Brad Adam Joins From San Diego

Brad Adam, On-Air Talent for Root Sports is back for his weekly chat! Brad shares how well Teoscar Hernández has been playing, what's the Mariners mood through 60 games, why is Kolten Wong in the lineup still considering his struggles, and much more.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Joining us from the beach is brightat them? Hello, Bradley, did
you kind of morph into a likea British golf accent? What was that?
I sure did? Good. Hey, I'm glad you're talking to somebody
with a golf channel because this thisdeal is a complete joke. I can't
wait for you to break this thingdown for everybody always spent the first hour

(00:22):
on it. I mean it's justwhatever. I mean, complet Yeah.
How'd you like that driving range atTory Pines? Huh? I had to
ask. I said, is thiswhat they use for the Farmers Tournament every
year? And they said, yeah, obviously they moved to grass and they

(00:43):
try to spruce it up a littlebit. But they said, like when
they had the Open here, they'llclose the north course and use a couple
of holes on the north as adriving range. So for the US Open
it's more legit. But you're right, man, I mean, Jackson Jefferson
that that would shock you leap.But did I spend? I don't think

(01:06):
I got because, like you said, it's one sea for the golf.
Then you go over here and getfee like, did you do it?
Did you know that? Jim Jimso you pay two different fees there.
It's the hilarious. There's two differentcounters that when you go in there,
you pay the City of San Diegoand then you pay San Diego County.

(01:27):
If you lie and say you're fromSan Diego, though, do they ask
for ID to check you? Yeah, okay, yeah, because it is
of such a deal. It's likeseventy five bucks for San Diego residence.
I think it's even cheaper than that. I think it's even cheaper than the
North. Now the North is cheaper. It's like sixty five for North,
seventy five for South. I gotmy money's worth hitting out of the sand

(01:49):
guys, kind of like you,puck. I hit eight sand traps eight
about right, there's two. There'stwo bunkers on each side of every fairway.
There's like four bunkers around every green. Thought I hit the ball pretty
well, but I was. It'sjust terrible. Couldn't score to save them.

(02:09):
Uh fun, I shot over eighty, Jim, I'm just gonna say
that, Okay. And what famouspeople did you play with? Um,
well, we're all kind of clauseI famous. Uh. Matt Brash was
the winner. He shot seventy seven. No one else broke eighty. Yeah,

(02:30):
the festa was a little higher.And then and then we at our
pitching coach, Pete Woodworth join us. So yeah, so yeah it was
um, it was windy, youknow it was. It was really cool
to play because I love playing courseswhere you watched the pros plays. You
kind of know poles already and thenyou go back and you watch the pros

(02:53):
play it and notice how different.But but it's cool too to see where
they played from like we were,you know, three teas up from where
they were. It's just ridiculous.How good and how far are they hit?
Did you did you do the puton eighteen? Did you do Tiger's
pot? Oh? No, Idid not. I didn't even think about
that. I'm so happy to bedone. I just wanted to leave.

(03:16):
But it was good. You guyshad We had fun, and I look
forward to doing it next year.That's good, all right? So,
Brad, I think I think Ithink you might have sworn on radio.
Have you ever sworn on TV?Before? I apologize slipped out on TV?
Yeah? Sorry, No, never, never, not one single time.

(03:36):
I have not slipped up. No, I've been very fortunate. But
now of course, I'm will bethinking about that today. Now I'm trying
to that I have not No,I'm not slipped up. So let's keep
that going. Yeah, you knowwhat, you're You're right about taoscar and
Puck was talking about him too,how likable he is. I saw your
interview after the game. I meantwo hits, he had the RBI single,

(03:57):
the big home run that put himup in front two to one.
Likable guy and he's and he's hotall of a sudden. Yeah, he's
He's a great guy. He andGino like smiles all day. You know,
it's up pure of vita, that'spure life. They lead right,
the good vibes only. And he'sbeen that way since day one. And
I give him a lot of credit. You know, being a veteran guy
I think helps with that attitude.I mean his April was not good.

(04:20):
Early May it was not good.You guys thaw it. I think he
even said last night that he leadsa league in strikeouts. You know,
he's not proud of that. Buthe never got down. He kept working
and kept smiling, and you know, things starting to turn a little bit.
Guys with you know track records who'vebeen there before, done it in
an All Star before you figure they'regonna turn things around, and he's certainly

(04:42):
doing that, and it's good tosee, not just for him, but
for this offense. As we've seenthe last couple of series, the offense
has just not been producing. Ithas not been pretty at all these last
couple of series. So for himto do that, but then to score
four, which seems to be kindof the magic number. They have really
good records when they score at leastfour, and to see the pitching come

(05:04):
back, to see Monios come back, you know, that was a good
sign for them trying to finish upthis trip here and then also three with
the Angels. What did what didyou The overall game we talked about in
the in the first hour just feltlike their most complete game of the season
and very reminiscent here of how theyplayed last year. The home runs still

(05:25):
sprinkled in with some strikeouts. They'restarting. Pitching is lockdown with Logan Gilbert,
especially that final aiming for him inthe seventh, and then Moon Yo's
in the bullpen coming through. Whatwas the reaction from the players and maybe
even Scott's service. Did they feelthat that was maybe their best and most
complete game of the season. Absolutely, it was a very Mariner type win.

(05:46):
And Skipper said that it was goodto get back to doing you know
what they do well, which exactlyis that good pitching which we saw.
He said, it's just, youknow, what a luxury to have Monios
and Seawall go eight and nine,Gilbert does his thing, and then you
know, you wait around for acouple of big hits. And they didn't
get a lot of hits, butthey got two home runs and that was
enough and a very kind of youknow again, how they're built. Like

(06:11):
we talked about low scoring games andwinning close games. I know it's four
to one, not super close,but games that they have to win,
take advantage when they do get thegood pitching, don't waste it like they've
done so many times with lack ofoffense. And it was good to seeing
guys, you know, for thinking, hey this could you know, hopefully
start something going, get things going, like I said, finish this trip

(06:32):
right, get home and start going. I mean, thirty and thirty is
not terrible. I mean, Iknow a lot of people think they're already
out of the West and it isgonna be really hard to catch back up.
But you know, with one hundredand two games to go, it's
certainly a lot can still happen.I mean, it's not terrible, but
it's not good. It's over theremoaning while you're talking like that to say

(06:55):
not not buying that bad. Letis it fair to say it's not terrible
but it's not good? I agree, I agree. Not what anybody us
included and they included, you know, expected them to be I mean thirty
and thirty, that's you know,they were a worst record last year,
ended up winning ninety games. Butyou know this year is different. I
mean, the East is loaded teamsof you know U loaded up in the

(07:17):
American League. It's I think it'sgonna take more than ninety to get that
last wild card spot. You know, if you're not talking about winning the
West. You know the Rangers areplaying out of their heads. We saw
that over the weekend. But losingto Grom I think is gonna hurt them
certainly long run. Their bullpen isstill real shaky, their offense is just
red hot. But you know,wonder if Baltimore keeps things up, You

(07:41):
wonder what Toronto's gonna do. Idon't think the Angels think they're what a
game ahead. I don't think they'rea threat at all. Houston's obviously gonna
be it. So it's it's gonnabe hard, not just to win the
West, but to get to ninetywins and ninety plus to get to the
wild Card. But again, onehundred and two games ago, a lot
can happen. The deadline is comingup. I think I convinced the Mariners

(08:01):
are going to be active and dosomething, maybe even something big at the
deadline. So you know, lotsto watch and look forward to. Still,
yeah, boy, last night,seeing Munio's come back and be in
mid season form, it was likehe didn't miss a beat, throw one
hundred miles an hour there. Yeah, it was great. We just talked
to him and we'll have an interviewcoming up on the pregame show twelve thirty

(08:22):
on Root Sports. And the bigthing with him is he said that it
took longer to come back and hewas a little frustrated with that. But
the key for him last night isto be able to pitch, throw everything,
throw a hundred and then feel reallygood today. No pain in the
elbow, no pain and the foot, no pain and the shoulder. He
says he feels great. A littlesurprised he was in last night, but

(08:45):
you know it was a perfect spotsform up for one in that eighth inning.
You know, I don't he won'tclose for a while. That'll be
Sea Walt's job. But Munio's feelinggreat and ready to go. Not today
but certainly Friday on that great matchupwith Otani and Castell. But for having
him back, so you could usehim now six seventh, eighth and just
come in and wipe out, especiallyRioting. I mean, it is fun

(09:07):
to watch, and I just don'tknow how you know anybody can hit fastball
that one hundred miles an hour,moves like two feet. It's just mind
bogging. But he can do.Okay, So I think you guys already
you already talked to Service already.No, he's coming up, Okay,
he's coming up fifteen last thirteen gamesand thirty eight played appearances. His second

(09:28):
baseman's got three hits, he's hittingoh eighty six. Yeah, and he's
in the lineup again, And Ijust I need to know why, why
are they playing him? What isthe point of this? His slash line
is zero eighty six. He's gotan on base of one fifty eight.
His OPS is two seventy two.I mean, he just doesn't because he
makes ten million and they have aright hander going for San Diego. Okay,

(09:52):
I guess that's that's two good reasonsthey makes ten million. Well the
reasons they're not good, Okay,No, but you're right. You try
to get him going. You know, maybe if there's gonna be any chance
of him, you know, contributingand helping this year, you got to
try to get him going, right. I don't know at what point,
you know, do they say enoughenough? Maybe they don't. I don't
know, and maybe he does getit going again. You know, we

(10:13):
talked about Tayo having the track record. Nan Cooles got a track record,
right, He's won a Gold Glove, he had fifteen home runs last year.
He's been a good major league hitterfor ten years. Um, so
you know he gets a little rope. But but I mean being honest too,
right, I mean, if hewas making a league minimum, I
don't think he'd be on the team. But ten million dollars, you know,

