Meet at the Mitt: A Seattle Mariners podcast

In the debut of Lookout Landing's first ever prospects and minor leagues-focused podcast, host John Trupin and Managing Editor Kate Preusser kick things off talking about Lookout Landing's top prospects list. Episode one goes in depth on the 50-30 range, as well as some of the guys outside that group, detailing how the rankings came together, what players have the opportunity to make the greatest jump towards MLB impact, and why some guys have slipped. Music: CHANGES by KAYTRANADA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-14:45: A very rare in-person podcast recording! Matthew and Eric Sanford actually sit in the same room and talk to each other, eliminating the need for pesky computers and other audio trappings. Eric is about to embark for Spring Training and boy does he have some opinions. Listen up if you want to get educated before making a trip of your own, and also stick around for a glorious Dae-Ho Lee story which makes Eric sound like a Grade-A lurker! 14:50-24:55: The do’s and don’ts of seeking an autograph as an adult. If you want a more in-depth, written version of this, click here. How to manipulate your children into liking the same things as you. What sort of things should you do in Arizona when you’re not at a baseball field? If you like fusion restaurants where Guy Fieri has crushed a snickerdoodle, well, of course you like that. Eric will tell you where that place is. Also, if you’re interested in playing some Wiffle ball or just marveling at our stats, check out our league website. 25:00-35:10: What’s the strategy for actually going to a Spring Training game? Did the online community of Mariner fans actually force the team to abandon the trident hat? Finally, listeners, we have a request! If you have a good nickname for the Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez combo, let us know in the comments. 35:15-50:40: Getting into the reasons why Eric is a Mariner fan. Part of it involves watching pure domination as a six-year-old, but in an abbreviated fashion. The fellas then bond over having their respective dads pull them out of school to attend baseball games, and the 1997 Mariners, who Matthew doesn’t remember at all but can Google. 50:45-1:04:21: Ending with a story about Northwood Elementary School and a good ol’ fashioned chat about what the Seattle Mariners and Lookout Landing mean to us. Music: “Sock It 2 Me” by Missy Elliott & Da Brat // “Never Said” by Liz Phair Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-11:25: Spring Training has sprung! Surely we set a world record for quickest conversation about T-Pain and Yankee Doodle in the history of podcasts. Kate flexes about knowing Julio Rodriguez. What did seeing Julio and Jarred in Mariner uniforms do to our collective spirit? John gets existential about the concept of “mattering”. 11:30-32:45: Who is about to ether the Cactus League? Where will the rugrats open their respective seasons? Matthew remains admirably silent while the adults talk. Kate pulls the curtain back a little bit on Noelvi Marte. Who is the best Mariner friendship in this, our post-Marco & Wade universe? What reality show is responsible for last year’s Arkansas Travelers becoming even closer? Why is Julio so bad at Operation? 32:50-46:55: Who is the odd man out in Seattle’s great utility man battle? Now that the Mariners have an actually respected farm system with a decent player development system, which depth guys in the minors could make a jump soon? What parts of the farm will be most barren in 2020? In our most important story: where on earth is Connor Sadzeck? 47:00-1:02:24: What up with GAS CAMP? Finally, Matthew re-enters the chat to help the gang pitch some Mariner commercials. Highlights include Back to the Future, cooking shows, and Just Got Paid Marco. Of course, each of us take turns tomahawk wham-bam-slam dunking on the Houston Astros. Music: “I’m Sprung” by T-Pain // “New For You” by Hinds Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-9:45: Welcoming local musician Tomo Nakayama to the show! This is a momentous occasion, as pitchers and catchers have finally reported to Spring Training and one of them is Mariner legend Taijuan Walker. While Tomo admittedly took 2019 off from a baseball fan perspective, him and Matthew are both ready to lower their expectations again and immerse themselves in 2020. Then, we talk about Tomo’s upbringing, which started in Japan and came to Bellevue in the late 1980s. The rest, as they say, is history, just like Edgar Martinez’s mustache. 9:50-36:05: Who were Tomo’s guys growing up? What are his memories of the ’95 season? Talking about the familial aspect of former players becoming broadcasters and talking heads. Is it fair to have real animosity for players who chose to leave Seattle? We don’t know, but it is fair for Tomo to share his hilarious story about meeting A-Rod in person. He then talks about watching Ichiro streak across the sky and sharing an elevator with Dave Niehaus. 36:10-45:25: Having sports figures as heroes, and how to explain that to people who have no idea what you’re talking about. What of baseball’s supposed demise? How much credence should we be giving that? For Matthew, an avenue toward greater enjoyment of the game comes from other teams’ broadcast luminaries. 45:30-59:45: Finding parallels between baseball and music, and the way that Tomo consumes them. In his mind, the starting lineup is a lot like a set list. Sadly, the ending veers into Jack Z territory before getting dreamy about finally having “our guys”. Music: “Get to Know You” by Tomo Nakayama // “No One’s Easy to Love” by Sharon Van Etten Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-17:15: First question, what goin on? Second question, how do we sneak John into the Mariners’ bullpen? This portends what is, no joke, probably the most in-depth discussion on the Mariners’ bullpen that anyone has had in months. Small steps, mankind, things of that nature…Read more about Yoshihisa Hirano from this titan of online reporting. 17:20-20:40: Please, Mariners, please, at the very least, give us some fun. Maybe that means Zac Grotz breakdancing on the mound. Goodbye to Reggie McClain. We hardly knew ye. Hello to Yoshihisa Hirano, who is wearing a single digit number. 20:45-35:35: What will the outfield look like as Mitch Haniger remains shelved? Do the Mariners have a third straight Opening Day upset in store? Matthew proposes a revolutionary approach to lineup management. John mentions one of the utility men that Seattle has run through the Dylan Moore-Shawn O’Malley car wash in hopes that some of their stuff seeps in. Allow us to introduce you to José “El Loco” Siri. What do we expect from Nick Margevicius? 35:40-48:55: Where does the Mariners’ shipwreck end up? A top-five draft pick would be nice, but so would having working eyesight by the end of the season, and those things are working directly against each other. Kate and John talk about getting mad online because of prospect rankings. Which young buck do we expect to get their antlers? 49:00-1:02:44: Do we get any fun comedy this season? Does the Mariners Quad-A squad make it out of Minute Maid alive? It’s not the Lookout Landing podcast without someone pulling up from 35 feet with a vocal impression. Kate talks a long, hard look at Scott Servais and we debate the morality of hacking other SB Nation team sites. Music: “Pretty Ugly” by Tierra Whack // “Your Dog” by Soccer Mommy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-15:00: 100 episodes, countless laughs, infinite bad takes, they’ve all led to this moment. Just please don’t actually go back and count, we’ve probably made several counting mistakes. For this very enormous episode, we’ve decided to not talk about baseball at all. Instead, we answer all of your random, non-sports questions from Twitter. First up: when is it too late to say Happy New Year? John and Matthew then wax poetic about their favorite high school teachers. 15:05-26:50: Matthew defends two dirtbag California bands. Which Adam Sandler vehicle gets John the most conflictedly excited? Kate espouses a certain fast food chain’s breakfast menu. 26:55-40:20: We talk pets! Good, bad, annoying, alive, and those no longer with us. Stick around to find out which avian creature John considers his favorite animal. 40:25-1:01:00: Which one of us is trying to leave Earth for a new life on Mars? Then, somehow, we get into Kate speaking Latin and some philosophical musings. What happens to Mariner fans when we start to have good, happy expectations seep in? How has the crushing weight of failure affected our approach to blogging? What would life be like if the Mariners had the Dodgers’ level of regular season success? Support us this season as the Mariners gear up for another bad time! We end by previewing some upcoming content, which we promise will be about baseball. Music: “Passing Out Pieces” by Mac DeMarco // “Glowed Up” by Kaytranada & Anderson .Paak Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-12:25: Jeva Lange, a culture critic for The Week, joins the show to discuss her Mariner journey! Jeva grew up on the Eastside but lives in New York City and, in her own words, is an avid Mariner fan but also a bit detached. This means, unfortunately, that a huge part of her Mariner experience is watching them at Yankee Stadium. Pro tip from a New Yorker: Citi Field > Yankee Stadium. What was her reaction to seeing James Paxton in pinstripes all over town? How does she cope with having a boyfriend that actively roots for the Oakland Athletics? 12:30-29:05: How to explain the Mariners to non-sports people. Claiming bragging rights on prolonged suffering. Matthew and Jeva discuss things that can take your mind off of sports and also the ways those can backfire. However, we will always have the luxury of falling asleep to Mariner games, especially those of us on the east coast. How do we feel Twitter has shaped our approach to baseball? What about keeping score? A brief chat on the art of doing things by yourself. 29:10-41:25: We’re talking uniforms, baby! Get ready to have someone say something you disagree with. Despite being a self-proclaimed superstitious person, Jeva is still a proud trident hat wearer. How does being a critic affect Jeva’s outlook on a 162-game season? Which current Mariner does Jeva have a truly insane story about? 41:30-47:47: How we feeling with another fresh season just months away? Find out who Jeva’s favorite player on the roster is and what baseball-related item she bought on her trip to Japan last year. If you’re planning a trip to see the Mariners in New York or Spring Training this year, look for Jeva! Music: “Bike Dream” by Rostam // “Us” by Regina Spektor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-12:00: Kate’s feeling ill right now, and she doesn’t mean ill like really cool and awesome she means like she’s coming down with a sickness. Luckily, Starbucks (not one of our sponsors…yet), is here to help. John sort of Kramers his way in here around the five-minute mark and we shoot the breeze about the Mariners' relatively boring offseason. If you wanted Kendall Graveman and Carl Edwards Jr. buzz, you came to the right place. Matthew then makes a shocking confession about furniture. 12:05-25:55: Will Kyle Seager be traded before the season? A Twitter user asks us what kind of midseason moves we could see from the Mariners this year. 26:00-44:50: The Astros, they cheated! This is no longer an industry secret! Let’s make fun of them! Making sure we’re on the same page about Mike Fiers being good and A.J. Hinch being a good guy in performative ways only. Asking former college baseball player John Trupin how much sign stealing actually helps. Appreciating Tom Lawless and wondering what could have been had the Mariners done better against the 2014 Astros. 44:55-1:05:15: How much blood will spill on the streets of Houston? Matthew opines that this entire scandal is actually good for baseball. John tries to go inside the mind of an Astros fan. Let’s hope Yordan Álvarez isn’t spending his offseason preparing for battle, because that man is quite large. Are these punishments actually going to do anything? Do we feel the Astros got what they deserved? 1:05:20: The world premiere of Before He Cheats (Houston Astros Remix). Music: “Protect Ya Neck” by Wu-Tang Clan // “Before He Cheats (Houston Astros Remix)” by Matthew Roberson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-18:15: Jordan Shusterman aka half of Cespedes Family BBQ aka Gringo Mr. Worldwide aka Yung Mariners Fan aka Mango White Claw joins the show! As the Astros keep pantsing themselves in public, we laugh at the fact that nobody has ever come close to embarrassing themselves quite like our Seattle Mariners. When unearthing Jordan’s fandom, we discover that he is maybe a bad decision-maker. Not in terms of how he got there, which was partially due to this beautiful publication, but because he went out of his way to support the M’s while growing up on the east coast. Shout out Jeff Sullivan and Trayvon Robinson. 18:20-33:55: Becoming true to the blue while also developing an online presence. Matthew references some of his best work from the teen posting days. Who is Jordan’s favorite bad Mariner? What was it like to meet James Jones in 2015? What about being at All-Star Media Day with Justin Smoak? How the Mariners mirror life in Seattle and also invoke Natasha Bedingfield. How is this crop of prospects different than the ones that let us down in the past? 34:00-48:25: How do we (try to) avoid the defeatist vibes? Is there a way to evaluate Jerry Dipoto without letting the failures of last regimes color your judgment? Justice for Robinson Canó, who should be remembered as a vision of hope and not a bastion of failure. Being a Mariners fan gets so wrapped up in what they don’t do that we must remember all the things that they did, can, and will do. 48:30-1:10:18: What will a Mariners postseason run do to our well-being? Matthew unleashes a bold take about his preferred outcome should they lose a playoff game in the near future. We then both decide that just making the playoffs will sate our sports needs. How do people that root for other teams manage actual expectations? Ending with expectations for the 2020 team and coming to grips with our uncertain, prospect-reliant future. Goodbye, Tommy and Wade. You were so, so good at being available. Jordan ends by previewing some of his upcoming Mariners content! Music: “Time to Pretend” by MGMT // “Little Trouble” by Better Oblivion Community Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-16:25: Welcoming Nat Baird to the show for his first appearance on the Lookout Landing podcast! Nat is the newest hire and also probably the coolest person on staff, as he gets to travel the world with his rock climbing school. As a teenager, Nat has also never inhabited the planet at the same time as a Mariner playoff game. He still managed to become a fan though, partially due to his own mishaps. 16:30-25:35: Surprise! We’re a rock climbing, Seahawks, and Utah Jazz podcast now. What “were” the Mariners when Nat first became aware of them in *gulp* the mid-2000s? Kate then explains what Seattle felt like as a baseball town, even though Nat wasn’t alive and Matthew could barely read at the time. 25:40-43:15: Why won’t Brodie van Wagenen add Matthew to his LinkedIn network? He’s been on TV after all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbzLEkRty1Q&feature=youtu.be Never sleep on the A’s and never talk about the Mariners as a sure thing. Is it a sure thing that they’ll be better than the Orioles? Who is Nat’s favorite prospect? 43:20-49:00: Let’s make some predictions. Nat, who has been the least beaten down by modern life, is the most optimistic of the bunch. In looking around the league, we wonder who is even on the Tigers and what are the Angels going to do with their pitching? 49:10-1:08:13: Questions from our staff, since none of you answered our plea on Twitter. What’s the worst thing we’ve eaten at the stadium, and which Mariner would we choose for a game of badminton? Nat ends by explaining why Jarred Kelenic would be a bad climber, and we wrap by guessing which Mariner is likeliest to drive a Tesla. Music: “The Jump Off” by Lil’ Kim // “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-11:00: Welcoming Hillary Kirby, one of the founders, OGs, and co-leads of the Maple Grove to the Lookout Landing podcast! Hillary grew up in Ferndale with a British family, which is not typically a recipe for baseball fandom. As she describes, an elementary school teacher provided the entry point. Less than eight minutes in, John Olerud’s outstanding invitation to come on the podcast gets rescinded. Both Hillary and Matthew commiserate over their childhood heroes being not-so-great people. Edgar Martinez, though, would never do a shirtless interview. Duh. 11:15-28:00: Chatting shit about cricket, the wonders of cinema, and Mike Cameron stories! Then, getting into the Maple Grove’s humble beginnings. How did it start? Who was involved? Surprisingly, part of the reason has to do with Canadians being mean. Matthew recalls his first Maple Grove experience, which came during a seminal James Paxton start. Hillary effuses her extremely distant relative George Kirby, talks about Nintendo characters, and laughs at vacuum salespeople. 28:30-44:55: Why James Paxton? What about him spawned such a passionate group of fans? What was it like to actually meet him before a game? How does the Mariners’ ineptitude affect the current players who have rarely seen a good team in Seattle? We also find out that Hillary hates John Halama. 45:00-1:01:38: Time for trauma, babyyyy! We’re re-living the James Paxton trade. But first, a Leonys Martín love fest. Other highlights include: an “Eh” card going to the Hall of Fame, Hillary & Co. doing a press circuit, and watching James Paxton pitch at T-Mobile Park as a Yankee. We end with the most important question: what do we think of beardless Pax? Music: “Water Baby” by Tom Misch (ft. Loyle Carner) // “Vossi Bop” by Stormzy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-13:45: Jeffrey discusses his upbringing on a Native American reservation, where baseball is competing for people’s interests with pro wrestling and Elvis, among other things. While he describes himself as a baseball fan (by way of the Bash Brothers) before a Mariners fan, Jeffrey came to love the M’s with a little help from his wife. Then, we move to baseball cards being a portal into the game. 13:50-24:10: A natural shift to young player talk and how that teaches patience. Full nostalgia comes next, with Jeffrey recalling his admiration for Mark Langston. The temptation of “What if?” rears its ugly head, but that’s nothing new around here. 24:15-32:15: Eat your heart out nerds, we’re talkin’ INTANGIBLES! Jeffrey mentions how much he likes a certain player that will not be named here. The one thing we agree, on though, is The King. Also, as Mariners fans, we’ve grown accustomed to seeing players leave Seattle and wind up in the playoffs. How do you approach that? 32:20-44:45: Where does Jeffrey’s excitement with the current Mariners lie? At what point do you start to question the Mariners and your allegiance to them? Jeffrey details the way his wife has helped his baseball fandom and knowledge grow. For instance, she patented the Justin Verlander-Tom Brady comparison. That spawns some lively banter about which team we hate the most. It’s worth noting that our back and forth about the Angels was recorded before they signed Anthony Rendon. 44:50-1:02:52: Looking to the future, or in other words…JULIOOOOOO! As per usual, the end of the podcast becomes a discussion on the discussion of fandom. Finally, Jeffrey remembers his darkest moment as a Mariner fan, which came in a game that didn’t even count. Music: “Don’t Sweat the Technique” by Eric B. & Rakim // “Mystery Man” by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spike Friedman joins the podcast! It was great! Follow Spike on Twitter for a look into his brain, or on Instagram to see his dog Edgar Martinez Friedman. 0:00-11:45: Obviously, we start with some Kendall Graveman and Wally Joyner goss. As always, then we get into Spike’s entry point to Mariner fandom and reminisce about our favorite guys who weren’t actually very good. Then, somehow for the first time in this podcast series, we mourn the Ben Broussard trade. 11:50-25:15: A love letter to Bret Boone, one of the few people who was probably stoked to become a Mariner. Jerry Dipoto may not be as accomplished as John Schneider, but at least he’s not a movie quote frat bro. Spike shares the story of moving away from the Northwest in 1995, a year in which things happened. How the Mariners' rise mirrored that of grunge music. 25:20-34:40: The requisite Edgar Martinez appreciation chat. Spike’s highest volume of Mariner consumption did not coincide with wins. The same can sadly be said about or deposed king of pitching. We liken the final Félix game to the series finale of a beloved television show. 34:45-48:55: Going all in on…Bill Bavasi and falling victim to the quasi-gaslighting of the mid-2000s. If you’re playing a weird drinking game where you do a shot every time Jarrod Washburn is mentioned, pour up! Stupidly, we then talk about all of the Mariners’ draft failures. “This team ruined my life in many deep and profound ways […] horrible, darkness, tragedy.” 49:00-1:11:54: Carlos Triunfel, where you at? Matthew plugs his own Sporcle quiz, and Spike flexes his deep-rooted knowledge of Mariner shortcomings. To wrap things up, we talk about a Grantland article Spike wrote about Dustin Ackley in 2013, and put our hand longingly on the Cliff Lee window. Music: “Calabria 2007” by Enur // “Day I Die” by The National Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-14:00: How Kevin and Tristan began their lives as die-hard Mariner fans in Boulevard Park, all thanks to Rich Amaral and Russ Davis. They also explain the beauty of Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball. Would they have gravitated to baseball so hard if the Mariners were terrible in the 90s? 14:05-19:55: A reminder that Matthew’s birth saved the franchise. What do Tristan’s kids think of the current Mariners? Are children lacking an obvious entry point to baseball? 20:00-33:55: When did apathy kick in for Kevin and Tristan? Kevin mentions a gradual decline while Tristan praises baseball’s endless churn (sports, always better than no sports) before realizing he probably just doesn’t like baseball that much. 34:00-42:10: The spice levels elevate off the charts! Tristan starts by wielding a flamethrower toward all people that abandon their hometown squad for the Flavor of the Month team. Then, he goes off about 1995 and 2001 actually being the worst things that ever happened. Finally, Tristan spouts the unquestionably worst opinion to ever grace these, yours, and everyone’s ears. Podcasting is the most important artform on the planet. 42:15-55:20: What does Félix Hernández mean to these broken Mariner fans? In Tristan's mind, success and bettering yourself is bad, but also the Mariners are bad because they haven’t bettered themselves in years. He also devours the NFL all Sunday. This was exhausting. 55:25-1:05:13: The mental gymnastics required to be a Mariner fan. Finally, it wouldn’t be a Lookout Landing podcast if Matthew didn’t bring up his past as a troublemaking teen, and it wouldn’t be a Peltoncast without a couple more Mariner hot takes. Music: “Them Changes” by Thundercat // “Be the One” by Dua Lipa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-10:40: Matthew welcomes Brittney Bush Bollay to the spacious, opulent recording studio. Brittney is the first guest in our “Why I’m a Mariners Fan” series who did not grow up in Washington at all. Somehow, someway, Brittney’s path to baseball went through the Mets and she still decided “This is good.” Her introduction to the Mariners, specifically, came in 2013. Again, the perseverance and tolerance for treachery is unmatched. 10:45-24:00: How having a kid provides a different lens into fandom. The art of keeping score remains undefeated. Expressing genuine gratitude and appreciation for Twitter dot com. How Brittney formed an attachment to the Mariners without having an obvious everyday player to get behind. As a pioneer of the Maple Grove, Brittney was also able to merge baseball and the community together to create something beautiful. 24:05-32:10: When bad sports things cross over into real life, and how to explain that to a child. Has cancel culture seeped into our nation’s playgrounds? What of the concept of fairness, one of childhood’s guiding lights? Sports does not care for your child’s early-stage disposition, as it turns out. Brittney then drops a bomb about success actually being no good. 32:15-42:25: Favorite moments at Safeco Field/T-Mobile Park, and picking up the rubble from 2018. Matthew asks Brittney why she comes back every year, subjecting her child to this life, going to 60+ games per season. Her answer hits him like a train, but also sparks an interesting sartorial conversation. Finally, remembering that happiness doesn’t need to be a direct product of your sports teams. Brittney uses her platform to trick Jerry Dipoto into signing one of her favorite players. The grand finale: rolling out our plan for a new mascot. Music: "Little of Your Love" by HAIM // "Guns and Cigarettes" by Atmosphere Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thank you to Brian Floyd of Banner Society, Seattle fandom, WSU allegiance, and now parenthood, for joining us on the podcast! 0:00-10:55: Brian ignores his kid to provide some steaming hot content for us. We start by talking about the omnipresence of baseball in Seattle during the Griffey years, and how baseball is the perfect sport to come across accidentally. The fervor around the 90s Mariners feels like the current version of the Seahawks. Is rooting for the Mariners hipster now? It takes Brian less than ten minutes to start thinking about existential crises. 11:00-23:00: Mariner fandom and WSU fandom are cousins; we all accept this now. Matthew also relates the Canó-Cruz era to edging. Be good, be bad, but never be boring. Or if you’re the Mariners, be an iceberg. Making the minor leagues a major part of your fandom, or not. 23:10-36:45: Getting meta about covering the Mariners. The season ticket holders are the bravest people on this entire space rock. How do you find something to latch on to the same way you did as a child? When will the Mariners find the pure elation of dumb luck? Brian thinks we used it all up on the "Everybody Scores!" play in '95. 36:50-46:00: How do we feel about the Nats breaking out of their ineptitude? How long until we can have some of that? Is it completely reliant on the current minor leaguers? Do we actually trust the team to figure any of this out? 46:05-57:28: Matthew isn’t totally sure about Scott Servais, but as Brian counters, does that matter? How are the vibes, though? Finally, what keeps bringing us back every season, and a fun prediction by Brian! Music: "Junie" by Solange // "Missed the Boat" by Modest Mouse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-12:25: Introducing outfield prospect Gunn Omosako, who is already an incredible podcaster despite recording this in his third language. Gunn is from Brazil, where baseball is not very popular, so how did he end up signing a contract with the Mariners? His early success terrifies Kate and Matthew, who were not excelling as teenagers. The secret is to have good friends like Arturo Guerrero and Noelvi Marte, among others. 12:30-18:05: Weird things that white people do. The joy of non-American players is actually a big part of what drew Gunn to the game. What is a regular day for a Mariners prospect in the Dominican facility? How would Gunn describe his style of play? What MLB players does he like to watch? 18:10-33:00: Gunn explains the injury that kept him out for all of 2019. His rehab process involved a lot of reading and going to the movies by himself. He also found light amid the darkness of American corporate food. 33:05-43:50: Getting into Gunn’s interests off the field. Shout out Kansas, CCR, Skynyrd, and Fleetwood Mac. Ya know, typical stuff for an 18-year-old to listen to. We mourn Gunn’s dreadlocks (which you can see in his Twitter profile picture) before asking him what he wants Seattle fans to know about him. The good news is that Gunn already loves the city. 43:55-53:16: Beatles or Stones? What is Gunn listening to now? Matthew offers a divisive recommendation for this young Zeppelin fan, who just got his driver’s license! Follow Gunn on Instagram @gunn_omosako. Music: “Basket Case” by Green Day // “Ai Se Eu Te Pego” by Michel Teló Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Note: We had some technical difficulties during this so the final version is three different recordings pieced together and uhhhh…you can definitely tell! Sorry about that. 0:00-13:10: Introducing our guest, the one and only Isabelle Minasian, whose name has been corrupted by thousands of incorrect pronunciations. Now that she’s taken a step back from Lookout Landing for the bright lights of Cooperstown, Isabelle gets a bunch of fun new titles. Moving across the country and taking a job with an unbiased baseball institution has slightly morphed her fandom, much to her mother’s chagrin. 13:15-33:40: Defeatism and pessimism, the Griffey and Edgar of Mariner fan emotions. Matthew turns a serious conversation into a method of shoehorning Love Island into the podcast. Then, the first guest in this podcast series who isn’t just “I was born in Seattle, so I like the Mariners” shares her fandom origin story. Ichiro the penguin, if you’re listening, come on the podcast and give us a health update. 33:45-45:15: How exploring the history of baseball can be a dark exercise for Mariner fans. Matthew and Isabelle flaunt their youthful privilege, mostly devoid of KingDome memories. At least we don’t have to go to Angel Stadium, where the best player you or I will ever see is hiding in plain sight. Isabelle dunks on a Yankees fan while opening up an interesting thought experiment into the validity of caring about your team. 45:20-55:30: What it was like for Isabelle to help induct Edgar Martinez into the Hall of Fame this summer? Apparently the scene at induction day is a lot like Pride Rock. 55:35-1:02:01: At the end of the day, what keeps bringing you back to the Seattle Mariners? Music: “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield // “BOP” by DaBaby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-17:20: John sneezed on the pod and the pod got sicker. Kate’s neighbors provide a nice drum fill and then we talk about baseball, sort of. This episode is dedicated to the Arizona Fall League, which both Kate and John attended this year! After a primer on what this league actually is, we get into the best team names and why scorpions are gross (apologies to all the scorpions). 17:25-33:25: The Mariners have a white man with cornrows pitching in their minor league system and he’s actually quite good! His name is Penn Murfee, he has a signature hat, and he shreds on the guitar. According to a wonderful firsthand story, Murfee had no desire to even attend the Fall League, and he ended up balling out. The 25-year-old may be a touch old for the league, but he left with a badass chain. 33:30-44:25: A question from Twitter! Always ask us questions on Twitter, even if you don’t have a Twitter. More stories from Kate and John being on the ground in Arizona, including Rick Rizzs meeting the prospects, and said prospect absolutely dusting John in a foot race. Noelvi Marte was there for high-performance camp but didn’t actually play in the games. He did, however, talk to some idiots from Lookout Landing. 44:30-1:03:59: Some insight on JULIOOOOO’s influence on his peers. Matthew also begs y’all to enjoy things that are objectively fun and good. John and Kate decide what the best parts of Arizona and its mysterious autumnal baseball league are. Phrases like “dope”, “much delicious”, and “meow” (from Kate’s cat) are thrown about. This hour of hard-hitting journalist ends with a blatant attempt to get Sprouts Farmers Market and the Arizona Office of Tourism to sponsor us. Music: “Higher” by Rihanna // “More Than This” by Roxy Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-12:15: Crown Hill (and then Capitol Hill’s) own Grant Bronsdon blesses the mic to talk about his Mariner fandom. He says it was born partly out of newspaper sports sections. Kids, newspapers are like acoustic Twitter. In a wonderful sliding doors scenario, Grant and last week’s guest were at the same formative game in 2001. A long overdue Woody Williams shout out somehow leads us down the football and soccer paths. Sports are intersectional, I think? 12:20-21:45: How does Grant remain a beacon of optimism despite ... [gestures vaguely at the Mariners]? The central tenet of Mariner fandom is definitely bonding over the badness, right? How has that evolved with age and cynicism? Are the mechanics of your viewing experience different? 21:50-34:55: Trying to figure out when our fandom began to shift toward logic and reason over emotion, which for Grant, unsurprisingly, came from being a boy genius that eventually went to Yale. Grant then describes his time interning in the Mariners’ baseball operations department. Talk of supply closets, people getting fired, and Hisashi Iwakuma punking the Orioles. Our gracious guest also shares some details on what an MLB draft day is like and what doing the Mariners as a job did for his enjoyment of the team. 35:00-1:02:47: Have any of you heard of this thing called “interests that aren’t sports”? Sounds made up. As we age, we appreciate and respect Rick Rizzs. This is the circle of life in these parts. Finally, say it with us, it’s okay to step away from the Mariners every now and then. Two dudes with zero combined children try their hand at parenting strategies. The episode ends with Matthew painting a beautiful picture of Grant’s living room and the obligatory question: what was your lowest point as an M’s fan? Music: “Sibling Rivalry” by PUP // “Hard to Believe” by Charly Bliss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-8:00: Introducing the concept for this new podcast series, which should result in some catharsis about this misery we share. After welcoming Zach Gottschalk (who loves Sublime and Bill Simmons), we launch into our conversation. Before the meat and potatoes, we have an appetizer of unicorns, Blink-182, and aliens. The first course is a heaping pile of playoff baseball, which we have to watch other people eat. 8:10-21:00: A power move by Zach within the first ten minutes, as he plugs something he wrote in 2018. While we settle in, the boys reminisce on their intros to the Mariners. Zach’s involves his father trying to sell him to Bobby Higginson at Safeco Field in 2001. In peak early-2000s Seattle moments, we bring up a story of John Olerud visiting an elementary school. How do our lives unfold if the Mariners hadn’t been a team of mercenary gods back then? 21:15-33:40: Realizing things are bad. Who introduced you to this pain we shoulder with every move, and can they pay for extensive therapy? When did you take stock of your life and begin to grasp how much control you gave to the Seattle Mariners? 33:45-43:00: Are you a Mariners fan first or a baseball fan first? When being so invested in baseball, do you ever find yourself in awe of those who don’t? Zach expertly slips in some takes about the Chargers. Matthew brags about saving the franchise, who was 32-30 at the time of his 1995 birth before going 47-36, making the playoffs, beating the Yankees, and sticking around for our blogging pleasure. 43:05-1:04:45: Trying to contextualize the 2001 season as people who were extremely young and stupid at the time. Zach brings up the Star Wars throw, the All-Star Game, and blowing a 14-2 lead in Cleveland. Matthew only remembers things because of the movie Sweet 116. Praise for steroids and schoolyard rumors. We are the beatniks, and podcasts are our open road. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-22:00: A history making episode, as the franchise we know and love sails to uncharted water. Praise be Dylan Moore, our dung beetle champion. We were thrilled to have a season of Moore rather than a season of Rumbelow. It wasn’t all bad, folks. What happens to the other star of the Dylan Moore game? Could he be joined in Houston by a certain Nordic prince? John wonders where Joe Maddon is headed, and Kate broaches the topic of quinoa enchiladas. 22:05-37:10: bUt WhAt AbOuT tHe MiNoRs? What would the Mariners pitching dev look like in other hands? Particularly, Matthew’s hands. There would be extensive hair care and Twitter two-a-days. A weekly show of gratitude for Brodie van Wagenen and a quick bop around the league. Do not fact check anything John says about Mookie Betts playing second base. If the Mariners pass, former San Diego resident Matthew Roberson will be the Padres’ pitching coordinator slash youth influencer. While you’re here, yell at Grant Bronsdon on the world wide web. 37:20-1:02:40: If any of the rugrats are getting traded, who will it be? The first hypothetical blockbuster of the winter gets batted around. Who’s currently expendable on the big-league and AAA rosters? Can any of them competently pitch, as in a baseball? Stay tuned for next season, though. Some Jay Bruce or Anthony Swarzak-type trades seem imminent. This offseason is being advertised as a quiet one, but we speak Jerry. Ay, y’all remember Mitch Haniger? 1:02:45-1:07:55: Wishing MLB rules were more like the NBA’s. The Kyle Seager predicament. 2020 draft eligible players who are most definitely real people. Cracking the Mariner Moose’s hard exterior. Goodbye. Music: “Love Me” by The 1975 // “Stay High” by Brittany Howard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-16:16: Put on your bedazzled loafers and revealing dresses because it’s time for celebration, baby. Before handing out various awards, we check in on Edgardo Alfonzo. First award goes to our favorite games of the 2019 season, which unfortunately were few and far between. Remember when Tim Beckham and David Freitas were on this team? And they walloped the Red Sox on national television? There was also apparently a fleeting moment of joy on Father’s Day. Kate urges you to remember the 2019 Mariners as Maybe Not Actually That Bad When You Consider the Circumstances and Also Remember the Orioles and Tigers are Whoopee Cushions. Bob Nightengale is also a Whoopee Cushion. 16:20-24:30: In the 2019 T-Mobile Park division, amid the shapeless goop, there were still moments of life poking their head above the surface. These are those moments [Law and Order noise]. 24:35-51:20: The three of us choose our most cherished Mariner from this names-out-of-a-hat roster. After a quick detour to ponder which Mariner minor leaguer is most likely to smoke hookah, we get into the sads. In a season of individual disappointments, Yusei Kikuchi’s perhaps looms the largest. Fear not, he is still young and was experiencing a serious mix of life events off the field. Kikuchi’s progression from his rookie to sophomore seasons stands to be a fascinating part of this re-build, particularly if he’s throwing to a new catcher in 2020. 51:35-1:16:25: Who had the non-Angels no-hitter against the 2019 Mariners? Two thirds of us (whose job it is to follow this team) forgot. This opens the door nicely for the conversation about a plainly named Mariner reliever unfairly going down with injury. The podcast ends with the Best New Enemy and Tyler Smith Award for Most Forgettable Mariner. Music: “Praise You” by Fatboy Slim // “Happy Idiot” by TV on the Radio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-15:25: A brief breakdown of our cowardice, hydration, and overall health levels, as determined by Kyle Lewis. 15:30-34:30: We love it when a plan comes together. As the Mariners’ farm starts to congeal into a big-league team, the Astros’ sheds some of its big names while still operating with maddening efficiency. The key to player development seems to be – and stick with us here – having a clear organizational philosophy and then acting upon said philosophy! Could be something to consider. George Kirby’s unwavering dedication to strikes falls beautifully into the Mariners’ vision of growth, which is giving us early returns on the franchise’s player development strategy. 34:35-43:30: Is Donnie Walton part of the bigger picture? How does Dylan Moore’s baby fawn body play baseball? Kate dubs Moore’s swing the “dish rag” because it wrings every micro-ounce of power out of its frame. Let’s also get corporate barista Austin Nola some reps behind the plate before the season ends. Matthew dares you to finally cancel him. 43:35-53:54: Before Kate gets whisked away to T-Mobile Park and the wonders of Ichiro Weekend, we talk about No. 51’s one of a kind career. Remember the inside the park homer in the All-Star game? Off Chris Young? That went over Griffey’s head? Have you seen the sauce he brought to a meeting with Michael Jordan? All hail Ichiro, all hail the Lookout Landing podcast. Send us suggestions for end-of-season Mariner awards, and please subscribe and leave a review on iTunes if you feel so inclined. Music: “Portions for Foxes” by Rilo Kiley // “Help Me” by Joni Mitchell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-8:00: Kate comes in hot with a Shane Victorino take? August is tough when your team isn’t good. After talking about other teams’ minor league systems for no reason at all, we get into the actual reasons that we record this podcast, which is for Matthew to declare himself the Sue Bird of Mariner podcast hosts. 8:05-26:20: The M's won a home series against the Blue Jays! This is a cause for celebration, but like lots of Mariner success, it comes with a caveat, as we realize that beating the Blue Jays hurts the Mariners’ tanking efforts. Praise for Matt Magill and the Mariners’ bizarre alchemy this season, which does not include plucking sons and brothers of other famous baseball players. 26:25-41:10: PROSPECT TIME! Julio Rodriguez is taking a flamethrower to the Cal League, and he was not born the last time Seattle made the playoffs. JULIOOOOO and Jarred will also be in the Arizona Fall League this October, which Kate encourages you to attend. With the season winding down and various prospects set to graduate, we project where the Mariners’ big-ticket trio will end up on year-end lists. 41:15-45:00: A brief rant about the bungled Players’ Weekend jerseys. 45:10-55:40: New York Guy is back, baby! He starts by bragging about a correct prediction on the last podcast. New York Guy’s wife is expecting a child, which leads her husband to explain the story of his birth. Kate stokes the flames a bit by asking New York Guy about the Yankees’ inactivity at the trade deadline. 55:45-1:05:00: A comprehensive breakdown of the Mariners’ offseason trades with the New York teams. There is also a theory about James Paxton and air conditioning juice? New York Guy ends by explaining the Aaron Boone Effect that has taken over New York. Music: “Kids Turned out Fine” by A$AP Rocky // “Glad Tidings” by Van Morrison Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-21:30: Matthew and Kate are joined by staff member Eric Sanford at Beveridge Place Pub for the most important hour of your entire life. Kate and Eric talk about their approach to Edgar Weekend, which they will both be attending in some capacity. A trenchant discussion on the actual value of winning, and what location is best for that. A dive into prep prospects reveals that baseball players are just recycling names. Eric brags about having children, a job, and cool hats. A motorcycles roars on, and so does the podcast. 21:35-30:00: Logan Gilbert vs. Yadier Molina, the winner may surprise you. We stan the beef boys no matter where they go. As we reach another August of bad Mariners, do you care about the rest of Major League Baseball? We love and support both Nelson Cruz and Mike Leake in their new endeavors. We make a shameless attempt to have HBO buy the rights to the Lookout Landing podcast. 31:00-41:00: September callups are nigh. They absolutely, positively, 100% have to include Ian Miller or we stage a coup. Again, Brodie Van Wagenen, accept Matthew’s LinkedIn request. The tremendous trio sings the praises of the collective attitude surrounding the Mariners’ minor league system. Fun is fun, y’all. Guess how many Mariners have hit 35 home runs in a season, and how close a certain lefty slugger is to getting there? 41:15-57:15: We devote a lot of brain power to Players’ Weekend. The opposite of a key to our heart is using your actual last name on your Players’ Weekend jersey. Does Kyle Seager have college football coach energy? Did J.P. Crawford have to go with Crawdaddy? Are the jerseys themselves bad? Let me go ahead and answer that for you….yes. 57:20-1:08:00: Questions from Twitter! If you submitted a question you are all of our best friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-5:00 – Explaining the premise of this draft, which is not nearly as complicated as it sounds in writing. Basically, we’re drafting Mariner players from a specific season with the hopes of constructing the best possible team to win one hypothetical game. 5:10-15:30 – Bongos begins the draft with an obvious first pick and also mixes in an unnecessary jab at the best player in franchise history. Matthew’s first pick comes from the same year as Grant’s first pick, which hilariously, is a year in which the team did not make the playoffs. The third overall pick is the first player taken from the 21st century. 15:35-31:45 – The first starting pitcher comes off the board. Just minutes later, Bongos wonders aloud if said pitcher was messing around with nefarious substances. Then, naturally, we discuss cleft palates, the troops, Macklemore, and the glaring lack of bobbleheads depicting podcasters. An appreciation for Bret Boone’s plug and his early-2000s hair. 32:00-39:30 – With the legends mostly gone, we wade into the second tier of Mariner greats. 39:45-57:35 – The first 80s guy is selected! Bongos pits two devilishly handsome men against each other before, unsurprisingly, taking the younger one. What year is the best Félix year? Rest assured, Matthew makes the correct decision. 57:45-1:14:00 – We stan anyone who secures the bag and then gets worse at their job. As the draft starts to wind down, Bongos bends the rules slightly. The last big decision comes when Matthew has to pick a non-Rodriguez shortstop. 1:14:10-1:24:00 – Recap! We go through each team and remind you of the picks while also constructing batting orders. Whose team is better? Who did we snub? How would you have handled the first few rounds? Feel free to share your thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-6:00 – We introduce our guest, sportswriter Josh Horton of the Everett Herald. Josh covers the AquaSox during the summer, making him arguably the most qualified person on earth to do an episode about the Mariners’ affiliate in Everett. 6:00-16:00 – How do the AquaSox adjust to life in Everett? Which of the players have the most unique stories? Who plays the role of translator for the AquaSox’ Spanish-speaking players? Kate points out the Mariners’ promotion strategies when it comes to challenging their prospects. 16:15-25:00 – Austin Shenton talk! Josh has seen him play, in person! We run through some of the less-heralded players in Everett who have stood out in their first month of pro ball. What sort of skills should we look for in the low levels of the minor leagues? Also, son of Beef Dad is discussed. 25:10-33:20 – The AquaSox fired their manager, and that’s about all we know. As Josh tells us, there’s lots of secrecy around this team. He can also confirm that the Northwest League gets chippy, and the championship was once won on a walk-off balk. 33:30-44:00 – What is the best name on the AquaSox roster? There are legitimately too many to choose from. Damon Casetta-Stubbs is an interesting high-ceiling guy that many fans aren’t paying attention to. And at long last, some love for Trent Tingelstad and Carter Bins. What is the best between-innings game or promotion at Funko Field? 45:45-1:01:55 – Robinson Canó stories! Believe it or not, the Mets legend was once an Everett AquaSox. How creepy is Webbly the Frog? Is Webbly in cahoots with The Rainforest Café? Stop making the “When are they getting traded?” joke about all of our baseball children!!! Matthew ends with arguably his worst take yet, combining his loves for West Coast Conference Basketball and being wrong. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-9:00: Tim Beckham don’t listen to this,,,you are not a trade chip. Do we root for wins or the sweet specter of a high 2020 draft pick? What kind of arc is the Mariners’ season following, how many times can Matthew flex in ten minutes, and a story about violence on the kickball field? 9:00-17:00: The Three Amigos of Seattle, who are surely not the people we thought they’d be prior to the season. Satan’s Frisbee vs. The Devil’s Toboggan. What to do with Austin Adams? 17:00-26:30: We bravely talk about Mariner player development. If we have to give the current regime credit in their player dev strategies, it’s in the pitching category. J.P. is intriguing, though. Praise the Crawford bloodline. 26:30-34:00: Pray for Mitch Haniger’s crotch. Why do baseball players dress like tenth graders? Scared money don’t make none. I promise this is a good podcast. 34:05-40:50: Brodie Van Wagenen, accept Matthew’s LinkedIn request, you coward. Noticing a lot of similarities between Vogelbach and a certain player in Anaheim. Kate points out the difference between baseball intelligence and real life intelligence. That noise you hear is not us pouring more drinks, nope, not us. We would never do that. 41:00-46:00: What emojis does Daniel Vogelbach use? Is Marco Gonzales the best intern of all time? 46:50-1:09:35: British Guy joins Kate and John to recap the London Series and compare the Red Sox to Manchester City while marveling at the Yankees’ muscle mass. According to British Guy, infielder D.J. “The French Lad” LeMahieu is surely the best player in the league. Before leaving, British Guy offers his takes on the Mariners and the most British names in baseball. Music: “Run Away With Me” by Carly Rae Jepsen // “God Save the Queen” by Sex Pistols Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew and John are off doing other things this week, so Kate sits down one-on-one with the voice of the Modesto Nuts, Keaton Gillogly. Modesto has quickly blossomed into one of the most interesting teams in the farm system with the promotion of top prospects Logan Gilbert and Jarred Kelenic, joining Cal Raleigh, Joe Rizzo, and strikeout king Ljay Newsome, among others. Keaton offers some scouting reports on the current Nuts roster, discusses the changes he’s seen since the Mariners organization took over Modesto as an affiliate, and offers some concrete advice for young broadcasters hoping to sit in his chair someday (hint: upgrade your Toyota Corolla for your grandparents’ minivan as soon as possible). Kate and Keaton talk MiLB life, the art of broadcasting, the Mariners development program, and some of the Top-100 prospects currently in Modesto. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-6:20: We welcome Grant “Bongos” Bronsdon to the podcast, as we recorded this in his living room. The ‘cast begins with a rundown of the draft rules, which unfortunately have nothing to do with Dua Lipa. Also, Grant is a former magnet boy in an actual, real life MLB draft room. He explains some of the ins, outs, and what have yous of the draft, while Kate spins a brief history of former Seattle draft picks that are flourishing for other organizations. 6:20-17:30: In happier news, the Mariners are wearing teal in games that aren’t just on Fridays, and John’s family is smitten with Mac Williamson. Also, Braden Bishop has a busted spleen. 17:45-34:00: Actual draft talk! Matthew demonstrates a complete lack of understanding about farms. Kate gives an audio grade to every position group in the organization. She also drops a necessary reminder of the weakness of the 2019 draft class, and the eternal need for catchers. 34:15-43:00: Where will Mike Leake end up? Before the actual conversation, Matthew introduces a fun imagination game. The most important topic of the conversation though, is Grant a vampire? 43:00-51:15: We miss you, Jay Bruce. John discovers cigarettes. Matthew discovers Blaze Alexander. Grant discovers that nobody cares about The West Wing references in 2019. Kate discovers that Jerry Dipoto listens to our podcast. (He almost certainly does not). 52:00-58:55: Which Seattle celebrity is most likely to shove a player while sitting courtside at an NBA game? 59:00-1:01:15: BEEF DAD https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx5dLZ8jaOX/ 1:01:20-1:07:00: Shouts to the Shenton Family, Daniel Vogelbach, and nobody else. Music: “Working Out” by Donny Benét, “Diane Young” by Vampire Weekend Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite the best efforts of the Mariners and Frontier Airlines, John, Kate, and Matthew have returned to deliver you the hard-hitting analysis you deserve. We join in the lovely Lower Queen Anne bar Solo, which played an amiable host to our record. 0:00 - 9:00 The Mariners have been hot trash on a tin roof! We discuss our various methods of (dis)engagement with the team and John outlines why you should never fly Frontier Airlines if you can avoid it. 9:00 - 16:05 Matthew goes out on a limb that Marco Gonzales is better than Albert Pujols. We dig in deep on how the defense and rotation could not be a worse pair. 16:05 - 25:10 Kate is thankful the Mariners are not the Rangers, and reminds us this is what rebuilds are. We go hard on our favorite non-Mariners to watch and put together a Home Run Derby for dads. Matthew re-ups his vendetta against Mark Canha and slaps a nickname on Josh Bell. 25:10 - 28:30 Matthew enters his first fugue state of the pod while John and Kate make their case for being a draft/prospects person. It's fun, we promise! 28:30 - 36:20 GAME TIME. Matthew hosts 'Draft Prospect or 90s Pop Star' and Kate wipes the floor with John, as she is trivia master. 36:20 - 53:40 Draft Talk! John and Kate nerd out on their faves (pitchers Daniel Espino and Matthew Allan, as well as OF Jordan Brewer in particular) and address a few rumors on Seattle's surprising possible shift towards prep shortstops in the first round. We are unimpressed by Volpe's T-Rex swing. 53:40 - END We address the ways covering the Mariners has changed our relationship with baseball/the Mariners! Kate also outlines the fine art of heckling and we come to some surprisingly positive airport takes. Music: 'Late Night People' by Goldfish ft. Soweto Kinch, 'Yaeji - Raingurl' by Leon Chang Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00-1:00: Kate makes another weird noise and does a callback to a different time when we were funny online. 2:00-11:00: Praises for the Mariners’ 10-run explosion on Cleveland, Erik Swanson’s dominance, and a comment on…climate change? Stick with us, folks. During this segment Kate says “protracted battles” and “peak Leake”. 11:45-26:00: Diving into the offense, which John thinks includes Tim Anderson. Seattle took advantage of bad pitching on Sunday but were vexed by a backup catcher and his eephuses. The take-having trio goes through the entire lineup and diagnoses their issues. The conversation starts with Omar Narváez, who has been the best catcher in baseball not named Realmuto, Grandal, or Contreras. Is Edwin Encarnación the Mariners’ best first baseman of the decade? Are the Mariners structuring their lineup to limit the amount of running Daniel Vogelbach has to do? 26:30-41:30: The discussion of Ryon Healy starts with John doing a big ol’ sigh. While Healy is still struggling, John and Kate have noticed some improvements, and Matthew turns baseball into a life lesson. Nobody is worried about Mitch Haniger. Domingo Santana and the center fielders, though, are a horse of a different color. Some words are exchanged about asses, torsos, things of that nature… 44:40-47:20: Who gets traded first? Fetch us a nice return, Jerry. As long as we don’t have to play Kendrys Morales every day like the A’s, I guess we’re alright. We make it nearly 47 minutes before talking about Fernando Rodney. 53:00-1:02:30: Twitter questions! Thank you as always to those who asked us things on Twitter dot com. This week’s involves karaoke, beaches, and cocktails. 1:03:00-1:18:10: A special guest from Staten Island joins John and Kate for a spirited discussion about the New York Yankees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we sacrifice some audio quality for the spontaneity of recording an in-person pod at an unnamed Local Irish Bar to talk the latest happenings in Mariners-land and answer some listener questions. 0 - 8:00: The gang gets their Irish bona fides out of the way and catches up with where the team is on their first off day in over two weeks. Kate points out that both Houston and Cleveland brought their A-games to Seattle, but everyone agrees the Astros proved they’re still the class of the division. John discusses the Mariners’ propensity to take close pitches and offensive strategy at the plate and why that might have backfired against pitchers whose last names rhyme with Beerhander. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John, Kate, & Matthew are in awe of the size of these leads. With a soon-to-be 10-2 ballclub and a Rainiers game in the background, we attempt to find words for what has been one of the most surprising starts in Mariners history. 0 - 6:00: In honor of the Mariners' bold decision to be the best team in baseball, Kate mixes up a famous Atlanta musical group with a tasty Latin breakfast dish, we discuss the film Free Solo, which Matthew recently enjoyed, and the naturally tall John deems horror content. 6:00 - 16:20: We marvel at... **gestures in all directions**. Seriously, y'all. Kate accepts the glory of dingers into her heart and we discuss the many changes we've seen in approaches that have helped the M's take the league by storm in the early going. Kate and Matthew generate the highly scientific Eeyore-to-Tigger scale to track Ryon Healy's offensive mindset. 16:20 - 24:00: So... are they for real? And is the word "playoffs" something we should consider? We chuckle at the mess that the rest of the American League has been so far before and delight in the way the new arrivals have overtaken the vibe of this Mariners season. Kate also talks some smack about Dylan Moore, who appeared to have heard a pre-release of this episode. 24:00 - 1:00:47: Weaving listener questions in, we discuss a variety of good problems to have. How long of a West Virginia vacation can we send Kyle Seager if this team still is tearing it up in June? Will Jay Bruce and Edwin Encarnación stick around if they stay hot, and which will be the first to go? We fix baseball scheduling and issue an ultimatum to the Midwest. John comes to a hearty defense of Mitch Haniger. Oh, and of course, VOGEYYY Music: No Words by Big Wild; A-HA//KENDRICK LAMAR - Take on Backseat (n04h Mashup) by n04h Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate, John, and Matthew get together to talk about a surprising first week in Mariners baseball and award the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly to the season so far. 0 - 13:00: Because this is a Mariners podcast, we start with the Ugly, which, as John rather ominously intones, “comes out at night.” Dylan Moore’s adventures in the infield are gone over and judged to be significantly worse than the 1987 classic film Adventures in Babysitting. But this is not Dylan Moore’s Ugly to wear alone: in true esprit d’corps, the whole team has come together to record some truly eye-bleeding errors. 13:00 - 23:00: On to the Bad, which is pretty clearly the Bullpen of Terror, but not in the good way you want a bullpen to be terror. Kate proposes there’s a Quantum Leap/Freaky Friday scenario going on with Cory Gearrin. The crew ponders the question: “which reliever most terrifies you when their name comes up on the Dial-a-Reliever?” Kate and John debate the merits of Texas’s development system and if there’s maybe something to be done with Connor Sadzuck. Zadseck. Sedzuck. Look, we just started getting Brandon Brennan’s name right, you’re going to have to wait your turn, Connor. 23:00 - 39:00: Finally, THE GOOD! First, some light shading from Kate about the Red Sox potentially not being very good, an assertion Matthew and John quickly shut down. We also introduce Kate to the wonders of macaroni penguins, and talk about our favorite guys on the team. 39:00 - 59:00: Digging into listener questions! Which position player gets called up first? Unsung heroes of the young season? Is the King washed past the point of no return? The crew also makes some prescient remarks about Anthony Swarzak closing games. 59:30: Matthew’s DM’s are super open. Music: If It Makes You Happy by Sheryl Crow; Mr. Tillman by Father John Misty Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0 - 7:00: Kate and John have a brief power struggle over who gets to intro the podcast. Matthew only cares about the G&G offered at the ballpark this year, which is gin and grape Kool-Aid, for those of you not familiar. Kate isn’t happy with the exhibition games at T-Mobile feeling like they short-circuited Opening Day, and Matthew proposes a new location for exhibition games. John comes up with a plan to lay turf on an aircraft carrier to make an exhibition game, which Kate sees as an opportunity to dispose of one of her least-favorite players. 7:00 - 14:00: Japan Series talk! The trio ponders how the Angels got to swipe left on having to go to Japan, and discuss how the team we saw in Japan might be emblematic of the Mariners team we watch this season. 