May 29, 2026 • 8 mins
Softy and Dick talk with Mariners reliever Gabe Speier about his return from injury and get his take on a possible MLB salary cap.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
How are you, man, I'm doing good. Thanks for having me, guys.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Yeah, it's great to have you on the air.
Speaker 3 (00:05):
Why don't we first of all just talk about you
bouncing back, coming back with this baseball team.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
You were out for a little bit, obviously for a
month or so.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
For lack of a better question, Man, how tough is
that when you're not available, you're watching your team. You
want to be out there, but it's not a damn
thing you can do about it. Tell me about how
that month or so went for you, man.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Yeah, it's tough, you know, to not be with the team,
and and you know, I love playing baseball, so it's
ever fun sitting on the couch and it's all I
can do in that moment, is kind of cheering my
teammates on, and you know, do everything I can to
get back on the field. And you know I could
say I successfully did that. I'm feeling really good and
happy to be back for sure.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Getting sharp again. I mean, you only pitched twelve innings
before you got hurt. So is it almost like you're
going through a second spring training Over the last couple
of weeks when you were doing these rehabit signments where
you feel like you just hit the ground running in
mid season form.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Yeah, you know, I'd say it's gonna be tough to
just kind of hit the ground running, and you know,
there's probably there might be a slight you know, I
don't know what you would call it, maybe a little
grace period or or.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
What have you.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
You know, it's gonna take a little bit to get
get back into kind of mid season form. But the
body and arm is feeling good. You know, I only
threw in that one game so far, and it, like
I said, felt really good. Maybe a little out of think,
so maybe a few outings from now I feel, you know,
in mid season form.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Yeah, Well, Gabe spiders with us and Gabe, I wonder,
because you guys have a lot of established roles already
in that bullpen going back to last year obviously, do
you kind of still feel like, in a little bit
of a way because of some of these new guys
that you're still trying to figure out some roles in
this bullpen and you'll spend maybe the next month or
so doing that, or do you feel like everybody kind
of knows their spot and knows their role in that
(01:56):
bullpen right now?
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Yeah, you know, I think the beauty of our bullpen
is kind of anyone can pitch in any situation, you know.
I know we have kind of like guys that are
throwing up games and guys that throwing down games, but
you know, outside of Munnos being our closer, I feel
like everyone can kind of pick up the ball and
do their job in any situation. And it's kind of
cool to have a group like that, and and you know,
(02:21):
feed off each other in that way, and and you know,
we're all here to pick each other up when you
know someone can't get the job done and whatnot. So
it's kind of cool in that way that there's you know,
there are somewhat of roles, but it's not super specific,
and I kind of enjoy that kind of have to
be ready and on your turns at all times.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Love it.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Marin a reliever gab Spider joining us, Gabe. I know
an injury is never a good thing, but let's talk
blessing in disguise. Is there a potential blessing in the
skies that you basically got a month to rehab. You're
not throwing out, you're not pitching, you're not in stressful
situations for a month. Because you pitched through mid October
last year and your plan is to pitch through late
October this year, does this potentially make you more ready
(03:03):
to have an extended season through the month of October.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Yeah, you know, I don't see why not. I you know,
it's it's like I said earlier, it's never fun being
on the IL, but you kind of you kind of
do with what you can with it. And and you know,
for me that was just getting healthy and and getting
in a good state of mind, you know, doing everything
I can, not just to get my body ready, but
you know, mentally prepare for opportunities and whatnot. So yeah,
(03:30):
I think to answer your question that yes, I think
it will better prepare me to pitch late into October
and you know, hopefully get this this team's first the
World Series appearance.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Gabe, how much does last October motivate you today?
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Absolutely? I mean, you saw how close we were last year,
and it kind of leaves the sour caase in your
mouth being, you know, six hours away from going to
the World Series, and you know, we know how good
we are and and you know, obviously we feel like
we can play better and it's and we're in first
place right now. So that's that's awesome. But I feel
like this team isn't you know, we have more potential,
(04:06):
we have more to tap into, and and we still
have a lot of baseball left. I'm excited to, you know,
see what we got going forward and make another big
run in October.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Well, and Gabe, it's interesting you said that because, look,
we talk a lot of Seahawks on this show. As
you know, Seahawks lost the game with the Rams last
year by two, in a game where Sam Darnold threw
four interceptions. They had no right to even be in
the game, yet they almost won it on a sixty
one yard field goal. I remember Dick and I were like, man,
you know this actually is a positive for these guys.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Do you feel like that or is that crazy?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Mean you guys have not even come close to playing
your best baseball, yet you're only a game under and
you're in first place.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Yeah, it's it's you know, we're fortunate to be in
the spot we're in because I feel like we could
be playing better, no doubt, and so I think we
need to kind of take a step back and realize,
you know, we're in first place. I mean by means
that we're gonna sit back and enjoy it. It's ton
to step on the gas and and and get a
good lead out ahead of us for sure.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
Well, you were activated after the miserable Saturday and Sunday
we had to endure as Mariner fans. But you saw
the sweep in Oakland, and we make a big deal
sometimes about a series win or a series sweep.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
But was there a little bit.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Something extra in that series because you went on the
road and you grabbed first place away from the Oakland
A's and certainly played much better baseball than you did
the prior to games.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Absolutely, I mean we knew it was at stake in
that series, you know, playing you know, the first place
holders in our in our division. We wanted to take
that first place spot. And you know, there's always a
little extra when you're playing someone in division, especially when
they're in first place. So I'm glad we were able
to kind of you know, handle business there and hopefully
you know, it gets the you know, kind of a
snowball effect here going for us. You know, we want
(05:54):
to hold onto this position that we're in and we're
gonna do everything we can to do so, so Yeah,
it's got some momentum going and hopefully it carries through
into this Homestand.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Well, I was more impressed by the fact that you
guys allot four runs and that launching pad of a
ballpark by the way down there in Sacramento. That was
pretty impressive by the pitching staff. But Gabe, before you go,
I got one more for you. Okay, Gabe Spider with us,
and yeah, I'm going to put you on the spot
here for a little bit.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
All all guests appearing on the radio show will receive
a one hundred dollars gift card to Jimmy's on First
which I will now get to you next time I
see you. By the way, for answering this question, you're
a veteran. You've been around the game a long Tennis
is what your eighth year now. I think in baseball
you've got a voice. I think that a lot of
young players want to listen to and look up to.
(06:39):
There was an offer made by the owners the other
day about a salary cap and a salary floor. Is
there any part of you, as a Major League Baseball
player that would agree to a system that included a
salary cap for players.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
You know, it doesn't seem like it's the you know
that we want that at this moment. Obviously, there's a
lot more negotiations to have then it was just kind
of phase one here, so there's a lot more going forward.
But you know, I think as as where we stand now,
that's that's not what we want. But like I said,
it's early and we'll see kind of what happens. But
you know, right now, you know, just enjoying this first
(07:16):
place spot and focusing on that and trying to hold
that down and play some good baseball for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Yeah, no doubt.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Well all we want is a world series. That's all
we ask for that, all right, So no pressure.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
No pressure, right yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Hey Gabe, great stuff, man, welcome back and we'll talk soon.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
Bunny.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
All right, thanks for having you guys.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
All right, man, Gabe Spire with us on the radio show.
You think about this bullpen when they're healthy, dude, munos
and then one of Castillo or Miller.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Obviously we'll see how far that goes. Frere, Matt Brash,
Gape Spire.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
I mean, just those guys right there, right, I mean,
that is a that is a kick ass, killer group
of guys. In the bullpen if they can figure out
how to use it properly, which some would argue they
haven't done that yet. There's no reason why this bullpen
can't even be better, I think than it was a
earing well.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Because they'll be so much more rested, not only the
month off that Gabe Spider had when he was rehabbing,
just the fact that you have a Bryce Miller or
Luis Castile eating up yeah, pivotal high leverage innings that
you don't have to constantly go to your three guys
in the sixth, seventh, and eighth that you've had.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
To go to all last year and all of this year.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Well, and they didn't have a Jose Ferrari earing right right,
So having that guy with I Meandy mentioned Bizardo, for
God's sakes, I mean, that is as good as bullpen.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Vargas is still out.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
They may not have like that top and one, two
three Sasaki Nelson Roads, but they're pretty damn close. And
I think this bullpen might even be deeper than that
was in two thousand and one.
How are you, man, I'm doing good. Thanks for having me, guys.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Yeah, it's great to have you on the air.
Speaker 3 (00:05):
Why don't we first of all just talk about you
bouncing back, coming back with this baseball team.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
You were out for a little bit, obviously for a
month or so.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
For lack of a better question, Man, how tough is
that when you're not available, you're watching your team. You
want to be out there, but it's not a damn
thing you can do about it. Tell me about how
that month or so went for you, man.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Yeah, it's tough, you know, to not be with the team,
and and you know, I love playing baseball, so it's
ever fun sitting on the couch and it's all I
can do in that moment, is kind of cheering my
teammates on, and you know, do everything I can to
get back on the field. And you know I could
say I successfully did that. I'm feeling really good and
happy to be back for sure.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Getting sharp again. I mean, you only pitched twelve innings
before you got hurt. So is it almost like you're
going through a second spring training Over the last couple
of weeks when you were doing these rehabit signments where
you feel like you just hit the ground running in
mid season form.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Yeah, you know, I'd say it's gonna be tough to
just kind of hit the ground running, and you know,
there's probably there might be a slight you know, I
don't know what you would call it, maybe a little
grace period or or.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
What have you.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
You know, it's gonna take a little bit to get
get back into kind of mid season form. But the
body and arm is feeling good. You know, I only
threw in that one game so far, and it, like
I said, felt really good. Maybe a little out of think,
so maybe a few outings from now I feel, you know,
in mid season form.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Yeah, Well, Gabe spiders with us and Gabe, I wonder,
because you guys have a lot of established roles already
in that bullpen going back to last year obviously, do
you kind of still feel like, in a little bit
of a way because of some of these new guys
that you're still trying to figure out some roles in
this bullpen and you'll spend maybe the next month or
so doing that, or do you feel like everybody kind
of knows their spot and knows their role in that
(01:56):
bullpen right now?
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Yeah, you know, I think the beauty of our bullpen
is kind of anyone can pitch in any situation, you know.
I know we have kind of like guys that are
throwing up games and guys that throwing down games, but
you know, outside of Munnos being our closer, I feel
like everyone can kind of pick up the ball and
do their job in any situation. And it's kind of
cool to have a group like that, and and you know,
(02:21):
feed off each other in that way, and and you know,
we're all here to pick each other up when you
know someone can't get the job done and whatnot. So
it's kind of cool in that way that there's you know,
there are somewhat of roles, but it's not super specific,
and I kind of enjoy that kind of have to
be ready and on your turns at all times.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Love it.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Marin a reliever gab Spider joining us, Gabe. I know
an injury is never a good thing, but let's talk
blessing in disguise. Is there a potential blessing in the
skies that you basically got a month to rehab. You're
not throwing out, you're not pitching, you're not in stressful
situations for a month. Because you pitched through mid October
last year and your plan is to pitch through late
October this year, does this potentially make you more ready
(03:03):
to have an extended season through the month of October.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Yeah, you know, I don't see why not. I you know,
it's it's like I said earlier, it's never fun being
on the IL, but you kind of you kind of
do with what you can with it. And and you know,
for me that was just getting healthy and and getting
in a good state of mind, you know, doing everything
I can, not just to get my body ready, but
you know, mentally prepare for opportunities and whatnot. So yeah,
(03:30):
I think to answer your question that yes, I think
it will better prepare me to pitch late into October
and you know, hopefully get this this team's first the
World Series appearance.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Gabe, how much does last October motivate you today?
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Absolutely? I mean, you saw how close we were last year,
and it kind of leaves the sour caase in your
mouth being, you know, six hours away from going to
the World Series, and you know, we know how good
we are and and you know, obviously we feel like
we can play better and it's and we're in first
place right now. So that's that's awesome. But I feel
like this team isn't you know, we have more potential,
(04:06):
we have more to tap into, and and we still
have a lot of baseball left. I'm excited to, you know,
see what we got going forward and make another big
run in October.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Well, and Gabe, it's interesting you said that because, look,
we talk a lot of Seahawks on this show. As
you know, Seahawks lost the game with the Rams last
year by two, in a game where Sam Darnold threw
four interceptions. They had no right to even be in
the game, yet they almost won it on a sixty
one yard field goal. I remember Dick and I were like, man,
you know this actually is a positive for these guys.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Do you feel like that or is that crazy?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Mean you guys have not even come close to playing
your best baseball, yet you're only a game under and
you're in first place.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Yeah, it's it's you know, we're fortunate to be in
the spot we're in because I feel like we could
be playing better, no doubt, and so I think we
need to kind of take a step back and realize,
you know, we're in first place. I mean by means
that we're gonna sit back and enjoy it. It's ton
to step on the gas and and and get a
good lead out ahead of us for sure.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
Well, you were activated after the miserable Saturday and Sunday
we had to endure as Mariner fans. But you saw
the sweep in Oakland, and we make a big deal
sometimes about a series win or a series sweep.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
But was there a little bit.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Something extra in that series because you went on the
road and you grabbed first place away from the Oakland
A's and certainly played much better baseball than you did
the prior to games.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Absolutely, I mean we knew it was at stake in
that series, you know, playing you know, the first place
holders in our in our division. We wanted to take
that first place spot. And you know, there's always a
little extra when you're playing someone in division, especially when
they're in first place. So I'm glad we were able
to kind of you know, handle business there and hopefully
you know, it gets the you know, kind of a
snowball effect here going for us. You know, we want
(05:54):
to hold onto this position that we're in and we're
gonna do everything we can to do so, so Yeah,
it's got some momentum going and hopefully it carries through
into this Homestand.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Well, I was more impressed by the fact that you
guys allot four runs and that launching pad of a
ballpark by the way down there in Sacramento. That was
pretty impressive by the pitching staff. But Gabe, before you go,
I got one more for you. Okay, Gabe Spider with us,
and yeah, I'm going to put you on the spot
here for a little bit.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
All all guests appearing on the radio show will receive
a one hundred dollars gift card to Jimmy's on First
which I will now get to you next time I
see you. By the way, for answering this question, you're
a veteran. You've been around the game a long Tennis
is what your eighth year now. I think in baseball
you've got a voice. I think that a lot of
young players want to listen to and look up to.
(06:39):
There was an offer made by the owners the other
day about a salary cap and a salary floor. Is
there any part of you, as a Major League Baseball
player that would agree to a system that included a
salary cap for players.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
You know, it doesn't seem like it's the you know
that we want that at this moment. Obviously, there's a
lot more negotiations to have then it was just kind
of phase one here, so there's a lot more going forward.
But you know, I think as as where we stand now,
that's that's not what we want. But like I said,
it's early and we'll see kind of what happens. But
you know, right now, you know, just enjoying this first
(07:16):
place spot and focusing on that and trying to hold
that down and play some good baseball for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Yeah, no doubt.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Well all we want is a world series. That's all
we ask for that, all right, So no pressure.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
No pressure, right yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Hey Gabe, great stuff, man, welcome back and we'll talk soon.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
Bunny.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
All right, thanks for having you guys.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
All right, man, Gabe Spire with us on the radio show.
You think about this bullpen when they're healthy, dude, munos
and then one of Castillo or Miller.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Obviously we'll see how far that goes. Frere, Matt Brash,
Gape Spire.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
I mean, just those guys right there, right, I mean,
that is a that is a kick ass, killer group
of guys. In the bullpen if they can figure out
how to use it properly, which some would argue they
haven't done that yet. There's no reason why this bullpen
can't even be better, I think than it was a
earing well.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Because they'll be so much more rested, not only the
month off that Gabe Spider had when he was rehabbing,
just the fact that you have a Bryce Miller or
Luis Castile eating up yeah, pivotal high leverage innings that
you don't have to constantly go to your three guys
in the sixth, seventh, and eighth that you've had.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
To go to all last year and all of this year.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Well, and they didn't have a Jose Ferrari earing right right,
So having that guy with I Meandy mentioned Bizardo, for
God's sakes, I mean, that is as good as bullpen.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Vargas is still out.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
They may not have like that top and one, two
three Sasaki Nelson Roads, but they're pretty damn close. And
I think this bullpen might even be deeper than that
was in two thousand and one.
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