Episode 164: Ben Ranieri (The Sea Level) + Examining The Mariners Path To The Playoffs

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER_01]: Welcome to Episode 164 of the Marine Layer Podcast. We welcome on our friend Ben Ranieri, the creator of the sea level and host of the sea level podcast.

[00:00:09] [SPEAKER_01]: We chat with him about some of the current Mariners trends, some upcoming off-season decisions and how he got into the content game.

[00:00:17] [SPEAKER_01]: We'll also take a deeper look at the Mariners playoff chances and what exactly they have to do, what they have to do to make the field in the next couple of weeks.

[00:00:26] [SPEAKER_02]: If you guys want to stay on top of all of our stuff and hopefully you do, make sure to download all our podcast episodes if that's the case.

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[00:00:58] [SPEAKER_02]: Let's get it rolling.

[00:01:11] [SPEAKER_01]: And we welcome you to this episode of the Marin Layer podcast part of the Just Facebook podcast network.

[00:01:17] [SPEAKER_01]: Recording on Monday evening September 16th on an off day.

[00:01:22] [SPEAKER_01]: I can't believe this subject has arisen here in the last couple of weeks.

[00:01:26] [SPEAKER_01]: And with a couple of weeks to go here, we're staring at the wildcard standings with two weeks left.

[00:01:35] [SPEAKER_01]: Mariners are two games out right now at the twins losing today. Two games.

[00:01:39] [SPEAKER_02]: Well, that's not possible. We declared the season over. I know. Not getting the narrative.

[00:01:46] [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, we're about to look real bad. And honestly, I hope we do. I genuinely hope we do. I want to be on old takes exposed.

[00:01:53] [SPEAKER_01]: I want someone. I want like the Mariners will do their hype videos, right?

[00:01:59] [SPEAKER_01]: Or they'll they'll grab some some media snippets about some things.

[00:02:03] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and 22, they got Trevor Pluth declaring them dead on that video, right?

[00:02:07] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm pretty sure they got him on there.

[00:02:08] [SPEAKER_01]: Alright. So this year, Mariners, we've grown quite a bit since 2022.

[00:02:12] [SPEAKER_01]: This podcast has our platform has our reach has.

[00:02:15] [SPEAKER_01]: So we didn't exist in 2022.

[00:02:18] [SPEAKER_01]: Well, we did in the year, just not during the season.

[00:02:20] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, toward the very very end. Right. But we were we were my new mid-a-school.

[00:02:25] [SPEAKER_01]: We've grown quite a lot since then. So my one request to the people at the Mariners if you make the playoffs.

[00:02:31] [SPEAKER_01]: Feel free to grab the snippet where we declare the season dead.

[00:02:36] [SPEAKER_02]: You know, I think you're you're more than fine putting that out there is because you basically just said,

[00:02:43] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I had to leave the charge on that.

[00:02:45] [SPEAKER_02]: It was me that hammered that thing home and said seasons over.

[00:02:48] [SPEAKER_02]: And you were just like, yep.

[00:02:50] [SPEAKER_02]: So it's gonna be me that gets blast.

[00:02:53] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure I've said it at some point in some episode if they want to go find it.

[00:02:57] [SPEAKER_01]: Yours is just really easy to find right at the front of the episode.

[00:03:00] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, when Scott's service got fired.

[00:03:02] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, if they want to go find some other colorful things I said in that episode,

[00:03:05] [SPEAKER_01]: they're more than welcome to.

[00:03:06] [SPEAKER_01]: Like, I think I've claimed that like why does this team underperform so much?

[00:03:10] [SPEAKER_01]: Like essentially why do they suck? They could put that in there.

[00:03:13] [SPEAKER_01]: I think that was in that episode too.

[00:03:15] [SPEAKER_01]: Well, if they really want to rub it in, they can go find the part where it's like, all right,

[00:03:19] [SPEAKER_01]: let's let's find everyone to blame for why a manager got fired this year and put it in that video too.

[00:03:25] [SPEAKER_01]: Or it's like, look at all these things that suck about our team.

[00:03:28] [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, wait, we made the playoffs.

[00:03:31] [SPEAKER_02]: Well, again, we're happy to be bulletin board material.

[00:03:35] [SPEAKER_02]: You know why? Because if we're bulletin board material, that means the Seattle mariners are in the postseason.

[00:03:40] [SPEAKER_02]: So more than a necessary sacrifice and a sacrifice we are more than willing to make.

[00:03:45] [SPEAKER_02]: Just like hiking up Mount Everest for a certain right field or the place in Houston, which we will get back to come the offseason.

[00:03:52] [SPEAKER_01]: Can I request a mountain change actually?

[00:03:54] [SPEAKER_01]: So you keep saying Everest.

[00:03:56] [SPEAKER_02]: Okay, I mean, we're doing, we said mailbox peak but.

[00:03:59] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, we did say mailbox peak, but you just mentioned Everest though.

[00:04:02] [SPEAKER_01]: So for really max and out, I say we go kill K2.

[00:04:05] [SPEAKER_01]: What's that, K-men?

[00:04:06] [SPEAKER_02]: Is that killing me?

[00:04:07] [SPEAKER_01]: No, no, I think it's the second highest mountain in the world.

[00:04:10] [SPEAKER_01]: And in fact, 10 times more dangerous.

[00:04:13] [SPEAKER_01]: I think the, the, the stats are one of six people that go up.

[00:04:18] [SPEAKER_01]: Don't come back down.

[00:04:21] [SPEAKER_02]: Hmm.

[00:04:22] [SPEAKER_02]: Well, I'm well versed in the exercise and.

[00:04:27] [SPEAKER_02]: And activity of hiking.

[00:04:28] [SPEAKER_02]: I'll survive.

[00:04:31] [SPEAKER_01]: As long as you bring your PB and Js, I think it'll be fine.

[00:04:34] [SPEAKER_02]: For those who haven't listened to the episode and didn't pick up on the sarcasm,

[00:04:38] [SPEAKER_02]: I despise hiking.

[00:04:39] [SPEAKER_02]: In fact, I don't like Everest.

[00:04:40] [SPEAKER_02]: So that being said, I'll find a way to survive.

[00:04:43] [SPEAKER_02]: And if I do, I'll be watching a lot of Kyle Tucker that in that scenario.

[00:04:48] [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, I'm sure you will, but will the Mariners survive

[00:04:51] [SPEAKER_01]: Making it to the playoffs this year.

[00:04:52] [SPEAKER_01]: Well, they do it.

[00:04:53] [SPEAKER_01]: Like, Sir, so okay, let's go on a little bit more of a serious note here.

[00:04:57] [SPEAKER_01]: Fan graphs because the Mariners right now an 8.8% chance at making the playoffs as of last night.

[00:05:02] [SPEAKER_01]: And might have adjusted a tiny bit being 24 hours later since that number has been written down.

[00:05:07] [SPEAKER_01]: But right now, there are two games out in the wild card.

[00:05:09] [SPEAKER_01]: If you want to look at it in a little more real sense, the number in the standing says two,

[00:05:12] [SPEAKER_01]: but the Mariners are realistically three games out of the wild card right now due to not having

[00:05:16] [SPEAKER_01]: a tiebreaker with the twins and not having a tiebreaker with the Detroit Tigers who are tied

[00:05:20] [SPEAKER_01]: with them currently in the standings and Detroit would move ahead of them today if they're

[00:05:24] [SPEAKER_01]: to win right now as of recording their beating the royals on the road.

[00:05:28] [SPEAKER_01]: Do you, are you believe it right now?

[00:05:30] [SPEAKER_01]: Like, I know we declared them dead, but like looking at it right now, like throw out

[00:05:33] [SPEAKER_01]: the mass podcasts.

[00:05:35] [SPEAKER_01]: When you're looking at this, do you see a path?

[00:05:40] [SPEAKER_02]: Well, those are two different questions.

[00:05:41] [SPEAKER_02]: Am I a believer?

[00:05:43] [SPEAKER_02]: Not quite.

[00:05:44] [SPEAKER_02]: Do I think when the season ultimately ends,

[00:05:47] [SPEAKER_02]: these Seattle Mariners will be penciled into the playoff field?

[00:05:51] [SPEAKER_02]: Still not yet.

[00:05:52] [SPEAKER_02]: Personally, is there a path?

[00:05:54] [SPEAKER_02]: There's absolutely a path.

[00:05:55] [SPEAKER_02]: And there's a feasible path now too, especially when you have three against the Astros,

[00:05:58] [SPEAKER_02]: especially when the twins and the Tigers don't have the easiest schedules in the world.

[00:06:04] [SPEAKER_02]: I know the numbers say differently about the Tigers, but I think when you break down these games,

[00:06:08] [SPEAKER_02]: it's actually a little bit of a different story which we can get to in a minute.

[00:06:11] [SPEAKER_02]: So yeah, there is there is a path.

[00:06:14] [SPEAKER_02]: And the way the offense is currently playing,

[00:06:17] [SPEAKER_02]: if it keeps up in the final 12 games and doesn't fall to her back to where it's been a lot

[00:06:21] [SPEAKER_02]: of the season, if it keeps up, yeah, there is a path.

[00:06:25] [SPEAKER_01]: I don't like how the sequencing works out for the Mariners though.

[00:06:29] [SPEAKER_01]: Before we start recording, I've voiced my concerns a tiny bit over the structure of the Mariners final bit of the season.

[00:06:36] [SPEAKER_01]: So not only are they playing a really good Yankees team this week,

[00:06:42] [SPEAKER_01]: they will be getting ready for game two when the episode comes out.

[00:06:46] [SPEAKER_01]: But even though you are clearly better than the Texas Rangers this season and you've shown that in the three series you've played against them,

[00:06:53] [SPEAKER_01]: you do have to play them on the road in Texas, which is not ideal.

[00:06:57] [SPEAKER_01]: Mariners this last road trip just won their first road series against a non-white-sox team in a long time.

[00:07:04] [SPEAKER_01]: So that's a concern to start right there and they are not in a good way.

[00:07:07] [SPEAKER_01]: White socks and things.

[00:07:10] [SPEAKER_01]: But then of course you go to Houston, right?

[00:07:13] [SPEAKER_01]: Which is going to be tough because Houston's been the best team in baseball since your 10 games up.

[00:07:19] [SPEAKER_01]: They are tied for the best record in baseball at that point.

[00:07:21] [SPEAKER_01]: Then you play the ace with a final three games this year, which for these other teams,

[00:07:26] [SPEAKER_01]: those final three games of the season really might not matter that much.

[00:07:29] [SPEAKER_01]: The Astros they won the series against the Mariners, like Final 3 games at Cleveland doesn't matter,

[00:07:34] [SPEAKER_01]: not really.

[00:07:35] [SPEAKER_01]: Only for a seating sense doesn't matter as it relates to the Mariners.

[00:07:39] [SPEAKER_01]: The twins will the twins keep losing.

[00:07:42] [SPEAKER_01]: They might get passed by tigers if the Mariners fall to her on the road.

[00:07:46] [SPEAKER_01]: Therefore their final three games against the Orioles would matter all that much.

[00:07:49] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm jealous of the tigers.

[00:07:52] [SPEAKER_01]: They get a final three games this season against the white socks.

[00:07:57] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure when we looked at our schedule, the Mariners scheduled at the beginning of the season,

[00:08:01] [SPEAKER_01]: like wow, three games against the ace to finish the year.

[00:08:04] [SPEAKER_01]: That works out.

[00:08:06] [SPEAKER_01]: But not how the ace has been playing.

[00:08:09] [SPEAKER_02]: I still don't really know how the tigers are doing this.

[00:08:13] [SPEAKER_02]: I guess having carry carpenter back is done everything for them.

[00:08:16] [SPEAKER_02]: But it's not a very good team, right?

[00:08:22] [SPEAKER_02]: Carry carpenter's gone off and Riley Greens been really good.

[00:08:26] [SPEAKER_02]: But I don't know how else they're doing this.

[00:08:28] [SPEAKER_02]: They still don't have any pitching outside of Terrix School.

[00:08:31] [SPEAKER_01]: And there aren't very many good teams period.

[00:08:35] [SPEAKER_01]: Well, where do you also got straighted?

[00:08:37] [SPEAKER_02]: It's just, yeah, it's just who did?

[00:08:40] [SPEAKER_01]: Flirting.

[00:08:40] [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, did I, yeah, you're right.

[00:08:42] [SPEAKER_02]: Yes he did. He is not on the team anymore.

[00:08:44] [SPEAKER_02]: So what am I saying?

[00:08:44] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm done. That's not new.

[00:08:47] [SPEAKER_02]: Anyway, yeah, the tigers have two bats.

[00:08:50] [SPEAKER_02]: They've carry carpenter and and Riley Greens.

[00:08:54] [SPEAKER_02]: They have essentially one arm in Terrix School.

[00:08:57] [SPEAKER_02]: And then they have an OK bullpen.

[00:09:00] [SPEAKER_01]: And they still handle the Mariners without much issue.

[00:09:02] [SPEAKER_02]: I don't get it.

[00:09:03] [SPEAKER_02]: So I don't get how they're winning all these games.

[00:09:05] [SPEAKER_02]: But they are.

[00:09:07] [SPEAKER_01]: And they've, you know, and they played their way into playoff position.

[00:09:10] [SPEAKER_01]: And the way their schedule sets up.

[00:09:12] [SPEAKER_01]: So this week for the Tigers is not that easy.

[00:09:17] [SPEAKER_01]: Like they play three at the Royals.

[00:09:18] [SPEAKER_01]: They're currently beating the Royals here on Monday.

[00:09:21] [SPEAKER_01]: And then they play two more against the Royals.

[00:09:23] [SPEAKER_01]: They have an off day.

[00:09:24] [SPEAKER_01]: And then they go to ball to play three games before returning home for six in a row to end the season against the raise and the white socks.

[00:09:31] [SPEAKER_01]: So it's like, it's tough at first.

[00:09:34] [SPEAKER_01]: The the razor of fine team in the middle.

[00:09:38] [SPEAKER_01]: And then the white socks are the worst team of all time at the end.

[00:09:40] [SPEAKER_01]: It certainly helps offset.

[00:09:43] [SPEAKER_01]: And if you go check tankathon, tankathon really likes how the Tigers schedule sets up to end the season.

[00:09:48] [SPEAKER_01]: So like so that kind of works out like the schedules aren't impossible for how it looks for the Mariners when it's like looking at the twins and the Tigers.

[00:09:57] [SPEAKER_01]: Like if you're going to make ground on the Tigers, I think it's going to be this week for the Mariners.

[00:10:04] [SPEAKER_01]: I think the Mariners are going to need to play extremely well at home against the Yankees,

[00:10:09] [SPEAKER_01]: which if I'm going to guess right now the Mariners are losing the series.

[00:10:12] [SPEAKER_01]: But who knows, you know, they play a lot better in the last week.

[00:10:16] [SPEAKER_01]: And then you have to go play on the road at Texas.

[00:10:18] [SPEAKER_01]: Like that's when the ground is going to need to be made up on the Tigers,

[00:10:21] [SPEAKER_01]: who own the tiebreaker over you.

[00:10:23] [SPEAKER_01]: Therefore you're going to need to finish a game better than them twins.

[00:10:27] [SPEAKER_01]: Twins have been playing so bad that the Mariners can play well each of the next two weeks.

[00:10:33] [SPEAKER_01]: And I think the twins might take care of themselves based on how they're playing.

[00:10:36] [SPEAKER_01]: They might go a game below the Mariners just based on the fact they're not playing very well.

[00:10:43] [SPEAKER_02]: So I will say,

[00:10:45] [SPEAKER_02]: even though tanket on favors the Tiger schedule,

[00:10:48] [SPEAKER_02]: I really don't think the rays are pushovers.

[00:10:51] [SPEAKER_02]: I know by the numbers that they are, but they have real pitching, a bullpen.

[00:10:55] [SPEAKER_02]: They can win some of those games.

[00:10:57] [SPEAKER_01]: You know, I thought about it a little more a while.

[00:10:59] [SPEAKER_01]: I think the white socks really skew that.

[00:11:02] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I think they hit.

[00:11:05] [SPEAKER_01]: I think they hold most of the weight there.

[00:11:07] [SPEAKER_02]: Dude, what is this team doing?

[00:11:10] [SPEAKER_02]: Like, they've won what 35 games and now they're going to cut, cut, carry a little.

[00:11:15] [SPEAKER_01]: And they're not going to sign free agents.

[00:11:19] [SPEAKER_03]: Like he said that on the broadcast,

[00:11:21] [SPEAKER_03]: we'll watch the game.

[00:11:22] [SPEAKER_03]: Well, people are watching the game.

[00:11:23] [SPEAKER_03]: It's like, what?

[00:11:26] [SPEAKER_03]: You guys are almost 100 games under 500.

[00:11:31] [SPEAKER_02]: Like they are unreal.

[00:11:33] [SPEAKER_02]: I really didn't think anybody could surpass the John Fisher A's, but wow.

[00:11:38] [SPEAKER_02]: They're really, they're really making their case.

[00:11:40] [SPEAKER_01]: So was that a hot take to say, Lyle?

[00:11:43] [SPEAKER_01]: Based on how the white socks are right now in their current ownership group is Michael Jordan actually the worst thing

[00:11:47] [SPEAKER_01]: to ever happen to the city of Chicago?

[00:11:51] [SPEAKER_02]: He doesn't own the white socks.

[00:11:52] [SPEAKER_02]: Oh no, because of because of Jericho.

[00:11:55] [SPEAKER_01]: Jericho Jericho Jericho.

[00:11:57] [SPEAKER_01]: Jericho Jericho.

[00:11:57] [SPEAKER_01]: Jericho Jericho Jericho.

[00:11:57] [SPEAKER_01]: Jericho Jericho Jericho.

[00:11:58] [SPEAKER_01]: And happens to own the Chicago Bulls who would be a pretty irrelevant franchise if not for number 23.

[00:12:04] [SPEAKER_02]: But billionaires like that don't care, would he have ever left his ownership role even without Michael Jordan?

[00:12:11] [SPEAKER_01]: No, but I don't know if his team would be as valuable.