14:00 - 20:00: Having recently returned from two disappointing exhibition games, Kate asks if there’s anything to be concerned about in the Mariners’ anemic offensive performance. Matthew puts on his scientist lab coat and points out the effects of jet lag, while Kate and John discuss the number of plate appearances given to the Mariners’ still-shaggly farm system. 21:00 - 30:00: Kate & Matthew would both be happy with a 70something-win season, while John is hoping for something more in the B+ range. Cs get degrees, John. Nevertheless, the crew agrees the most important thing is seeing players like Santana, Sheffield & Crawford take a step forward. 30:00 - 40:00: Guest star Grant “Bongos” Bronsdon arrives! The newly minted foursome goes over their breakout candidates and those they’re concerned about. 41:00 - 53:30 : Questions! We talk extensions, fantasy team names, and chess? 1:02:00 - 1:17:00 : The podcast ends with some scorching predictions for 2019. Music: Begin the Begin by REM; Keep the Car Running by Arcade Fire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2:00 – Ice cream, nachos, and St. Patrick’s Day: a devil’s playground. 5:00 – The weirdness of the Tokyo games seem fitting for this Mariners’ season. 9:20 – What are the logistics of watching a baseball game in the middle of the night? 11:25 – What can Major League Baseball learn from Japanese baseball? 23:30 – Pay the minor leaguers, please and thank you. 26:00 – Kate reports back from her time watching the Mariners at Spring Training. Tidbits include Dylan Moore’s slim waist, the best way to say Brandon Brennan’s name, David McKay’s lowered arm slot, Matt Festa and Braden Bishop’s newfound confidence, and the Julio & Jarred Show. 40:30 – John comps Shed Long to a certain bat-waggling slugger from the 90s. The podcast trio comes to an agreement about Long’s defensive plan. 44:00 – I can comfortably guarantee that this is the only Mariners’ podcast that also mentions Johnny Gaudreau and Nate Robinson. This body-positive episode continues with an appreciation for Noelvi Marte’s massive hands, and the way Keegan McGovern stands in the box. 53:55 – Shout out to minor league pitcher Cody Mobley and pizza delivery drivers. According to Kate and catcher prospect Jake Anchia, 2018 first-round pick Logan Gilbert’s stuff looks pleasing. 1:03:00 – A listener wants to know if Julio Rodriguez is in fact our savior, launching Kate into a Shakespearean monologue. 1:13:15 – Hot takes regarding the upcoming regular season games in Japan against the Oakland Athletics. #SaintPreusser #JackCongratulations 1:21:15 – Is a Bob Dylan walk-up song ever acceptable on a baseball diamond? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1:30 – We discuss 2 Chainz’ new album and how rich people hate paying taxes. 4:40 – The Mariners’ commercials are here. Which one is the best? Which one is the worst? How long has Wade LeBlanc been hiding his comedic talents? Will Kyle Seager host SNL this year or next year? 16:40 – The overwhelming weirdness of the Mitch Haniger commercial, and a breakdown of its mechanics. 20:30 – Three guys with no television production experience try to punch up the Hanimal ad. 24:30 – Let. Dee. Cook. 31:05 – A natural pivot to a real conversation about baseball, which was ostensibly the point of this conversation in the first place. Jordan matches our excitement about the Mariners’ rugrats. 34:50 – Pleasant surprises from Cactus League action. Jordan reveals himself to be a Shed Long hipster. 43:00 – Remarking about the National League’s revival as an ex-Mariner circuit. 45:05 – Which Mariner on a new team will make you the saddest? 52:35 – Carl Pavano stans, please show yourself. 57:25 – The obligatory Julio Rodriguez discussion. Will Jordan hitchhike from NYC to West Virginia to watch him and Jarred Kelenic in person? 1:02:20 – Jordan praises some minor leaguers who he’s taken to in his experience working for MLB. 1:07:30 – The podcast ends with Jordan eviscerating John’s alma mater. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1:55 – The podcast begins with some troubling news about Shed Long’s nutrition habits, some praises for Capri Sun and Sunny D, and John introduces us to the horrors of Buzz Ballz. For more information on Buzz Ballz, please click this link. 9:20 – Someone needs to teach Brandon Nimmo how to cook. Matthew hopes it’s Action Bronson. 12:00 – We get back on track by transitioning into the Mariners’ relief pitchers, who are the subject of this week’s episode. 17:30 – Can I interest you in a Cory Gearrin or a Zac Rosscup? 20:00 – Gerson (pronounced Hair-sen) Bautista could occupy either end of the reliever effectiveness spectrum. 25:20 – A riveting discussion of Dan Altavilla’s nutmeg slider and the origin of that term. 31:00 – Get well soon, Tui, and get here soon, prospects. 41:30 – Bullpens are very weird, as demonstrated by last year’s Houston Astros. Remember when Ken Giles punched himself in the face? We remember. 44:30 – Picking some possible entrance songs for the Mariners’ 2019 relief pitchers. 56:00 – The non-Michael McDonald questions come pouring in. 1:02:00 – Ruben Alaniz and Ricardo Sánchez are both people who exist and might pitch for the Seattle Mariners this season. 1:03:20 – Some talk about the bullpen’s hairstyles. 1:05:10 – Tyler Danish is filling a very specific niche. 1:07:50 – John introduces us to Tayler Scott, a South African pitching prospect. You can familiarize yourself with Tayler Scott on his Twitter page or at his Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2:00 – We start with a Manny Machado discussion, as the very rich infielder got even very-richer this week after signing with the Padres. 9:00 – A brief rundown of the National League, which is now rife with intrigue and fun players. 13:50 – We decide to actually talk about the Seattle Mariners! This week’s podcast is focused on the organization’s starting pitching. 15:35 – The Wade LeBlanc-Joe Ingles crossover content you didn’t know you needed. We also debate the utility of oatmeal and Kate accuses Matthew and John of gaslighting her. 18:50 – What to watch for in Marco Gonzales’ 2019 starts. 27:30 – What is Kikuchi’s ceiling in Major League Baseball? 30:05 – Matthew frames the Mariners as a wistful college student searching for their true identity. 37:00 – We eulogize Félix Hernández’s run as a dominant pitcher. What will this year bring from the King? 45:45 – What are we supposed to do with Mike Leake? John sees a fit in a certain coastal city. How much can Leake avoid human interaction this season? 53:55 – We move to listener questions. The first inquires about Justus Sheffield and his timeline toward stardom. 59:40 – Are the Mariners now Team Cutter? Should any of the young guys test out a cutter? We delegate to Jake Mailhot before taking some stabs at it on our own. 1:06:50 – How will the change at catcher affect the pitchers? Will they miss Mike Z as much as the blogosphere will? 1:11:50 – The gang addresses the Martín Maldonado to Seattle rumors. 1:13:20 – John and Kate field a wide-ranging question about the starting pitchers in the minor leagues, starting with a Logan Gilbert-centric conversation. 1:18:50 – John ends with a shameless plug for Lookout Landing dot com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John, Kate, and Matthew preview the Mariners outfield, take listener questions, and deliver some opinions on snow you won't find anywhere else. 0:00 - 10:00: Y'all this snow, though. Kate debates which of her cats to eat for sustenance, Matthew describes a bad pond to sled by. 10:00 - 17:30: The gang discusses the outfielders that we used to know, lamenting the departures of Guillermo Heredia and Denard Span, who we did adore, and Ben Gamel, who did actually hit well. We also wax poetic on the numerous NL teams we're enthused about. 17:30 - 40:00: These outfielders! John outlines the future of Mitch Haniger. Domingo Santana earns heavy praise and enthusiasm for his gigantic arms and even bigger dingers. We wonder about the many center fielders in the system and targetedly do not discuss Jay Bruce. 40:00 - Finish: Questions! We attempt to matchmake new love and new fits for those who miss old players. Matthew roasts Taylor Motter and we can't finish with anything better than that Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:45: We talk about surviving #Snowmageddon, and Kate brags about Philadelphia's snow protocol. 2:39: Matthew breaks down the concept of this podcast series, examining every position group on the Mariners. Matthew would like you to know that this idea was his. 4:15: A brief destruction of Howard Schultz's presidental run and a ringing endorsement for Gary Payton. 6:15: We begin our trip around the infield by examining the first base position, and then try to enter Jerry Dipoto's mind. 10:00: Everyone's rooting for you, RyOn. 13:00: Who do you trust more with a first-base glove, EE or Vogey? 20:11: Tim Beckham, utility guy? and the the value of positional versatility. 24:50: Kyle Seager: bounce back candidate? Kate says no, but mentions blast motion data. John bemoans Kyle's inability to beat shifts and the Mariners' third base prospects. 35:33: Kate drags the White Sox' dirty laundry across town. Matthew debuts a terrible Hawk Harrelson impression. 38:27: John questions the validity of salisbury steak. 42:00: Mariners' catching depth and a tribute to Tuffy Gosewich. 55:40: A requiem for Bryson Brigman and discussion of Ketel Marte, centerfielder. 63:00 A discussion of the Mariners' potential 2021 infield and Matthew challenging Blake Griffin to a fight. 68:00: We end with wild predictions! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are back, baby, after a long hiatus caused by the deadly trifecta of the holidays, Hall of Fame craziness, and Kate forgetting that it was her turn to edit the podcast. But Kate, John, and Matthew are back, with a Frankenstein pod stitched together from bits of the forgotten pod and this newer version [ummm the podcast was actually the doctor?]. 