June 1, 2026 • 20 mins
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert joins Dave Softy Mahler to talk about the team’s six-game winning streak currently, the quirks of the starting rotation right now including the piggyback situation turning into their new six-man rotation and how that changes his game, his 2026 so far, Cal Raleigh’s absence, and his contract situation.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
All right, kids, we're back on a busy Monday right
here on ninety three to three kJ AARFM brought to
you by our friends at frostburd Cores.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Light as cold as the Rockies.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Let's go across the street to T Mobile Park right
now joining us on the radio show. It's unbelievable. This
guy's already in a sixth year in the major leagues. Man,
just seems like yesterday he was making his debut back
in twenty twenty one. But here he is the leader
of that rotation across the street at T Mobile. Our
friend Logan Gilbert joining us right now on the radio program.
(00:33):
Logan at saftie, how are you, man? What's going on?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Hey, good to hear from you again. Thanks for having
me on.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Yeah, no, thank you for doing this, my man, appreciate it.
Let me just ask you first of all about the
vibes around this baseball team.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Man. I mean, you've won six in a row.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
A couple of games up on the a's now a
couple games over five hundred. It kind of feels like
the good vibes are starting to return. To quote au
Haaneo Suarez, your former teammate, tell me about the vibes
and I had that clubhouse right now.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Man, Yeah, I think you hit it on the head.
That's what it feels like to We knew we weren't
quite where we want to be, and still kind of
feel like we have more ground to make up. But
anytime you're in first can't complain. And especially after that
Sacramento series and then being back home, what we're doing.
I think we're in a good spot.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Why do you think.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
I guess we could talk about injuries. That's certainly a factor, right.
We'd be fools to not acknowledge the way that this
team has been banged up. But it was a little
bit of a bumpy start the first couple of months.
What do you attribute that to, Man, Yeah, I think
a lot of things.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
It's not ideal, but there's there's always gonna be ups
and down straught the season. It's just kind of minimizing
those windows. You know, the timing's not great at the beginning.
You don't want to get in those stretches. But I
think it's important just not to overreact. Know that we're
a good team. Things will kind of turn. But it's
hard to pick out one or two things. I think
you know, injuries can contribute, for sure, but a lot
(01:58):
of it's just hitting the ground, getting in the swing
of things, and everybody's been on the same page and rolling.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Well, Logan Gilbert's with us, and Logan you mentioned going
down there to Sacramento, and I'm glad you brought that
up because I don't think the pitching staff is getting
enough credit for what you guys did down there. A
lot of folks were talking about the offense, and rightfully so,
but to give up four runs and that launching pad
of a ballpark down there, when the wind blowing out
every damn inning, that that kind of felt like maybe
(02:24):
peak Mariner pitching performance.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
That's what we expect out of you guys.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
How how impressed even were you walking out of there
the game that you had, the game your teammates had,
just giving up four against those guys in that bandbox.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yeah, definitely, that's a big deal. That's my first time
throwing there. I mean, everybody did their job. Loui and
Bryce set the tone for sure. We're well on the
first day. We're definitely joking about the wind and blowing
out and how strong everything was there, but we managed
to do a pretty good job. It's a tough wallpark,
tough lineup. And then, of course what our offense is
doing really good rolling, So we're just bouncing off each other.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Yeah, well, Logan, Gilbert's with us, and you mentioned Louis
and Bryce and the whole piggyback thing. And I don't
know about you, but I'm getting kind of tired of
the word piggyback. I want to come up with a
different word for it, and I'm struggling to find one.
But now we're talking about a six man rotation, right,
so give me your thoughts, Logan, from your perspective on
what you think about going to a six man rotation.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
I mean, it's a great problem to have when you
have six great arms and see what they're doing. I mean,
Cassillo is pumping ninety seven ninety eight all day yesterday,
Bryce is one hit through five inning. He's like, we
have so many good arms that it's a good, good
situation to be in right now and everybody at their best.
I think it's gonna be a ton of fun. And
like I said earlier, just kind of bouncing off each other.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Yeah, was that a conversation that they had with the
rotation with you guys in a pictures meeting.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Did it even come.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Up to get your take and what you thought about that, Like,
does everybody need to be on board or is this
just hey, this is what they want, this is what.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
We're gonna do. Yeah. I think, thankfully, we have a
lot of guys that there's really no egos on this
team and it's a situation like that, if it's going
to help the team win, we're all for it. And
unfortunately too, I just selfishly it didn't really affect me.
I was gonna go out there and pitch Bryce and Louie.
I think they probably had more of those conversations and
(04:21):
just really a testament to who they are as people
and teammates that they're not worried about, you know, starts
or stats or anything like that. They're going to go
out there and do their job.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Does it feel different? And you've done it a few
times in your career? Logan, I think you've done it
like what almost fifteen twenty times in your career to
be honest with you, where you've had six days of
rest or more. But you're going to start tomorrow and then,
as far as I know, your next start is not
going to be until next week, next Tuesday in Baltimore.
