May 5, 2025 • 19 mins
Former Mariners pitcher Bill Krueger, of the Old School Baseball podcast, joins Dave Softy Mahler and Hugh Millen to talk about the M’s and their on-fire offense, Leo Rivas and Jorge Polanco doing so well, what’s wrong with Julio, and all the pitching injuries.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Speaking of the Rangers, Brett Boone Thursdays. But Booney has
come to an end. Brett Boone can no longer join
us on the radio show because he is now the
new hitting coach of the Texas Rangers, which brings us
to our next guest. It's joining us right now on
the program. If this man has his sight set on
going back to the major leagues in any capacity whatsoever,
(00:23):
he is doing the exact right thing, because the last
two baseball analysts that we have had on this radio show,
Steven Souza parlays that into a scouting deal with the Rays,
Brett Boone turning it into a hitting coach position with
the Texas Rangers, where we'll boo Bill Krueger end up
because he's going to be with us every Monday at
(00:44):
five o'clock courtesy of our friends at Occidental Hall next
to Lewman Field opening up very soon. So Bill, you
tell me what job do you want, because we apparently
now can get it for you.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Pal, that's too funny. You're like a genie or you
got a magic wand or something over their Dave. I
don't know what the deal is, but I think this one,
I think I take the over on this one. If
you're a KJR.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Listener, all right, well listen, listen man.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Then, which is fine with me. I'm happy. I'm thrilled
to be on with youself.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
We know, we know you're going to be the manager
of the Marlins by the middle of June doing this
radio show.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
So get ready, golf?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Do you mean the what are they called the Jacksonville
Golf Shrimp? Is that who they really are?
Speaker 1 (01:25):
I got no idea, man, Well, listen, we're fired up
to have you. We're fired up to have you on
the air with us every Monday at five o'clock courtesy
of Occidental Hall. Humullin's here as well, obviously in for
Dick Bill, So we'll do this every single Monday. But
I mean, look, you got a baseball team that we
talked about it today in the opening segment. Back on
April the ninth, the Mariners won a come from behind
(01:48):
game against the Astro seven to six. Ever since then,
they're fifteen and five. They have the best record in baseball.
We were hoping that that game would catapult this team
to bigger and better things, and has How about what
these guys are up to? After thirty three twenty and thirteen,
first place in the division. They're eighth and run scored
(02:08):
in baseball fourth, and bombs second, and on base percentage.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
What the hell is going on at T Mobile Park.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Now, Well, they've gotten some surprising results from people that
they didn't expect they'd get him from. And that's excluding
Julio Rodriguez, who really hasn't in typical fashion, hasn't hit
earlier in the season. But you know, they're averaging over
five runs a game. They're second in the league and
on base percentage first in walks. I think this team
(02:35):
either by the personnel changes that have been made that
maybe were even the result of strategy based upon what
the Mariners had in their mind for the season, or
Edgar and Dan have really put this concept of hitting
into account and putting more balls in play. I mean
that seems to play nicely. I mean, I believe they've
(02:56):
tried to do that. But players are pretty ingreded in
who they are as a player. It's not like you
can write it on the chalkboard and say today's lesson is,
you know, working, work, work the ball, and play with
two strikes. But they certainly have I think a lot
of it has to do with you know, Ryan Bliss
goes down, Rollbays goes down, and suddenly they have to
replace these guys, and the guys that have caused them
(03:17):
to replace have given them given them a lot more
of that. I was that. So either way you do that,
you get more guys on base and you get some
hot bats, right, and we could talk about those hot beats.
Riley's Riley's been unbelievable what a player, and Polanco is
like I rubbed my eyes and I still can't believe it.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Right, Well, you said that it's one or the other.
What is your gun? If you had to say, well,
which is it? You just presented two options. Which is it?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Yeah, Oh, I think it's it's replacement by by accident,
you know. Leo Revas and not to bat myself in
the back. When he came up last year in the
spring or early season, I said, this guy is a
good player, and then he evaporated. But all he does
has put the ball on play and play steady up
the middle of the field. He's it's on base over
five hundred. Every bat's along as bad. Yeah, and you
don't like him because why because he doesn't slug? But
(04:10):
you only need a few guys to slug, need more
guys to set the table right. Then Williamson, he has
numbers have dragged a little bit, but has given them
third base. They had nobody at third base, nobody to
play third. That Polocko can't play third, even if he
gets healthy, he can't play third. He's a second baseman.
And Williamson has played stellar third base, and he's had
(04:30):
some stretches where he's really hit the ball well and
he puts the ball in play right, So you kind
of keep going from there. You know, Roddy Tiles is
a much better first baseman thenn Raley, even though Raley's
hurting now really goes to the outfield. But then Roeblaze
is out. Yes, that hurts, but he doesn't get on base.
He doesn't walk. He swings at the first pitch. And
we already got a guy at the top of the
(04:51):
lineup that doesn't that really doesn't walk and swings at
the first pitch, and that's Rodriguez. So you're just changing
the con the way this team is put together. And
and you have some incredibly hot guys. Polanco sixteen years
of baseball, he slugged over seven hundred, he's got nine
and twenty six and eighty eight bats. It's just it's
(05:11):
almost like did the lost map of Ponza de Leone
searching for the Fountain of youth. He must have found
the map. Maybe that maybe Saint Coelam we never do.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Yeah, well, I what I mean.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
It's just it's beyond my conception what he's doing.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
There is that there is uh to say.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
There's this growing kind of like you know, groundswell of
fans on social media that have this opinion would be
a gross exaggeration, but I actually saw somebody the other
day on Twitter, Dick that was accusing the Mariners of juicing.
That's how good this offense is that people can't buy it.
They can't believe what is going on here. And look,
Poloco has been busted before, so I get why people
(05:51):
would say Hora Polacko's on something, because he's got a
history of that.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
But let's just go back to him for a second.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Is is all of what's happening with Hora Polanco simply
put about him being healthier than he was a year ago,
because obviously the guy is still not healthy because he
can't hit right handed and that's the thing. If he
could hit right handed, he'd be qualified for every stat
lead in baseball.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
But he's not.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
He is exclusively facing right handers with a twelve oh
three ops. So do he even bother to let him
hit from the other side of the plate, or do
you just kind of say, hey, look, let's just let's
just take the burden hand and keep going with this
thing until it stops.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Well, when we watched with Hora Placo, when they sign
him up for the big money last year, supposedly he
was healthy, and you don't sign a player if he's
not healthy. And he never really was out for injury
per se that much last year, and he was flailing
at the ball away. He had a whole lane in
the side of the plate left handed, he couldn't handle.
He was just way out in front of off speed
(06:54):
pitches and he had no chance. He looked like a
player that had become a shadow of himself. He was
a better hitter right handed than he was left handed.
Now he can't hit right handed, but left handed, he's
short and compact, he's closed up a little bit. He's
covering the plate, and if you make any kind of
mistake with a fastball anywhere in the strike zone. He
is hitting it hard. So I mean it's impressive, it's
(07:18):
it's dramatic. It's changed the constant, the way this team
is set up. He doesn't play every day, he comes
off the bench, he hits rockets. I mean, it's impibile,
it's really really And listen, it's not like he wasn't
a good player. We're just talking about looking at him
last year. Then he has patella repair on his knee.
He's not one hundred percent when he comes to spring training,
and here he is just it's just it's remarkable. I mean,
(07:42):
he clearly has closed himself up. Yes, he's covering the
plate better, his mechanics are better, but he is short
in compact and the ball is leaping off his bat,
which is, like I said, it's a testament to him.
And he's obviously in a really, really good place right now.
At the Blake Bill Krueger.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
With us, and Bill, I thought I sensed a little
frustration from your voice about the state of Julio. And
my question to you would be, if he came to
you and said, hey, give me one piece of advice,
what what is in your mind about the thing that
he needs to do the most.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Well. It's obviously not easy to be a player that's
destined for greatness, even though you know you hand him
the keys of the city after half a season of
professional sports. Nobody has ever been paid like that, and
he certainly hasn't. It's not as if he hasn't delivered
on that promise, but you know, the pattern over the
(08:44):
past year and a half hasn't been very good. He
looked a lot short of the ball when he first
came up, and now he looks like a hitter for me,
is he's just so long. His bat path is so
long that he's forced to make early decisions on pitches.
He doesn't get a good ball to hit. That's what
(09:05):
Ted Williams always said in his Science of Hitting. You
have to get a good bald hit. He doesn't get
a good ball to hit. He looks to me like
a guy that's kind of sort of makeing up his mind.
He's trying to play a guessing game of the pitcher.
And a lot of times he either gets the first
pitch cheat gets the fastball down the screws and it's
a homer, or he's taken sliders away and he's putting
(09:25):
him in play because he can handle the ball down
in hopes that he can hit a ball on the
ground and beat it out for a base hit. So
there's no doubles, right, and he's not hitting for an average,
so he needs to flatten his bat and he needs
to shorten his path to the baseball. And I'm sure
this isn't a mystery. I mean, obviously Edgar understands that,
and I'm sure he has the benefit of I mean,
(09:47):
could he be in a better place to have someone
who's soft and smart and amazing as his hitting coach,
that's highly respected, that's Latin, that can speak Spanish with him.
It needs to be that, and you would think that
would be a great combination. But you know this, You
that a coach cannot play the game for you. You
have to go in and play the game and for
me right now. And yes, he will get better as
(10:09):
the season goes on, but for me, for him to
be the next level of player, he's going to have
to get shorter to the ball so that he can
wait a little bit longer and make a better decision
on what ball he's going to swing at. Well, that's
understand what ball you want to hit.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Yeah, Billy, it's funny at down is what he wants
to hit. I'm looking at Baseball reference dot com. When
he swings at the first pitch, he's a two sixty
hitter with a seven seventy eight OPS. When he takes
the first pitch, he's a one fifty three hitter with
a five ninety six OPS. So, I mean kind of
makes sense of those numbers for me. And then number two,
you mentioned giving the keys to the city after a
(10:46):
half a season of baseball. Now, remember the landscape back then.
The Padres did it with Tatisse, the Braves did it
with a Kunya, where there was this kind of like
it was. It was in vogue going around the game
to give these hot shots these deals before they exploded,
and what it cost the teams even more money.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
So do we look back on that.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Decision by the Mariners for now is a mistake or
do you still think in the end that will prove
to be the right call and save the team some cash.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
I think it's a discount. The player gets unbelievable security,
multi generational security. He had to take it. The team
sees a guy that they feel like is a pretty
fair bet to have a long career, and those dollars
as you move along will be much cheaper than if
they had waited for him. I just wish they'd let
(11:35):
him play a little bit half a season. I don't
think that's the story with Acunas or Tatis Tatis. They'd
played more half a season, one half of a season.
The deal was signed right after the All Star break.
That's pretty quick, right, Maybe let him play with his
hair on fire for a couple of years, right, just
let him rub it in your face a little bit.
(11:57):
You still got control of them. Yeah, I mean, I
think the bet is here's a guy that has enormous tools,
that has a tremendous desire to be great, and confidence
and those are good things for hitters, for a young
player to have, So they bet on all those things.
The Mariners love to have a centerpiece player to market around.
That's always been their mantra, right, So, and not to
(12:20):
suggest that he's not a guy that makes sense to
sign long term. I just wish they'd have given it
a little more time. Let him play and make some mistakes,
let him play and play through some of these little
things until he gets a little bit more comfortable in
his shoes and then maybe pull the trigger.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
The lefty Bill Krueger with us Billy from your perspective,
just kind of give an update on some of these
arms and their state of health. Gilbert, Where we are
with George Kirby. Matt Brassett just made his appearance, just
kind of where are you in terms of where we
are with the health with the staff.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Well, let's just talk about the rotation. Kirby gets hurt
in spring training. I think they was it was very much.
They were very cautious and I don't think George wanted
to be gone down at that point. But I don't
know the grade of his the inflammation in his shoulder,
but he pitched three innings through It sounds like he
threw the ball very well and through three innings his
(13:18):
first time out. But you have to remember he's redoing.
He's starting over, so he has to redo the steps.
So that means he's got to pitch, I mean at
least two more times, maybe three, because he has to
prepare to start and you have to let him have
that graduation much like he's having in spring training. Right,
(13:38):
So he's going to be a little he's a couple
of weeks out. He's gonna be fine. He's gonna jump
in there. He's going to be great. Gilbert for I
don't know the date of his injury, but he's on
the two week I L which is just that means nothing.
Having a flexureear I've had him. This isn't a really
serious one, but I would say he pitches in a month,
(13:59):
and he pitches in the big leagues somewhere closer to
six weeks. Got so you're just have to sort of
keep that in mind, and you know they've done a
decent job of covering for those guys. Hancock has been
greatest for us his last returns. I mean, he had
a terrible start and then they went with Luisa Castillo
is a middle reliever at best. We watched that just
that experiment go Haywire when Hancock has been pretty solid
(14:22):
for him and Logan Evans. You know, I think you
know he had to pitch yesterday through a tough inning
where there was an error made Williamson. It was a
door diplay. He sits back on that ball and he's safe.
So the fact that he kicked it, it happens. You
hope the pitcher can pick him up. They end up
getting six off him. But then he kind of studied himself.
He pitched two innings. He threw his fastball to going.
(14:43):
He can't throw his fastball like tw ten percent or whatever.
He's throwing it. He's got an array of breaking balls.
