time to eat again? Which novelty toy that was popular in the ‘70s did Matthew miss out on because Bartellls ran out? We also come out as an anti-sourdough starter podcast. 50:40-1:03:00: Remember, you can always do nothing, as long as nothing means “listening to the Lookout Landing podcast”. Or watch the Casey Anthony documentary. Who cares, none of this will feel real a year from now, just like we’ll all laugh hysterically at this god-awful plan MLB devised to save the season. Music: “Where’d All the Time Go?” by Dr. Dog // “Soundtrack 2 My Life” by Kid Cudi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John and Joe are joined by Baseball America's lead MLB Draft writer and National Writer, Carlos Collazo. Collazo lends his depth of knowledge to discussion on how the vastly condensed five-round draft, with the potential of 10 rounds at most, will impact MLB and the Mariners in particular. Collazo and the hosts address the developmental merits against the big picture drawbacks of MLB's plans to contract MiLB affiliations, and how that plan seems all the more likely with a shortened draft and disrupted season already in place. Turning to cheerier topics, the three discuss opinions on a few of the players best suited for the Mariners when they pick at No. 6 this year, including LHP Reid Detmers, LHP Garrett Crochet, RHP Max Meyer, OF Zac Veen, and OF Garrett Mitchell. For those interested in the nuances of putting together scouting reports, there's also a discussion on the usefulness of player comps in translating scouting to a wider audience vs. the dangers of portraying something narrowly applicable or merely possible as a likely outcome. Music: South of the River - Tom Misch / CHANGES - KAYTRANADA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-17:40: Matthew is joined by Nick Stillman, his former colleague at both Lookout Landing and Short Relief. They begin by talking about how normal and not weird their lives have been during this global pandemic. Just kidding! Did I fool you? Do you still remember how humor works? Is society still there? Are you high right now? Do you ever get nervous? 17:45-26:25: How on Earth do we fill the void left by baseball’s absence? Which food is most like watching the Mariners? What happens if, after all of this, the Mariners are just super good? 26:30-47:35: Are we ready to watch old Mariner games again? Matthew already treated himself to this one. What makes for a good Mariner re-watch anyway? What did we think this season was going to look like before the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 ruined our lives? Nick had high hopes for this group at least being a fun team to hang out with. Where are we at now, in terms of optimism for having a season? Luckily, podcasts are an essential business. 47:40-1:06:00: Why is Nick Stillman a fan of the Seattle Mariners? There’s some real romantic stuff in here, folks. A good conclusion from this portion of the show: nerds are always right. Matthew also shares a story about the 2014 Marlins teaching him how much he loves baseball. Music: “Hurry on Home” by Sleater-Kinney // “i” by Kendrick Lamar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're into the big fish now. John, Joe, and Kate start things off with a discussion of the then-rumored, now fleshed out draft alterations, and how the dramatic changes are likely a sign of some permanent long-term alterations. Afterwards, they dive into the top-10. Joe and Kate debate which of Justus Sheffield and Justin Dunn are more well-suited for the rotation and which might be the Mariners next high-leverage reliever/closer. Kate talks about her brief view of a Brandon Williamson bullpen before spring training was shuttered, and how Noelvi Marte has enticed folks already with his potential. John talks about how the shortened season may throw Kyle Lewis back into flux, but that his brief emergence was something Mariners fans hadn't had in years. Music: Sister Surround - The Soundtrack of Our Lives / CHANGES - KAYTRANADA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-17:00: Rony! Roni! Roné! That’s all there is going on right now. With the virus ruining all of our lives, we wonder aloud when we’ll see baseball again. We can look to other countries for guidance, I guess. Will baseball finally, at long last, decide to get weird? 17:10-25:55: As the season would have opened this week, we swap some favorite Opening Day memories, which as per yoojh, leads to a conversation about Matthew’s degenerate past. One of his favorite dirtbag memories is leaving school to watch this game. 26:00-42:20: Take a moment to relax if you can, y’all. Then get into these coronavirus-baseball questions with us. It doesn’t take long for us to talk about REGRETS. 42:25-51:00: Naturally, things shift toward cannibalism? The question is simple: what Mariner would you eat in a time of crisis? Kate also finds a way to talk about Dylan Moore, one of her many unmatched skills. If we agree not to eat baseball players, what is the best quarantine snack? Where does Pirates of the Caribbean land in the 2000s canon? 