Do you notice the difference, whether positive or negative, when
(04:53):
you go out there after having a week off versus
the traditional five days.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Yeah, it's definitely different at this point now, you know,
five or six years in. I welcome the rest, of course,
but also can kind of navigate different schedules like that.
My first couple of years, I would probably throw me
off a little bit more. But it's not a big
deal at all. I think we're in a really good
situation and I think it's gonna benefit us long term
(05:19):
at the end of the year two when we get
that rest.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Now, yeah, well, Logan Gilbert's with us, and I'm certain
that there's no bigger critic of Logan Gilbert than you
right breaking yourself down looking at your game watching film.
The numbers are good, but I know you expect better.
I mean, look, I mean you're a dominant pitcher, number
one starter in this rotation. It just goes to show
you how much people love you and what they think
(05:43):
about you here in Seattle.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
What do you think? What do you think about the
way you've thrown your first twelve starts of the year.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
I feel like I'm in a really good start right now.
Obviously want better and probably when you dig into the numbers, definitely,
but I'm in a good now where trying not to
live and die by the numbers as much and just
know over thirty two starts, if you're throwing the ball well,
things will work out. And that's what I feel like.
All my pitches feel pretty good. I feel healthy. Last start,
(06:13):
the Vilo is good. I think him in a good spot.
Obviously had a couple of rough ones that trying to
bounce back, but you know, over the last four had
had pretty three pretty good ones there. So I feel
like we're rolling now and really just trying to give
the team a chance to win. I mean, with what
the offense is doing right now, I think if I
(06:34):
keep us in it or anybody else and we're gonna
have a good chance.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Well, Logan Gilbert's with us, and Logan cow spoke yesterday.
I supposed to know more this week about what his
timeline is going to be. What are you missing when
he's not out there with you? Obviously the bat is clear,
but I'm talking about when he's out there behind the plate.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
What does this rotation miss? When cal Rawley's not available.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
I think he knows the pitchers so well. I've been
around us for so long that he can he knows
how to get you back on track. He's really great
with a pitch calling. Everybody knows that he's framing all that,
But as far as just that presence behind to play
a leader, all that kind of stuff that he brings
to the table. You know, sixty home runs is great,
but just having a catcher like that changes the game.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Yeah, no question.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Well, I know, Logan, we spoke a couple of years ago,
and not even a couple of years ago, maybe the
end of last year. Before you go and look, I
want you around for a long time, right, Mariner fans
want you around for a long time. It's hard to
imagine you wearing the uniform of any other baseball team,
for crying out loud. So you got one more year
left of arbitration and then you're set to hit free
agency after the twenty twenty seventh season. Have you gotten
(07:45):
anywhere closer in your mind to an extension to stay
here in Seattle Since the last time we spoke.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
I mean, the conversations have been, you know, ongoing for years,
and I think we both sides feel like we're in
a good spots. I mean, definitely, nothing's emminent, but also
it's crazy it's only a year away. When you say that,
it doesn't even sound real because I always just envisioned
myself playing here and staying here. But yeah, we still
(08:14):
got plenty of time to work something out, and I'm
pretty confident something well.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Good, good, I love hearing that. Well, listen, go get
him tomorrow. We appreciate the update. Man, Keep winning, buddy,
and we'll talk down the road. Thanks for doing this, man.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
All right, yeah, great talking to you guys.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Have a good one, you bet.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Man Logan Gilbert with us on the radio program, and
good to hear his thoughts on the six man rotation.
You know, look, I'm looking at his numbers, by the way,
when he's got six days of rest or more two
and a half ERA point eighty six seven whip in
his career, and he's made a few starts. This is
not a small sample, by the way, So look, I
mean in the end, I you know, you guys know
(08:50):
my thoughts on this whole thing. I'd move Luis Castillo
to the bullpen. Jackson. I mean, I think you know,
we all thought before this little piggyback experience started, how
will Luis do in the bullpen? You know, for a
guy that's never consistently ever pitched in the bullpen in
his career. He had the one appearance against the Tigers
a year ago in that crazy playoff game last year
at Tea Mobile Park. But outside of that, the guy's
(09:12):
been a starter his entire career. So I was curious
to see how he would perform. And he's been sensational
in a bullpen, and you need a bullpen arm, and
you want to extend his career. You want to have
a spot starter in case anybody goes down with an injury,
or somebody wakes up with COVID, you know whatever. Right,
So I think Luis Castillo would be perfect in that scenario.
And what I don't want to do with this rotation
(09:34):
has impact everybody else's routine and everybody else's schedule. I'm
not saying it's not going to work right because to
say that right now would be lunacy.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Let's see how it works out in the next couple
of weeks.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
But I do think that if you're talking about, Hey,
this whole problem arose because Bryce Miller and Luis Castillo
are just too good to not be on this roster. Well,
now we're going to impact Brian Who's schedule. We're going
to impact Words Kirby, We're going to impact Emerson Hancock,
We're going to impact Logan Gilbert. It's like when somebody
(10:05):
is off the air on this radio station. You don't
want to shuffle the entire lineup. You want to just
replace that one person. You don't want to impact three
or four other shows for crying out loud. So look,
I understand why they're doing it for now, But if
I was in charge of the world, which I should be,
I would move Luis Castillo to the bullpen right now
full time, because I think Bryce Miller is too good,
(10:25):
Brian Wu was too good to not be starting every
fifth day, and I think Luis Castillo has proven that
he can give you what you need out of the pen. Now,
you got to convince him to do it. You got
to convince the guy to have a good attitude about it,
and I.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Think he would.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
I think you sit him down and you say, look,
this is the best thing for this ball club right now.
We think it's the best thing for your career. We
got five studs that we want to see every fifth day.
You can really help us and Jackson. Close your eyes
for a second, dude, and imagine a bullpen well Ondress
Moon you know is Matt Brash, Gabe Speier, Bizardo, Jose
Ferrer and Luis free Castillo.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Are you kidding me?
Speaker 1 (11:02):
That bullpen is deep already and this guy would deepen
it even more so. If I were in charge, I
would put Luis Castilla on the pen right now, and
I would not touch anybody else's routine.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
I just think that this team, and let's not I
agree with you, but I just think that this team,
and the leadership and the higher ups and everybody who
runs their arms and is involved with those decisions, I
think they are so very obsessed with those innings counts
when it comes to October and they look at October
and they say, we want to make sure that every
single arm that we have is fully ready to go
(11:34):
for a playoff run because we think that we're going
to be a playoff team. We think that we're gonna
win the AL West again and get to the next round,
and we want to make sure when it comes to
mid end of October, if we're in the ALCS Game seven.
We have every single pitcher being able to go at
one hundred percent. I think they fear that so much,
right that to the extent of let's go to a
(11:56):
six man, let's do a piggyback, let's do all these wacky,
why different things instead of just making that simple move.
And I think there there is that kind of obsession,
there is that kind of fear that is getting in
the way of I think your elegant, simple answer.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Well, I think there's something else getting in the way,
and that's Luis Castillo's contract that he's got. If Luis
Castillo was either a a free agent when the year
ended or b making five million dollars a year, well,
I don't think.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
This is a conversation.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
And look yeah, well, I mean, and I'm not saying
the piggyback thing hasn't been working right on one day,
and let's face it, without the mess up by putting
Castillo and the ninth thing against the White Sox instead
of Munio's they're three and oher with the piggyback. I mean,
the numbers are, they're clearest day, They're right in front
of your face. For God's sake. I mean, the starters
(12:47):
in the piggyback role have not allowed to run in
fourteen and two thirds. The reliever in the piggyback role,
which is Miller once and Castillo twice, five earned over
twelve and a third, eleven k's and four walks. The
numbers over all look pretty good. And for those that
have said that this thing may have reinvigorated and re
energized Luis Castillo, I agree with that. But I just
(13:08):
think that we are sitting here today and we are
still talking about this bullpen needing an arm and needing
one more arm, and I think that arm could be
Luis Castillo. You think about how impactful a piggyback role
and a six man rotation could be for innings counts
for your starting pitchers. How impactful could Luis Castillo be
for rest and inning counts for relievers?
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Right?
Speaker 1 (13:31):
I mean, you've got a situation now where everybody is
mostly available tonight against the Mets because of the piggyback thing.
So you know, Dick tweeted it, He's exactly right, there's
value in that. But I also think you want to
pitch your best guy every fifth day. Brian Wu and
Bryce Miller and George Kirby and Logan Gilbert and Emerson
(13:52):
Hancock without doubt deserve to pitch every fifth day. I
understand your perspective on the innings limits and the innings
count not getting guys banged up. Maybe there's some PTSD
over what happened with Brian Wu a year ago. I
get that, But I still think you can manage all
that stuff. And let's face facts, it's not like you're
running away with the division yet. I actually think that
they will eventually run away with this division. I mean,
(14:16):
they are so much better than the A's, it's ridiculous.
They've got like a plus sixty run differential on the A's.
The A's are not a factor. If anybody's a factor,
it's going to be Texas and Houston, not the A's
when it's all said and done. So I just think,
for me, if you went into the year thinking you
were in arm shorts, if you went into the second
month of the year thinking you were an arm shorts.
(14:38):
The guy is sitting right there and his name is
Luis freaking Castillo. It would make this baseball team so
much better to make him a reliever full time and
start these guys every fifth day.
Speaker 4 (14:48):
You know, we're now into June, also Safty and right,
you know, we got to think to what's going to
happen two months from right now.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
And sure if total.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
If you think that, yes, we might need a bullpen
arm also, I think going to need a bat. I
don't think that this team is fully stocked and ready
to go to go win a world series from the
lineup aspect. So if Luis Castillo and he's been excellent,
right if he is able to now suddenly become valuable
again like I think we but before I left, we
(15:18):
had that conversation the three of us with Dick about
don't trade Luis Castile right now. There's just no point
in that. But at this point if he starts, if
and he continues to put these performances together, then suddenly
you have that value where you could potentially send that
to somebody for a bat. I mean, you pair it
(15:38):
all together. You have Kate Anderson ready to go. So
if you eventually need to fill in with another arm
when you get a guy injured, you have him, I
think eventually, because he's been ripping it up. So I
look at it too, where yes, the Bullpen's there. We're
gonna see the sixth man.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
But sooner.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
If you if Jerry Depoto, we know that he has
no problem making a deal long before a trade deadline
if he has value. And if you see a move
as there, Jerry, go and make it. I'm fining you
audition Luis. Now if he gets the right guy.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Yeah, well the uh look, here's the deal man. And
I understand what you're saying, and I've thought about the
same thing that if Luis Castillo keeps starting, and he
keeps playing really well and pitching well for you, then
you've got a big trade piece that you could move
right eventually. And if somebody gets banged up, you've got
Kate Anderson, You've got Ryan Sloan. But I think we
need to remember that in the previous eight starts, before
(16:31):
this piggyback thing started, Luis Castillo had a seven three
four ERA and an average of three sixty one on
balls and play, taking away strikeouts and home runs.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
He was getting tattooed.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
He was getting beat to death by opposing offenses. Okay,
so look again, and nobody really knows until we see
maybe he's found something. Maybe something really was wrong with him.
Maybe this little piggyback thing the last couple weeks or
so has been about maybe a little bit of rest
and relaxation for that right arm. Right maybe he needed
(17:07):
to cut down on the innings count just a little bit,
to give himself a little bit of a break and
deal with whatever the hell he was dealing with. But
I can sense it right now the minute Luis Castillo
starts again, and he's set to start, I think, on
Saturday against the Tigers, which is a good place to go.
It's a pitcher's park, it's a canyon. If he goes
(17:27):
out there and gets hammered, I mean, the Mariner fans
are gonna completely pull a one to eighty right all
of a sudden, this whole idea looks ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
So this is stupid. Now.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
The guy's getting his ass hit, just like he was
before we began the whole piggyback thing. So I feel
like we're gonna kind of live and die with this
roller coaster a little bit of.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
How our emotions are.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
But in the end, the Mariners, I feel like they
are kind of back to where they were a couple
of years ago when they had Robbie Ray and they
had Marco Gonzalez, and they had all that depth in
the minor league system.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Because now they've got.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Literally six major league caliber starting rotation pitchers that when
they're at their top, could be in the top three
or four of anybody's rotation in Major League Baseball. Now
they have KATEA. Anderson, Now they have Ryan Sloan. I mean,
they might be eight deep in their rotation. And that's
a kudos to Jerry Depoto. I mean, good for him. Right, Like,
(18:22):
the one thing we know that guy can do is
build a rotation and build a bullpen. So I think
you've got a great, incredible magic button that you can
push and put Luis Castillo in the bullpen. It may
diminish his trade value, but it also may extend his career,
and I know for a fact that makes this baseball
team better today.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
Yeah, it's a good problem to have. And like, listen,
this is the thing that you keep saying, and you're
so right about it, Like we can't squander this because
I mean we keep saying, we've said it for the
last three years, is that you can't squander the best
not even rotation now, just the best group of arms.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Because it's more than just.
Speaker 4 (18:57):
The rotation now, because you've got the guys into come
and even then what Anderson lower, So you have the
best group of arms in baseball. You can't squander this.
So if that means dishing one of them to get
that bat that goes and wins you a title, right
to freaking do it.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Well, here's the thing.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
When I hear you say, and we're gonna break here
in a minute and get the Jason Minnicks of ESPN
San Antonio and kiss his ass a little bit, you know,
hopefully I'll pass that along to Mitch Johnson. But when
you say we can't squander this, we can't waste it,
what I mean and what I think by that, and
I think we're on the same page. But just so
people understand, is that the the Kirby, Gilbert Hancock, Miller Castillo,
(19:38):
Brian wu Era, right, whatever that is has got to
result in a World Series appearance, has to has to
I mean, this is this is what we're talking about,
and maybe even a championship. Right, I'll go as far
as a championship, that's fine. I gotta problem saying that.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
Include Anderson though, Can we include Anderson in that?
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Well? Well, he hasn't pitched yet. I know, I know,
but you can include cal Rawleygan, Julio Rodriguez.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
That's not in terms of the in terms of the arms, right.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Right, but in terms of the arms, yes, I mean,
you had Jackson the best era in baseball two years
ago and you pissed it away and didn't even make
the damn playoffs in twenty twenty four. So if this
is really about pitching, you have got a era of
pitching in Seattle where it's probably the golden era of
(20:28):
at least starting pitching uh in Seattle Mariners history.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
You can't waste this.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
You've got to have this result in a World Series appearance.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
At minimum minimum, we're gonna break.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
I'll tell you what the thunder, They're not going anywhere
except home. We're gonna check in on that next on
ninety three three KJRFM
All right, kids, we're back on a busy Monday right
here on ninety three to three kJ AARFM brought to
you by our friends at frostburd Cores.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Light as cold as the Rockies.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Let's go across the street to T Mobile Park right
now joining us on the radio show. It's unbelievable. This
guy's already in a sixth year in the major leagues. Man,
just seems like yesterday he was making his debut back
in twenty twenty one. But here he is the leader
of that rotation across the street at T Mobile. Our
friend Logan Gilbert joining us right now on the radio program.
(00:33):
Logan at saftie, how are you, man? What's going on?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Hey, good to hear from you again. Thanks for having
me on.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Yeah, no, thank you for doing this, my man, appreciate it.
Let me just ask you first of all about the
vibes around this baseball team.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Man. I mean, you've won six in a row.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
A couple of games up on the a's now a
couple games over five hundred. It kind of feels like
the good vibes are starting to return. To quote au
Haaneo Suarez, your former teammate, tell me about the vibes
and I had that clubhouse right now.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Man, Yeah, I think you hit it on the head.
That's what it feels like to We knew we weren't
quite where we want to be, and still kind of
feel like we have more ground to make up. But
anytime you're in first can't complain. And especially after that
Sacramento series and then being back home, what we're doing.
I think we're in a good spot.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Why do you think.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
I guess we could talk about injuries. That's certainly a factor, right.
We'd be fools to not acknowledge the way that this
team has been banged up. But it was a little
bit of a bumpy start the first couple of months.
What do you attribute that to, Man, Yeah, I think
a lot of things.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
It's not ideal, but there's there's always gonna be ups
and down straught the season. It's just kind of minimizing
those windows. You know, the timing's not great at the beginning.
You don't want to get in those stretches. But I
think it's important just not to overreact. Know that we're
a good team. Things will kind of turn. But it's
hard to pick out one or two things. I think
you know, injuries can contribute, for sure, but a lot
(01:58):
of it's just hitting the ground, getting in the swing
of things, and everybody's been on the same page and rolling.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Well, Logan Gilbert's with us, and Logan you mentioned going
down there to Sacramento, and I'm glad you brought that
up because I don't think the pitching staff is getting
enough credit for what you guys did down there. A
lot of folks were talking about the offense, and rightfully so,
but to give up four runs and that launching pad
of a ballpark down there, when the wind blowing out
every damn inning, that that kind of felt like maybe
(02:24):
peak Mariner pitching performance.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
That's what we expect out of you guys.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
How how impressed even were you walking out of there
the game that you had, the game your teammates had,
just giving up four against those guys in that bandbox.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yeah, definitely, that's a big deal. That's my first time
throwing there. I mean, everybody did their job. Loui and
Bryce set the tone for sure. We're well on the
first day. We're definitely joking about the wind and blowing
out and how strong everything was there, but we managed
to do a pretty good job. It's a tough wallpark,
tough lineup. And then, of course what our offense is
doing really good rolling, So we're just bouncing off each other.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Yeah, well, Logan, Gilbert's with us, and you mentioned Louis
and Bryce and the whole piggyback thing. And I don't
know about you, but I'm getting kind of tired of
the word piggyback. I want to come up with a
different word for it, and I'm struggling to find one.
But now we're talking about a six man rotation, right,
so give me your thoughts, Logan, from your perspective on
what you think about going to a six man rotation.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
I mean, it's a great problem to have when you
have six great arms and see what they're doing. I mean,
Cassillo is pumping ninety seven ninety eight all day yesterday,
Bryce is one hit through five inning. He's like, we
have so many good arms that it's a good, good
situation to be in right now and everybody at their best.
I think it's gonna be a ton of fun. And
like I said earlier, just kind of bouncing off each other.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Yeah, was that a conversation that they had with the
rotation with you guys in a pictures meeting.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Did it even come.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Up to get your take and what you thought about that, Like,
does everybody need to be on board or is this
just hey, this is what they want, this is what.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
We're gonna do. Yeah. I think, thankfully, we have a
lot of guys that there's really no egos on this
team and it's a situation like that, if it's going
to help the team win, we're all for it. And
unfortunately too, I just selfishly it didn't really affect me.
I was gonna go out there and pitch Bryce and Louie.
I think they probably had more of those conversations and
(04:21):
just really a testament to who they are as people
and teammates that they're not worried about, you know, starts
or stats or anything like that. They're going to go
out there and do their job.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Does it feel different? And you've done it a few
times in your career? Logan, I think you've done it
like what almost fifteen twenty times in your career to
be honest with you, where you've had six days of
rest or more. But you're going to start tomorrow and then,
as far as I know, your next start is not
going to be until next week, next Tuesday in Baltimore.
Do you notice the difference, whether positive or negative, when
(04:53):
you go out there after having a week off versus
the traditional five days.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Yeah, it's definitely different at this point now, you know,
five or six years in. I welcome the rest, of course,
but also can kind of navigate different schedules like that.
My first couple of years, I would probably throw me
off a little bit more. But it's not a big
deal at all. I think we're in a really good
situation and I think it's gonna benefit us long term
(05:19):
at the end of the year two when we get
that rest.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Now, yeah, well, Logan Gilbert's with us, and I'm certain
that there's no bigger critic of Logan Gilbert than you
right breaking yourself down looking at your game watching film.
The numbers are good, but I know you expect better.
I mean, look, I mean you're a dominant pitcher, number
one starter in this rotation. It just goes to show
you how much people love you and what they think
(05:43):
about you here in Seattle.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
What do you think? What do you think about the
way you've thrown your first twelve starts of the year.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
I feel like I'm in a really good start right now.
Obviously want better and probably when you dig into the numbers, definitely,
but I'm in a good now where trying not to
live and die by the numbers as much and just
know over thirty two starts, if you're throwing the ball well,
things will work out. And that's what I feel like.
All my pitches feel pretty good. I feel healthy. Last start,
(06:13):
the Vilo is good. I think him in a good spot.
Obviously had a couple of rough ones that trying to
bounce back, but you know, over the last four had
had pretty three pretty good ones there. So I feel
like we're rolling now and really just trying to give
the team a chance to win. I mean, with what
the offense is doing right now, I think if I
(06:34):
keep us in it or anybody else and we're gonna
have a good chance.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Well, Logan Gilbert's with us, and Logan cow spoke yesterday.
I supposed to know more this week about what his
timeline is going to be. What are you missing when
he's not out there with you? Obviously the bat is clear,
but I'm talking about when he's out there behind the plate.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
What does this rotation miss? When cal Rawley's not available.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
I think he knows the pitchers so well. I've been
around us for so long that he can he knows
how to get you back on track. He's really great
with a pitch calling. Everybody knows that he's framing all that,
But as far as just that presence behind to play
a leader, all that kind of stuff that he brings
to the table. You know, sixty home runs is great,
but just having a catcher like that changes the game.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Yeah, no question.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Well, I know, Logan, we spoke a couple of years ago,
and not even a couple of years ago, maybe the
end of last year. Before you go and look, I
want you around for a long time, right, Mariner fans
want you around for a long time. It's hard to
imagine you wearing the uniform of any other baseball team,
for crying out loud. So you got one more year
left of arbitration and then you're set to hit free
agency after the twenty twenty seventh season. Have you gotten
(07:45):
anywhere closer in your mind to an extension to stay
here in Seattle Since the last time we spoke.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
I mean, the conversations have been, you know, ongoing for years,
and I think we both sides feel like we're in
a good spots. I mean, definitely, nothing's emminent, but also
it's crazy it's only a year away. When you say that,
it doesn't even sound real because I always just envisioned
myself playing here and staying here. But yeah, we still
(08:14):
got plenty of time to work something out, and I'm
pretty confident something well.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Good, good, I love hearing that. Well, listen, go get
him tomorrow. We appreciate the update. Man, Keep winning, buddy,
and we'll talk down the road. Thanks for doing this, man.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
All right, yeah, great talking to you guys.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Have a good one, you bet.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Man Logan Gilbert with us on the radio program, and
good to hear his thoughts on the six man rotation.
You know, look, I'm looking at his numbers, by the way,
when he's got six days of rest or more two
and a half ERA point eighty six seven whip in
his career, and he's made a few starts. This is
not a small sample, by the way, So look, I
mean in the end, I you know, you guys know
(08:50):
my thoughts on this whole thing. I'd move Luis Castillo
to the bullpen. Jackson. I mean, I think you know,
we all thought before this little piggyback experience started, how
will Luis do in the bullpen? You know, for a
guy that's never consistently ever pitched in the bullpen in
his career. He had the one appearance against the Tigers
a year ago in that crazy playoff game last year
at Tea Mobile Park. But outside of that, the guy's
(09:12):
been a starter his entire career. So I was curious
to see how he would perform. And he's been sensational
in a bullpen, and you need a bullpen arm, and
you want to extend his career. You want to have
a spot starter in case anybody goes down with an injury,
or somebody wakes up with COVID, you know whatever. Right,
So I think Luis Castillo would be perfect in that scenario.
And what I don't want to do with this rotation
(09:34):
has impact everybody else's routine and everybody else's schedule. I'm
not saying it's not going to work right because to
say that right now would be lunacy.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Let's see how it works out in the next couple
of weeks.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
But I do think that if you're talking about, Hey,
this whole problem arose because Bryce Miller and Luis Castillo
are just too good to not be on this roster. Well,
now we're going to impact Brian Who's schedule. We're going
to impact Words Kirby, We're going to impact Emerson Hancock,
We're going to impact Logan Gilbert. It's like when somebody
(10:05):
is off the air on this radio station. You don't
want to shuffle the entire lineup. You want to just
replace that one person. You don't want to impact three
or four other shows for crying out loud. So look,
I understand why they're doing it for now, But if
I was in charge of the world, which I should be,
I would move Luis Castillo to the bullpen right now
full time, because I think Bryce Miller is too good,
(10:25):
Brian Wu was too good to not be starting every
fifth day, and I think Luis Castillo has proven that
he can give you what you need out of the pen. Now,
you got to convince him to do it. You got
to convince the guy to have a good attitude about it,
and I.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Think he would.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
I think you sit him down and you say, look,
this is the best thing for this ball club right now.
We think it's the best thing for your career. We
got five studs that we want to see every fifth day.
You can really help us and Jackson. Close your eyes
for a second, dude, and imagine a bullpen well Ondress
Moon you know is Matt Brash, Gabe Speier, Bizardo, Jose
Ferrer and Luis free Castillo.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Are you kidding me?
Speaker 1 (11:02):
That bullpen is deep already and this guy would deepen
it even more so. If I were in charge, I
would put Luis Castilla on the pen right now, and
I would not touch anybody else's routine.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
I just think that this team, and let's not I
agree with you, but I just think that this team,
and the leadership and the higher ups and everybody who
runs their arms and is involved with those decisions, I
think they are so very obsessed with those innings counts
when it comes to October and they look at October
and they say, we want to make sure that every
single arm that we have is fully ready to go
(11:34):
for a playoff run because we think that we're going
to be a playoff team. We think that we're gonna
win the AL West again and get to the next round,
and we want to make sure when it comes to
mid end of October, if we're in the ALCS Game seven.
We have every single pitcher being able to go at
one hundred percent. I think they fear that so much,
right that to the extent of let's go to a
(11:56):
six man, let's do a piggyback, let's do all these wacky,
why different things instead of just making that simple move.
And I think there there is that kind of obsession,
there is that kind of fear that is getting in
the way of I think your elegant, simple answer.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Well, I think there's something else getting in the way,
and that's Luis Castillo's contract that he's got. If Luis
Castillo was either a a free agent when the year
ended or b making five million dollars a year, well,
I don't think.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
This is a conversation.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
And look yeah, well, I mean, and I'm not saying
the piggyback thing hasn't been working right on one day,
and let's face it, without the mess up by putting
Castillo and the ninth thing against the White Sox instead
of Munio's they're three and oher with the piggyback. I mean,
the numbers are, they're clearest day, They're right in front
of your face. For God's sake. I mean, the starters
(12:47):
in the piggyback role have not allowed to run in
fourteen and two thirds. The reliever in the piggyback role,
which is Miller once and Castillo twice, five earned over
twelve and a third, eleven k's and four walks. The
numbers over all look pretty good. And for those that
have said that this thing may have reinvigorated and re
energized Luis Castillo, I agree with that. But I just
(13:08):
think that we are sitting here today and we are
still talking about this bullpen needing an arm and needing
one more arm, and I think that arm could be
Luis Castillo. You think about how impactful a piggyback role
and a six man rotation could be for innings counts
for your starting pitchers. How impactful could Luis Castillo be
for rest and inning counts for relievers?
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Right?
Speaker 1 (13:31):
I mean, you've got a situation now where everybody is
mostly available tonight against the Mets because of the piggyback thing.
So you know, Dick tweeted it, He's exactly right, there's
value in that. But I also think you want to
pitch your best guy every fifth day. Brian Wu and
Bryce Miller and George Kirby and Logan Gilbert and Emerson
(13:52):
Hancock without doubt deserve to pitch every fifth day. I
understand your perspective on the innings limits and the innings
count not getting guys banged up. Maybe there's some PTSD
over what happened with Brian Wu a year ago. I
get that, But I still think you can manage all
that stuff. And let's face facts, it's not like you're
running away with the division yet. I actually think that
they will eventually run away with this division. I mean,
(14:16):
they are so much better than the A's, it's ridiculous.
They've got like a plus sixty run differential on the A's.
The A's are not a factor. If anybody's a factor,
it's going to be Texas and Houston, not the A's
when it's all said and done. So I just think,
for me, if you went into the year thinking you
were in arm shorts, if you went into the second
month of the year thinking you were an arm shorts.
(14:38):
The guy is sitting right there and his name is
Luis freaking Castillo. It would make this baseball team so
much better to make him a reliever full time and
start these guys every fifth day.
Speaker 4 (14:48):
You know, we're now into June, also Safty and right,
you know, we got to think to what's going to
happen two months from right now.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
And sure if total.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
If you think that, yes, we might need a bullpen
arm also, I think going to need a bat. I
don't think that this team is fully stocked and ready
to go to go win a world series from the
lineup aspect. So if Luis Castillo and he's been excellent,
right if he is able to now suddenly become valuable
again like I think we but before I left, we
(15:18):
had that conversation the three of us with Dick about
don't trade Luis Castile right now. There's just no point
in that. But at this point if he starts, if
and he continues to put these performances together, then suddenly
you have that value where you could potentially send that
to somebody for a bat. I mean, you pair it
(15:38):
all together. You have Kate Anderson ready to go. So
if you eventually need to fill in with another arm
when you get a guy injured, you have him, I
think eventually, because he's been ripping it up. So I
look at it too, where yes, the Bullpen's there. We're
gonna see the sixth man.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
But sooner.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
If you if Jerry Depoto, we know that he has
no problem making a deal long before a trade deadline
if he has value. And if you see a move
as there, Jerry, go and make it. I'm fining you
audition Luis. Now if he gets the right guy.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Yeah, well the uh look, here's the deal man. And
I understand what you're saying, and I've thought about the
same thing that if Luis Castillo keeps starting, and he
keeps playing really well and pitching well for you, then
you've got a big trade piece that you could move
right eventually. And if somebody gets banged up, you've got
Kate Anderson, You've got Ryan Sloan. But I think we
need to remember that in the previous eight starts, before
(16:31):
this piggyback thing started, Luis Castillo had a seven three
four ERA and an average of three sixty one on
balls and play, taking away strikeouts and home runs.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
He was getting tattooed.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
He was getting beat to death by opposing offenses. Okay,
so look again, and nobody really knows until we see
maybe he's found something. Maybe something really was wrong with him.
Maybe this little piggyback thing the last couple weeks or
so has been about maybe a little bit of rest
and relaxation for that right arm. Right maybe he needed
(17:07):
to cut down on the innings count just a little bit,
to give himself a little bit of a break and
deal with whatever the hell he was dealing with. But
I can sense it right now the minute Luis Castillo
starts again, and he's set to start, I think, on
Saturday against the Tigers, which is a good place to go.
It's a pitcher's park, it's a canyon. If he goes
(17:27):
out there and gets hammered, I mean, the Mariner fans
are gonna completely pull a one to eighty right all
of a sudden, this whole idea looks ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
So this is stupid. Now.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
The guy's getting his ass hit, just like he was
before we began the whole piggyback thing. So I feel
like we're gonna kind of live and die with this
roller coaster a little bit of.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
How our emotions are.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
But in the end, the Mariners, I feel like they
are kind of back to where they were a couple
of years ago when they had Robbie Ray and they
had Marco Gonzalez, and they had all that depth in
the minor league system.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Because now they've got.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Literally six major league caliber starting rotation pitchers that when
they're at their top, could be in the top three
or four of anybody's rotation in Major League Baseball. Now
they have KATEA. Anderson, Now they have Ryan Sloan. I mean,
they might be eight deep in their rotation. And that's
a kudos to Jerry Depoto. I mean, good for him. Right, Like,
(18:22):
the one thing we know that guy can do is
build a rotation and build a bullpen. So I think
you've got a great, incredible magic button that you can
push and put Luis Castillo in the bullpen. It may
diminish his trade value, but it also may extend his career,
and I know for a fact that makes this baseball
team better today.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
Yeah, it's a good problem to have. And like, listen,
this is the thing that you keep saying, and you're
so right about it, Like we can't squander this because
I mean we keep saying, we've said it for the
last three years, is that you can't squander the best
not even rotation now, just the best group of arms.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Because it's more than just.
Speaker 4 (18:57):
The rotation now, because you've got the guys into come
and even then what Anderson lower, So you have the
best group of arms in baseball. You can't squander this.
So if that means dishing one of them to get
that bat that goes and wins you a title, right
to freaking do it.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Well, here's the thing.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
When I hear you say, and we're gonna break here
in a minute and get the Jason Minnicks of ESPN
San Antonio and kiss his ass a little bit, you know,
hopefully I'll pass that along to Mitch Johnson. But when
you say we can't squander this, we can't waste it,
what I mean and what I think by that, and
I think we're on the same page. But just so
people understand, is that the the Kirby, Gilbert Hancock, Miller Castillo,
(19:38):
Brian wu Era, right, whatever that is has got to
result in a World Series appearance, has to has to
I mean, this is this is what we're talking about,
and maybe even a championship. Right, I'll go as far
as a championship, that's fine. I gotta problem saying that.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
Include Anderson though, Can we include Anderson in that?
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Well? Well, he hasn't pitched yet. I know, I know,
but you can include cal Rawleygan, Julio Rodriguez.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
That's not in terms of the in terms of the arms, right.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Right, but in terms of the arms, yes, I mean,
you had Jackson the best era in baseball two years
ago and you pissed it away and didn't even make
the damn playoffs in twenty twenty four. So if this
is really about pitching, you have got a era of
pitching in Seattle where it's probably the golden era of
(20:28):
at least starting pitching uh in Seattle Mariners history.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
You can't waste this.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
You've got to have this result in a World Series appearance.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
At minimum minimum, we're gonna break.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
I'll tell you what the thunder, They're not going anywhere
except home. We're gonna check in on that next on
ninety three three KJRFM
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