Mariners Manager Dan Wilson on ALDS v Detroit, Bryan Woo’s Status

Seattle Mariners Manager Dan Wilson joins Dave Softy Mahler and Dick Fain to discuss the ALDS starting on Saturday against the Detroit Tigers, the environment around their team and the city now as the playoffs begin, plus the health status of starter Bryan Woo.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
We got to just we got to be able to
make you know, change us on the fly because joining
us right now from T Mobile Park, Mariner skipper Dan
Wilson is with us live on ninety three three KJRFM.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Dan, it's SOFTI and Dick. How are you man?

Speaker 3 (00:15):
Good guys, how are you?

Speaker 2 (00:16):
We're good? We're good.

Speaker 1 (00:17):
So tell us about this, tell us about what this
run means to you. You never left Seattle, you decided
you and your wife to make your home here after
you retired. You're a part of that ninety five team,
a part of the one team, and now you're back
here as the manager for the first Division championship in
twenty four years. What does this personally man mean to
you and your family?

Speaker 2 (00:38):
Dan?

Speaker 3 (00:39):
I mean, you know, it's obviously special and to be
a part of it and around it, I think is amazing.
But it's really about, you know, this whole group that
we have here from from the you know, incredible group
of players that we have that you guys have seen
and have done some pretty magical stuff on the field,
to you know, an incredible coaching staff and support staff.
These guys are amazing. Uh and you know front office

(01:01):
everybody that's involved here, you know, has uh has tolled
together and and it's quite a group and and I
think it feels good for everybody here is as that
it's been a lot of hard work. It's been a lot,
you know, of of pouring into this team, and uh,
everybody just has responded so well and feels good to
be here, feels good to get prepared for what's coming
this weekend. And and I can't wait to get the

(01:22):
team mobile uh on Saturday, just to just to feel
the electricity it's going to be in this building.

Speaker 4 (01:27):
Well, Dan, you've done an amazing job. Congratulations thus far.
And the only downside of getting a one or two
seed is, uh, you have to keep your team sharp.
So how are you able to keep your team sharp
and focused because you were playing such good baseball in
the month of September.

Speaker 3 (01:43):
Yeah, no doubt.

Speaker 2 (01:44):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (01:44):
You know, I think in some ways blessing and a curse.
I think, you know, I think the blessing for us
really has been that that uh, you know, we we've
had to push some guys hard, you know, towards the
end of the season, and and uh getting them a
little bit of extra rest I think is actually going
to work in our advantage. And whether it's on the
mound or in the field, you know, guys have pushed.
They've they pushed themselves and they left it all out

(02:06):
on the field and getting this rest as we charged
their batteries and and gotten them going again. And and
you know, I think being out here yesterday just again
feeling the electricity in this building from the fans. I
think the fans have been a huge part of this
and we gained so much energy from them. And so
getting back out here, you know, yesterday and today, getting

(02:27):
some live at bats and getting some game like action
has been really good to keep us sharp and keep
us ready. And again we're all looking forward to Saturday
when when this thing starts for real.

Speaker 2 (02:38):
No, I can't wait. Man, gonna be an epic day.

Speaker 1 (02:40):
Huskies twelve thirty, you guys, hopefully, in my selfish opinion,
go at five o'clock. And then we got to the
Hawks at one. And you guys against Sunday night. But
this is the first time we've had you on since
we know who you're playing. Tigers. Just won you get
the Tigers now you beat them four out of six
during the regular season. Give us your take on this
opponent that you'll see starting Saturday at T Mobile Park.

Speaker 3 (03:00):
Yeah, you know, obviously a team that has has gone
through it as every team does during the course of
the season, and and uh you know found themselves uh
sort of on the down end towards the end, but
able to kind of get through this series. And you know,
I think we'll be ready to go. You know, I
think we stack up well against this club and and
have played well against them, uh you know, played them

(03:21):
right before the break and and really swung the bat
well in that series and uh you know, threw the
ball well in that series as well. So I think
we gained a lot of confidence from that. And uh,
but it's you know, it's postseason baseball, and and uh
we're going to be prepared. We're going to be ready
and and really looking forward to to, as we said,
getting started on Saturday.

Speaker 1 (03:38):
Dan, do you uh believe now, uh should we expect
that Brian will will pitch in one of those first
three games of the series, uh.

Speaker 3 (03:47):
You know, through a bullpen today and and we'll take
a look at how he kind of responds tomorrow and
and make our final decisions as we get a little
bit closer. So still a little bit of an unknown,
but uh, you know, I I thought it was a
good bullpen session today and and uh, you know, obviously
wanting to weigh several factors, they're not trying to push
them too quickly, So we'll we'll just kind of put

(04:08):
it all together and and see what we come up
with tomorrow, in the next day or so, and and
we'll have a final decision.

Speaker 4 (04:13):
Well, Dan, you mentioned being successful against the Tigers at
four and two, and part of the reason is you've
gotten after their ace. Why have you had success against
Trek's scouble.

Speaker 3 (04:23):
Yeah, you know, obviously, uh, one of the league's best pitchers,
and and we've been able to get to him a
couple of times. And you know, I think one of
the keys is putting a lot of pitches on him early,
uh and and making him work. And when our guys
do that, when they grind out there at bats like
they do, uh, he can you know, he you you
stand a much better chance. And and we've been able
to do that. We've been able to get a couple

(04:44):
of guys on and and a couple of guys able
to hit some balls out of the ballpark with him,
So you know, We've got a pretty good game plan.
We've we've beaten some some tough lefties this season, and
we'll just continue that same game plan, you know against
the Trek Scooball and uh, you know our guys they're
at bats. With the depth of our lineup, you feel
like we're in a pretty good spot.

Speaker 2 (05:03):
You know.

Speaker 1 (05:03):
It's funny that Dan, we have a lot of college
football coaches, NFL coaches on we ask him, Hey, what
do you need from the crowd? Right?

Speaker 2 (05:09):
We need you guys to be loud on third down whatever?

Speaker 1 (05:12):
You know what this place is like during the playoffs, Kingdome,
Safego Field, T Mobile Park.

Speaker 2 (05:18):
What do you need?

Speaker 1 (05:18):
What's your message for this crowd on Saturday, no matter
what time you play.

Speaker 3 (05:24):
I mean, just bring the energy they bring, you know,
they just they do such a great job. And the
love affair between you know, the Mariners in there and
their fans is epic. And you know, I'm just really
looking forward to to hear, hearing and feeling the energy
that's going to be in this ballpark is as it
really energizes everybody here. You know, in the dugout for sure, you.

Speaker 4 (05:45):
Talk about the energy and the camaraderie. Just talk about
what that's been like, particularly since the trade deadline when
you brought over Geno and Josh.

Speaker 3 (05:54):
Yeah, you know this a We've talked about it a
lot during the season, but it's a special group of
players and and uh, you know, they've been together for
a while now, and and getting Geno back and and
the energy and and the you know, the positive energy
that he brings to a clubhouse, bringing in a Josh
Naylor and and uh uh you know his uh you know,
winning attitude, his his h desire to win and and

(06:17):
his intensity on the field. That has been a big,
you know lift for us as well. And and uh
you know klin Ferguson down in the bullpens adding on
another lefty. So the you know, getting the new guys
in here, and and uh, our group of guys just
kind of open arms and bringing them in.

Speaker 2 (06:32):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (06:33):
Like we said, there's just a lot of love in
that clubhouse and and uh you know, uh, pulling for
each other, pushing each other, and that's what it's all about.
And and when they do that, that's when they're at
their best.

Speaker 2 (06:43):
Damn. Before you go, I got one more for you.

Speaker 1 (06:46):
Uh, And and you gotta be honest with me, man,
give give us please.

Speaker 2 (06:50):
What is Annie's real opinion of your mustache?

Speaker 1 (06:53):
And if you weren't managing a baseball team and you
weren't superstitious, do you admit hoble?

Speaker 2 (06:59):
Uh?

Speaker 3 (07:00):
Well, I think the word is tolerat. She's tolerating them
up there at the moment.

Speaker 1 (07:05):
I love it. Hey, Listen, you keep winning. You can
do whatever you want to your face. Man, you got
permission from alavaus for sure. All right, listen, go get
him good luck starting Saturday. Go kick ass and we'll talk.

Speaker 2 (07:16):
See man. Appreciate this, Dan, all right, thanks guys, appreciate it.
You bet.

Speaker 1 (07:20):
Dan Wilson with us says, we don't know. I'm Brian Woo.
Gotta see how he responds to today. I mean that's
the question, right, Will he pitch on one of these
first three games of the Tiger series, which means either Saturday,
Sunday or Tuesday in Detroit. We'll get a break. We
got a lot more to get to between now and
five o'clock. Mike Holmgren's gonna pop on with us as
well next as we continue from the five twenty Bar

(07:40):
and grill on ninety three, three KJRFM,