(10:33):
you get him a little more,a little more rope, and you
hope that somehow he finds, youknow, something starts helping the team.
Can you phrase the question of servicejust like we did. How do you
think that would go over? Howcan you keep trotting that guy out there?
What's the point? I got acouple of buddies on radio that want

(10:54):
me to ask you why you keeptrotting them out? Yeah, yeah,
I'll see how that goes. Hey, let me ask you. You you're
friendly with these I mean you yougot a great working relationship with these players.
I mean you're you're entrenched with them, and you know, you see
how they how they act, youknow, away from the field. How
were they taking this all in rightnow? Like, what's the mood of

(11:16):
the team here after sixty games?From how you see it? You know,
I was talking about that last nightwith another media member and it's you
know, it's a little different fromlast night. Exceive me from last year.
You know, last year, theynever really worried much about things.
They were just kind of playing looseand free, knowing things would kind of

(11:37):
turn around. I think this yearit's a little bit different. Expectations were
heightened, you know, there wasso much talk about winning the West and
playoffs and stuff. I think theslow start, you know, it's more
frustrating than it was I think lastyear. Um, everybody's kind of searching
for things Like there's no panics,certainly, but it's more like, hey,

(11:58):
you know this, this isn't good. We need to turn things around,
like now, like they understand thatthey can't say, oh, you
know, we'll be okay for anotherfifty games. Like they understand that things
need to change, they need todo things different, and the Skipper talked
about that last night. You know, they had meetings and try to do

(12:20):
something differently offensively, and you sawbetter results last night. You know,
they're just trying to be consistent intrying to kind of get back to their
approach and what they were doing.And but I do feel that there's more
kind of a sense of urgency withthese guys, which you know, I
think it's good. I think it'sgood that they're not saying, you know,

(12:41):
everything's gonna be just fine, youknow, went on to do anything
different. They do have to dothings differently, and they realize that and
they're certainly, um, you know, on their way to hopefully fixing some
things. Okay, Brad so askell Nick built up up enough equity that
we shouldn't be concerned about his recentstruggles. I was just looking one for
his last seventeen and eleven strikeouts.Uh. Yeah, it's a good question

(13:07):
too. I'd like to think so. Um, but it's been a struggle
of late. You know, hemoved around a little bit in the lineup,
hit leadoff in Texas. He's backhitting fourth. You know, he
had the big success to the startof the year back in the when he
was hitting the sixth you know,but necessity for the offense and how good
he was doing, you know,he had to move him up to three,

(13:28):
three or four in the lineup,and he just hasn't been the same
type of hitter. I don't knowif that's just a random wincidence or not.
Um, but he's still number wise, you know, he's still their
best overall hitter. UM. Ithink Julio is certainly coming though. But
yeah, I take a little concern. Um. You know, I don't
think that he's quite the I don'tlike clean up hitter now. UM.

(13:54):
I don't know, it'd be interestingto kind of see kind of how he
finishes up, you know, beforethe All Star because his numbers say that
you know, he could be apotential All Star. Um, but I
don't know, you know, howit's gonna look as we get closer to
that game. Um, it doesn'tlook like he's chasing a lot, but
but he sure is striking out alot, and he's swinging and missing a

(14:15):
lot like we saw last night,And I don't know it certainly won you
know, I want to watch akind of a long winded answer, guys,
but uh, he still I wasn'tthinking now, yeah you were,
um, you know yeah, hey, wait, tuck up, grad,
you're still talking here. I didn'tknow if we were talking to balk At

(14:41):
how could I defend Celnic without reallydefending him in three minutes? But what
did you say? One for seventeeneleven strike out? Yeah? Yeah,
it's started in tech. Yeah thatwas hasn't been good at tech in here,
no doubt. I don't know.It's just slump. Maybe he gets
it back, but he's not beenyou know, after that first months or
so, he's not quite been thesame hitter. And I don't know if

(15:03):
it's been his body language. Okay, though he's not you yeah, okay,
all right, Oh yeah, yeahit takes a lot more than that
though. My head on his firstsecond. So if are you still talking,
Brad, just keep talking. Ilost connection to give me one,
Brad. We appreciate your time towait. Where are we playing golf in

(15:24):
LA? You're playing somewhere there too, aren't you? I am. Yeah,
I'm playing tomorrow at a Royal Tribuca. Which is Michael Block? Tell
him high a. No, isn'the? He didn't make the open.
He didn't qualify. That's and I'mheartbroken. I'm heartbroken. We've got an
exemption I think for this week's tourstop. I think it's in Canada this

(15:46):
week. Oh he's up there.Uh yeah, yeah he does. He
doesn't have an exemption. Yeah,so I won't see him, but I'll
leave a note. Yeah, pleasedo ask him where I can get getting
that? Asking me if you getin that special deal he's got running there
at one hundred and fifty dollars anhour for a lesson not taking new clients.
Nobody. Sorry, take your chin. All right, you're the best.

(16:08):
We'll talk to you next week.All right, Thanks, guys,
Here's Brad Adam Root Sports