51:05-1:06:00: Let’s make a mecha-pitcher! Let’s also talk about good baseball players to follow on social media, and what highlight videos we’ve been watching to replace live sports. Here’s 33 minutes of the 2016 Mariners. Music: “Fresh Air” by Future // “Goodbye” by Best Coast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John, Joe, and Kate get back together to talk through players 20-11 on the Top-30 list. A few of the 2019 draftees break into the list, as well as the cream of the bullpen crop. Kate waxes poetic about the importance of Cal Raleigh, and we dive deep on what Seattle is doing differently this time to bring about a different result than they did with Mike Zunino's development. Distinctions are drawn on Joe Rizzo/Austin Shenton and Braden Bishop/Jake Fraley, and everyone flaunts the rules of every restriction John tries to put in place. Plus, everyone picks a favorite between three of the most enigmatic arms in the system - Isaiah Campbell, Juan Then, and Sam Carlson. Music: "CHANGES" by KAYTRANADA / "Wildfire" by Mandolin Orange Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lookout Landing's three main prospect writers assemble, as John Trupin hosts Kate Preusser and Joe Doyle to break down prospects 30-21 on the LL Top-50 list for 2020. The focus for this group is a set of several relievers among the best in the system, as well as a couple undersized starters and a trio of similarly small position players. Can Ljay Newsome and Devin Sweet stick in the rotation? Is the closer of the future in this group? Is there a path to the bigs for Joe Rizzo? What exactly makes Jonatan Clase so exciting? Are young relievers more valuable to MLB's decision makers than we are prone to give them credit for? Did Kate pick the wrong time to go to Spring Training? All those questions answered and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-21:55: Podcasting in the age of ‘roni. We’re talking to Michael Ajeto, newest hire at Lookout Landing, about his debut article for the site. Mikey wrote about Justus Sheffield, who was making some changes in Spring Training before they shut down the whole operation. Listen to Mikey break down why Sheffield’s fastball has struggled, what spin rate has to do with it, and how he’s trying to work around these issues. 22:00-42:15: Moving forward (whenever the heck that is), what will it take for Sheffield to be a legitimate MLB starting pitcher? With so much data at our fingertips now, what are good ways to actually evaluate pitchers? Who are some of our favorite pitchers to watch (hypothetically speaking, of course)? The boys reminisce over Mike Leake’s almost perfect game. 42:20-46:55: What stood out in the tiny amount of Spring Training action we saw? Matthew praises the concept of longform content, especially during a time when people are in desperate need of entertainment. 47:00-1:04:00 Mikey walks us through his journey as a Mariners fan. This 2001 game against the Giants gets its first shine on the podcast. When did we realize that nobody has any idea when sports are coming back? Stay strong and stay safe, everyone. Music: “Solo” by Frank Ocean // “Calm Down aka I Should Not Be Alone” by Ezra Furman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-16:55: This episode begins with two decidedly non-experts, Matthew and guest Joe Veyera, talking about the coronavirus and how it will affect the podcast universe. Matthew then asks Joe how his fandom has evolved with age, particularly as the team fades into national irrelevance. What does one look to when winning is removed from the equation? How can we reasonably measure success in 2020? Matthew reminds the class that it’s important to have fun, whatever that means for you. 17:00-28:20: Say it with us, folks: AT LEAST WE’RE NOT THE KNICKS! Joe brags about being a Seattle lifer and a gift he received in 1996. The podcast duo identifies the path toward redemption, and it goes through Kernkraft 400. This conversation between two children of the mid-90s moves to how weird it is to both see the Mariners play the villains in a movie, and not having any real memories of Griffey. Matthew ends this segment with one of his trademark cross-sport comparisons. 28:25-42:25: Getting real deep on the passage of time and how its coincidental relationship with baseball has impacted our lives. Love the imperfections in life, people. This portends a wonderful story about Joe sorta kinda befriending a former Mariner bullpen catcher. 42:30-48:00: A person’s Mariner fandom doesn’t become fully whole until they fall head-over-heels for a guy that wouldn’t crack a roster for half the teams in the league. This does not apply, however, to Dae-Ho Lee, who famously did nothing wrong. 48:05-1:01:30: Getting Joe’s thoughts on the creation of the Maple Grove. If you want to hear a longer conversation about that, check out our episode with Hilary Kirby, co-founder of the grove. We wrap it up with conversations of royalty, resurgence, rugrats, and re-builds. Music: “WHateva U Want” by ScHoolboy Q (featuring Candice Pillay) // “Fallingwater” by Maggie Rogers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices