March 25, 2025 • 38 mins
Chris Crawford is pinch hitting for Daniel Kramer amidst the news of the Mariners and Catcher Cal Raleigh finalizing a 6-year, $105-million extension. Crawford shares his thoughts on the deal and much more. We hit the text line and read back messages from listeners, and close the show w/ Ian Furness as he shares what he has planned on his show.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And I appreciate. This is the first time I get
a chance to talk to him. Chris. Great to know
you've only been here for less than two months, but
uh yeah, so I appreciate. Also, he also does NBC
Rotal World for baseball and Emerald City Spectrum for Mariners coverage,
so he's all about the Mariners. So, Chris, good to
meet you. I'll be it by phone. Your thoughts on
(00:22):
the cal Raley deal and what that means for the
Mariners for this season.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Well, we did meet when I was hosting Free and
let's not forget about that.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
We did. Oh my god, christ oh man, Chris, you're right,
my bad. We did. Yes, we did, and you know
what that was like? That was like forever in a
day ago. So sorry about we did meet.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yes, you may have had some other things going on.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Yeah, I think so, yeah, yeah, you know what, you
do know what it was, Chris. Here's the thing, speaking
of the Mariners, I was living across the street from
t Mobile Park for three weeks and so everything within
that time frame is all hazy, which is when we met.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
So yes, hundred percent, no, Yeah, it's it's great to
talk to you on the radio, though. I feel weird
cheating on I in a little bit, but I'm happy
to answer any question.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Well, I'll tell you what, just so you know, if
you want to put this in sort of a relationship standpoint,
Ian actually allowed it. So you were technically what they
call it now, Chris, you are e and m ethically
non monogamous as they call it, Yes, polyamorous. Okay, So
what does the move mean in terms of resigning cal Raley.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
It's huge. It is a I went on with Softy
when I was also cheating on I and back then
after the Julio Rodriguez extension. And while it's not that
from a national perspective, it is that and then some
from a local perspective. And how important is for the
Mariners because this is the ultimate win win win, because
(01:58):
it is great for Big Dumper aka Kyle Rally, it's
great for the Seattle Mariners, and it's great for fans
of the Seattle Mariners because they are locking up one
of the most popular players, not just with fans but
the Seattle Mariners, like one of the true leaders of
the organization. And I got to be honest with you, Mark,
(02:19):
I never thought it would happen, even after he changed organizations,
So for those of you who don't know, he was
represented by Scott Boris for a long time and switched
organizations are excuse me, switched agencies, and that gave a
little bit of hope. But it was still felt like
cal Raley was the type of guy who wanted to
test for THEE Agency, in part because I feel like
(02:41):
he is more of an East Coast guy than a
West Coast guy. But the Mariners were able to get
it done. They're locking up one of the best catchers
in baseball, one of the best hitting catchers in baseball,
certainly one of the best defensive catchers in baseball, and
one of the leaders. I don't think you can overstate
how important today is.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Yeah, and you look at the infield, Chris Crawford here
on MJ in the midday on KJR ninety three to
three FM, you look at you look at just this
team and you know they needed something positive going into
the season because we talked about it. We had the
State of Seattle Sports Roundtable today from nine am to
(03:18):
eleven right here on ninety three to three KGRFM. They're like,
there's thousands of tickets remaining for Opening Day, Chris. I mean, Chris,
that's Chris. I just came from arguably the worst Major
League Baseball market in the world, Tampa Bay, Saint Petersburg
and the Race don't have trouble selling out Troupic Cana
(03:41):
Field for opening Day. Now after that, forget about it.
But at least opening day they got that.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yeah, I mean, this is I think a response to that.
