March 6, 2025 • 9 mins
Bob Nightengale of USA Today discusses his conversation with Justin Turner regarding the lack of additions the Mariners made this offseason. How successful can they be with a stellar rotation, but lackluster offense?
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
At the time. You have a national Baseball writer who
is I think speaking in some ways the same language
the fan bases. We want to get that guy on
the air and see what's going on. Our old friend,
longtime friend from USA today, one of the best out there.
Hall of Famer Bob Nightingale, joins us right now on
the radio show. Bob, welcome back to kJ R. How
are you, man, Yeah, I'm doing great.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Thank you good.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Thanks for doing this, man, appreciate you coming on. You
got the money quote from Justin Turner the other day,
and a lot of us obviously agree with what Justin
said about the Mariners not going out and spending money.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Why don't we just.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Kind of get your reaction overall to from thirty five
thousand feet fifty thousand feet everything happening here in Seattle. Man,
you have this phenomenal pitching staff, but an ownership group
that for whatever reason does not seem to want to
supplement it with at least a manageable offense and make
a run at the first World Series in franchise history.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Yeah, I think what Justin Turner was saying speaking for
you know the current players that you know, they really
can't say anything without uh you know, suffering some repercussions
there and just hey you had you had that uh
you know that starting rotation which is electric. Last year,
great bulk in and you watch the playoffs, you said, man,
the marrige should be in a World series. Uh you
(01:19):
know that pig staff they could have been you know,
couldn't been anybody, uh, you know, solely could have won
the pennant and got the World Series. It's just, you know,
you got to take advantage when you have a staff
that good and that talented and they all stayed healthy.
You know, it's almost like, you know, the waste of
the year. It's like so everything everything did went for
not just because they didn't had that offense to support it.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Well, it's interesting in the article, I mean, they're justin
Turner called it one of the great rotations of all time.
I'd love to get your take on that. You've been
covering this game for a long long time. Is this
rotation truly historically good, like they're talking Orioles and eighties
Mets and those type of things, or is it just
kind of recently good? Twenty twenty is good.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
I think more you know, recently good. I mean used
to great arms, all healthy and of course you know,
you know they don't have those wins because they weren't
getting the offense, so they weren't you know, winning games
like you know, the four guasal Oriols that year, all
twenty game winners. Uh. You know, obviously the Atlanta had
three Hall of Famers and the next Smolton Glaven. Uh
(02:25):
you know drop off. You know, yes, Steve Baby for
a while, but you know, drop off. But yeah, just
in today's game and what's happened, you know with everybody? Uh.
I think the Brewers used nineteen pitchers last year they
won the division. But today's game to go just through
six to six starters and to be healthy in that
dominant used don't you just don't see that? You know,
(02:46):
and you wonder you know, you go see it again? Uh,
I dance if you're too. It's like, what what's the
odds of that Marin rotation staying healthy for second straight year?
Speaker 1 (02:56):
That's a great point. Dick and I have both talked
about that that not only were you great a year ago,
but you were healthy and you may not be healthy
again this year. I mean at some point, you know,
sooner or later, the odds say somebody's going to get
nicked up and banged up and have a long stint
on the il, So we'll hope that doesn't happen. But Bob,
it was the first time we kind of ran the numbers,
a first time since two thousand and eight that a
team led the American League in era and did not
(03:19):
make the playoffs in an era where it's easier now
than ever to make the playoffs. So that is what's
frustrating for us. But I guess the question is why
why aren't they spending money? Is it because they just
don't have the passion to win a championship? Are they
being frugal? Is there something financially going on behind the
scenes with these owners privately that we don't know about.
(03:41):
Why would they not spend the money it takes to
help this pitching staff out.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Yeah, I mean I don't know why that is. I mean,
they're what about eighty million dollars to load electric tacks,
you know, so that's not it. You know, I would
think their TV contracts is pretty is pretty solid, you know,
better than most for sure, got very good at tenants.
You know, They're not pouring money, you know, into a
bunch of other things like, you know, soccer teams and
(04:07):
stuff like that. So yeah, I don't know what the
you know, what it is. I'm obviously I'm not going
to open the books and say how much money they're making,
but it's just surprising to uh, you know, for them
to have a payroll, you know, about one hundred million
dollars less than San Diego in San Diego is a
much smaller American.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
What did they offer Justin Turner if every if anything?
And are you aware of any of their bats that
they actually tried to get, either in free agency or
via trade in the off season.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Now, I know they talked too well Philadelphia, you know
about their their basement Alan Bohm, but I knew the
you know, Philly's were asking for guys like Brian Wu
and things like that. So they were asking for a
steep package. I don't know what the offered Turner, but
he never came close to game thing. You never thought
he got offered for what for what he was worth.
(04:57):
So I don't know, you know what the deal was.
But you know, even Turner says, hey, you know the
you son me, they need more than that. You know,
It's not like he you know, he's won soda or something,
and you know, talking to you know, the agent Scott Boris,
you said there was never a single offer Feranos guys,
you know, obviously not Persono, but for Brugnam, you know,
(05:20):
or for pen Alonzo.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Well, I want to get your thoughts on Hori Polanco,
Bob Nightingales with us again from USA today, because I
think the Polonco thing is fine if it's in addition
to three or four other players, right like if they
went out and got Alonzo and made a deal for
bomb or whatever and then say, you know what we did.
We kind of feel like maybe Polonko had just a
bad knee and had a bad year and we really
think he's a better player than that. Fine, bring him back,
(05:42):
but to make him the crown jewel, at least financially, Bob,
of your off season is comical. I mean, what is
your take on what we should expect from Horey Polanco
coming off a terrible year and coming off knee surgery
and now playing third base where he's played twenty five
games in his life.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yeah, I think everybody expected the in the baseball industry
expected the Marrions to be much more aggressed with that Sai. Okay,
you just waste that year with the pisching. You know,
you can't do that again, And they did, And I
got to think they're just relying on what happened in
September with Dan Wilson and Edger. You know, they have
a you know, new hitting coach and Kevin Seisser that
(06:24):
those guys will make a difference. So putting a lot
of a burden on those guys. Okay, we saw what
happened with the offense at September. Let's let's have you
guys do the same thing next six months of this year.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
How much are you a buyer in that trio? The
Dan Wilson sites are Edgar Martinez trio. And the fact
that what we saw in August and September can actually
translate into a full season.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Yeah, when you talk to Scout, they say the most
this leading times of years. Spring training in September just
was you know, September collapse and people you know, not
in the race, that sort of thing. But talking to players,
you know, even talking to Justin Turner, they said, just
the presence that Dan Wilson had, they just simplified the approach.
(07:09):
They said, they're kind of bogged down with numbers and
everything else, so they think he'll make a big difference
in particularly having Aga Martinez, you know, being around and
doing his input as well. So you know, we'll see,
you know, maybe, you know, if they make the playoffs
and they won't have to say that they had to
spend money if they're just relying on what happened in
(07:31):
September to have a momentum carry over this year and
they've had a nice spring offensively.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Well, Bob night and goes with us and Bob just
one more for me. I think typically when fans and
people like us talk about reasons why a baseball team
could make the playoffs, you know we'll talk about because
of the players they have, like their pitchers, their hitters, whatever.
But one of the big reasons why I think we
believe that is because they play in the division in
the AL West. I mean, the AO West is almost
like an ally for them. I mean, they won eighty
(07:59):
five games a year ago and they finished three games
back behind the Houston Astros. So how good is this division?
And could a eighty seven to eighty eight win Mariner
team or even Astro team or anybody Texas Ranger team
win this division again.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Yeah, I don't think you need ninety ones there, really don't.
I think the division's down just be you know, hey,
Houston just lost Rugman and and Kyle Tucker. I expect
Texas to bounce back. I think they'd be better team
a year ago. You know, Oakland's getting better, but there's
still not you know, a playoff contender. But it's totally
a winnable division, that's the thing. And you know, playing
(08:34):
those teams, you know, thirteen times is a whole lot
better than having to go to the Al East and
try and survive that. So you know, on paper, you know,
the Mariners should be in the playoffs. Then you're in
the playoffs with that pitching, right, that's all you need,
right And I think that's why everybody in baseball, you know,
last year with stan Man, I the Mariors just get in.
(08:56):
Get in. They could be as dangerous as any team out.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
There, no question, Bob, great stuff. Man, appreciate the insight
and the visit. You can find Bob on Twitter at
b Nightingale. By the way, great stuff, Bob, and we'll
talk soon.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Man. Appreciate this pal, Sure, my pleasure thank you guys,
At the time. You have a national Baseball writer who
is I think speaking in some ways the same language
the fan bases. We want to get that guy on
the air and see what's going on. Our old friend,
longtime friend from USA today, one of the best out there.
Hall of Famer Bob Nightingale, joins us right now on
the radio show. Bob, welcome back to kJ R. How
are you, man, Yeah, I'm doing great.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Thank you good.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Thanks for doing this, man, appreciate you coming on. You
got the money quote from Justin Turner the other day,
and a lot of us obviously agree with what Justin
said about the Mariners not going out and spending money.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Why don't we just.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Kind of get your reaction overall to from thirty five
thousand feet fifty thousand feet everything happening here in Seattle. Man,
you have this phenomenal pitching staff, but an ownership group
that for whatever reason does not seem to want to
supplement it with at least a manageable offense and make
a run at the first World Series in franchise history.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Yeah, I think what Justin Turner was saying speaking for
you know the current players that you know, they really
can't say anything without uh you know, suffering some repercussions
there and just hey you had you had that uh
you know that starting rotation which is electric. Last year,
great bulk in and you watch the playoffs, you said, man,
the marrige should be in a World series. Uh you
(01:19):
know that pig staff they could have been you know,
couldn't been anybody, uh, you know, solely could have won
the pennant and got the World Series. It's just, you know,
you got to take advantage when you have a staff
that good and that talented and they all stayed healthy.
You know, it's almost like, you know, the waste of
the year. It's like so everything everything did went for
not just because they didn't had that offense to support it.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Well, it's interesting in the article, I mean, they're justin
Turner called it one of the great rotations of all time.
I'd love to get your take on that. You've been
covering this game for a long long time. Is this
rotation truly historically good, like they're talking Orioles and eighties
Mets and those type of things, or is it just
kind of recently good? Twenty twenty is good.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
I think more you know, recently good. I mean used
to great arms, all healthy and of course you know,
you know they don't have those wins because they weren't
getting the offense, so they weren't you know, winning games
like you know, the four guasal Oriols that year, all
twenty game winners. Uh. You know, obviously the Atlanta had
three Hall of Famers and the next Smolton Glaven. Uh
(02:25):
you know drop off. You know, yes, Steve Baby for
a while, but you know, drop off. But yeah, just
in today's game and what's happened, you know with everybody? Uh.
I think the Brewers used nineteen pitchers last year they
won the division. But today's game to go just through
six to six starters and to be healthy in that
dominant used don't you just don't see that? You know,
(02:46):
and you wonder you know, you go see it again? Uh,
I dance if you're too. It's like, what what's the
odds of that Marin rotation staying healthy for second straight year?
Speaker 1 (02:56):
That's a great point. Dick and I have both talked
about that that not only were you great a year ago,
but you were healthy and you may not be healthy
again this year. I mean at some point, you know,
sooner or later, the odds say somebody's going to get
nicked up and banged up and have a long stint
on the il, So we'll hope that doesn't happen. But Bob,
it was the first time we kind of ran the numbers,
a first time since two thousand and eight that a
team led the American League in era and did not
(03:19):
make the playoffs in an era where it's easier now
than ever to make the playoffs. So that is what's
frustrating for us. But I guess the question is why
why aren't they spending money? Is it because they just
don't have the passion to win a championship? Are they
being frugal? Is there something financially going on behind the
scenes with these owners privately that we don't know about.
(03:41):
Why would they not spend the money it takes to
help this pitching staff out.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Yeah, I mean I don't know why that is. I mean,
they're what about eighty million dollars to load electric tacks,
you know, so that's not it. You know, I would
think their TV contracts is pretty is pretty solid, you know,
better than most for sure, got very good at tenants.
You know, They're not pouring money, you know, into a
bunch of other things like, you know, soccer teams and
(04:07):
stuff like that. So yeah, I don't know what the
you know, what it is. I'm obviously I'm not going
to open the books and say how much money they're making,
but it's just surprising to uh, you know, for them
to have a payroll, you know, about one hundred million
dollars less than San Diego in San Diego is a
much smaller American.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
What did they offer Justin Turner if every if anything?
