Brock And Salk

The Mariners offense is so frustrating because this team can be so fun and good outside of that. What can be done? Salk talks through some of the options to try and spark the lineup but ultimately thinks its too early for most of them. Then, we take your calls and Justin and Salk double their fun in Ranked.

After the conversation Salk has with Shannon, the focus returns to the issues with the Mariners offense and who is feeling "pinchy" within the org based on results of the first 40-ish games of the season. Gee Scott makes his weekly appearance to discuss his recent traffic ticket, JSN year-2 expectations, and much... much more. 

Salk shares an other QB list that has Geno at #18 and thinks it sounds right, but what about the young guys after him? Does that put Geno closer to the back of the pack? M's Insider Shannon Drayer joins Salk to discuss why she feels so many players underperforming their career numbers, frustration levels and Bryan Woo expectations before Brady Henderson (in for Brock) joins the show for some Blue 88. 

There are a lot of things going wrong with the Mariners offense and Salk wonders who is feeling "pinchy" about their present & future... and it could be a lot of folks. The M's pitching staff is getting back one of their starters as the Oakland A's bring their feisty bats to town for a 3 game series. Salk runs down a list of topics to round out the hour. 

What exactly are we seeing happen with Cal Raleigh? Is he ascending into something beyond what we already thought he was? He is tough, genuine, outspoken, strong, clutch and he is in command - put those five things together, and you have a recipe for a team leader and a fan favorite. Brock's Blue 88. 

Salk opens the show with a story about golfing with more old people on vacation before a new outlook on how he looks at baseball in 'chunks' more than individual games and how it reflects some of the strengths and weaknesses of a roster construction. Is Ty France on a hot seat? We revisit the conversation with Ryan Divish. 

Brock and Salk discuss the focus on specialization and skill development in youth sports and how hard it makes it to be a multi sport athlete today. How can we get back to letting kids be kids and enjoy playing sports more? Then, are we getting closer to the M's needing to make some decisions on their lineup? Josh Rojas and Dylan Moore have exceeded expectations but they need the guys they expected to be good, to show up. Plus, Maura did her homework and watched Rocky IV. She gives her review.

Seahawks rookie guard Christian Haynes joins Mike Lefko and Brock Huard to discuss what draft day was like, his impressions of Seattle, his excitement to work with O-line coach Scott Huff and OC Ryan Grubb and what it means to have a mean streak as an O-linemen. Then, we discuss Austin Rivers comments that you could take 30 NBA players right now and drop them in the NFL but you couldn't do vice versa and Lefko ranks the Mariners best promotional giveaways.

Seahawks cornerback situation has opened up a lot of questions about who/what is the right 'fit' for Coach Macdonald's defense. The Mariners were able to rally again to win a big one in Minnesota and the guy get into what is missing most: consistency. 

Brock and Lefko break down the Mariners win and how Cal Raleigh saved the day & deserves the "C" on his chest, but also how Luis Castillo deserves some credit for that win for what he forced the Twins to do the night before w/ their bullpen. M's beat writer Ryan Divish (Seattle Times) joins the guys from Minnesota to discuss Cal, injuries, and more before Brock's Blue 88. 

Lefko (in for Salk) opens with a "good" morning because that's what it is when you get a 10-run Mariners win behind a pinch-hit grand slam by your defacto Mariners captain, Big Dumper. We hear some M's injury updates and revisit the conversation w/ Seahawks ESPN reporter Brady Henderson. 

We discuss whether a Jim Bowden trade suggestion to land the Mariners a bat would be worth it. Then, Brock and Mike Lefko dig into the M's offensive struggles and whether Julio getting going will elevate the entire offense. Plus, Lefko leads us on an exploration of the worst things about air travel in Ranked.

Lefko & Brock discuss what it would take to introduce a QB competition and go back and forth on the reasons why/why not to introduce the idea, but what happens if the issue forces itself based on performance? ESPN's Seahawks beat writer Brady Henderson joins the guys to continue the minicamp/QB convo. 

The Mariners have their fewest hits in a game this season and their 2nd most strikeouts in a game (3rd game of 14) also have three 15-K games and Julio has a -3.8 offensive WAR - lowest on team. What gives?? Twins TV play-by-play broadcaster Cory Provus joins the guys before Brock's Blue 88. 

Luis Castillo shines again but doesn't get enough run support behind only 3 hits by the Mariners offense and going 0-4 w/ RISP leads to a game 1 loss vs the Twins in Minnesota. Mike Lefko (in for Salk) shares some Seahawks rookie minicamp updates before we revisit the conversation with A. J. Pierzynski. 

We discuss John Smoltz's answer to how internal competition can help a starting rotation and why personalites matter so much in all of that. Then, Ryan Rowland-Smith and Brock discuss how the Mariners offens can improve and what Julio is struggling with. Plus, Ryan ranks the top 5 filthiest pitches he's seen.

Brock and Ryan discuss the success we've seen from the 3B platoon and how Rojas specifically has put himself into elite company with a hot bat and solid defense before being joined by Hall of Famer John Smoltz to share some perspective to what the M's pitching staff is doing and also how the position has changed over the last decade. 

Ryan Rowland-Smith (in for Salk) joins Brock to break down the Mariners weekend and how incredible this pitching has been to start the season. The guys are joined by former MLB catcher turned broadcaster A. J. Pierzynski to make a big statement about Logan Gilbert before Brock's Blue 88. 

Maura & Justin open the show with a quick recap of the Mariners weekend as the M's recover from Friday's meltdown to win back-to-back games and the series over the Astros behind more dominant pitching. We revisit the final John Schneider Show. 

We play a round of Buy/Sell with some Mariners & Seahawks questions before being joined by our own Mariners Insider Shannon Drayer live from Houston, finishing up the week with a RANKED: Brock's Top 5 landing spots for UW draftees.