That's great. He's got great mound premises. That's great. He
doesn't throw real hard, but you know he'll feel harder
if he uses his fastball more. The other stuff will
get better. So there needs to be a better balance
with him. Brash. He look fine. You know, the ball's
(15:04):
coming out of his hand really good. The lessons learned
with him, it's seventy eight appearances of the year that
he hurt basically hurt his arm. You know, they used him.
They've just used him too much. And I think they'll
be more cautious with him and give him more rest
between turns and let him graduate himself into the role.
And then gosh, you know, Monos at the end has
(15:26):
been terrific. Spire is back to health and he can
cover the eighth. That doesn't matter left, You're right, he
seems to be the right sit there, and then this
cast of no names is done. Okay, I mean, Vargas
is you know a guy that couldn't throw strikes the
minor leagues, and he's pretty good. You know, I got
a little slider and moving on his fastball, and I
(15:47):
don't know though, I'm completely sold on the rest of
the cast. But if you're starting pitching picks up a
little bit. Miller needs to pitch more, and so does cast.
Deal they got to cover more and they don't cover
more because they don't they're not to pitch in the
strike zone. Like Wu pitches in the strike zone. He
pitches in the strike zone with fastball command. And this, this,
(16:08):
this idea of tinkering and having five or six pitches
is ridiculous. Yep, you only need three.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
You sound like an old school baseball guy, by the way,
which is why you have a podcast called Old School
Baseball on Spotify and at Old School Underscore MLB on Twitter.
By the way, just to give you some numbers to
TEASEID played Twitter and seventy three games a Kuna one
hundred and eleven. Julio played one hundred and four when
he got his new deal from the Mariners. But hey,
(16:36):
listen before you go. You're at your buddy Hu Millan
over here last segment proclaimed that Andress Munno's is the
best player in baseball because he's been perfect so far
thirteen for thirteen on save opportunities. I will say this though,
Luke Weaver, by the way out of the Yankee bullpen
is three for three and save opportunities fifteen innings, has not.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Allowed an earn run or a run period all year.
Had only three.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Hits, so I know many saves. His end is he's
got three, he's got three twelve. But he's been perfect
for what they've asked he's doing has been more perfect.
He's been more perfect, So more perfect. Talk about the runs,
talk about the Muns having Bill, Well, they're keeping him.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Dan has made the decision not to play the leverage game.
Keep him in the ninth inning, and don't be tempted
to bring him in the seventh because the top two
three hitters are coming up. And keep him in the
ninth and that's that's traditional closer usage. And he keep
he knows he's predictable there and he's gonna you're gonna
get the best out of him there, and I you
(17:39):
know it, he's you know, he's not going to be
perfect tall season long. But here's a guy that Rudy
understands who he is now. He's got great movement on
his fastball and a slider that that's pretty untouchable for
a right an hitter. So uh uh. This team in
its constitution five young starters when they're right a young
(17:59):
clothes are a center field or a short stop, and
a catcher. That's basically YATSI. All you gotta do is
fill in the cracks with a decent crew, and they've
kind of done that. And the division is soft. The
best team in the division, they're gonna play, they can
play in the Sacramento River River Cats, whoever they are.
They're that's the next best team in the division. That's
not they say, well that's the record. No, that's real.
(18:20):
The Angels are going to lose a hundred. The Astros
are finally going to come back to Earth where you
can't just keep losing players. And the Rangers are a
head scratcher. Their offenses have been there for two years.
They hired Brett Boom, nothing wrong with Brett. Brett's awesome,
but they're in trouble. This is a good time. The
Marritors are a good spot man they're they're playing well,
and they're gonna get healthier. I see them. I think
(18:42):
they'll win the division.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Well, if I were you, I would get together with
your lovely wife and I would start looking at real
estate in Miami and Baltimore because those are three. Those
are the three worst pitching teams in baseball. Are going
to fire their pitching coach. Orioles Colorado, maybe the Angels
(19:04):
go back to La. So we'll have you on the
air for a few months and then you'll go the
way of Susan Mooon. You'll become the pitching coach of
the Orioles Man.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
So thanks for doing.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
You've got me and Hugh and we're just too old
to go anywhere.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
Yeah, well that's probably that's probably correct.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Not that we can't do it. We're just too old,
all right.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
The Old School Podcast on Spotify at Old School Underscore
MLB on Twitter. Bill Kruger gonna be with us every
single Monday at five courtesy of the Occidental Hall soon
to be open next to Lumanfield on Occidental Bill, great
stuff and we'll.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Talk on a week man.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Sounds great, Thank you bet man.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Bill Kruger with us on the radio show come back
and talk a little Seahawks the Rookie Mini camp taking
part last week.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
What did we learn? What do we know?
Speaker 1 (19:51):
Husky's had their spring game on Friday. What did we learn?
What do we know?
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Next? With Hugh on ninety three to three KJRFM
Speaking of the Rangers, Brett Boone Thursdays. But Booney has
come to an end. Brett Boone can no longer join
us on the radio show because he is now the
new hitting coach of the Texas Rangers, which brings us
to our next guest. It's joining us right now on
the program. If this man has his sight set on
going back to the major leagues in any capacity whatsoever,
(00:23):
he is doing the exact right thing, because the last
two baseball analysts that we have had on this radio show,
Steven Souza parlays that into a scouting deal with the Rays,
Brett Boone turning it into a hitting coach position with
the Texas Rangers, where we'll boo Bill Krueger end up
because he's going to be with us every Monday at
(00:44):
five o'clock courtesy of our friends at Occidental Hall next
to Lewman Field opening up very soon. So Bill, you
tell me what job do you want, because we apparently
now can get it for you.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Pal, that's too funny. You're like a genie or you
got a magic wand or something over their Dave. I
don't know what the deal is, but I think this one,
I think I take the over on this one. If
you're a KJR.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Listener, all right, well listen, listen man.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Then, which is fine with me. I'm happy. I'm thrilled
to be on with youself.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
We know, we know you're going to be the manager
of the Marlins by the middle of June doing this
radio show.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
So get ready, golf?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Do you mean the what are they called the Jacksonville
Golf Shrimp? Is that who they really are?
Speaker 1 (01:25):
I got no idea, man, Well, listen, we're fired up
to have you. We're fired up to have you on
the air with us every Monday at five o'clock courtesy
of Occidental Hall. Humullin's here as well, obviously in for
Dick Bill, So we'll do this every single Monday. But
I mean, look, you got a baseball team that we
talked about it today in the opening segment. Back on
April the ninth, the Mariners won a come from behind
(01:48):
game against the Astro seven to six. Ever since then,
they're fifteen and five. They have the best record in baseball.
We were hoping that that game would catapult this team
to bigger and better things, and has How about what
these guys are up to? After thirty three twenty and thirteen,
first place in the division. They're eighth and run scored
(02:08):
in baseball fourth, and bombs second, and on base percentage.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
What the hell is going on at T Mobile Park.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Now, Well, they've gotten some surprising results from people that
they didn't expect they'd get him from. And that's excluding
Julio Rodriguez, who really hasn't in typical fashion, hasn't hit
earlier in the season. But you know, they're averaging over
five runs a game. They're second in the league and
on base percentage first in walks. I think this team
(02:35):
either by the personnel changes that have been made that
maybe were even the result of strategy based upon what
the Mariners had in their mind for the season, or
Edgar and Dan have really put this concept of hitting
into account and putting more balls in play. I mean
that seems to play nicely. I mean, I believe they've
(02:56):
tried to do that. But players are pretty ingreded in
who they are as a player. It's not like you
can write it on the chalkboard and say today's lesson is,
you know, working, work, work the ball, and play with
two strikes. But they certainly have I think a lot
of it has to do with you know, Ryan Bliss
goes down, Rollbays goes down, and suddenly they have to
replace these guys, and the guys that have caused them
(03:17):
to replace have given them given them a lot more
of that. I was that. So either way you do that,
you get more guys on base and you get some
hot bats, right, and we could talk about those hot beats.
Riley's Riley's been unbelievable what a player, and Polanco is
like I rubbed my eyes and I still can't believe it.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Right, Well, you said that it's one or the other.
What is your gun? If you had to say, well,
which is it? You just presented two options. Which is it?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Yeah, Oh, I think it's it's replacement by by accident,
you know. Leo Revas and not to bat myself in
the back. When he came up last year in the
spring or early season, I said, this guy is a
good player, and then he evaporated. But all he does
has put the ball on play and play steady up
the middle of the field. He's it's on base over
five hundred. Every bat's along as bad. Yeah, and you
don't like him because why because he doesn't slug? But
(04:10):
you only need a few guys to slug, need more
guys to set the table right. Then Williamson, he has
numbers have dragged a little bit, but has given them
third base. They had nobody at third base, nobody to
play third. That Polocko can't play third, even if he
gets healthy, he can't play third. He's a second baseman.
And Williamson has played stellar third base, and he's had
(04:30):
some stretches where he's really hit the ball well and
he puts the ball in play right, So you kind
of keep going from there. You know, Roddy Tiles is
a much better first baseman thenn Raley, even though Raley's
hurting now really goes to the outfield. But then Roeblaze
is out. Yes, that hurts, but he doesn't get on base.
