August 19, 2024 • 19 mins
KJR baseball analyst Chuck Powell joins the show to talk about what the Mariners should do with Scott Servais, and much more.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, here we go, joining us right now on
the radio show, and I got to confirm with him
that he actually said this this morning, because you never know,
you see stuff on Twitter or the Instagram, whatever. When
when Mike Benton is running your social mediacounts to your
radio station.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
You got to double check everything.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Okay, So I see this morning on a Instagram post
created by our own Mike Benton, Chuck Powell saying if
the Mariners lose two out of three of the Dodgers,
that Scott's service should be let go after that series.
So really, I just want to have Monica Ferman then
we can just let him walk. Chuck, did you really
say that on today's show?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
I did?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
I did?
Speaker 4 (00:34):
I did?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Why why did you see?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Well, it's not because you know you've got to beat
the Dodgers two out of three. That's too much to
put on a manager. But to go, let's say one
to eight on a crucial road trip where six of
your nine games were against lesser than competition, when you're
supposed to be the big dog that's eating this time
of the year. It would just mark at this point
(01:00):
of the season, just a string of underachievement that would
now be going on nearly two full years. And when
I say under achievement, if you fall short of your
goal of making the playoffs when you've announced you're in
a championship window, you either blame that on we don't
have playoff talent, or you blame it on we're not
getting enough out of our talent. And to me, the
(01:22):
problem is you're not getting enough out of your talent.
So the reason that I said that in the conversation
that we had was I still want to salvage this year.
I still want to salvage this season. And we have
seen this happen many times in the past. Jack McKeon
took the Marlins from an average team to a world
champion in the same year. Rob Thompson from the Philadelphia
(01:45):
Phillies just two years ago, three years ago, took over
a team that was struggling under Joe Girardi and they
ended up in the World Series. Joe Morgan, not the
second baseman, but the old Red Sox manager. He turned
a team around. So we've seen new rous examples of,
you know, where a new manager can kind of shock
the system. So I'm not behind the scenes, I'm not
(02:07):
sitting here trying to say Scott's Service is the only problem,
or the biggest or even the biggest problem. But there's
a problem. There is an issue with slow starts. There's
a four year issue of terrible offense. And this team
is good enough to make the playoffs, and as we've
discussed many times before, should they make the playoffs, they
(02:29):
are a dangerous out. So this is more of a
desperation ploy. You come back from this road trip one
to eight when you should be going minimum five and four,
and you find yourself five games out with thirty five
games to go, I think maybe the roster needs a
new voice, needs new eyeballs on the problem, and could
(02:51):
possibly salvage this thing with a little over a month ago.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
So Chuck, it sounds to me like this is just
a luck of the schedule timing thing for Scott Service,
because what if they didn't have a Dodger series in LA.
What if they were coming home now after this one
in five road trip, would you still say they need
three more games or would you say he's coming home now?
This is when you pull a trigger.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Well, I think there's a little bit of being on
the road and he's been here long enough, so maybe
you know it cushions the blow if you could, if
you could do it at home versus doing it in
the middle of a road trip. I think when the
players put their heads on their pillows at night Saturday night,
I think they woke up believing that he might not
(03:35):
make it out of Pittsburgh if we don't win tomorrow.
I truly believe that. I know that I felt that way.
I have a feeling you guys might have felt that
way as well. If you get swept six games in
a row again, when you're supposed to be the big
dog and find yourself five games out of first place
because you can't beat the Tigers or the Pirates, who
both pretty much given up on the season, then that's
(03:59):
that sort of grounds firing right there. But you did
win yesterday, you did respond, and if you could take
two out of three from the Dodgers, I think that
represents some momentum coming home that gives you a three
out of four that you're looking at and at that
point you're probably in it to the end with Scott
at that point, but you know, just to shake things up,
(04:20):
it really is. It's not a call on giving up.
It's just the opposite. It is a call on how
do we salvage this year? How do we shock the system?