0 - 30:00: Intro and apologia and EDGAR MARTINEZ IS OFFICIALLY A HALL OF FAMER. We make some sounds! Kate waxes long (very long) about her love of Edgar Martinez and community service, and wonders why not all baseball players don’t follow Edgar’s advice to just hit the ball where it is. Matthew describes the creamy skin of Alex Rodriguez, for some reason. John’s mic makes a weird popping noise at one point, sorry about it. Also Kate accidentally refers to Albert Pujols’s career in the past tense, and she is very sorry about it. 30:00 - 50:00: Media Day rundown. Kate recaps the highlights and summarizes the major takeaways from the day, as observed by someone sitting at home in front of the computer, including a renewed push to Control the Zone, the farm system and Andy McKay, and the first public comments by members of the front office about Dr. Martin’s accusations. Matthew looks at the players who spoke during Media Day and notes that the Mariners are infringing on Chris Rock’s copyright. Kate points out how diverse the team is getting, especially at the lower minors (and invokes this adorable moment of Taiwanese prospect Jingyu Chang hanging out with 2018 draftees Cal Raleigh and Logan Gilbert), and points out that with the departure of Nelson Cruz, Dee Gordon seems to have become the de facto clubhouse leader. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Kate and John are joined by staff writer Matthew Roberson, who—shameless plug alert!—tells jokes in a stand-up capacity, and will tell them in your general direction if you are so inclined. Just tweet him (@mroberson22) if you’re interested in hearing some jokes. 0:00 - 6:00: For some reason we spend a lot of time talking about the Utah Jazz, and invent a player named Arvin Harmonica, including giving him player characteristics and a nickname. Sweet cross-stitched croissants, we need pro basketball back in Seattle. We also talk some baseball because apparently this is a baseball podcast, starting with the Jean Segura trade. We remark upon the fact that the entire back end of the 2018 Mariners bullpen is exploded with fire, and try to make the best of it. John is looking forward to seeing promising young arm Joey Gerber rocket through the system; Kate is excited to see Matt Festa and his high socks throw a bunch of relief innings and crossing her fingers Art Warren doesn’t get snatched up in the Rule 5 draft; Matthew is ready to see new-ish Mariner Sam Tuivailala rebound and then summarily get traded, because he apparently hates fun and doesn’t want to see Tui installed as closer with the attendant song Fu-gee-la. 6:00 - 15:00: Hey, wow, Carlos Santana is a Mariner, as is J.P. Crawford. We discuss what J.P. Crawford might bring to the club, why he might have struggled in Philly, and John reports on what he’s seen from an exhaustive study of J.P. Crawford’s errors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Trupin and Kate Preusser convene to discuss the many major deals going down in Mariners land. Of note, the rumored deal of Robinson Canó and Edwin Díaz to the New york Mets for OF Jarred Kelenic, RHP Justin Dunn, and RHP Gerson Bautista leads to hand-wringing over other people's checkbooks and prospect envy. 0:00 - 10:00: Kate and John outline the major news of the moment and compare Jerry Dipoto and Brodie Van Wagenen to a pair of Raki drinking competitors. How did we get here? Who is being traded? Why is this weird trade not going to change but somehow still has yet to happened? 10:00 - 49:00: We get into the implications of the deal, and go deep with the prospects returned in the proposed deal with the Mets. Kate chastises John for pronouncing Kelenic similarly to "colonic", John shoots back by insisting Waukesha cannot be pronounced "Wah-keesha" a la Keisha Phillips. Where do prospects like this put Seattle's system, and what does this mean exactly for 2019's roster? (It's gonna be rough, y'all) 49:00 - Finish: Questions! We do address the Colomé-Narváez deal, look into whether Seattle moves Jean Segura, Kyle Seager, Mitch Haniger, and the other remaining noteworthy players on the M's roster. John embarrassingly refers to Maikel Franco as the Braves' 3B and not the Phillies (the Braves now have Josh Donaldson in addition to Johan Camargo)! Kate searches for non-sexual/scatalogical terminology for strong forearms, we hint at the good and bad of rebuilds, and the comparisons between the Mariners of 2019 and the Marlins of 2018. Yikes. Music: Cat Stevens - Wild World, Eric Church - Desperate Man Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a long hiatus, we back baby! John is busy with other things this week so Kate is joined by staff writer Matthew Roberson to go over all the news...and boy, is there a lot of news. 0 - 13:00: After wasting as much time as possible talking about gyms, Kate and Matthew dive right into the major news of the Mariners’ off-season: Dr. Lorena Martin’s accusations of racism and sexism against the Mariners. Kate explores her feelings of betrayal and sadness regarding the situation, Matthew points out that no one will come out of this situation looking good, and both come down firmly on the side that the proper amount of racism to be in order to keep one’s job is “none.” 13:00 - 20:00: New stadium naming rights for the pending T-Mobile Park. Matthew pre-emptively cancels all “bad Servais” jokes and offers to workshop new ones, and converts Kate to accepting an all-magenta park might not be so bad. 20:00 - 44:00: Trades-a-palooza. Kate examines the wisdom of trading one of the best defensive catchers in baseball for...not a catcher, and Matthew runs down the available free agent catchers, and discusses the weird roommate situation the Mariners seem to have with the Rays. Moving to the Paxton trade, Matthew bemoans Justus Sheffield as the first Mariner who will be younger than him, while appreciating the proprietary #AssFat hashtag. 44:00 - 1:00: Trade rumors time! Kate and Matthew rebrand the Mariners’ “fire sale” as a “smoke sale” or a “heat-induced bazaar” and spend some time roasting the Mets trade scenario that’s been making the rounds on Twitter. Kate talks about a possible landing spot for Canó, and Matthew brings up some of the Cardinals trade rumors. 1:00 - end: Questions! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Driveline Baseball’s founder Kyle Boddy has been described, kindly, as an industry disruptor, a visionary, an innovator; and less kindly, as abrasive, off-putting, egocentric and dickish. Appropriately, this week’s podcast jumps right into conversation with Boddy describing his setup at Driveline—no music or soft lead-in. Over the course of the conversation, and building off Levi Weaver’s excellent series of articles on Boddy in the Athletic, Boddy reveals himself as a polymath who’s been, in turns, a mathematician, philosopher, economist, classically trained pianist, scientist, entrepreneur, professional poker player, Magic the Gathering enthusiast, Little League coach, and Warped Tour bassist. He also presents himself as a more mellowed-out version of his earlier, swaggering online presence, an objective scientist who lets data win out over ego. More than anything, Boddy is a visionary who uses data in all its forms to create a holistic model for building a better baseball player. The conversation flows quickly and recursively, at times doubling back on itself to reinforce ideas or clarify concepts, and therefore we won’t be providing a full minute by minute listing of topics, because there are often multiple topics covered over a span of just a few minutes. Some of the things touched upon: why scouts don’t know what to do with Driveline; Blackberry vs. iPhones; Driveline’s staff of “miscreants”; why the most important question for successful people to ask is “what next?”; why teams should operate more like professional poker players; Mike Trout’s boring effectiveness; and what one thing he wishes all Driveline trainees would walk in the door understanding, and why most of them never will. Listen to all of it. We promise you’ll learn something. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Kate on the DL (aka partying too hard), John Trupin calls on staff writers Grant Bronsdon and Zach Gottschalk for an all Garfield High School episode. Let's get angsty. 0-2:30 - Introductions, and the confession that we are all using #OneMic. 2:30-19:00 - A recap of the Mariners' recent escapades. Do we trust any relievers? Does a 6-4 road trip feel okay? It's the first off day after 20 straight games! Where should Canó play? Does Zach hate NUMBERS? 19:00-1:05:48 - Questions! How would a pitching staff of exclusively Edwin's Díaz fare? Which NBA player once pulled Grant's shirt over his head mid-crossover in a game of 3-on-3? Is Willy Wonka Bad? Does getting scowled at by a sitting Senator hinder John's political aspirations? Can any Mariners learn to walk? Music: Youth - Glass Animals, Family (feat. Vic Mensa) [Blended Babies Remix] - Chance the Rapper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Kate and John are joined by staff writer Matthew Robeson to talk the current state of the team, the slumping offense, and a bunch of other nonsense because talking about the team isn’t super-fun right now. 0 - 12:00: Matthew and John offer a preview of their TED talk, How to Watch Mariners Baseball: a Primer. Matthew is outraged the team rosters both Nick Vincent and Zach Vincej, although for how much longer, who knows. The current state of the offense is discussed, and the word “brutal” is used a fair amount of times. Matthew is forced to revisit the long interview he just wrote up with prospect Bryson Brigman, traded for Cameron Maybin the day the article was set to publish. 12:00 - 24:00: Discussing Maybin and the trade deadline. Matthew invokes the name of Austin Jackson and some heavy magical thinking. John raises the question of what the Mariners’ best-ever trade deadline acquisition was, and Matthew makes a good argument that it might be Denard Span. Kate tries to delineate between loyalty to Félix and wanting accountability for things the King could have done better, and inadvertently causes Matthew to black out. 24:00 - 38:00: Looking down the stretch and assessing the panic levels for all teams not named The Boston Red Sox. Discussing the A’s bold trade deadline strategy of doing nothing and whether or not their heavily-taxed bullpen can continue to support starters who can’t make it through the seventh, assessing the sustainability of their offensive production, and examining their schedule compared to ours. 38:00 - 45:00: Assessing panic levels. John points out that the fanbase has a longer memory of the Mariners’ longterm failure than almost anyone who is currently playing for the Mariners. Sometimes not having any homegrown prospects is good! Matthew notes that in that way, the fanbase reflects the city itself. 45:00 - end: Questions! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices