July 1, 2024 • 12 mins
Bob Nightengale from USA Today joins Dave Softy Mahler and Dick Fain to talk about the level of concerns with the Mariners right now with the West lead slimming, who the M’s could and should go out and trade for at the deadline, and Julio Rodriguez’s issues.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Live from the R and R FoundationSpecialist Broadcast studio. Now back to Softie
and Dick on your home for theHuskies and the Kraken Sports Radio ninety three
point three kJ R FM. Youknow this, this theme sounds so much
(00:22):
better when the ms are winning andhave not lost eight of eleven, does
so much differently. It is thebest. It is the best. Joining
us right now on the radio show. One of the great baseball writers out
there going. Always appreciate it takingtime to be with us because we've got
questions, and I hope to godhe's got answers from USA today. Our
friend Bob Nightingale is with us.Bob, how are you man? Yeah?
(00:46):
Doing great? How mean you guys? We're good, man. We
appreciate you jumping on with us.So, about a week and a half
ago, the EM's had a tengame lead. Now it's down to three.
The Astros are ten and one,the Ems are three and eight.
How concerned should Mariner fans be abouttheir position in the West and this offense?
You think over all in Seattle?I want to be that concerned.
(01:07):
I mean, uh, Houston's beatup with some bad teams. I think
Sale is still a better team.You know those NBA games where someone makes
a run then they fall apart becausethey're out of breath right at the end.
It could be here too, whereUh you know, I think I
think Sale is still in a ina great position. I'd be more worried
about the Rangers and than the Astros, just because thes have some pitching problems
(01:33):
and uh you know, and theRangers are going to get guys back,
you know, already got back shots, or to get back to Gram and
Tyler Manley at at some point.But no, I still think sitting pretty
because uh you know, there's stillthe NBA Baseball with the pitching depth they
have. Is this as good aMariner team as the one that barely missed
the playoffs last year? I thinkit's better because of the pitching debt.
(01:59):
Uh you know, two years ago, I thought two years ago, I
thought if the minors had beat theAstros that first round, they might have
won the World Series. I know, I'm talking to the Astra people.
They were scared of death of theMariners, and as you saw them once,
the assays the Marriners they cruised thatWorld Series title, And I think
the same thing here. I mean, obviously, the two best teams on
(02:21):
paper in America League are you know, Yankees and Orioles. But I don't
think you know either team wants toplay in the mirrors. Somebody wants to
play the mirrors in the playoffs justbecause pitching always wins. It's not teams
out slugging somebody. It's a gamethat pitching and defense. Well, Bob
Nightingale's with us and they they desperatelythough, need to go out and find
a back and Bob, my concernis that it's a seller's market right big
(02:46):
time with so many teams in therace. And we'll see what happens in
the next twenty nine to thirty days. With so many teams in the race,
I think it's going to be difficultfor Jerry to pull that off.
So tell us how hard or easymaybe you think it'll be for the Poto
to go out and win the sweepstakesfor a Luis Roberts or a Pete a
Lonzo if the Mets get rid ofhim, or a Guerrero if the Blue
Jays move on from him. Yeah, I'm not sure Guaro's gettet moved.
(03:10):
Even if Toronto doesn't do anything Ijust think they hate to give up the
next year or two. They gothim for one more year, so I'm
not sure you can get moved.Uh. You know, if you're a
Marriner fan, you're rooting for theMets Louise every night because as long as
the Mets in five games or soof a wild card spot, Alonso is
not going anywhere. So and Ican certainly, you know, without costing
(03:34):
much at all, you don't goget a you know, a Rooker from
Oakland or a Tommy Fame, youknow from Chicago White Sox, that sort
of thing. Uh, you know, Robert is there for they're taking.
I think right now you know theymay not trade him because they're selling low.
I mean he has struggled big time. I mean, he came in
with all the hype and promise everythingelse, but all he's done is,
(03:58):
you know, been injuring off alot. So I'm not sure what you
get out of Louis Robert. Imean, you got him for three more
years, but he hasn't been thatplayer. What type of package would it
take to get him? How manyof your top ten prospects in your organization
would you have to give up?I want to think for him, you'd
have to give up at least twoof your top fifteen and then they and
(04:20):
some you know, fringe guys afterthat. But they want guys who aren't
making money. They want guys ahuge upside. So the guys are a
huge upside, are you know,top five in the top six organization.
So just because you have so manyyears of Luis Robert, that's why it's
going to be a steep price tagwhere you know, with the Timey fan
(04:42):
being a rental, you know theyyou're not even talking about a top ten
prospect. Yeah, well, Bobnight and goes with us and Bob Dick
and I were talking last second becauseyou mentioned the great Mariner pitching and yeah,
I think generally agree if they thisteam is built for the playoffs,
right with with Kirby and Miller andWu and and I can steal when all
those arms, they are built forthe playoffs. But they're now fifth in
the A L and E R AAnd I just wonder, is this still
(05:06):
the elite pitching staff that we thoughtit was gonna be. And if it
isn't, is it maybe because they'refeeling the pressure of an offense that's just
putting so much heat on them everynight. I think more of the latter.
I mean, you see these guysyou know everywhere pitch so much better
when we're you know, having fiveruns to work with. You know,
(05:26):
when you're when you know you're makea mistake, this could cost you the
game. It's a lot tougher topitch. Uh, you know, even
guys like Garrett Crochet and as dominante've been for the Life Sox. Yeah,
it was the ra Silver three becauseyou know, and they're not scoring
runs for them, so no,I think you know what they're going through,
what the uh Mayors not scoring runs. It kind of kind of builds
(05:47):
you up, like, Okay,this is what the postseason is going to
be like. So we're so we'rebuilt for this. Uh, We've already
gone through this kind of pain.So I think that this experience actually helps
them out. Nobody on Planet Earththought Julio Rodriguez would have a six twenty
five oh ps and be one hundredand forty ninth in baseball and that statistic
by the end of June. Sowhat's your analysis on what you're seeing there?
(06:11):
Yeah, it's funny because in uh, you know, in Arizona.
You know Corbyn Carroll, same thing. He's been struggling a lot worse,
and he had an unbelievable rookie season, you know Seattle, as you guys
know, and uh some you know, sometimes it happens, and uh,
people make adjustments. You gotta makethe adjustment right back. And I think
you know it's just natural for guysto put pressure in themselves. Uh,
(06:34):
you know what the two weeks ago, people in Minnesota talking about, hey,
Royce Lewis should be on the AllStar Game after eighteen games. You
know, his numbers were you know, very everybody, and you know,
all of a sudden, now thingsgot like, you know, one hit
in the last two weeks. Sothings can happen. And uh, you
know he plays strong last year too, so at least he's used to this.
(06:57):
At least he knows that, Ay, I can bounce back and be
that guy because you do the samething you know last year, you know,
Bob, and I can go again. Is with us, Bob.
The Mariners have those four young pitchersand they're all under contract for a while.
They're making no money. Gilbert,Kirby, Miller and Wu. I
think the four of them what haveI said, Dick. I think the
four of them are making like sixand a half billion combined. It's just
(07:19):
ridiculous. Do you see all fourof those guys being re signed on second
deals or do you think one ofthem eventually gets moved for that bat they're
looking for. I'm not sure ifthey want to move on those guys,
they could, and that's a painfulprice. And if you move one of
those guys, you're helping you're helpingout a fellow contender. I would think
(07:41):
you want to hoard those guys.If you want to move a guy,
go ahead and move them the offseason, but don't do them now. I
mean, the last thing you wantis you move on those guys for a
batch to a contender. Then he'sfacing you and shutting you down. I
mean, you're compondingly embarrassed. SoI want to hoard onto those guys you
want to make a movie to thewinner. Fine, but but but not
now. It's just they're too valuable. And the thing is too is you
(08:05):
know, come postseason time, thenyou're really straightening your bullpen. Get all
those guys outs aren't going to fishin the start of the playoffs. So
now you can get to have aguy come in the fifth or sixth in
and and close out the game.Bob, When do you think we see
that the trades start heat up?Is this is this going to be a
last minute thing this year or doyou anticipate a couple three big trades somewhere
(08:28):
between now and you know, inthe next three weeks. I think it's
last minute. It seems like it'salways last minute. I think people gotta
look excited when we used to risegot trade you know, so fast from
Miami and San Diego. But I'dbe shocked if anything big happens between now
when the All Star break, becausethe draft, I mean, all the
gems are focusing in the draft,so it's pretty much a dead time of
(08:52):
year. But you know, Ithink, a, uh, there's only
a couple of teams willing to moveright now, and once you know,
once the white socks once and arlesh, you know, you know, somebody
wants Josh Felder can have them,and nobody wants to pay that sixteen million
dollars salary. So I think thisyear too, would be closer to the
deadline because there's too many teams thathave no idea what you're going to do.
(09:13):
I mean, you know, theMets don't know what they're going to
do. You know, they're waytwo teams in the bubble in the National
League. You know, outside theRockies, in the Marlins, everybody's in
the race. Bob Nightingale with usUSA today, Bob, before you go,
we got one more for you.I remember last year at the All
Star Game, our morning got ChuckPowell caught up with Scott Boris and I'm
(09:35):
just paraphrasing here, but Scott toldChuck that the Mariners are notoriously cheap.
And that's by his standards, rightby Scott Porus's standards. So people around
here like to moan and complain andwhine and in some ways for good reason,
about the lack of money that thisteam spends in free agency. What's
your perception financially and commitment wise financiallyregarding this Mariner ownership group. Well,
(10:03):
I think one of those things wherethey realize they don't have to spend that
kind of money. I mean thatthe like you said, those guys the
Stars are making six and a halfmillion, you know, they could easily
make over sixty million dollars. That'sthe savings rant there. Look around.
I mean, look at the ClevelandGuardians. They did nothing in the off
season. Their payrolls around eighty milliondollars. Baltimore Orioles are under one hundred
(10:28):
million dollars. I think they're aroundeighty. Milwaukee Brewers shit thirty million dollars
in trade their Cy Young Winner.They're running away with the inn El Central.
So yeah, I don't think somuch of money. It's just say,
hey, if you have a shrewdp office, you can pull this
out and look at a You knowwhat Tampa Bay Rays. I've done the
year after a year and they've alwayshad the smallest payroll and they're in the
(10:52):
playoffs every year. Bob Nightingale USAtoday, great stuff. Appreciate this,
so enjoy the rest of the seasonand we'll talk down the right belt,
all right, look forward to it. Think you good? All right,
Bob Knight, and go with usand Dick. I'm just thinking, because
you know my take on the frontoffice and the ownership group. I can
see you getting hot as he wasspeaking, I can see you starting to
steam. I actually had a differentreaction. I thought to myself, if
(11:13):
if, if these guys were doingwhat they were brought here to do.
That would not be an issue rightnow. If Julio was hitting the ball,
if Haniger was hitting the ball,Garver, Railey, Polanco, blah
blah blah, that would not bean issue right now, and they might
be seven or eight games up.Honestly, if those guys are hitting the
ball, I mean, you canlook at like expected war I guess if
you want, if that's even athing, and to compare it to what
(11:37):
you're getting from these guys and justsay, hey, if you were getting
what you thought you were expected tobe getting. And I have no idea
who's expecting that? Like some guyin his mom's basement just thinking, you
know what I expected more and here'swhat it should be. I have no
idea how they get to those numbers, you know, trends, whatever,
history. But if they were justdoing what the expected numbers said, they
would do nothing more, nothing less, that would not be a conversation.
(12:00):
But it is because the team ismassively underperforming offensively. It's amazing they're three
games up. We're gonna break alittle fun with Audio pat shut you want
to talk to him. Four o'clock. The ad of Washington will join us
on ninety three three kJ A RFM,
Live from the R and R FoundationSpecialist Broadcast studio. Now back to Softie
and Dick on your home for theHuskies and the Kraken Sports Radio ninety three
point three kJ R FM. Youknow this, this theme sounds so much
(00:22):
better when the ms are winning andhave not lost eight of eleven, does
so much differently. It is thebest. It is the best. Joining
us right now on the radio show. One of the great baseball writers out
there going. Always appreciate it takingtime to be with us because we've got
questions, and I hope to godhe's got answers from USA today. Our
friend Bob Nightingale is with us.Bob, how are you man? Yeah?
(00:46):
Doing great? How mean you guys? We're good, man. We
appreciate you jumping on with us.So, about a week and a half
ago, the EM's had a tengame lead. Now it's down to three.
The Astros are ten and one,the Ems are three and eight.
How concerned should Mariner fans be abouttheir position in the West and this offense?
You think over all in Seattle?I want to be that concerned.
(01:07):
I mean, uh, Houston's beatup with some bad teams. I think
Sale is still a better team.You know those NBA games where someone makes
a run then they fall apart becausethey're out of breath right at the end.
It could be here too, whereUh you know, I think I
think Sale is still in a ina great position. I'd be more worried
about the Rangers and than the Astros, just because thes have some pitching problems
(01:33):
and uh you know, and theRangers are going to get guys back,
you know, already got back shots, or to get back to Gram and
Tyler Manley at at some point.But no, I still think sitting pretty
because uh you know, there's stillthe NBA Baseball with the pitching depth they
have. Is this as good aMariner team as the one that barely missed
the playoffs last year? I thinkit's better because of the pitching debt.
(01:59):
Uh you know, two years ago, I thought two years ago, I
thought if the minors had beat theAstros that first round, they might have
won the World Series. I know, I'm talking to the Astra people.
They were scared of death of theMariners, and as you saw them once,
the assays the Marriners they cruised thatWorld Series title, And I think
the same thing here. I mean, obviously, the two best teams on
(02:21):
paper in America League are you know, Yankees and Orioles. But I don't
think you know either team wants toplay in the mirrors. Somebody wants to
play the mirrors in the playoffs justbecause pitching always wins. It's not teams
out slugging somebody. It's a gamethat pitching and defense. Well, Bob
Nightingale's with us and they they desperatelythough, need to go out and find
a back and Bob, my concernis that it's a seller's market right big
(02:46):
time with so many teams in therace. And we'll see what happens in
the next twenty nine to thirty days. With so many teams in the race,
I think it's going to be difficultfor Jerry to pull that off.
So tell us how hard or easymaybe you think it'll be for the Poto
to go out and win the sweepstakesfor a Luis Roberts or a Pete a
Lonzo if the Mets get rid ofhim, or a Guerrero if the Blue
Jays move on from him. Yeah, I'm not sure Guaro's gettet moved.
(03:10):
Even if Toronto doesn't do anything Ijust think they hate to give up the
next year or two. They gothim for one more year, so I'm
not sure you can get moved.Uh. You know, if you're a
Marriner fan, you're rooting for theMets Louise every night because as long as
the Mets in five games or soof a wild card spot, Alonso is
not going anywhere. So and Ican certainly, you know, without costing
(03:34):
much at all, you don't goget a you know, a Rooker from
Oakland or a Tommy Fame, youknow from Chicago White Sox, that sort
of thing. Uh, you know, Robert is there for they're taking.
I think right now you know theymay not trade him because they're selling low.
I mean he has struggled big time. I mean, he came in
with all the hype and promise everythingelse, but all he's done is,
(03:58):
you know, been injuring off alot. So I'm not sure what you
get out of Louis Robert. Imean, you got him for three more
years, but he hasn't been thatplayer. What type of package would it
take to get him? How manyof your top ten prospects in your organization
would you have to give up?I want to think for him, you'd
have to give up at least twoof your top fifteen and then they and
(04:20):
some you know, fringe guys afterthat. But they want guys who aren't
making money. They want guys ahuge upside. So the guys are a
huge upside, are you know,top five in the top six organization.
So just because you have so manyyears of Luis Robert, that's why it's
going to be a steep price tagwhere you know, with the Timey fan
(04:42):
being a rental, you know theyyou're not even talking about a top ten
prospect. Yeah, well, Bobnight and goes with us and Bob Dick
and I were talking last second becauseyou mentioned the great Mariner pitching and yeah,
I think generally agree if they thisteam is built for the playoffs,
right with with Kirby and Miller andWu and and I can steal when all
those arms, they are built forthe playoffs. But they're now fifth in
the A L and E R AAnd I just wonder, is this still
(05:06):
the elite pitching staff that we thoughtit was gonna be. And if it
isn't, is it maybe because they'refeeling the pressure of an offense that's just
putting so much heat on them everynight. I think more of the latter.
I mean, you see these guysyou know everywhere pitch so much better
when we're you know, having fiveruns to work with. You know,
(05:26):
when you're when you know you're makea mistake, this could cost you the
game. It's a lot tougher topitch. Uh, you know, even
guys like Garrett Crochet and as dominante've been for the Life Sox. Yeah,
it was the ra Silver three becauseyou know, and they're not scoring
runs for them, so no,I think you know what they're going through,
what the uh Mayors not scoring runs. It kind of kind of builds
(05:47):
you up, like, Okay,this is what the postseason is going to
be like. So we're so we'rebuilt for this. Uh, We've already
gone through this kind of pain.So I think that this experience actually helps
them out. Nobody on Planet Earththought Julio Rodriguez would have a six twenty
five oh ps and be one hundredand forty ninth in baseball and that statistic
by the end of June. Sowhat's your analysis on what you're seeing there?
(06:11):
Yeah, it's funny because in uh, you know, in Arizona.
You know Corbyn Carroll, same thing. He's been struggling a lot worse,
and he had an unbelievable rookie season, you know Seattle, as you guys
know, and uh some you know, sometimes it happens, and uh,
people make adjustments. You gotta makethe adjustment right back. And I think
you know it's just natural for guysto put pressure in themselves. Uh,
(06:34):
you know what the two weeks ago, people in Minnesota talking about, hey,
Royce Lewis should be on the AllStar Game after eighteen games. You
know, his numbers were you know, very everybody, and you know,
all of a sudden, now thingsgot like, you know, one hit
in the last two weeks. Sothings can happen. And uh, you
know he plays strong last year too, so at least he's used to this.
(06:57):
At least he knows that, Ay, I can bounce back and be
that guy because you do the samething you know last year, you know,
Bob, and I can go again. Is with us, Bob.
The Mariners have those four young pitchersand they're all under contract for a while.
They're making no money. Gilbert,Kirby, Miller and Wu. I
think the four of them what haveI said, Dick. I think the
four of them are making like sixand a half billion combined. It's just
(07:19):
ridiculous. Do you see all fourof those guys being re signed on second
deals or do you think one ofthem eventually gets moved for that bat they're
looking for. I'm not sure ifthey want to move on those guys,
they could, and that's a painfulprice. And if you move one of
those guys, you're helping you're helpingout a fellow contender. I would think
(07:41):
you want to hoard those guys.If you want to move a guy,
go ahead and move them the offseason, but don't do them now. I
mean, the last thing you wantis you move on those guys for a
batch to a contender. Then he'sfacing you and shutting you down. I
mean, you're compondingly embarrassed. SoI want to hoard onto those guys you
want to make a movie to thewinner. Fine, but but but not
now. It's just they're too valuable. And the thing is too is you
(08:05):
know, come postseason time, thenyou're really straightening your bullpen. Get all
those guys outs aren't going to fishin the start of the playoffs. So
now you can get to have aguy come in the fifth or sixth in
and and close out the game.Bob, When do you think we see
that the trades start heat up?Is this is this going to be a
last minute thing this year or doyou anticipate a couple three big trades somewhere
(08:28):
between now and you know, inthe next three weeks. I think it's
last minute. It seems like it'salways last minute. I think people gotta
look excited when we used to risegot trade you know, so fast from
Miami and San Diego. But I'dbe shocked if anything big happens between now
when the All Star break, becausethe draft, I mean, all the
gems are focusing in the draft,so it's pretty much a dead time of
(08:52):
year. But you know, Ithink, a, uh, there's only
a couple of teams willing to moveright now, and once you know,
once the white socks once and arlesh, you know, you know, somebody
wants Josh Felder can have them,and nobody wants to pay that sixteen million
dollars salary. So I think thisyear too, would be closer to the
deadline because there's too many teams thathave no idea what you're going to do.
(09:13):
I mean, you know, theMets don't know what they're going to
do. You know, they're waytwo teams in the bubble in the National
League. You know, outside theRockies, in the Marlins, everybody's in
the race. Bob Nightingale with usUSA today, Bob, before you go,
we got one more for you.I remember last year at the All
Star Game, our morning got ChuckPowell caught up with Scott Boris and I'm
(09:35):
just paraphrasing here, but Scott toldChuck that the Mariners are notoriously cheap.
And that's by his standards, rightby Scott Porus's standards. So people around
here like to moan and complain andwhine and in some ways for good reason,
about the lack of money that thisteam spends in free agency. What's
your perception financially and commitment wise financiallyregarding this Mariner ownership group. Well,
(10:03):
I think one of those things wherethey realize they don't have to spend that
kind of money. I mean thatthe like you said, those guys the
Stars are making six and a halfmillion, you know, they could easily
make over sixty million dollars. That'sthe savings rant there. Look around.
I mean, look at the ClevelandGuardians. They did nothing in the off
season. Their payrolls around eighty milliondollars. Baltimore Orioles are under one hundred
(10:28):
million dollars. I think they're aroundeighty. Milwaukee Brewers shit thirty million dollars
in trade their Cy Young Winner.They're running away with the inn El Central.
So yeah, I don't think somuch of money. It's just say,
hey, if you have a shrewdp office, you can pull this
out and look at a You knowwhat Tampa Bay Rays. I've done the
year after a year and they've alwayshad the smallest payroll and they're in the
(10:52):
playoffs every year. Bob Nightingale USAtoday, great stuff. Appreciate this,
so enjoy the rest of the seasonand we'll talk down the right belt,
all right, look forward to it. Think you good? All right,
Bob Knight, and go with usand Dick. I'm just thinking, because
you know my take on the frontoffice and the ownership group. I can
see you getting hot as he wasspeaking, I can see you starting to
steam. I actually had a differentreaction. I thought to myself, if
(11:13):
if, if these guys were doingwhat they were brought here to do.
That would not be an issue rightnow. If Julio was hitting the ball,
if Haniger was hitting the ball,Garver, Railey, Polanco, blah
blah blah, that would not bean issue right now, and they might
be seven or eight games up.Honestly, if those guys are hitting the
ball, I mean, you canlook at like expected war I guess if
you want, if that's even athing, and to compare it to what
(11:37):
you're getting from these guys and justsay, hey, if you were getting
what you thought you were expected tobe getting. And I have no idea
who's expecting that? Like some guyin his mom's basement just thinking, you
know what I expected more and here'swhat it should be. I have no
idea how they get to those numbers, you know, trends, whatever,
history. But if they were justdoing what the expected numbers said, they
would do nothing more, nothing less, that would not be a conversation.
(12:00):
But it is because the team ismassively underperforming offensively. It's amazing they're three
games up. We're gonna break alittle fun with Audio pat shut you want
to talk to him. Four o'clock. The ad of Washington will join us
on ninety three three kJ A RFM,
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