[00:12:13] [SPEAKER_01]: It would be pretty valuable, but maybe not as much.

[00:12:17] [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe the value would've come later.

[00:12:20] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[00:12:20] [SPEAKER_01]: Anyway, anyway.

[00:12:22] [SPEAKER_02]: Mariners.

[00:12:23] [SPEAKER_02]: I like the Mariners have more games to make up on the twins, obviously.

[00:12:27] [SPEAKER_02]: Then they do on the Tigers.

[00:12:28] [SPEAKER_02]: So they don't have to surpass the Tigers by that much.

[00:12:32] [SPEAKER_02]: You just have to do it by a gamer too.

[00:12:36] [SPEAKER_02]: You're one game behind the Tigers right now, right?

[00:12:39] [SPEAKER_01]: Uh, the Tigers when you'll be a half game behind them.

[00:12:42] [SPEAKER_01]: Half game.

[00:12:43] [SPEAKER_01]: You may have they lose.

[00:12:46] [SPEAKER_01]: Well, the Mariners don't play on Monday today.

[00:12:48] [SPEAKER_01]: Right.

[00:12:48] [SPEAKER_01]: Tigers are playing right now.

[00:12:50] [SPEAKER_01]: So if they win they'll be a half game ahead.

[00:12:51] [SPEAKER_01]: So they're tied in the standing.

[00:12:52] [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, right.

[00:12:53] [SPEAKER_02]: Sorry.

[00:12:54] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[00:12:54] [SPEAKER_02]: You're right.

[00:12:56] [SPEAKER_02]: So in that case.

[00:12:57] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[00:12:57] [SPEAKER_02]: Like it's not like the Mariners have to catch all this ground on the Tigers.

[00:13:00] [SPEAKER_02]: They just have to outplay them like you said by one game the rest of the way.

[00:13:05] [SPEAKER_02]: And I don't think the Tigers are just going to have a cakewalk outside of those final three games of the year.

[00:13:10] [SPEAKER_02]: Yes.

[00:13:10] [SPEAKER_02]: You've got to make up ground before those final three games because you have to assume the Tigers are sweeping that series.

[00:13:15] [SPEAKER_02]: So you've got to make up the ground before them, but I think they can.

[00:13:18] [SPEAKER_01]: And this also none of this is possible without the Mariners winning every single series the rest of the season.

[00:13:25] [SPEAKER_01]: Right.

[00:13:25] [SPEAKER_01]: Like let's just set it bare minimum.

[00:13:27] [SPEAKER_01]: The Mariners need to win two of three into the series and sweep the other two series of the four remaining two sweeps two two of three.

[00:13:35] [SPEAKER_01]: To make it you want to be in the field.

[00:13:37] [SPEAKER_01]: That's what it's going to take.

[00:13:39] [SPEAKER_02]: In other words, like we said on the live stream on Sunday, you need to be 10 and two in these final 12.

[00:13:44] [SPEAKER_02]: You can't go six and six.

[00:13:45] [SPEAKER_02]: You can't even go eight and four. You've got to be 10 and two.

[00:13:49] [SPEAKER_01]: Now what what are those series? I think you'd like to beat the Astros, but most likely the Astros are going to beat you at least once in Houston.

[00:13:58] [SPEAKER_01]: And I would say most likely the Yankees will beat you one of three this week.

[00:14:04] [SPEAKER_01]: Can you sweep the Rangers on the road in the A's at home? Yes. You can do that.

[00:14:09] [SPEAKER_01]: So there is it's not like we're asking something that is unrealistic. Have the Mariners really done something like that?

[00:14:15] [SPEAKER_01]: Like this this year? No.

[00:14:18] [SPEAKER_01]: Enough because that's why they're in the position they are right now, but if they want to make it, that's what they're going to have to do luckily for them.

[00:14:25] [SPEAKER_01]: They had the pitching to do it and the way the offense is swinging.

[00:14:29] [SPEAKER_01]: They should absolutely be able to do this if they're willing to gear it up for this final stretch.

[00:14:33] [SPEAKER_02]: So I jumped a gun a little bit on Sunday because I thought when I saw the Mariners resided their rotation.

[00:14:40] [SPEAKER_02]: I thought that the three in the Yankees series would be the three in the Astros series. That's obviously not right because you don't have six starters in your rotation.

[00:14:49] [SPEAKER_02]: So you have woo, Miller and Logan going in this series against the Yankees.

[00:14:57] [SPEAKER_02]: So you can't slot it out perfectly, but I think if I have this right, it should be right in some order or another Brian Woo, Bryce Miller, George Kirby.

[00:15:09] [SPEAKER_02]: In the Astros series and with the off day on that Monday, I think you can find a way to work that in. I think that's sound right close enough.

[00:15:20] [SPEAKER_02]: I like we'll see how it's we don't know exactly how it's going to shake out by the time they get to Houston, but you'd have to imagine they are planning to use just about the best rotation possible.

[00:15:31] [SPEAKER_01]: You know based on our discourse of this rotation, especially over the second half of the season, I think you have your four guys, your most confident in pitching in Houston right now.

[00:15:40] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, yeah. And then especially the Kirby's last start where he was pretty pretty darn good on Sunday.

[00:15:45] [SPEAKER_01]: He was really good. You would have to you would have to feel pretty confident about that and the other three guys in that rotation.

[00:15:51] [SPEAKER_01]: It stinks, the Mariners don't have Luis Castillo here for the stretcher on.

[00:15:55] [SPEAKER_01]: The Mariners will protect Emerson Hancock a little bit because he's going to start in that Texas series right.

[00:16:00] [SPEAKER_01]: So like sort of just manage out like who's pitching well in your rotation and where it is.

[00:16:07] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and Luis may be back for that final week. He may be back for it to make a start against the A's we'll see.

[00:16:14] [SPEAKER_01]: Let's jump into the division part of this.

[00:16:17] [SPEAKER_01]: Okay. So right now the Mariners are four and a half games back at the Astros today. They don't play oh they do play today.

[00:16:26] [SPEAKER_01]: And they started yet. It is one nothing pondering in the bottom of the second inning. So we as of right now, we're going to play this as the standing is currently our with the Mariners four and a half games back of the Houston Astros.

[00:16:38] [SPEAKER_01]: The Astros defined it's the season three at San Diego starting today on Monday, four versus the angels three versus the Mariners and then three at the Guardians.

[00:16:48] [SPEAKER_01]: Not an easy stretch. They get four cupcakes in the middle, but outside of that they play three.

[00:16:54] [SPEAKER_01]: Play off to play off close to play off teams to finish out this season.

[00:17:00] [SPEAKER_01]: We said our goal for the Mariners is for them to be down three games by the time playing touches down in Houston. So with a sweep you would be in first place in the division in Houston.

[00:17:13] [SPEAKER_01]: So how did they get there at this point? Because that angel series really throws a wrench in the plans for that you have to make up a game and a half with them playing.

[00:17:27] [SPEAKER_01]: Essentially a roll over team, which when we talk about the twins being the the third worst team in baseball since the middle of August angels have been the second worst team.

[00:17:39] [SPEAKER_02]: Who's been the worst? Do you have that or no? Oh, what am I saying dumb question man. I've had a lot of I've had a lot of dumb in a long day.

[00:17:49] [SPEAKER_01]: I was in a wake now is it 15 hours.

[00:17:52] [SPEAKER_02]: Is that right? Yeah, something like that. Yeah, I've had a lot of dumb mess ups on this podcast. Well, it's not unknown to happen obviously.

[00:18:00] [SPEAKER_02]: So yeah, the white talks have been the worst if anybody didn't pick up on that. I would say yes it throws a wrench into the plans because the angels you expect to lose every game they play against the astros just just how it is.

[00:18:14] [SPEAKER_02]: Now here's my question about how do they get there before we even answer the how do they get there?

[00:18:19] [SPEAKER_02]: I do wonder this. Is it easier to get into the playoffs for the Mariners via a wildcard spot or through the division and let me lay out both sides to it, then you can answer.

[00:18:32] [SPEAKER_02]: It would you would think you would actually be easier in the division despite being backed by less games because you directly play the team you have to catch and you can take care of a lot of your own business.

[00:18:43] [SPEAKER_02]: And you have the tiebreaker. So you would think, oh that's still more plausible than being too back at a wildcard right now, which is essentially three back as we know because you do not have the tiebreaker over the twins.

[00:18:54] [SPEAKER_02]: But the twins have played so poorly with what's probably a tougher schedule than the astros I start to wonder if it's the wildcard.

[00:19:04] [SPEAKER_01]: I think it's the wildcard solely for the fact that the astros are significantly better than the twins and the tigers. Therefore,

[00:19:13] [SPEAKER_01]: The odds of them messing up is much worse like the Mariners will need teams to mess up for them to make the playoffs right that's that's a fact.

[00:19:23] [SPEAKER_01]: The astros haven't messed up for three months. They've been great. So unfortunately, that's just not something the Mariners can bank on if you map it out.

[00:19:32] [SPEAKER_01]: Mariners at worst this week if they're going to be in a if they're going to beat three games back of the Astros need to be five and one this week.

[00:19:39] [SPEAKER_01]: Against the Yankees and against the Rangers that means they have need to sweep one and they need to win two or three the other.

[00:19:44] [SPEAKER_01]: Let's say as I laid out, they win two or three against the Yankees and they sweep the Rangers that makes it possible.

[00:19:51] [SPEAKER_01]: But the astros can do no better than a four and three week.

[00:19:56] [SPEAKER_01]: Against these two teams they're playing. They could get swept by the podries, they could sweep the Angels.

[00:20:01] [SPEAKER_01]: They could lose two of three to the podries and three of four to the Angels like all that's possible if they sweep the Angels,

[00:20:07] [SPEAKER_01]: that just leaves no room for error. Like they just need to win one game against the podries and then the Astros know they physically cannot blow the division lead facing the Mariners.

[00:20:16] [SPEAKER_01]: Unless the Mariners go six and know which is most likely not happening.

[00:20:21] [SPEAKER_02]: So the Mariners really need the podries to win two of those games in this series.

[00:20:25] [SPEAKER_01]: Very bad at least.

[00:20:27] [SPEAKER_01]: At least.

[00:20:29] [SPEAKER_01]: That's your best chance.

[00:20:30] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, it is.

[00:20:31] [SPEAKER_01]: Otherwise you're sitting there and you are clinging to the fact that the Astros play at the Guardians the final week of the season like the Guardians are very good team.

[00:20:40] [SPEAKER_01]: The Astros isn't better.

[00:20:42] [SPEAKER_01]: You don't want to rely on that. You just you can't you can't rely on that especially for how some of these these end of season series have gone for the Mariners when they missed the playoffs by a game.

[00:20:54] [SPEAKER_01]: It'll be if the Mariners do somehow do that again,

[00:21:10] [SPEAKER_01]: or actually going to tie the third wild card, what they're going to not not have the tie breaker and therefore miss out.

[00:21:16] [SPEAKER_01]: So let's hope that doesn't happen because I don't think you or I can do it again and you don't want to have to rely on other teams taking care of your business when you have the opportunity to do it for you.

[00:21:28] [SPEAKER_02]: No, you don't.

[00:21:29] [SPEAKER_02]: And just to look at the pitching matchups in that Astros podries series obviously this podcast will be out on Wednesday.

[00:21:34] [SPEAKER_02]: So two games have already been completed, but just for the sake of it. You'd arvers you're going for the podries tonight again Spencer Errogetti Tuesday is hunter round for the Astros Michael King for the podries and Wednesday unfortunately is framer for the Astros and then Dylan cease for the podries.

[00:21:50] [SPEAKER_02]: So from a Mariners perspective or from a podries perspective, you've got your best arms going, but they're just going to have to step up their game.

[00:21:59] [SPEAKER_01]: As a matter of much of the Astros, they've continued to just mash.

[00:22:03] [SPEAKER_02]: Right actually and I'm curious now as we think out loud here, Framber pitches Wednesday.

[00:22:09] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, he's going to throw that first game against the Mariners. I just looked so you're going to have to face Framber Valdez in Houston and you're going to have to beat them.

[00:22:16] [SPEAKER_01]: But they played pretty well against Framber. That hasn't been the issue.

[00:22:20] [SPEAKER_02]: They have, but down the stretch, I just always worry when you face very good arms like that.

[00:22:25] [SPEAKER_01]: Are they in high pressure games in Houston against an offense that is just really just decimated pitchers for the last three months?

[00:22:31] [SPEAKER_01]: Are they going to be able to suppress?

[00:22:35] [SPEAKER_01]: Or the here's the here's the ultimate thing or the Crawford boxes going to get mother fucked in this series.

[00:22:42] [SPEAKER_01]: Am I going to have to yell at the Crawford boxes?

[00:22:45] [SPEAKER_02]: Look, that is the core strength backbone of your team. You're starting pitching.

[00:22:52] [SPEAKER_02]: If they falter in this Astros series, you probably just don't deserve to get in because you need them to go and be great.

[00:22:59] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, yeah, you do.

[00:23:01] [SPEAKER_01]: So like let's hope for sweep of the Astros. We'll have a little bit more time to think about it next week when we record our next Wednesday episode.

[00:23:10] [SPEAKER_01]: We'll be recording it before that Astros series starts.

[00:23:14] [SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, we'll have an idea, but it won't have to sort of figure it out as it gets to that point regardless.

[00:23:22] [SPEAKER_01]: Mariners margin for error is as slim as ever.

[00:23:27] [SPEAKER_01]: Just a little bit.

[00:23:27] [SPEAKER_01]: They're in.

[00:23:28] [SPEAKER_01]: So they're going to have to, they're going to have to find just find some way to have other teams falter at the same time.

[00:23:36] [SPEAKER_01]: They get some wins and down the stretch.

[00:23:38] [SPEAKER_02]: Okay, let's take a quick pause for a minute.

[00:23:40] [SPEAKER_02]: We're going to talk to you guys about our friends over at Pagaches Pub85.

[00:23:44] [SPEAKER_02]: Some of you are probably looking for a place to go and watch these final stretch of Mariners games.

[00:23:47] [SPEAKER_02]: Why? Because it's getting pretty exciting.

[00:23:50] [SPEAKER_02]: So head over there. There's 20 TVs in that place.

[00:23:52] [SPEAKER_02]: You can watch the Mariners. You can watch the Manifel. You can watch them college football.

[00:23:55] [SPEAKER_02]: Whatever. You want to play darts. You want to play pool.

[00:23:57] [SPEAKER_02]: That's there. You want to have some great food.

[00:23:59] [SPEAKER_02]: That's there and the drink specials.

[00:24:01] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, the drink specials.

[00:24:02] [SPEAKER_02]: Two to six. P.M. happy hour. Monicky Friday drinks are three and four dollars.

[00:24:06] [SPEAKER_02]: So all of that combined.

[00:24:09] [SPEAKER_02]: You've got everything you need for a good night out with your friends.

[00:24:11] [SPEAKER_02]: That is all over at Pagaches Pub85 in Kirkland.

[00:24:16] [SPEAKER_01]: So we had on Ben Reneary if you haven't checked it out.

[00:24:19] [SPEAKER_01]: He does a sub stack site and is the host of the sea level podcast.

[00:24:23] [SPEAKER_01]: The page is called the sea level where he talks quite a lot about the Mariners.

[00:24:30] [SPEAKER_01]: So he's a Montana kid, which means in a positive way.

[00:24:35] [SPEAKER_01]: Well, good friend of Ryan Davis.

[00:24:37] [SPEAKER_01]: It's always a good connection to have.

[00:24:40] [SPEAKER_01]: We talk a little bit about this in this interview.

[00:24:43] [SPEAKER_01]: Chad a little bit about this current team as well.

[00:24:45] [SPEAKER_01]: Ben brings a very interesting perspective and is another different faction

[00:24:50] [SPEAKER_01]: of what the Mariners content community has sort of grown to.

[00:24:53] [SPEAKER_01]: He is a little bit similar to us.

[00:24:55] [SPEAKER_01]: He went out on his own to create something that is.

[00:24:59] [SPEAKER_01]: Scratch and it has done very well so recommend if you don't.

[00:25:02] [SPEAKER_01]: Aren't familiar with his stuff.

[00:25:04] [SPEAKER_01]: You go check them out at the sea level and you got to spend quite a bit of time with

[00:25:06] [SPEAKER_01]: them this past week and at the park.

[00:25:09] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, he was there with a bunch of his friends and we were hanging out and all three of us have gotten

[00:25:13] [SPEAKER_02]: to now meet in person when we did that.

[00:25:15] [SPEAKER_02]: About a month ago, month and a half ago.

[00:25:18] [SPEAKER_01]: Billy series right.

[00:25:20] [SPEAKER_02]: So caught up with him again.

[00:25:22] [SPEAKER_02]: When we met during the Philly series, we had never met in person before that because

[00:25:25] [SPEAKER_02]: he's from Montana, but we're all about the same age.

[00:25:28] [SPEAKER_02]: Obviously have similar interests.

[00:25:30] [SPEAKER_02]: Talk in Mariners for a while and he's really fun to talk to.

[00:25:33] [SPEAKER_02]: Very smart.

[00:25:35] [SPEAKER_02]: But yeah, like one of the cool things about starting this is we've gotten to know a lot of other people

[00:25:39] [SPEAKER_02]: that do Mariners content and it become friends with a lot of these people.

[00:25:43] [SPEAKER_02]: And we haven't had a whole ton of them on yet besides Ty.

[00:25:46] [SPEAKER_02]: Now we're going to have Ben on here too who was great and I'll say it's kind of a cool.

[00:25:51] [SPEAKER_02]: Way to ballot.

[00:25:52] [SPEAKER_02]: Like having him on was a cool way to balance T.J. and I out a little bit because as you guys

[00:25:55] [SPEAKER_02]: probably know, we can me specifically.

[00:25:59] [SPEAKER_02]: Certainly come on here and be very animated get very loud, get very very like, you know,

[00:26:04] [SPEAKER_02]: yelling to the mic sort of mode.

[00:26:06] [SPEAKER_02]: But Ben not only is he just very smart and breaks things down in a very good way,

[00:26:12] [SPEAKER_02]: but he's almost like a very he's a very relaxed voice.

[00:26:15] [SPEAKER_02]: So when I say he balances us out, that's what I mean where he does a good job of it.

[00:26:19] [SPEAKER_02]: And I think he provides some really good stuff in this and hopefully you guys really enjoy.

[00:26:24] [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, one more note.

[00:26:26] [SPEAKER_02]: So Ben references though like you know thinking about it as a player and thinking about it back when I played.

[00:26:31] [SPEAKER_02]: So Ben played college baseball like he played down at Linfield.

[00:26:36] [SPEAKER_02]: So he's not just saying oh, I played little league like no he has real collegiate baseball experience

[00:26:40] [SPEAKER_02]: and he's trained to drive line when he was playing in college.

[00:26:43] [SPEAKER_02]: So he like he is a lot of the driveline training and stuff too.

[00:26:46] [SPEAKER_02]: So he brings like a very very unique element and we hope you guys enjoy the interview because we're

[00:26:51] [SPEAKER_02]: a bunch of fun with it.

[00:26:53] [SPEAKER_01]: We won't keep you guys any longer.

[00:26:54] [SPEAKER_01]: Let's get you to that interview with Ben Reniri.

[00:26:59] [SPEAKER_02]: All right, we welcome our friend Ben Reniri.

[00:27:03] [SPEAKER_02]: He's the founder of C level.

[00:27:04] [SPEAKER_02]: Both of the C level podcast.

[00:27:06] [SPEAKER_02]: He has some awesome stuff over there.

[00:27:08] [SPEAKER_02]: We just caught up with him this past weekend or I did, I should say Ben long time no see.

[00:27:13] [SPEAKER_02]: Overall reviewed your weekend in Seattle.

[00:27:15] [SPEAKER_02]: Give us give us your take.

[00:27:17] [SPEAKER_00]: It was first of all.

[00:27:18] [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for having me.

[00:27:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Second off, it was pretty awesome.

[00:27:22] [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I feel like it was kind of my ideal viewing experience watching baseball honestly

[00:27:29] [SPEAKER_00]: because we had, there's just bombs and bath loops and pretty good pitching and like the two games that I got to go to.

[00:27:38] [SPEAKER_00]: I mean what more can you ask for Jacob DeGram and Max Scherzer in the two that I went to.

[00:27:45] [SPEAKER_00]: I just saw a video and uprodeck in and bowl.

[00:27:49] [SPEAKER_00]: Victor Robles was amazing in both games.

[00:27:53] [SPEAKER_00]: It was, there were exciting games.

[00:27:56] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, now it was, it was some of my favorite games actually that I've watched there.

[00:28:00] [SPEAKER_00]: You know really long time which is surprising considering how frustrating this team has been as an overall viewing experience.

[00:28:08] [SPEAKER_01]: So we're a big numbers guys and we like, you know, we like clarity.

[00:28:12] [SPEAKER_01]: We like facts. The fact is you're undefeated this year, aren't you?

[00:28:16] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah. Why go in person? I sure. And it would like what?

[00:28:19] [SPEAKER_01]: I don't know. Do it. You have to have a spawn on the team plane at this point.

[00:28:23] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah. I think I could maybe offer some some, some late-ending defensive value.

[00:28:28] [SPEAKER_00]: Other than that, I don't think I'm going to see. I think I'm going to be bringing a tremendous amount.

[00:28:32] [SPEAKER_00]: But yeah, for no. I think I'm probably like they have to be averaging five runs a game because I was at the Philly's game where they just weren't just in turn at the grand slam.

[00:28:43] [SPEAKER_00]: That one. They think they scored like 11 runs in that game.

[00:28:46] [SPEAKER_00]: Pretty good offensive nights this last weekend. So yeah. I don't know. Something about it this year.

[00:28:54] [SPEAKER_02]: So we'll dive all, we'll dive into all that in just a second. But for those of you listening or watching who don't know who you are or haven't seen your work before,

[00:29:03] [SPEAKER_02]: you want to give people just kind of the groundwork of how you decided you wanted to start doing Mariners content,

[00:29:08] [SPEAKER_02]: how you got into doing a sub-stack page or a sub-stack podcast and what you've enjoyed about it so far?

[00:29:14] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[00:29:16] [SPEAKER_00]: So I started out at, I mean, my Mariners, I guess, fandom kind of started out way back.

[00:29:24] [SPEAKER_00]: And so my family is Yankees fans. I have a lot of Yankees and Braves fans of my family, so you know, don't ask me why I chose this path.

[00:29:33] [SPEAKER_00]: But yeah, I'm from Boise, Idaho. So like the team of, you can watch locally there as a bearer.

[00:29:42] [SPEAKER_00]: And I kind of just fell in love with watching Felix. And I kind of started into, you know,

[00:29:48] [SPEAKER_00]: I was watching them. I mean, I loosely followed them for a long time, but I really started watching once every fifth day for sure.

[00:29:55] [SPEAKER_00]: When Felix was on the mound, then since that it's been, it's grown and grown and grown.

[00:30:01] [SPEAKER_00]: And since I've gotten older and been able to, I guess, appreciate baseball on a different way.

[00:30:06] [SPEAKER_00]: It's grown into like wanting to have a voice about it until that started at Soto Mojo back in the day. I guess that was like 20, 20, 20, 21.

[00:30:16] [SPEAKER_00]: And I actually got an opportunity to interview Julio right before he made his debut.

[00:30:21] [SPEAKER_00]: And that was kind of how I got my first kind of step and taste into this world.

[00:30:27] [SPEAKER_00]: And then ever since then, I got an opportunity to write with SI with Ty and Colby and those guys.

[00:30:35] [SPEAKER_00]: And I've had a chance to be on their show a lot. And then some things that's worth illustrated kind of went downhill.

[00:30:42] [SPEAKER_00]: And so then from there, I just wanted to keep having a voice in it.

[00:30:46] [SPEAKER_00]: Anyway, that I kind of could even if it was small. And it's grown way more than I could have possibly imagined.

[00:30:53] [SPEAKER_00]: It's fun. It's fun to have people who listen similar to you guys. I'm sure that like, you know, send in questions and like want your opinions on it.

[00:31:05] [SPEAKER_00]: It's just a, it's a good time having a voice about something that I would just want to talk about with friends.

[00:31:12] [SPEAKER_00]: So it's been a really, really fun experience so far.

[00:31:16] [SPEAKER_01]: And it, I guess, feels a lot more rewarding. I know I can speak for a while in this aspect because we've talked about this quite a lot.

[00:31:23] [SPEAKER_01]: But when you, you know, start something from nothing, like literally starting your own like you are a, you know, single owner operator of the sea level.

[00:31:31] [SPEAKER_01]: We're dual owner operators of the Marine Lair podcast. So like it almost feels like when you have to build up your own branding without anything supporting you up around you.

[00:31:42] [SPEAKER_01]: And it needs to all start from zero. I guess just feels, you know, I've feels that much more. So I would see in this what did you feel like was the biggest thing you learned when you're trying to figure out like what worked and what didn't

[00:31:55] [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, the biggest thing that I learned, I would say is like you got to make connections.

[00:32:01] [SPEAKER_00]: Like the more you show that you can talk to people who like have a voice already.

[00:32:09] [SPEAKER_00]: That helps a ton. Like, I mean, I, I tell them this all the time even though he's, you know, a grizzly bear on Twitter. He's Ryan Davis has been a big part of this for me.

[00:32:24] [SPEAKER_00]: Larry Stone, like, I wouldn't have been able to do get this many people to listen to what I do if it wasn't for for those guys.

[00:32:32] [SPEAKER_00]: They just, you know, very welcoming to me like starting back in spring training of 2021 or 2022 whenever that was. And yeah, I've just been super and it doesn't stop with those guys like there's so many tie tie and cool be for sure as well.

[00:32:50] [SPEAKER_00]: Um, just like, you know, making genuine friends in the industry has been probably the biggest thing. I'm just making connections with people that, you know, actually

[00:33:01] [SPEAKER_00]: Care about what you have to say about baseball. I think is it's probably the biggest thing that I've learned.

[00:33:06] [SPEAKER_02]: Let's say we're right along that same boat. It's it's such a who you know, the old sports media and that can be true in life, but I feel like sports media plays a big factor into it.

[00:33:44] [SPEAKER_02]: And I promise we're going to get some mariners here for everybody listening in just a minute, but while we're on the topic and while you mentioned,

[00:33:45] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm kind of getting the ball rolling all, all, all throw one out. Actually, you okay from what we talked about this weekend about how we either told it on a vlog or on this podcast, I've given us was taught us in spring training how former Oregon State basketball coach Wayne Tinkle once

[00:33:59] [SPEAKER_02]: And then we went to the ground as he was trying to fake him and go up for a layup and pick up basketball and he dropped an F bomb on him and it's like just flexing on him. I mean, I was dying when I heard that. But anyway, so I think like the way that we both think about the game pretty similarly, I think

[00:34:19] [SPEAKER_00]: And so like we talk about it from like when we talk about it a lot of times, it's like from a coaching perspective almost and so my favorite thing he has his his girlfriend son Tyson plays for have her.

[00:34:34] [SPEAKER_00]: I coach in Missula and so I got to meet Tyson who's a big kid and I think going to be a good player. I've had a met down at spring training.

[00:34:45] [SPEAKER_00]: And he will send me my favorite is when he sends me videos of like Tyson swing and stuff like that, but he's the best ones are the ones where he's he's gotten clipped a couple times so he got clipped in the elbow.

[00:34:59] [SPEAKER_00]: And I believe shattered a piece of his elbow off. So he sent me a couple videos over the he got hit in the hip. He got hit several times in those and those have her cages and so that is probably.

[00:35:12] [SPEAKER_00]: Those are probably my favorite because it is you know as painful as it's happened to me as well, but he has them documented on video and as you can probably imagine his reactions are pretty funny.

[00:35:26] [SPEAKER_00]: Oh, that's probably my favorite.

[00:35:28] [SPEAKER_02]: So his favorite stories are not hey look at this kid I'm coaching look at him rip a double into the gap. It's hey look at him getting hit by a pitch.

[00:35:37] [SPEAKER_00]: Yes exactly it's it's it's pretty good. It's like him you know front tossing and then he you know, you can't hang out hanging out that net at all otherwise you're exposing some some limbs and yeah.

[00:35:51] [SPEAKER_01]: And I think it's gotten bigger and as Tyson's gotten bigger and stronger he's clipped him a couple times and I'm heard him pretty bad. So let's get into a little bit about this mariner's team and we could jump all over the place there's been so much recently that I think is really fascinating that I want to get your take on.

[00:36:11] [SPEAKER_01]: So let's just start off with the overall offense of performance has been really like really good like league best to the last couple of weeks overall since Edgar Martinez has been hired as the temporary and coach it has been very good.

[00:36:24] [SPEAKER_01]: You take any like how like how what like what's the rate of of like significance that it's like is it Edgar fixing the offense do you think it's just the offense coming around what how do you how do you sort of look at this situation and who's influencing what.

[00:36:39] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that's a good question. I think it's I think a lot of it is like. I mean, I think about this from just like a player perspective if if we struggled let's say they're like we were an offense and we struggled all year the way that they've struggled.

[00:36:56] [SPEAKER_00]: Your best players of struggle your your theoretical like worst players have struggled really bad too. Like nobody's been outstanding for the majority of the season and I think like they're human beings to and they see stuff so like they're going to see when when there's all these stats coming across about how this is the one of the worst offenses of all time.

[00:37:18] [SPEAKER_00]: And I think that combined with like maybe some messaging that the players just didn't quite doesn't mean that the coaches were necessarily bad it's just like maybe that wasn't the right coaching set for those players.

[00:37:32] [SPEAKER_00]: And maybe like the messaging was just a little complex for them for a while so I don't know Edgar is like the main reason why everything's turned around. I think that's I think there's probably a part of it.

[00:37:45] [SPEAKER_00]: I think for this group and what they've been through they've been through a lot obviously I mean they've been through several coach firings.

[00:37:52] [SPEAKER_00]: What they probably needed was such as and sometimes you just need to do it and baseball is just to get back to the ground level and just like simplify things because I mean when you look at the lineup like yeah they have a lack of overall talent I would say but like they don't lack for talented players like they have.

[00:38:17] [SPEAKER_00]: I think that's kind of what we've seen and I don't know if he's necessarily like the guy along term but for this year any year where they've been through so much and how mentally taxing that can be.

[00:38:33] [SPEAKER_00]: I think like just keeping it simple I think is probably lifted a big weight off of their shoulders in terms of like what they have to digest on a day-to-day basis and like probably a lot of the pressure that they were feeling.

[00:38:47] [SPEAKER_00]: So that's kind of what I see. Do they just it feels even being there this week I was thinking about this like it just felt like they weren't pressing so hard that they felt like they were just pressing and pressing and pressing from the you know may to.

[00:39:03] [SPEAKER_00]: July I didn't really feel like that even though they're like in theoretically the most important games of their season it just kind of felt like.

[00:39:14] [SPEAKER_00]: They could come back like they went down and both of those games and like it didn't feel like they were cut so that's kind of how I see it right now.

[00:39:23] [SPEAKER_00]: The way you think about it what do you mean by simple.

[00:39:28] [SPEAKER_00]: I think it's just like the way that stuff is packaged and delivered to the players so like whatever the game planning was I think it's been fairly evident in like what some of the players have said is that they just.

[00:39:40] [SPEAKER_00]: It's struggled to grasp whatever it was that they were that was being taught to them and I think like.

[00:39:52] [SPEAKER_00]: It's probably easier for them right now in a season that you know has been so probably mentally taxing for a lot of them to just get back to like, you know maybe some of the way they played the game growing up just like hey.

[00:40:05] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm just trying to put it in play with two strikes or like lay down a bun or like you know just you don't have to be the hero that hits the eight run home run like just hit us act fly.

[00:40:14] [SPEAKER_00]: Which I know is all easier said than done but it just I think.

[00:40:17] [SPEAKER_00]: I believe it's some of the like and I don't know I'm not there. I don't know what their game planning looked like before but it seems from the the just like general viewing perspective and just like what we've heard the players say that like.

[00:40:33] [SPEAKER_00]: This is just given them a big weight off their shoulders to just like think simplistically about a game that they've been playing for a long time and they're probably hearing some similar things to like you know what they heard when they were younger like.

[00:40:47] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know I think it's just keeping it simple and I think Daniels instead as much like I'd just not.

[00:40:53] [SPEAKER_00]: Trying to reinvent the wheel here he's just he's got a good cash a obviously is a Hall of Fame hitter and so guys listen to that and guys believe in that so that's kind of what I think is going on.

[00:41:05] [SPEAKER_02]: If there's any time for these guys to not be pressing and to be playing relaxed it's now when the games are most important because that we want them.

[00:41:13] [SPEAKER_02]: Not cracking under pressure and so far they've lived up to the challenge of that we'll see what the final 12 games look like but it really done that so far so on that note.

[00:41:21] [SPEAKER_02]: Well we're talking about the hitters with so many of these guys starting to turn things around aside from Julio because he'd be the obvious answer which guy currently really hitting offensively do you think it's been the most important to the team success.

[00:41:37] [SPEAKER_00]: I mean I think it has to be Victor Robless.

[00:41:43] [SPEAKER_00]: I think it has to be like I mean I think the turn around for this team is I mean pretty much co and I mean you could make it argument for several different players but it's got to be Robless or Rayleigh in my opinion like those guys have.

[00:42:02] [SPEAKER_00]: And Robless I think it's from more of a perspective than anybody else too because he just is so infectious like his energy is so infectious and like just watching him.

[00:42:14] [SPEAKER_00]: I mean I sat in the Saturday game I sat down the right field line and now I didn't know that he was going to be playing right field.

[00:42:22] [SPEAKER_00]: I got those tickets a long time ago but like it was incredibly entertaining like he's incredibly entertaining he's having so much fun.

[00:42:30] [SPEAKER_00]: And he's set the table for all of this like he's he's still a third twice in that game and he's 25 or 25 on the basis like he's he has extra base hit ability right now he's doing it in a lot of different ways that is.

[00:42:49] [SPEAKER_00]: Also like what we don't think about is that he's putting pressure on the defense and a lot of different ways to like he's stealing bags he's he will he will hunt with two outs like he's just never know what he's going to do.

[00:43:00] [SPEAKER_00]: And I think it's been incredibly in fact he's a good defender like he's impacting the game in so many different ways and.

[00:43:07] [SPEAKER_00]: It's got to be him but it's honorable mention that's really great is what I think they're like the number one and.

[00:43:14] [SPEAKER_00]: To I don't know if you guys saw that step it's like the number one and two hitters and baseball since is it August first it's something unbelievable like that.

[00:43:21] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah so it's the last 30 days our buddy Peter Apple who co-founded just baseball tweeted that out today and I was like I didn't know that.

[00:43:29] [SPEAKER_02]: I knew both of those guys were hitting but I didn't realize that Victor Robles had been the best batten baseball over the last month's time that's for sure like it to your point.

[00:43:39] [SPEAKER_02]: Now that we're sitting you're talking about it and just getting the conversation going about how infectious the personality of Victor Robles is and how he's so quickly one over the fan base clearly one over his teammates.

[00:43:50] [SPEAKER_02]: It doesn't almost feel like he's taken some of that role that genome no longer fills with him being in Arizona like in terms of like the vibes like right people missed you know that's never going to change he was loved here for a reason it is two years.

[00:44:03] [SPEAKER_02]: But it does kind of feel like he's taking some of that on all this side where he's got a good vibes guy.

[00:44:08] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah I think that's 100% fair and you need guys like that sometimes especially like I think people realize how long and grueling the season is.

[00:44:19] [SPEAKER_00]: And when they started playing really well I mean correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure when they started playing really well last year.

[00:44:26] [SPEAKER_00]: It was because Scott like basically challenged genome like you need to bring more energy like that is part of your role on this team.

[00:44:35] [SPEAKER_00]: And I don't think that they've had the tell Victor Robles to do that I think he's just having a genuine blast like I tweeted out a video and I know of like like he has a ball and it's more than just like.