Because there's time thirty six games to go. There's certainly
time to make up four games in the division, five
and a half games in the wild card, but not
the way that they're playing.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
No, that's exactly the point that if you thought they
had no chance, you wouldn't give a damn whatever. Let
the guy manage out and make a change when the
year's over. But I'm totally with you. They get swept
by the Pittsburgh Pirates, I'm making the move on Sunday night,
it's over.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Could put your done.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
You got swept by two teams and have waived the
white flag. And I just think, you know, Chuck, what
I said Friday or Thursday, that this is a seminar
moment in Jerry to Poto's career. He's fifty four years old,
he's been doing this for fourteen years. He's put together
a World Series caliber rotation. But he's entrusting Scott's service
(05:12):
to steward this thing home for him so he can
see those guys in the postseason where they really could
do some damage. If you're Jerry to Poto, are you
putting this on the shoulders of Scott's service? This is
your career on the line. You may never have a
shot like this again as a GM.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Well, I would say for all of those that have
taken the stance of Jerry to Poto's wasting the ultimate young,
affordable starting rotation, he also is the guy that put
that rotation together. He drafted four of them and traded
for Castillo, So he wins a little bit of favor.
(05:50):
I mean, but I started this season saying this is
going to be the best starting rotation in the in
the sport, and as long as they have a decent offense,
which I think they've assembled, then this team's going to
make the playoffs and be a very dangerous out in
the playoffs. Well, instead of having a decent offense, that's
been horrible. And so this has been an ongoing problem,
not only the slow starts where nothing gets started before July,
(06:13):
but also this has been the rock bottom offensive season
where every single guy is underperforming. Colton Wong just plays
like Colton Wong. Last year you win the division, and
the division winner out of the American League West last
year won the World Series. For goodness, sake, if either
Polanco or Garver lived up to the back of the
(06:35):
baseball card, as we've talked about in the past, you're
right now probably in first place. That's just one of
those two guys, much less both of them is just
living up to the back of their baseball card, because
you just wouldn't have that glust. So I think everything
is under evaluation. If this team does fall short this year,
I'd like nothing more than to have them put together
(06:56):
or run under Scott Service and let's see what we
can do in the playoff. But if they fall short,
I think everything's under evaluation. Everybody gets scrutinized, including Jerry,
including Justin because there is a trend of underachievement in
this organization here for the last two years. You're the
one Scott Servis that said this team's great at the
(07:18):
beginning of the year. Jerry Depoto is the one that says,
we're in a championship window. So missing the playoffs two
years in a row with this kind of pitching, there
is an issue on how to either instruct offense or
your offensive philosophy, and it has to be overhauled no
matter what happens this offseason.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
Chuck of the three scenarios over the last six weeks,
Scenario one be making the playoffs, scenario two being rallying
and just missing the playoffs, and scenario three being see
you later. I mean, you miss a playoffs by seven
games or whatever. Would you agree that the best is
to make the playoffs, the next best is just tank
(07:58):
a font and then the worst is to finish eighty
seven and seventy five and miss the playoffs by two games.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
I don't know if I would go that direction. I mean, look,
if you missed the playoffs by you know, a couple
of games, it'd be a little bit. It would certainly
be painful, but at least it doesn't say you're going
in the wrong direction. I still think everybody still gets
analyzed and scrutinized this offseason, and I.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
Think that Jerry gets scrutinized the same, Sorry Jock. Do
they get scrutinized the same if they have a great
last month of the year and just make them miss
the playoffs versus if they go eighty one and eighty one?
Speaker 3 (08:42):
I think it is the same. If they missed the playoffs,
I think you got it. I think you have to
make the playoffs or you have to evaluate because I mean,
think about it. At the end of the year. At the
end of the year, what we hand out these awards,
and there's a Manager of the Year award and it
either goes to the manager who managed the best team
in baseball, but typically goes to the manager who got
the most out of his talent. So you've already announced
(09:05):
to the world that you have more talent than what
your results are showing. So if that's the case, then
it falls on the manager. The manager's job, there's a
reason they don't call him a head coach in baseball.