And are you aware of any of their bats that
they actually tried to get, either in free agency or
via trade in the off season.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Now, I know they talked too well Philadelphia, you know
about their their basement Alan Bohm, but I knew the
you know, Philly's were asking for guys like Brian Wu
and things like that. So they were asking for a
steep package. I don't know what the offered Turner, but
he never came close to game thing. You never thought
he got offered for what for what he was worth.
(04:57):
So I don't know, you know what the deal was.
But you know, even Turner says, hey, you know the
you son me, they need more than that. You know,
It's not like he you know, he's won soda or something,
and you know, talking to you know, the agent Scott Boris,
you said there was never a single offer Feranos guys,
you know, obviously not Persono, but for Brugnam, you know,
(05:20):
or for pen Alonzo.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Well, I want to get your thoughts on Hori Polanco,
Bob Nightingales with us again from USA today, because I
think the Polonco thing is fine if it's in addition
to three or four other players, right like if they
went out and got Alonzo and made a deal for
bomb or whatever and then say, you know what we did.
We kind of feel like maybe Polonko had just a
bad knee and had a bad year and we really
think he's a better player than that. Fine, bring him back,
(05:42):
but to make him the crown jewel, at least financially, Bob,
of your off season is comical. I mean, what is
your take on what we should expect from Horey Polanco
coming off a terrible year and coming off knee surgery
and now playing third base where he's played twenty five
games in his life.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yeah, I think everybody expected the in the baseball industry
expected the Marrions to be much more aggressed with that Sai. Okay,
you just waste that year with the pisching. You know,
you can't do that again, And they did, And I
got to think they're just relying on what happened in
September with Dan Wilson and Edger. You know, they have
a you know, new hitting coach and Kevin Seisser that
(06:24):
those guys will make a difference. So putting a lot
of a burden on those guys. Okay, we saw what
happened with the offense at September. Let's let's have you
guys do the same thing next six months of this year.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
How much are you a buyer in that trio? The
Dan Wilson sites are Edgar Martinez trio. And the fact
that what we saw in August and September can actually
translate into a full season.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Yeah, when you talk to Scout, they say the most
this leading times of years. Spring training in September just
was you know, September collapse and people you know, not
in the race, that sort of thing. But talking to players,
you know, even talking to Justin Turner, they said, just
the presence that Dan Wilson had, they just simplified the approach.
(07:09):
They said, they're kind of bogged down with numbers and
everything else, so they think he'll make a big difference
in particularly having Aga Martinez, you know, being around and
doing his input as well. So you know, we'll see,
you know, maybe, you know, if they make the playoffs
and they won't have to say that they had to
spend money if they're just relying on what happened in
(07:31):
September to have a momentum carry over this year and
they've had a nice spring offensively.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Well, Bob night and goes with us and Bob just
one more for me. I think typically when fans and
people like us talk about reasons why a baseball team
could make the playoffs, you know we'll talk about because
of the players they have, like their pitchers, their hitters, whatever.
But one of the big reasons why I think we
believe that is because they play in the division in
the AL West. I mean, the AO West is almost
like an ally for them. I mean, they won eighty
(07:59):
five games a year ago and they finished three games
back behind the Houston Astros. So how good is this division?
And could a eighty seven to eighty eight win Mariner
team or even Astro team or anybody Texas Ranger team
win this division again.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Yeah, I don't think you need ninety ones there, really don't.
I think the division's down just be you know, hey,
Houston just lost Rugman and and Kyle Tucker. I expect
Texas to bounce back. I think they'd be better team
a year ago. You know, Oakland's getting better, but there's
still not you know, a playoff contender. But it's totally
a winnable division, that's the thing. And you know, playing
(08:34):
those teams, you know, thirteen times is a whole lot
better than having to go to the Al East and
try and survive that. So you know, on paper, you know,
the Mariners should be in the playoffs. Then you're in
the playoffs with that pitching, right, that's all you need,
right And I think that's why everybody in baseball, you know,
last year with stan Man, I the Mariors just get in.
(08:56):
Get in. They could be as dangerous as any team out.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
There, no question, Bob, great stuff. Man, appreciate the insight
and the visit. You can find Bob on Twitter at
b Nightingale. By the way, great stuff, Bob, and we'll
talk soon.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Man. Appreciate this pal, Sure, my pleasure thank you guys,
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.