[00:44:47] [SPEAKER_00]: The on field stuff like he is a ball sitting out and right field every inning that he's you know taking to a kid or like he brought his bad out to a kid and the stands after the game like he's just.

[00:44:58] [SPEAKER_00]: I think in such a happy place and like this is a guy who was and I'm he was ranked higher than one soda and at one point in their farm system like he's not helpless and he wasn't ever talentless but I think.

[00:45:13] [SPEAKER_00]: And listening to interviews with them and stuff I think he lost the joy for the game that he's found again.

[00:45:19] [SPEAKER_00]: And I think that is definitely infectious on other players one 100% and.

[00:45:25] [SPEAKER_00]: I think you're seeing it right now with the murders I'll feel like you're having a lot of fun.

[00:45:30] [SPEAKER_02]: I'll tell one quick little story here and then I'll throw back the tea day but just to that point to tie it all in because like you said like the back of these like climbing the wall mid inning and all this stuff to sign bats or balls is pretty cool but just to.

[00:45:42] [SPEAKER_02]: The point I was going to bring it back to is when Gino is here almost every day just to give people a little bit of a peek behind the curtains.

[00:45:49] [SPEAKER_02]: When he would come up the steps from the clubhouse and onto the field this would usually happen while Scott service was doing his media session too.

[00:45:57] [SPEAKER_02]: He just come out he'd run right up the stairs and he'd just scream he'd go stop it like which is for no good oh no it's the if the old Perry hill.

[00:46:05] [SPEAKER_02]: Like Montrey says it all the time to all the infielders whoever and.

[00:46:10] [SPEAKER_02]: Victor Robles does he'll stop it but when he runs up the stairs these days more often than not he will run up the stairs and just scream so.

[00:46:18] [SPEAKER_02]: It kind of again to the full Gino point it kind of all ties in so yeah 100% I don't understand he is so much fun.

[00:46:26] [SPEAKER_01]: I would say with a lot of this roboist stuff too.

[00:46:28] [SPEAKER_01]: Not like the murders love his production I don't know where they would be without his bat just thinking of sort of the he'd had to.

[00:46:36] [SPEAKER_01]: Unlike the murders thought machiner was going to come in and light the world on fire as a right handed hitting out fielder but they needed somebody else.

[00:46:43] [SPEAKER_01]: Right handed in the outfield to produce besides Julia and Victor Robles is picked up all that slack but it's not even the offensive production.

[00:46:51] [SPEAKER_01]: Coolie was the guy with the smile on his face all the time most of the time because he's you know normally playing pretty well and he's he's the star of the city and all the attention is on him.

[00:47:01] [SPEAKER_01]: Well when he's struggling this year I did that energy doesn't white field the same and someone else needed to step into that role like someone else really did like leadership yes it like is fantastic but or just like energy and it's like guys smile a little bit like what the way to game here.

[00:47:19] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah so I sort of how I feel like with with Victor Robles but how about like coolio himself like this this stretch he's going on.

[00:47:31] [SPEAKER_01]: Down the final month the season is very important I don't think this saves his season Ben but I think it gives him like he could learn a lesson for what happened this season and he can sort of take notes on how he is dealt with this adversity.

[00:47:47] [SPEAKER_01]: If there's something else besides from what I said do you feel like there is a lesson he sort of learned from the season now that he's turned it around a little bit.

[00:47:56] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah I mean I think clearly like I mean I know this and anybody who's like played the game at least for a long time knows this is like the more situations and and

[00:48:10] [SPEAKER_00]: the more you run into the more hopefully you start to like figure out especially if you're super talented he starts to figure which I was not but like you start to figure out how like.

[00:48:22] [SPEAKER_00]: So you know yourself how do you get yourself out of these things like when this happens again.

[00:48:28] [SPEAKER_00]: Like hopefully it starts to not become these things where like it's a month long thing it's like oh like this happened to me before I know how to fix it and I think.

[00:48:40] [SPEAKER_00]: That could be a big thing for him moving forward and I think a lot of it's just like.

[00:48:46] [SPEAKER_00]: There was a physical aspect to his struggles for sure like I think you just had a little bit of like an issue with.

[00:48:57] [SPEAKER_00]: His his load in kind of the way obviously like he wasn't pulling the ball in the air like that's been very well documented we all know that and he's doing that now.

[00:49:06] [SPEAKER_00]: And it's just setting himself up for success in a big part of that is like.

[00:49:10] [SPEAKER_00]: He needs to remember that he's who we all read regas and get some confidence back and I mean if you're at the games this weekend that very much felt like he's that's starting to happen.

[00:49:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Consistently for the first time which is it's huge.

[00:49:24] [SPEAKER_00]: I mean he he came through in big moments.

[00:49:28] [SPEAKER_00]: I mean that that bat flip was like.

[00:49:32] [SPEAKER_00]: I mean I had time to literally watch this ball go into the second deck and then look back and see like the second half of the descent of the bat like it's just like it's confidence and.

[00:49:43] [SPEAKER_00]: I think that's going to be big for him going into the opposite and to like remember who he is and like how good he is at this game.

[00:49:51] [SPEAKER_00]: But he's just been so fun to watch recently and I hope he finishes this season on a tear regardless of where the team ends up.

[00:49:59] [SPEAKER_02]: We can all oh better be continues to hit like this.

[00:50:02] [SPEAKER_02]: You never know where this happens can go there's a small game left but if he has a ridiculous ball games.

[00:50:07] [SPEAKER_02]: We'll see so I'll ask this question because TJ wanted to tie it all in with a male back question we got a few days ago but we'll turn it to you because we want to get some different people's perspective on this somebody asked.

[00:50:20] [SPEAKER_02]: Of a couple of the pictures.

[00:50:22] [SPEAKER_02]: Who would you pick to extend if you could pick somebody but we'll throw in another guy with you and it's it's the main three you're probably thinking up if you could give out one extension right now.

[00:50:31] [SPEAKER_02]: Logan Gilbert George Kirby.

[00:50:33] [SPEAKER_02]: Cow Raleigh.

[00:50:34] [SPEAKER_02]: It would have me.

[00:50:38] [SPEAKER_00]: That's tough.

[00:50:44] [SPEAKER_00]: So I think it's tough because like from just a pure baseball perspective it's probably Logan I think just because

[00:51:00] [SPEAKER_00]: I think there's a chance that they're just running cow into the ground.

[00:51:07] [SPEAKER_00]: But like who would I extend it would still rob a living cow?

[00:51:12] [SPEAKER_00]: Like I think they do a good enough job finding pitching that they can find pitching and they have pitching coming.

[00:51:19] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know if you can really replace cow.

[00:51:26] [SPEAKER_00]: Like I just don't know if you can do that like he is incredibly meaningful to this pitching staff as well.

[00:51:33] [SPEAKER_00]: Like that's the part that gets lost on people was like he's calling these games and he's really good at the preparation part of it with these guys.

[00:51:43] [SPEAKER_00]: I just think that he's as much as people love him.

[00:51:47] [SPEAKER_00]: I just think he's very underappreciated even for like what he does.

[00:51:51] [SPEAKER_00]: Like I don't think people realize how banged up he is right now and like what he's gone through for this team.

[00:51:57] [SPEAKER_00]: To be like I know he's not a consistent hitter but he's been their most consistent producer all year.

[00:52:05] [SPEAKER_00]: As a catcher who is like he's unbelievable.

[00:52:09] [SPEAKER_00]: I would probably just extend cow out of that group and it's probably just mostly because of the fact that I think they can replace some of that stuff because they're so good at developing pitching.

[00:52:23] [SPEAKER_00]: From a pure baseball perspective only like no vibes in it.

[00:52:28] [SPEAKER_00]: It's probably Logan just because I mean we've seen the track record of health.

[00:52:34] [SPEAKER_00]: We've seen him get better year by year he's got a different weapons.

[00:52:41] [SPEAKER_00]: And I think he likes being here as well but I think I think out of the three actually cows the most likely to get extended that would be my guess.

[00:52:54] [SPEAKER_00]: I would probably go at cow at the end of the day.

[00:52:57] [SPEAKER_02]: I know that was a roundabout answer but yeah no let me put one quick perspective on that before I just throw back to TJ here.

[00:53:04] [SPEAKER_02]: To your point about saying you actually think cows the most likely of three I'm sure there's people listening right now that are going to say Boris guy Boris guy it's not happening.

[00:53:12] [SPEAKER_02]: We can't promise anything's going to happen but to your point Ben I'll say this number one.

[00:53:15] [SPEAKER_02]: I genuinely think cow wants to be here and I think if he was something something fair a bare deal for what he's worth.

[00:53:23] [SPEAKER_02]: He would take it and number two.

[00:53:26] [SPEAKER_02]: Matt Chapman just signed an extension before for the agency as a Boris guy so if anybody out there hoping it happens with cow it is not impossible for a Scott Boris client to sign an extension before he hits for the agency.

[00:53:37] [SPEAKER_02]: So I will just throw that out there for people thinking about it.

[00:53:39] [SPEAKER_00]: I think we've heard like he just wants something fair and I think he said as much like he said he said in February like I had a tweet about this while they should extend cow.

[00:53:54] [SPEAKER_00]: It was like pretty bare bones tweet and I have a bunch of people in their plays like Boris Boris Boris

[00:53:59] [SPEAKER_00]: And I was like you don't just make these statements for fun.

[00:54:04] [SPEAKER_00]: I think he actually wants to be here and he said it.

[00:54:07] [SPEAKER_00]: Why out in February and sprint training like he would want to be in Seattle.

[00:54:11] [SPEAKER_01]: So here's how I think about this.

[00:54:14] [SPEAKER_01]: I think so cow says he wants a fair market deal which is fine but cow also realizes probably the wear and tear in the future value of his position.

[00:54:23] [SPEAKER_01]: Like it's cow going to be a first baseman maybe.

[00:54:27] [SPEAKER_01]: Most of the value goes up the window if he's a first baseman.

[00:54:30] [SPEAKER_01]: So like if there's an opportunity to make money as a catcher he's going to want to take that opportunity.

[00:54:37] [SPEAKER_01]: And I think an extension is the best way to get that money because like where is cow rally when he hits free agency?

[00:54:43] [SPEAKER_01]: How does body look especially a Mariners keep playing him the way they're going to play it?

[00:54:47] [SPEAKER_01]: Well right I think how does that.

[00:54:48] [SPEAKER_01]: How does it look for himself?

[00:54:51] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah well see to me it's like if you extend the mute you also need to like whatever this looks like

[00:54:56] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know what that looks like. I don't know if it's Harry Ford or what that looks like but you need to like if you're going to invest in him

[00:55:03] [SPEAKER_00]: You need to like protect that investment a little bit and like get somebody they can be back there with him.

[00:55:10] [SPEAKER_00]: And maybe it is Harry Ford maybe it's I mean it's hard to say that it's much go over at this point but like you got to find whoever that person is to lighten the load on him a little bit because you're right like.

[00:55:22] [SPEAKER_00]: He he's gonna he's gonna start falling apart a little bit at some point like you can't just do that forever.

[00:55:31] [SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, that's kind of where I'm at like from a baseball and also from like a baseball sense is a true like all around baseball player

[00:55:39] [SPEAKER_01]: I think cows the the best of those three like I know Logan and George have the like the numbers on the paper which is what this podcast goes by most of the times

[00:55:50] [SPEAKER_01]: But you accounted like everything cow does to make this team better like I feel like that makes him a better all around baseball player than those other two but

[00:56:00] [SPEAKER_01]: Logan's the first also the first hit for agency so I think like you're gonna get George for an extra year no matter what so

[00:56:07] [SPEAKER_01]: That almost has to become like your second option. So that's what I feel like the priority is I just feel kind of bad for cow

[00:56:14] [SPEAKER_01]: Just feel like he's at a tough spot to the tough situation with all this he almost it almost is like especially with catchers like they don't have much leverage in these negotiations.

[00:56:24] [SPEAKER_01]: Now because the team's just gonna be like well, you know we know you're gonna get hurt anyway so we can't guarantee you all this money.

[00:56:31] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I'm part of it as to like I don't know how well the extensions have gone.

[00:56:39] [SPEAKER_00]: That have been or could be considered like comparable like I mean I'm pretty sure that J2 World Motto like his defensive stuff. I think is pretty bad. I'm not 100% sure on that, but I think it's pretty bad right now.

[00:56:56] [SPEAKER_00]: Sean Murphy's been dinged up this year and he just got extended that would probably be a pretty good comp.

[00:57:03] [SPEAKER_00]: We are like Will Smith. Yeah, who's awesome. Like there's some awesome catchers around the league.

[00:57:09] [SPEAKER_00]: But he got a big deal. He got a big one. Big one.

[00:57:13] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, he just there's just so much to his game that I think is important and if you were gonna do it though I that might one thing would be like it's kind of counterintuitive a little bit.

[00:57:21] [SPEAKER_00]: Especially for an organization that doesn't spend money but like you need to protect that investment somehow. That's why like

[00:57:27] [SPEAKER_00]: you know, I've Tom Murphy could have just been healthy. He would have been he's perfect like they were the perfect tandem.

[00:57:34] [SPEAKER_00]: But like they had to go on a different direction because he just he couldn't stay on the field and he didn't stay on the field this year unfortunately.

[00:57:42] [SPEAKER_00]: But yeah that it's cow 100%.

[00:57:45] [SPEAKER_01]: My last question Ben and it's almost a two part or so another mailback question we were asked was what position do we think is most likely to bounce back?

[00:57:54] [SPEAKER_01]: So I'm gonna make make this is two parts for you. Which position for the mariner's next year do you feel like is most likely to bounce back and which one would you feel least confident in?

[00:58:05] [SPEAKER_01]: Therefore the mariner's need to go upgrade out.

[00:58:09] [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, it's kind of an easy answer but the one that's the most likely to bounce back in my opinion is center field.

[00:58:17] [SPEAKER_00]: Like he's still really good.

[00:58:20] [SPEAKER_00]: And like I try to think about this as often as I can but he's done a lot of things in his first two years and I understand like some of the caveats that like he has been super consistent or like there's been a lot of months for he has been super good.

[00:58:34] [SPEAKER_00]: But like he's done a lot of things that like no one else has done ever.

[00:58:40] [SPEAKER_00]: Like and he is shoulder he's shoulder to load on a pretty mediocre aggressively mediocre offensive club for his first three years in the big leagues.

[00:58:50] [SPEAKER_00]: Like I have a I feel pretty confident that he's gonna I don't know what it's gonna look like but I feel pretty confident that he's gonna come back next year with the OPS above 800 and he's gonna look like Julio again.

[00:59:05] [SPEAKER_00]: So he's that's the position that's gonna bounce back in my opinion. I don't really think that there's one out there that stands out anymore than that and then the position that I feel like they need to upgrade that I don't feel like it's gonna bounce back is like it's gotta be first base.

[00:59:26] [SPEAKER_00]: Like I just I don't know there's the whole infield is kind of a disaster honestly like it's and it is I mean it's like I feel okay about JP Crawford moving forward like he might just be a 100 WRC plus like solid bottom of the order type of a bat or he might be able to get it up somewhere in between what he's been or what he was in 2023.

[00:59:51] [SPEAKER_00]: But I mean I don't really think Luke Rayleigh looks comfortable playing first base at all and I think it's more likely that.

[01:00:00] [SPEAKER_00]: He's a platoon option with Robless now maybe that could change and maybe first base ends up being less of a priority because Luke Rayleigh can just spend more time there.

[01:00:12] [SPEAKER_00]: But they have sorely needed offense from that position and third base for that matter for the last two years.

[01:00:20] [SPEAKER_00]: And it's just it just hasn't been there they've gotten nothing and I guess Rayleigh you can kind of say he's played a lot there recently.

[01:00:28] [SPEAKER_00]: But they need to go out and get a first baseman like I don't feel comfortable handing that job Tyler Lockler.

[01:00:36] [SPEAKER_00]: Nothing really against Tyler Lockler it's just that's a lot to put on a guy especially when that's a position where you need offensive production and they haven't.

[01:00:45] [SPEAKER_00]: They haven't gotten it from their corner spots in a while now and that's just it's just not kind of be good like it's it's a big part of the reason why they've been so mediocre is that they haven't had.

[01:00:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Traditional offensive production at positions where you need it.

[01:01:02] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah first base I think stands out because I just don't really think there is a guy to bounce back there first of all like I don't think they're bringing Justin Turner back.

[01:01:11] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think the plan is Luke Rayleigh even though he's been awesome this year he's been everything you could have asked for out of him.

[01:01:19] [SPEAKER_00]: So if that's the plan maybe my answer would change but it's got to be first base in my opinion you just need more offense from that spot.

[01:01:27] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah paired with everything that's going to be out on the market first base wise to this winner both free agency and trade seems like the logical fit so up with beyond that 100.

[01:01:37] [SPEAKER_02]: Ben this has been awesome dude thanks so much for hopping all with us.

[01:01:40] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm really we're all really really glad that this whole marathon is content community thing is allowed all of us to become friends and a lot of other people in that matter too and that regard to with awesome catching up with you here with awesome catching up with you this weekend at the park for anybody that's not checking out Ben's stuff yet over at sea level go do that.

[01:01:56] [SPEAKER_00]: And what to do is again this is a really fun absolutely I'm going to have to have I need you guys to be on on my show pretty soon as well so love talking ball.

[01:02:06] [SPEAKER_02]: Hope you guys enjoyed the interview with Ben we really had a blast talking to him again one final time you want to check out his stuff that's over at the sea level and he does the sea level podcast as well.

[01:02:16] [SPEAKER_02]: That'll just about wrap up this edition of the marine layer podcast you guys know the drill you want to listen to the full form podcast you can do so wherever you get your audio pods make sure download make sure to rate and review five stars it really does us a favor.

[01:02:28] [SPEAKER_02]: If you're watching YouTube like comment subscribe especially hit that subscribe button and follow us on social on social media Instagram tick talk Twitter and YouTube shorts at marine layer pod that's TJ I'm loyal as always we thank you guys for tuning in talk to you soon.