His job is to get the most out of his players,
get the most out of each individual guy, and get
the most out of the collective. So you've announced to
(09:27):
the world that this is a playoff team with a
shot at winning the World Series this year, and for
two years in a row. You are now in peril
of missing the playoffs entirely. That's utter failure, that is
underperforming for two consecutive years, and an offense that has
been the problem for four consecutive years. I think everybody
that has anything to do with offense should be gone
(09:49):
from this organization this offseason. No matter what happens, they
could win the World Series and they should still get
rid of their entire offensive teaching department. But Scott Servis
has got to make the playoffs this year. I do
think Jerry and Justin will survive this as long as
they choose to. I mean, they've been abused. Maybe Jerry
wants to leave after this year. I don't know, but
(10:09):
but I think that I think Scott service has to
make the playoffs this year because it would no matter
what if it's eighty seven or eighty one, because either way,
it's gross underachievement for a second year in a row,
and the manager's job is to get the most out
of his talent.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
I just had a meg Ryan when Harry met Sally
moment at the restaurant when you said, anybody who's got
anything to do with the offense should be gone, no.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Matter what, You're a thousand percent correct.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Everybody get him out, the coordinators, the hitting coaches. Doesn't
Jerry have something to be outside of him? Outside of
him right if to fire him to him to I'm.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
With you, Holy was this?
Speaker 3 (10:49):
I mean, I'm I'm cutting Jerry a break because other
you know, I think he's a simple talent. I think
he was. He was given a salary cap this offseason
and did some creative things that should have made this
team better, but then they ended up striking out more.
He's in charge of the offensive philosophy of this organization,
and I don't know what's happening behind the scenes. What
(11:10):
goes on from Jerry to Poto to getting Jorge Polanco,
him taking a physical and then the next day he
can't hit. I don't know what happens with that. But
Jerry's got to wear that too, And that's what I'm
talking about. Everybody gets evaluated in the offseason. I just
think ultimately, I don't think having assembled the best young, controllable,
(11:33):
affordable starting rotation maybe in baseball history, is going to
cost somebody his job. So I think that major changes
are going to be made in this offseason no matter what.
And if you miss the playoffs, I don't care if
it's by a game or eight games, you know a
major figurehead has to go, and I think it'll be
Scott Well.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
And then you're talking about obviously having to change that
offensive philosophy and hiring somebody else.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
These guys are with the Angels, they can up here.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Together and they had you had a philosophy, and they
had a vision and that vision has failed dramatically. So
thousand percent with you on that. But how do they
do this? I mean, if they're going to turn this around,
would you think they what thirty seven games?
Speaker 2 (12:14):
I think go twenty five and twelve twelve? You see
eight and nine? How do they go? How do they
go twenty five and twelve? Pint that?
Speaker 3 (12:21):
I don't have an in front of me, Dick. I
don't know how many times they played the Astros the
rest of the way. That could be, that could be
a major fact.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
No, they play them in the in the second to
last series of the year.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
I think that's it. That's it, that's it. Yeah, three times? Well,
so how do they do that?
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Yeah? I don't know if I can put a number
on it. I felt this whole time it was the
wild card was going to be the better road because
I didn't think the Houston Astros are going to stay down.
But now obviously it's not looking good on that front either.
I will say maybe the American League Central beats up
on itself with Cleveland, Minnesota, Kansas City all vying for
playoff spots. I mean, look, this team is terrible this
(13:03):
year for whatever reason, at managing prosperity. Just when you
think they're starting to go, they'll show up the next
day and they'll play the worst game you've ever seen,
and then it'll manifest itself and four more just like it.
It's crazy. Well, the one thing they have done under
Scott's service, it might be the thing that he's been
best at, when they've felt like they've had no chance,
(13:25):
when they felt like they were rock bottom, they somehow
figured out a way to go on not just a
little bit of a tear, a monster tear each of
the last three years. So you know they've got the
talent to do it, and they certainly have the pitching.
They only need two to three runs a game, for
goodness sake, Yeah, in order, and if you're going to
tell me they only need two to three runs, there
(13:46):
is no question that the talent they've assembled is capable
of doing that and repeating that on a given night.
We just haven't seen it this year, which is an excusable. So,
I mean, with the pitching that you have, there's no
reason that you can't go on a tear down the stretch.
But where's that consistency coming from. Are they going to
(14:07):
be able to pull a rabbit out of their hat,
because that's what they're going to have to do at
this point, because they certainly have not behaved like a
team that can go on that sort of tear to
this point in the year, Chuck.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
In most games they give themselves the opportunity to score
three runs.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Most games they do.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Most games they have bases loaded, one out, they have
runner on at second, nobody out. They have runners first
and second, nobody out. But what is maddening to me?
And I gave this stat to Bucky on Friday, I'll
give this stat to you on today. Why are they
twenty three percent lower in sacrifice bunts and flies than
the next lowest team in Major League Baseball. They haven't
(14:44):
just gone to one end of the spectrum, They've like
obliterated the spectrum. Like I just don't understand for a
team that struggles so badly to put bat on ball
and so badly to strike out, that wouldn't put them
in the top ten twenty percent of Major League Baseball
(15:06):
in just trying to squeeze out a run versus be
a small ball.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Yeah, I think that there should have been a shift
to old school manufacturing runs. I mean, you have the
speed to do it. They steal a lot of especially
since Roablaze came up to the team. I think there
should have been that transition, that recognition, but they do
lean toward analytics, and analytics made bunting, you know, a
(15:32):
bad word. And then certainly they want to come through
on the sackfly that has been that's been the biggest
issue of them all, and it's now dating back years.
Justin Turner is a professional hitter and he gets here
and now all of a sudden he can't make contact.
Brandy a. Rose Arena was putting on a laser light
show for the last two months in a Tampa Bay
(15:54):
Ray uniform, and then he shows up here and he's
turned into an infield single and a walk machine. I mean,
think about this and the seventy five at bats before
he got here, Randy A. Rose Arena had had thirteen
extra base hits and seven walks. Since he got here,
he has six extra base hits and fourteen walks. So
it's all I don't know. I mean, if we knew,
(16:17):
and I'm sure Bucky didn't have the answers either on Friday,
because we've been trying to figure it out all season long.
But this desire to walk over crush the baseball seems
to be a major issue. Sitting around waiting for the
perfect pitch versus attacking a hittable pitch seems to be
the major issue. Now. I think Stephen Susie, your guy,
(16:38):
might disagree with us a little bit here. His take
has been that modern day baseball, you've got to look
in a particular zone or you don't have a chance
against these pitchers. But there's something to that. There's something
to Randy rose Arena got here, and stop being aggressive
and stop hitting line drives. It's not the fricking marine layer.
It's not the backdrop for hitting. What is it? And
(17:00):
why can't you funnel it out? Why can't you send
a pig in there to find the truffle? Because we
got to figure you have to figure this out, like now,
why you can't put the ball in play? Why you
can bring Colton Long over here, who's done nothing but
been a decent to good player his entire career, and
suddenly he puts on a Mariner uniform and he's the
(17:22):
worst player in baseball. How does that happen? And how
did it happen again this year with Mitch Garver. It's
just it's the mystery that has to be solved and
unlocked with this organization.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
They don't know what they're doing offensively.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
That's it, gotta be it.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
There's no mystery. They don't know what the hell they're doing.
I mean, we sit here and assume that a.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Guy that played major league baseball is a catcher in
Scott Servis, the guy that played major League baseball as
a pitcher in Jerry Depoto had been involved in the game.
As long as they have that they know what they're
doing offensively, they don't. It's a major hole in their game, right.
I Mean, there's a lot of gms and coaches out
there that have holes in their game in any sport.
(18:05):
You know, one GM can build a great offense, but
it is terrible on defense. One guy can build a secondary,
but he can't build an offensive line.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
It's nine years.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
They don't know what they're doing offensively, and if they
don't know what they're doing offensively, they can't be the
people in charge of this team. Chuck Powell, great stuff.
What's on the show? Tomorrow at six am.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
By the way, oh boy, what do we have tomorrow?
We are going to have Greg Bell, so we'll have
more on the Seahawks. We will. It's college football week,
so we're gonna do a lot around college football tomorrow,
and of course we'll be reacting to the Mariners game
against the Dodgers. Hey, guys, I hope they win two
(18:46):
out of three. It's not out of the question. The
Dodgers have not been the mighty mite that they were
supposed to be this year. Be careful with show, hey,
be careful with MOOKI. Their pitching is very vulnerable. Their
offenses after the top two guys Freddy Freeman's on the
injured list. Let's win two out of three and then
let's see what we can do the rest of the world.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
What watch Teoscar Hernandez be the guy that sends Scott
service to the unemployment line on Wednesday night with a
walk off. Can you imagine if that happens on Wednesday night?