He doesn't walk. He swings at the first pitch. And
we already got a guy at the top of the
(04:51):
lineup that doesn't that really doesn't walk and swings at
the first pitch, and that's Rodriguez. So you're just changing
the con the way this team is put together. And
and you have some incredibly hot guys. Polanco sixteen years
of baseball, he slugged over seven hundred, he's got nine
and twenty six and eighty eight bats. It's just it's
(05:11):
almost like did the lost map of Ponza de Leone
searching for the Fountain of youth. He must have found
the map. Maybe that maybe Saint Coelam we never do.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Yeah, well, I what I mean.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
It's just it's beyond my conception what he's doing.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
There is that there is uh to say.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
There's this growing kind of like you know, groundswell of
fans on social media that have this opinion would be
a gross exaggeration, but I actually saw somebody the other
day on Twitter, Dick that was accusing the Mariners of juicing.
That's how good this offense is that people can't buy it.
They can't believe what is going on here. And look,
Poloco has been busted before, so I get why people
(05:51):
would say Hora Polacko's on something, because he's got a
history of that.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
But let's just go back to him for a second.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Is is all of what's happening with Hora Polanco simply
put about him being healthier than he was a year ago,
because obviously the guy is still not healthy because he
can't hit right handed and that's the thing. If he
could hit right handed, he'd be qualified for every stat
lead in baseball.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
But he's not.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
He is exclusively facing right handers with a twelve oh
three ops. So do he even bother to let him
hit from the other side of the plate, or do
you just kind of say, hey, look, let's just let's
just take the burden hand and keep going with this
thing until it stops.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Well, when we watched with Hora Placo, when they sign
him up for the big money last year, supposedly he
was healthy, and you don't sign a player if he's
not healthy. And he never really was out for injury
per se that much last year, and he was flailing
at the ball away. He had a whole lane in
the side of the plate left handed, he couldn't handle.
He was just way out in front of off speed
(06:54):
pitches and he had no chance. He looked like a
player that had become a shadow of himself. He was
a better hitter right handed than he was left handed.
Now he can't hit right handed, but left handed, he's
short and compact, he's closed up a little bit. He's
covering the plate, and if you make any kind of
mistake with a fastball anywhere in the strike zone. He
is hitting it hard. So I mean it's impressive, it's
(07:18):
it's dramatic. It's changed the constant, the way this team
is set up. He doesn't play every day, he comes
off the bench, he hits rockets. I mean, it's impibile,
it's really really And listen, it's not like he wasn't
a good player. We're just talking about looking at him
last year. Then he has patella repair on his knee.
He's not one hundred percent when he comes to spring training,
and here he is just it's just it's remarkable. I mean,
(07:42):
he clearly has closed himself up. Yes, he's covering the
plate better, his mechanics are better, but he is short
in compact and the ball is leaping off his bat,
which is, like I said, it's a testament to him.
And he's obviously in a really, really good place right now.
At the Blake Bill Krueger.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
With us, and Bill, I thought I sensed a little
frustration from your voice about the state of Julio. And
my question to you would be, if he came to
you and said, hey, give me one piece of advice,
what what is in your mind about the thing that
he needs to do the most.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Well. It's obviously not easy to be a player that's
destined for greatness, even though you know you hand him
the keys of the city after half a season of
professional sports. Nobody has ever been paid like that, and
he certainly hasn't. It's not as if he hasn't delivered
on that promise, but you know, the pattern over the
(08:44):
past year and a half hasn't been very good. He
looked a lot short of the ball when he first
came up, and now he looks like a hitter for me,
is he's just so long. His bat path is so
long that he's forced to make early decisions on pitches.
He doesn't get a good ball to hit. That's what
(09:05):
Ted Williams always said in his Science of Hitting. You
have to get a good bald hit. He doesn't get
a good ball to hit. He looks to me like
a guy that's kind of sort of makeing up his mind.
He's trying to play a guessing game of the pitcher.
And a lot of times he either gets the first
pitch cheat gets the fastball down the screws and it's
a homer, or he's taken sliders away and he's putting
(09:25):
him in play because he can handle the ball down
in hopes that he can hit a ball on the
ground and beat it out for a base hit. So
there's no doubles, right, and he's not hitting for an average,
so he needs to flatten his bat and he needs
to shorten his path to the baseball. And I'm sure
this isn't a mystery. I mean, obviously Edgar understands that,
and I'm sure he has the benefit of I mean,
(09:47):
could he be in a better place to have someone
who's soft and smart and amazing as his hitting coach,
that's highly respected, that's Latin, that can speak Spanish with him.
It needs to be that, and you would think that
would be a great combination. But you know this, You
that a coach cannot play the game for you. You
have to go in and play the game and for
me right now. And yes, he will get better as
(10:09):
the season goes on, but for me, for him to
be the next level of player, he's going to have
to get shorter to the ball so that he can
wait a little bit longer and make a better decision
on what ball he's going to swing at. Well, that's
understand what ball you want to hit.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Yeah, Billy, it's funny at down is what he wants
to hit. I'm looking at Baseball reference dot com. When
he swings at the first pitch, he's a two sixty
hitter with a seven seventy eight OPS. When he takes
the first pitch, he's a one fifty three hitter with
a five ninety six OPS. So, I mean kind of
makes sense of those numbers for me. And then number two,
you mentioned giving the keys to the city after a
(10:46):
half a season of baseball. Now, remember the landscape back then.
The Padres did it with Tatisse, the Braves did it
with a Kunya, where there was this kind of like
it was. It was in vogue going around the game
to give these hot shots these deals before they exploded,
and what it cost the teams even more money.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
So do we look back on that.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Decision by the Mariners for now is a mistake or
do you still think in the end that will prove
to be the right call and save the team some cash.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
I think it's a discount. The player gets unbelievable security,
multi generational security. He had to take it. The team
sees a guy that they feel like is a pretty
fair bet to have a long career, and those dollars
as you move along will be much cheaper than if
they had waited for him. I just wish they'd let
(11:35):
him play a little bit half a season. I don't
think that's the story with Acunas or Tatis Tatis. They'd
played more half a season, one half of a season.
The deal was signed right after the All Star break.
That's pretty quick, right, Maybe let him play with his
hair on fire for a couple of years, right, just
let him rub it in your face a little bit.
(11:57):
You still got control of them. Yeah, I mean, I
think the bet is here's a guy that has enormous tools,
that has a tremendous desire to be great, and confidence
and those are good things for hitters, for a young
player to have, So they bet on all those things.
The Mariners love to have a centerpiece player to market around.
That's always been their mantra, right, So, and not to
(12:20):
suggest that he's not a guy that makes sense to
sign long term. I just wish they'd have given it
a little more time. Let him play and make some mistakes,
let him play and play through some of these little
things until he gets a little bit more comfortable in
his shoes and then maybe pull the trigger.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
The lefty Bill Krueger with us Billy from your perspective,
just kind of give an update on some of these
arms and their state of health. Gilbert, Where we are
with George Kirby. Matt Brassett just made his appearance, just
kind of where are you in terms of where we
are with the health with the staff.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Well, let's just talk about the rotation. Kirby gets hurt
in spring training. I think they was it was very much.
They were very cautious and I don't think George wanted
to be gone down at that point. But I don't
know the grade of his the inflammation in his shoulder,
but he pitched three innings through It sounds like he
threw the ball very well and through three innings his
(13:18):
first time out. But you have to remember he's redoing.
He's starting over, so he has to redo the steps.
So that means he's got to pitch, I mean at
least two more times, maybe three, because he has to
prepare to start and you have to let him have
that graduation much like he's having in spring training. Right,
(13:38):
So he's going to be a little he's a couple
of weeks out. He's gonna be fine. He's gonna jump
in there. He's going to be great. Gilbert for I
don't know the date of his injury, but he's on
the two week I L which is just that means nothing.
Having a flexureear I've had him. This isn't a really
serious one, but I would say he pitches in a month,
(13:59):
and he pitches in the big leagues somewhere closer to
six weeks. Got so you're just have to sort of
keep that in mind, and you know they've done a
decent job of covering for those guys. Hancock has been
greatest for us his last returns. I mean, he had
a terrible start and then they went with Luisa Castillo
is a middle reliever at best. We watched that just
that experiment go Haywire when Hancock has been pretty solid
(14:22):
for him and Logan Evans. You know, I think you
know he had to pitch yesterday through a tough inning
where there was an error made Williamson. It was a
door diplay. He sits back on that ball and he's safe.
So the fact that he kicked it, it happens. You
hope the pitcher can pick him up. They end up
getting six off him. But then he kind of studied himself.
He pitched two innings. He threw his fastball to going.
(14:43):
He can't throw his fastball like tw ten percent or whatever.
He's throwing it. He's got an array of breaking balls.
That's great. He's got great mound premises. That's great. He
doesn't throw real hard, but you know he'll feel harder
if he uses his fastball more. The other stuff will
get better. So there needs to be a better balance
with him. Brash. He look fine. You know, the ball's
(15:04):
coming out of his hand really good. The lessons learned
with him, it's seventy eight appearances of the year that
he hurt basically hurt his arm. You know, they used him.