I think this is a little bit of a response
to we because look, even with the Mariners not doing
much in the offseason in twenty twenty three, or excuse me,
twenty twenty four and in twenty twenty three, but in
particular twenty twenty four, the fans still showed up. The
(04:09):
attendance was great. But I think people are finally saying,
we need to see improvement from this roster. We need
to see a long term commitment. And I don't think
it's completely coincidental Raleigh Sis contract with the Mariners struggling
to sell for that first series. You know, it doesn't
(04:30):
help that they're playing the artist formally known as Oakland
in that first series. Sure, but the Mariners should sell
out that first series. If they're playing Washugel Community College,
it shouldn't matter. This is I think a response to that,
and it's good. It's good, and it shows that sometimes
(04:50):
pressure works and sometimes if you put your money where
your mouth is, people will respond to it. And I
do think that this is a response to saying we
need to sign our most important player to show that
we are committed to twenty twenty five, of course, but
twenty twenty six, twenty twenty seven. It wouldn't shock me
(05:12):
if a Logan Gilbert extension gets announced relatively soon after this.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Chris Crawford here on MJ in the midday on ninety
three to three KJRFM. So that's the good news. It's
a full note trade clause, which is even better news
is certainly for cal Raley. You know he's gonna love that.
Now that with all that being said, give me your complete, total,
(05:39):
full onboard psycho analysis of the twenty twenty five Mariners
going into opening day. That I'm bullish, Chris. I think
this team's gonna win over ninety one games. I think
they're gonna go to the playoffs. But I want to
hear from you in terms of everything, like the totality
of the offseason, which to call it disappoint would be
(06:01):
doing a disservice to the word disappointing. It was pathetic.
It was pathetic. So why should fans have this glimmer
of hope going into this season that it won't be
like last year blowing a ten game lead in the division.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Boy, you can make a lot of cases for it.
And the more that I look at this roster, the
more volatility screens out to me, because there are just
such a wide range of outcomes. Now the positive is,
even with the George Kirby injury, and you know, it
does sound like this is more precautionary than serious, But
(06:38):
even with that injury and not seeing he wants to
miss a couple of months, you still have as good
a rotation as anybody in baseball. That big four and
then Emerson Hancock is a perfectly promulent steal a term
from The Simpsons fifth starter for you, But you have
four legitimate guys who would pitch at the top of
a rotation. You have one of the best closers, and
(06:58):
Andres Munos who just so happened to have developed a
change up that is getting beyond rave reviews to go
with his fastball slider combination and a two seamed fastball
as well, so a closer with four pitches that can
miss bats and has been as good at missing bats
as anybody. It sounds like they're gonna get Matt Brash
back at the end of April, one of the best
(07:19):
swing and misstarters in in relief. With greg Ory Santos,
I think the bullpen and the pitching staff is going
to be fine. You have Big Dumper, who is one
of the best backstops in baseball. You have Lulio Rodriguez,
one of the best center fielders. We need to see
more consistency for sure, but one of the best and
certainly one of the most talented outfielders in baseball. You'll
(07:40):
have Victor Roeblis for a full season. He was a
you know, to say there weren't high expectations was an understatement,
but was one of the best lead off hitters in
baseball entered into there. Luke Rayley was one of the
better first basements outside of or excuse me, he was
one of the best hitters. We'll see how he does
it first base outside of a two month sample size.
(08:02):
Poorge Polanco is a great bounce back candidate. JP Crawford
should be better with the bat. Ryan Bliss has looked
good at second base. Randio rose Arena a huge addition
from Tampa Bay, from your former neck of the wood. Yeah,
getting him for a full season. There is so much
to like, and yet all of those guys I mentioned
to you outside of the rotation and outside of Raleigh
(08:25):
and Julio offer extreme positive highs and extreme potential loads
as well. JP Crawford was a disaster with the bat
last year. Victor Roeblitz has shown he can only do
it for seventy eight games so far in his MLB career,
second base has been such a problem.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
By the way, let me jump in there real quick.
What about Dylan Moore.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Well, to me, Dylan Moore is a problem with his
roster two because Dylan Moore is a perfectly good utility infielder,
but he's not good enough to be an everyday player.
He's just not. And unfortunately, Dylan Moore is as poorly
built for his home ballpark as any player in baseball.
He just those type of guys who are basically three
(09:11):
outcome type of players who either walk, strike out, or
run into a homer. That's Dylan Moore, and that is
not a good skill. Set for Safego Field akat Mobile Park.
I'll always call it safegu Mark. I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
And by by the way, you know, you know what, Chris,
I love that. I like like that. Like the other day,
like I got my you know, producer here has never
seen Good Fellows, Casino Godfather want of Godfather too. He
was correcting me because I called where the Lakers play
the Staple Center. It will always be the Staple Center.
I don't care what they're calling it now. I know
Staple Center for especially the Lakers who cares about them.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
It's just one of those things as we get older,
we put into our mind those stadiums. But yeah, there's
so much to like about this roster. But I don't.
I don't disagree with people who are negative on it,
that they should have gone out and gotten a legitimate
middle of the order bat, that they should have improved
second base more and third base more. That there are
(10:08):
questions about whether you know, it's hard to stay healthy
in your rotation three years in a row. And no
team is going to rely on their starting rotation more
than the Seattle Maners. It's not even close. The rotation
has to be not just good, it has to be
great for them to reach that ninety one win.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Much so so, Chris, Chris, so let me bring that up.
Sure if this and I agree with you, because I mean,
this rotation is the best. I mean, I think it
even now with the bullpen Inspire getting allegedly getting his
pitch back, and you mentioned Munios and all the other
guys in the bullpen. I think over the totality, it's
(10:45):
the best pitching staff overall in baseball. Is that going
to be enough?
Speaker 2 (10:51):
That's the question mark. And if for it to be enough,
they need Julio Rodriguez to play at a star level,
and as a twenty four year old, it's time to
have a little higher expectations. I think you know certainly
has not been not even close to bad, but inconsistent
at times like there have been real eyes in real loads.
They need for Hey Polanco to play at the level
(11:11):
he was when he was with Minnesota. They need Randy A.
Rose Arena to be the version that he was from
twenty twenty two to twenty twenty three, and at times
at twenty twenty four.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
They will need these guys to just if this offense
can be average, it can be if it could be
an average offense to go with upper echelon pitching, then
the sky is the limit. But no matter how good
you're pitching is, if you cannot consistently score four to
five runs a game, you cannot make a deep run
(11:44):
into October.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
You can't. It's too much. You're acting too much, because
every once in a while, those pitchers are going to
have clunkers. They are going to be two or three starts.
There are going to be road starts where ascension to
the meeting, where guys are going to have bad outings
and their offense has just not been good enough, particularly
last year, to overcome that. If they can't be an
(12:06):
average offense, they cannot make the pay postseason. If they
can be an average offense, or maybe even a tick above,
you know, that would be lovely to see, then they
are a legitimate World Series contender.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Chris Crawford here on MJ in the midday ninety three
to three KJRFM, we talked about speaking of Crawford, your namesake,
last name JP, I might add his ops and Softy's
brought this up several times. Dropped by fifty points in ops.
(12:37):
How does that happen? From twenty twenty three to last year,
and do you see him being able to bounce back
this season.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
So I don't think it's it's kind of weird. I
definitely don't think he's as good as he was in
twenty twenty three. I also don't believe he's as bad
as he was in twenty twenty four. His approach still
at the plate is real good. Like through fifty two
walks in one hundred and five games that puts you
almost exactly on an eighty walk pace. That's really good.
He slugs thirty twenty one now three point twenty one
(13:11):
is a bad slugging percentage for a backup catcher, for
an everyday middle infielder, even if you're not expecting the
same type of power as a corner outfielder or a
corner infielder, that's atrocious. I don't think he's that bad
because he's added some loft to his swing and he
appears to be able to recognize pitches a little bit
on top of being you know, the patient hitter that
(13:34):
he is. If it can be more along the lines
of the three eighty slugging percentage, they're gonna be fine,
at least at the shortstop position. Now, I will say
I have some doubts about JP Crawford defensively. His range
to the left and right continues to get worse, and
this pitching staff has a lot of ground balls, a
lot of ground balls and not being right up the
(13:57):
middle is a problem. And so JP Crawford needs to
be at least an average hitter to be a legitimate
starting short stuff. But to answer your question, I think
JAMP Crawford will be fine at the point. Will he
be good enough to be a top of the order
hitter like he was for their playoff run and for
(14:17):
their in previous seasons, I don't know, and I would
lean towards no interesting.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
So all that being said, give us a player or two,
and why this player is going to take a step
to the next level this year that nobody sees coming.
Right now, I'm.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Gonna go with Ryan Bliss, and I think part of
it is because number one, I want to see a
Ryan Bliss Robbie Telez Buddy Copp comedy. Just because we've
got a five foot five guy and a six foot four,
two eighty guy standing next to each other in the infield,
I just think.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
That would be that would be oh.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
It would be so good to have the interior offensive
lineman in the backup point guard next to each other
at first and second base. Is just so good. But
I think that Ryan Bliss has a skill set that
works really well with the Seattle Mariners. He is a assertive hitter.
He takes good at that. He recognizes pitch as well,
which is so important for a young player. He you know,
(15:18):
he has some issues with his hands defensively, but he
has more range than any second baseman they've had since Cano,
and it's not even close. He's going to be a
big health defensively assuming he is that second baseman. But
I think he's the type of guy who can hit
two seventy and get on at a three twenty clip.
And he's cut some sneaky pop in his bad as well,
(15:39):
like if hitters challenge him on the inner part of
the plate, he will make them pay for it. He
can either drive the ball into the gap but occasionally
take it over the fence. I think Ryan Bliss is
going to be a big part of the Seattle Mariners success.
And then I'll give you one other one. If Polanco
can't handle things defensively, and if he does stuffle with
(16:00):
the bat. I've been so impressive with what I've seen
from Ben Williamson in this spring, and I talked to
a couple of scouts about it. They gave him on
the twenty eighty scouting scale seventy grade onto the gloves,
like a chance to be a legitimate star defensive player.
And yeah, there's some concerns about the power, but he
has great back to ball skills, He's patient, he draws walks.
(16:22):
I think Ben Williamson is somebody who isn't getting enough
credit for being a potential contributor to the twenty twenty
five Seattle Mariners. If Plato can't get it done, I
would not be shocked at Ben Williamson ends up being
the starting third basement for the Marriors.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Wow, and you look at the Mariners and we were
doing on the State of Seattle Sports roundtable today and
you know, Dick Fang was bringing up being just seeing
from a fantasy standpoint that really other than cal Raley,
like from first base to third and second in short gut,
we're really poor grades. Yeah you know me, So this
isn't like you know, this isn't a gold glove infield.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
No, no, that's the thing. It's like, it'd be one
thing if these guys were great defensive players, but you know,
had some flaws with the bat. You know, these are
mediocre t not good defensive players who also have question
marks with the bat. Like Luke Rayley. As much as
I like the guy, he's had basically half a season
(17:22):
of great success. And that's asking a lot for a
guy that's probably going to hit in the middle of
the order against right handed pitching. Ryan Bliss still has
question marks. JP Crawford, like you said, coming off in
atrocious year, Porgeye Polanco coming off of etrocious year, and
Porgeye Polanco is a bad defensive player. I do not
think the third base experiment is going to work. I
(17:44):
hope I'm wrong, but I don't think it's going.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Hey ChRI, Chris, you know what. Just hit me though,
and as you're in the point, please just hold that
for one second and we're we're up against it. But
I just want to say one thing. Yeah, forty eight
hours ago, the Mariners release Mitch Hanneger, who at the
time was going to be the third highest paid player
on the team, even though he won't be on the
team in twenty twenty five at fifteen and a half
(18:06):
million dollars a season, isn't it just a little conspicuous
that does cal rolly thing happened forty eight hours after
the Hanniger thing.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
You know, maybe maybe a little. But I will say
this where it makes sense is Mitch Hannager, who baseball
diehard snow, has not been very good over the last
couple of years and was atrocious last year. I think
that the average Seattle Mariner fan really likes Mitch Chaniger
because he's a hard worker. He had some great quotes.
(18:39):
He had some quotes about a not so popular Mariner
in jefse Winker that's played well with the fan base.
So maybe that helps a little bit. Because I do know,
like my grandma was not happy to see that Mitch
Chanager was released, so I know she will be very
excited when I get off the phone with you and
call her and tell her about the big Dupper extension
that she'll be excited. So maybe there is something to that.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Yeah, well, Chris, listen, I appreciate you stepping up to
the plate and hitting a home run, even though Opening
Day is still you know, just less than fifty five
and a half hours away. Thanks for making time. Always
a pleasure to talk to you. And I vividly, vividly
remember you, meaning you multiple times, I might add, so
now that I've got my place now, now my head
(19:23):
is on straight and it's been a lot listen game
in an hour early. And believe me, I know we get.
We work in the toy department of life, Chris. So
I'm not complaining. But you know, when you're on the
air for four hours, Chris things after a while, it
just sort of becomes a little discombobulated.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
You know, totally understand it. But I did need that confidence,
Bruce Tager, remember, oh very much.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
So I'll say this I I before I let you go,
I want you to hear this. I have a lot
of faith in Chris Crawford, more than I do in
JP Crawford.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
It might be damn with saint praise, but I'll take
it for sure.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
There you go, all right, Chris, thanks man, appreciate it
all right. Coming up next we will get to the
what do you say text of the day. If you
want to hear your text writ in red on the
air in real time, well you can do it four
nine four or five one we got a lot of
great ones. People love the two hour State of Seattle
Sports Roundtable. So what do you say text of the
(20:23):
day four nine, four or five to one on ninety
three three kJ Artham.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
You're listening to the exclusive home of the Huskies, the
kracking and March Madness.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
Now back to Mark James MJ.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
In the midday on Sports Radio ninety three point three kjim.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
What do you say text of the day four nine,
four or five to one? If you missed any bit
of this show or the State of Seattle Sports two
hour Roundtable. Apparently our streaming numbers were through the roof,
so uh you check that out. Well, all the podcasts
will be up there for you on the new and
improved iHeartRadio app and then you just search for ninety
(21:08):
three to three KJRFM. You can listen there and check
out the podcast there. But that was fun. It was
fun with the guys, with the boys just going around
the room and in, you know, shooting the ish, so
to speak. And it was loose. There was nobody, you know,
nobody was waiting outside the studio for the other guy
to you know, to to start throwing hands. Uh and
(21:32):
and Softy and I co existed better than I thought.
I didn't think there was enough. I didn't feel like that,
you know, there'd be enough air in the room for
he and I to be on the air at the
same time, But yet there was so there is that.
How about this from the two IHO six. I feel
like I'm eating crazy pills. The m's lineup has not changed.
(21:53):
We'll get off to a slow start, get a ten
game lead, then blow it down the stretch, just like
last year. They did zero in the off season to
support the offense and pitching staff. So frustrating. Can't argue
that one, can't, are you? I mean that's the that's
the general, that's the uh unsilent majority, the unsilent majority.
Speaker 5 (22:17):
Hmmm, let's see this one is from the five oh nine.
You know what's disappointing talking about the Mariners? Who cares
about them? It's the same thing every year. This team
is going to be great, This team is actually better
(22:38):
than last year. This year they're going to make the playoffs.
What actually happens the same thing, losing games, no hitting
and not making the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
It's so tired, it's so old.
Speaker 5 (22:50):
Hopping up this dogwater franchise that never committed to anything
but taking money from the fans.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
You know, no, But listen, it's one of the things
that I've just really hit me since I've been here,
is just how and I get it. I'm with the
fans on this. I understand, you know, I understand in
terms of there's a reason why there are tickets remaining.
I mean, that's sad in a top thirteen market for
(23:24):
them for there to be tickets on sale for opening day.
It's bad, man, It's really bad. And you know, and
that's one way. Listen, when you don't put money into
the franchise, you can't expect the fans to put money back.