All right, great, great stuff, We'll hear you tomorrow with
six buddy, Thanks pal
Speaker 3 (19:19):
And then thank you
All right, here we go, joining us right now on
the radio show, and I got to confirm with him
that he actually said this this morning, because you never know,
you see stuff on Twitter or the Instagram, whatever. When
when Mike Benton is running your social mediacounts to your
radio station.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
You got to double check everything.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Okay, So I see this morning on a Instagram post
created by our own Mike Benton, Chuck Powell saying if
the Mariners lose two out of three of the Dodgers,
that Scott's service should be let go after that series.
So really, I just want to have Monica Ferman then
we can just let him walk. Chuck, did you really
say that on today's show?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
I did?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
I did?
Speaker 4 (00:34):
I did?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Why why did you see?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Well, it's not because you know you've got to beat
the Dodgers two out of three. That's too much to
put on a manager. But to go, let's say one
to eight on a crucial road trip where six of
your nine games were against lesser than competition, when you're
supposed to be the big dog that's eating this time
of the year. It would just mark at this point
(01:00):
of the season, just a string of underachievement that would
now be going on nearly two full years. And when
I say under achievement, if you fall short of your
goal of making the playoffs when you've announced you're in
a championship window, you either blame that on we don't
have playoff talent, or you blame it on we're not
getting enough out of our talent. And to me, the
(01:22):
problem is you're not getting enough out of your talent.
So the reason that I said that in the conversation
that we had was I still want to salvage this year.
I still want to salvage this season. And we have
seen this happen many times in the past. Jack McKeon
took the Marlins from an average team to a world
champion in the same year. Rob Thompson from the Philadelphia
(01:45):
Phillies just two years ago, three years ago, took over
a team that was struggling under Joe Girardi and they
ended up in the World Series. Joe Morgan, not the
second baseman, but the old Red Sox manager. He turned
a team around. So we've seen new rous examples of,
you know, where a new manager can kind of shock
the system. So I'm not behind the scenes, I'm not
(02:07):
sitting here trying to say Scott's Service is the only problem,
or the biggest or even the biggest problem. But there's
a problem. There is an issue with slow starts. There's
a four year issue of terrible offense. And this team
is good enough to make the playoffs, and as we've
discussed many times before, should they make the playoffs, they
(02:29):
are a dangerous out. So this is more of a
desperation ploy. You come back from this road trip one
to eight when you should be going minimum five and four,
and you find yourself five games out with thirty five
games to go, I think maybe the roster needs a
new voice, needs new eyeballs on the problem, and could
(02:51):
possibly salvage this thing with a little over a month ago.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
So Chuck, it sounds to me like this is just
a luck of the schedule timing thing for Scott Service,
because what if they didn't have a Dodger series in LA.
What if they were coming home now after this one
in five road trip, would you still say they need
three more games or would you say he's coming home now?
This is when you pull a trigger.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Well, I think there's a little bit of being on
the road and he's been here long enough, so maybe
you know it cushions the blow if you could, if
you could do it at home versus doing it in
the middle of a road trip. I think when the
players put their heads on their pillows at night Saturday night,
I think they woke up believing that he might not
(03:35):
make it out of Pittsburgh if we don't win tomorrow.
I truly believe that. I know that I felt that way.
I have a feeling you guys might have felt that
way as well. If you get swept six games in
a row again, when you're supposed to be the big
dog and find yourself five games out of first place
because you can't beat the Tigers or the Pirates, who
both pretty much given up on the season, then that's
(03:59):
that sort of grounds firing right there. But you did
win yesterday, you did respond, and if you could take
two out of three from the Dodgers, I think that
represents some momentum coming home that gives you a three
out of four that you're looking at and at that
point you're probably in it to the end with Scott
at that point, but you know, just to shake things up,
(04:20):
it really is. It's not a call on giving up.
It's just the opposite. It is a call on how
do we salvage this year? How do we shock the system?