They've just used him too much. And I think they'll
be more cautious with him and give him more rest
between turns and let him graduate himself into the role.
And then gosh, you know, Monos at the end has
(15:26):
been terrific. Spire is back to health and he can
cover the eighth. That doesn't matter left, You're right, he
seems to be the right sit there, and then this
cast of no names is done. Okay, I mean, Vargas
is you know a guy that couldn't throw strikes the
minor leagues, and he's pretty good. You know, I got
a little slider and moving on his fastball, and I
(15:47):
don't know though, I'm completely sold on the rest of
the cast. But if you're starting pitching picks up a
little bit. Miller needs to pitch more, and so does cast.
Deal they got to cover more and they don't cover
more because they don't they're not to pitch in the
strike zone. Like Wu pitches in the strike zone. He
pitches in the strike zone with fastball command. And this, this,
(16:08):
this idea of tinkering and having five or six pitches
is ridiculous. Yep, you only need three.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
You sound like an old school baseball guy, by the way,
which is why you have a podcast called Old School
Baseball on Spotify and at Old School Underscore MLB on Twitter.
By the way, just to give you some numbers to
TEASEID played Twitter and seventy three games a Kuna one
hundred and eleven. Julio played one hundred and four when
he got his new deal from the Mariners. But hey,
(16:36):
listen before you go. You're at your buddy Hu Millan
over here last segment proclaimed that Andress Munno's is the
best player in baseball because he's been perfect so far
thirteen for thirteen on save opportunities. I will say this though,
Luke Weaver, by the way out of the Yankee bullpen
is three for three and save opportunities fifteen innings, has not.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Allowed an earn run or a run period all year.
Had only three.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Hits, so I know many saves. His end is he's
got three, he's got three twelve. But he's been perfect
for what they've asked he's doing has been more perfect.
He's been more perfect, So more perfect. Talk about the runs,
talk about the Muns having Bill, Well, they're keeping him.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Dan has made the decision not to play the leverage game.
Keep him in the ninth inning, and don't be tempted
to bring him in the seventh because the top two
three hitters are coming up. And keep him in the
ninth and that's that's traditional closer usage. And he keep
he knows he's predictable there and he's gonna you're gonna
get the best out of him there, and I you
(17:39):
know it, he's you know, he's not going to be
perfect tall season long. But here's a guy that Rudy
understands who he is now. He's got great movement on
his fastball and a slider that that's pretty untouchable for
a right an hitter. So uh uh. This team in
its constitution five young starters when they're right a young
(17:59):
clothes are a center field or a short stop, and
a catcher. That's basically YATSI. All you gotta do is
fill in the cracks with a decent crew, and they've
kind of done that. And the division is soft. The
best team in the division, they're gonna play, they can
play in the Sacramento River River Cats, whoever they are.
They're that's the next best team in the division. That's
not they say, well that's the record. No, that's real.
(18:20):
The Angels are going to lose a hundred. The Astros
are finally going to come back to Earth where you
can't just keep losing players. And the Rangers are a
head scratcher. Their offenses have been there for two years.
They hired Brett Boom, nothing wrong with Brett. Brett's awesome,
but they're in trouble. This is a good time. The
Marritors are a good spot man they're they're playing well,
and they're gonna get healthier. I see them. I think
(18:42):
they'll win the division.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Well, if I were you, I would get together with
your lovely wife and I would start looking at real
estate in Miami and Baltimore because those are three. Those
are the three worst pitching teams in baseball. Are going
to fire their pitching coach. Orioles Colorado, maybe the Angels
(19:04):
go back to La. So we'll have you on the
air for a few months and then you'll go the
way of Susan Mooon. You'll become the pitching coach of
the Orioles Man.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
So thanks for doing.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
You've got me and Hugh and we're just too old
to go anywhere.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
Yeah, well that's probably that's probably correct.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Not that we can't do it. We're just too old,
all right.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
The Old School Podcast on Spotify at Old School Underscore
MLB on Twitter. Bill Kruger gonna be with us every
single Monday at five courtesy of the Occidental Hall soon
to be open next to Lumanfield on Occidental Bill, great
stuff and we'll.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Talk on a week man.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Sounds great, Thank you bet man.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Bill Kruger with us on the radio show come back
and talk a little Seahawks the Rookie Mini camp taking
part last week.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
What did we learn? What do we know?
Speaker 1 (19:51):
Husky's had their spring game on Friday. What did we learn?
What do we know?
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Next? With Hugh on ninety three to three KJRFM
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