Because there's time thirty six games to go. There's certainly
time to make up four games in the division, five
and a half games in the wild card, but not
the way that they're playing.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
No, that's exactly the point that if you thought they
had no chance, you wouldn't give a damn whatever. Let
the guy manage out and make a change when the
year's over. But I'm totally with you. They get swept
by the Pittsburgh Pirates, I'm making the move on Sunday night,
it's over.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Could put your done.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
You got swept by two teams and have waived the
white flag. And I just think, you know, Chuck, what
I said Friday or Thursday, that this is a seminar
moment in Jerry to Poto's career. He's fifty four years old,
he's been doing this for fourteen years. He's put together
a World Series caliber rotation. But he's entrusting Scott's service
(05:12):
to steward this thing home for him so he can
see those guys in the postseason where they really could
do some damage. If you're Jerry to Poto, are you
putting this on the shoulders of Scott's service? This is
your career on the line. You may never have a
shot like this again as a GM.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Well, I would say for all of those that have
taken the stance of Jerry to Poto's wasting the ultimate young,
affordable starting rotation, he also is the guy that put
that rotation together. He drafted four of them and traded
for Castillo, So he wins a little bit of favor.
(05:50):
I mean, but I started this season saying this is
going to be the best starting rotation in the in
the sport, and as long as they have a decent offense,
which I think they've assembled, then this team's going to
make the playoffs and be a very dangerous out in
the playoffs. Well, instead of having a decent offense, that's
been horrible. And so this has been an ongoing problem,
not only the slow starts where nothing gets started before July,
(06:13):
but also this has been the rock bottom offensive season
where every single guy is underperforming. Colton Wong just plays
like Colton Wong. Last year you win the division, and
the division winner out of the American League West last
year won the World Series. For goodness, sake, if either
Polanco or Garver lived up to the back of the
(06:35):
baseball card, as we've talked about in the past, you're
right now probably in first place. That's just one of
those two guys, much less both of them is just
living up to the back of their baseball card, because
you just wouldn't have that glust. So I think everything
is under evaluation. If this team does fall short this year,
I'd like nothing more than to have them put together
(06:56):
or run under Scott Service and let's see what we
can do in the playoff. But if they fall short,
I think everything's under evaluation. Everybody gets scrutinized, including Jerry,
including Justin because there is a trend of underachievement in
this organization here for the last two years. You're the
one Scott Servis that said this team's great at the
(07:18):
beginning of the year. Jerry Depoto is the one that says,
we're in a championship window. So missing the playoffs two
years in a row with this kind of pitching, there
is an issue on how to either instruct offense or
your offensive philosophy, and it has to be overhauled no
matter what happens this offseason.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
Chuck of the three scenarios over the last six weeks,
Scenario one be making the playoffs, scenario two being rallying
and just missing the playoffs, and scenario three being see
you later. I mean, you miss a playoffs by seven
games or whatever. Would you agree that the best is
to make the playoffs, the next best is just tank
(07:58):
a font and then the worst is to finish eighty
seven and seventy five and miss the playoffs by two games.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
I don't know if I would go that direction. I mean, look,
if you missed the playoffs by you know, a couple
of games, it'd be a little bit. It would certainly
be painful, but at least it doesn't say you're going
in the wrong direction. I still think everybody still gets
analyzed and scrutinized this offseason, and I.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
Think that Jerry gets scrutinized the same, Sorry Jock. Do
they get scrutinized the same if they have a great
last month of the year and just make them miss
the playoffs versus if they go eighty one and eighty one?
Speaker 3 (08:42):
I think it is the same. If they missed the playoffs,
I think you got it. I think you have to
make the playoffs or you have to evaluate because I mean,
think about it. At the end of the year. At the
end of the year, what we hand out these awards,
and there's a Manager of the Year award and it
either goes to the manager who managed the best team
in baseball, but typically goes to the manager who got
the most out of his talent. So you've already announced
(09:05):
to the world that you have more talent than what
your results are showing. So if that's the case, then
it falls on the manager. The manager's job, there's a
reason they don't call him a head coach in baseball.
His job is to get the most out of his players,
get the most out of each individual guy, and get
the most out of the collective. So you've announced to
(09:27):
the world that this is a playoff team with a
shot at winning the World Series this year, and for
two years in a row. You are now in peril
of missing the playoffs entirely. That's utter failure, that is
underperforming for two consecutive years, and an offense that has
been the problem for four consecutive years. I think everybody
that has anything to do with offense should be gone
(09:49):
from this organization this offseason. No matter what happens, they
could win the World Series and they should still get
rid of their entire offensive teaching department. But Scott Servis
has got to make the playoffs this year. I do
think Jerry and Justin will survive this as long as
they choose to. I mean, they've been abused. Maybe Jerry
wants to leave after this year. I don't know, but
(10:09):
but I think that I think Scott service has to
make the playoffs this year because it would no matter
what if it's eighty seven or eighty one, because either way,
it's gross underachievement for a second year in a row,
and the manager's job is to get the most out
of his talent.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
I just had a meg Ryan when Harry met Sally
moment at the restaurant when you said, anybody who's got
anything to do with the offense should be gone, no.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Matter what, You're a thousand percent correct.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Everybody get him out, the coordinators, the hitting coaches. Doesn't
Jerry have something to be outside of him? Outside of
him right if to fire him to him to I'm.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
With you, Holy was this?
Speaker 3 (10:49):
I mean, I'm I'm cutting Jerry a break because other
you know, I think he's a simple talent. I think
he was. He was given a salary cap this offseason
and did some creative things that should have made this
team better, but then they ended up striking out more.
He's in charge of the offensive philosophy of this organization,
and I don't know what's happening behind the scenes. What
(11:10):
goes on from Jerry to Poto to getting Jorge Polanco,
him taking a physical and then the next day he
can't hit. I don't know what happens with that. But
Jerry's got to wear that too, And that's what I'm
talking about. Everybody gets evaluated in the offseason. I just
think ultimately, I don't think having assembled the best young, controllable,
(11:33):
affordable starting rotation maybe in baseball history, is going to
cost somebody his job. So I think that major changes
are going to be made in this offseason no matter what.
And if you miss the playoffs, I don't care if
it's by a game or eight games, you know a
major figurehead has to go, and I think it'll be
Scott Well.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
And then you're talking about obviously having to change that
offensive philosophy and hiring somebody else.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
These guys are with the Angels, they can up here.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Together and they had you had a philosophy, and they
had a vision and that vision has failed dramatically. So
thousand percent with you on that. But how do they
do this? I mean, if they're going to turn this around,
would you think they what thirty seven games?
Speaker 2 (12:14):
I think go twenty five and twelve twelve? You see
eight and nine? How do they go? How do they
go twenty five and twelve? Pint that?
Speaker 3 (12:21):
I don't have an in front of me, Dick. I
don't know how many times they played the Astros the
rest of the way. That could be, that could be
a major fact.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
No, they play them in the in the second to
last series of the year.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
I think that's it. That's it, that's it. Yeah, three times? Well,
so how do they do that?
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Yeah? I don't know if I can put a number
on it. I felt this whole time it was the
wild card was going to be the better road because
I didn't think the Houston Astros are going to stay down.
But now obviously it's not looking good on that front either.
I will say maybe the American League Central beats up
on itself with Cleveland, Minnesota, Kansas City all vying for
playoff spots. I mean, look, this team is terrible this
(13:03):
year for whatever reason, at managing prosperity. Just when you
think they're starting to go, they'll show up the next
day and they'll play the worst game you've ever seen,
and then it'll manifest itself and four more just like it.
It's crazy. Well, the one thing they have done under
Scott's service, it might be the thing that he's been
best at, when they've felt like they've had no chance,
(13:25):
when they felt like they were rock bottom, they somehow
figured out a way to go on not just a
little bit of a tear, a monster tear each of
the last three years. So you know they've got the
talent to do it, and they certainly have the pitching.
They only need two to three runs a game, for
goodness sake, Yeah, in order, and if you're going to
tell me they only need two to three runs, there
(13:46):
is no question that the talent they've assembled is capable
of doing that and repeating that on a given night.
We just haven't seen it this year, which is an excusable. So,
I mean, with the pitching that you have, there's no
reason that you can't go on a tear down the stretch.
But where's that consistency coming from. Are they going to
(14:07):
be able to pull a rabbit out of their hat,
because that's what they're going to have to do at
this point, because they certainly have not behaved like a
team that can go on that sort of tear to
this point in the year, Chuck.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
In most games they give themselves the opportunity to score
three runs.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Most games they do.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Most games they have bases loaded, one out, they have
runner on at second, nobody out. They have runners first
and second, nobody out. But what is maddening to me?
And I gave this stat to Bucky on Friday, I'll
give this stat to you on today. Why are they
twenty three percent lower in sacrifice bunts and flies than
the next lowest team in Major League Baseball. They haven't
(14:44):
just gone to one end of the spectrum, They've like
obliterated the spectrum. Like I just don't understand for a
team that struggles so badly to put bat on ball
and so badly to strike out, that wouldn't put them
in the top ten twenty percent of Major League Baseball
(15:06):
in just trying to squeeze out a run versus be
a small ball.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Yeah, I think that there should have been a shift
to old school manufacturing runs. I mean, you have the
speed to do it. They steal a lot of especially
since Roablaze came up to the team. I think there
should have been that transition, that recognition, but they do
lean toward analytics, and analytics made bunting, you know, a
(15:32):
bad word. And then certainly they want to come through
on the sackfly that has been that's been the biggest
issue of them all, and it's now dating back years.
Justin Turner is a professional hitter and he gets here
and now all of a sudden he can't make contact.
Brandy a. Rose Arena was putting on a laser light
show for the last two months in a Tampa Bay
(15:54):
Ray uniform, and then he shows up here and he's
turned into an infield single and a walk machine. I mean,
think about this and the seventy five at bats before
he got here, Randy A. Rose Arena had had thirteen
extra base hits and seven walks. Since he got here,
he has six extra base hits and fourteen walks. So
it's all I don't know. I mean, if we knew,
(16:17):
and I'm sure Bucky didn't have the answers either on Friday,
because we've been trying to figure it out all season long.
But this desire to walk over crush the baseball seems
to be a major issue. Sitting around waiting for the
perfect pitch versus attacking a hittable pitch seems to be
the major issue. Now. I think Stephen Susie, your guy,
(16:38):
might disagree with us a little bit here. His take
has been that modern day baseball, you've got to look
in a particular zone or you don't have a chance
against these pitchers. But there's something to that. There's something
to Randy rose Arena got here, and stop being aggressive
and stop hitting line drives. It's not the fricking marine layer.
It's not the backdrop for hitting. What is it? And
(17:00):
why can't you funnel it out? Why can't you send
a pig in there to find the truffle? Because we
got to figure you have to figure this out, like now,
why you can't put the ball in play? Why you
can bring Colton Long over here, who's done nothing but
been a decent to good player his entire career, and
suddenly he puts on a Mariner uniform and he's the
(17:22):
worst player in baseball. How does that happen? And how
did it happen again this year with Mitch Garver. It's
just it's the mystery that has to be solved and
unlocked with this organization.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
They don't know what they're doing offensively.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
That's it, gotta be it.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
There's no mystery. They don't know what the hell they're doing.
I mean, we sit here and assume that a.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Guy that played major league baseball is a catcher in
Scott Servis, the guy that played major League baseball as
a pitcher in Jerry Depoto had been involved in the game.
As long as they have that they know what they're
doing offensively, they don't. It's a major hole in their game, right.
I Mean, there's a lot of gms and coaches out
there that have holes in their game in any sport.
(18:05):
You know, one GM can build a great offense, but
it is terrible on defense. One guy can build a secondary,
but he can't build an offensive line.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
It's nine years.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
They don't know what they're doing offensively, and if they
don't know what they're doing offensively, they can't be the
people in charge of this team. Chuck Powell, great stuff.
What's on the show? Tomorrow at six am.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
By the way, oh boy, what do we have tomorrow?
We are going to have Greg Bell, so we'll have
more on the Seahawks. We will. It's college football week,
so we're gonna do a lot around college football tomorrow,
and of course we'll be reacting to the Mariners game
against the Dodgers. Hey, guys, I hope they win two
(18:46):
out of three. It's not out of the question. The
Dodgers have not been the mighty mite that they were
supposed to be this year. Be careful with show, hey,
be careful with MOOKI. Their pitching is very vulnerable. Their
offenses after the top two guys Freddy Freeman's on the
injured list. Let's win two out of three and then
let's see what we can do the rest of the world.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
What watch Teoscar Hernandez be the guy that sends Scott
service to the unemployment line on Wednesday night with a
walk off. Can you imagine if that happens on Wednesday night?
All right, great, great stuff, We'll hear you tomorrow with
six buddy, Thanks pal
Speaker 3 (19:19):
And then thank you
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