(23:46):
If you don't put money into the product on the field,
don't expect the fans to support it as well with
their money, because they will hit you. They will hit
you that way. And then once they do that, it's
tough to overcome. It's tough to overcome a negative. And
the negative is I mean, I'm looking at right here,
(24:09):
right now. So I went to the Mariners site as
we speak right now to buy tickets ticketmaster dot com.
So this is the official thing of the Mariners. It's
loading and yeah, yeah, except continue, Okay, it's still loading.
I mean there are a lot of seats remaining. A lot. Yeah,
so I mean a lot of upper deck, so you know,
(24:31):
most of the lower deck is looks like it's sold out,
which is good. But still I mean, and here's the thing.
I'm gonna give them benefit of the doubt that they're
gonna sell out opening night? What about the next night?
What about next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers.
(24:53):
That's what I see opening day, the first weekend. Listen,
they're gonna get I'm sure the turnstiles will not. We'll
be certainly getting a lot of access from the fan
base this weekend because it's opening Day and opening weekend.
And for the people who aren't able to go on
Thursday night because they got to work early the next day,
they'll go on Friday night or Saturday or Sunday. What
(25:14):
about Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in that three games set
against Detroit? Just saying, just saying, so, plenty of seats
still available. Let's see to do. By the way, this
guy texted in like eighteen times. And when I tell
you eighteen times, I literally mean eighteen times. We resigned
(25:38):
cal Raley and this guy where he's referring to me,
spends the next thirty minutes talking about random national sports news.
Make that make sense? Okay, pal, Well you texted this
in for the first of eighteen times at twelve oh
six pm, if I'm not mistaken. At that point, what
(26:00):
were we let me see, twelve oh six pm we
had Chris Crawford on. Okay, and at eleven oh six am,
after the two hour State of Seattle Sports roundtable, Softie
was in and we were talking about the Celtics sale,
meaning what that could mean for hopefully the pending we hope,
we hope for announcement of the Sonics coming back to Seattle.
(26:23):
Tell me where and now if you're talking about the
hitting to all fields segment, hitting to all fields is
hitting to all It's exactly what it is. It doesn't
have to be local, it's hitting to all fields. So
but you know what, I'll tell you what. We appreciate
your time spent listening in the radio world. We call
that TSL. Thank you for listening. So there's that, go Chris.
Speaker 5 (26:46):
This next one is from our guy Joe. Out of
the four two five man Seattle fans are blind. Hanneger
Money off the books, Dinnix stand cows spending nothing.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
It's a joke.
Speaker 5 (26:55):
If you don't win and perform, we will forget the
calacter too. Quicker than MJ forgot who Chris Crawford was.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Yeah, did I sound like Arthur Fleck from The Joker there?
With that laugh? I kind of felt at the end,
I did, even though you know how about this man? Yeah,
there's a lot of good things here. All right, let's
see here, I am getting from the three to six. Oh,
(27:27):
what's up? Three?
Speaker 4 (27:28):
Six?
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (27:28):
I'm getting thoroughly exhausted. With Seahawks fans getting upset about
Schneider not signing more offensive lineman free agency, there was
very little that would truly upgrade the trenches outside of
Will Fryes that they tried to sign but refused a
medical and when we wouldn't go five years. Honestly, hats
off to everything Schneider has done this offseason with the
roster finances, in draft capital. He's not sitting on his
(27:52):
hands in perpetual mediocrity. Let's just hope he can find
some o l depth. That's a good one, and I
will tell you I co side on that. I am
good with everything Schneider's done except for giving DeMarcus Lawrence,
who hasn't had a double digit SAX season in seven
or eight years, eighteen million guaranteed the game, eight million guaranteed.
(28:15):
I went out a problem with it. I felt, zoh,
he overpaid for DeMarcus Lawrence everything other than that and
not upgrading the O line. But I agree. I think
the free agency class overall, not just O line. I
think overall and every position sucked. When Sam Darnold is
your best quarterback on the open market, it wasn't great.
It wasn't DK wasn't a free agent that was a trade.
(28:38):
There just wasn't. It wasn't a great free agency class overall.
It just wasn't. Let's be real.
Speaker 5 (28:44):
This next one is from the two to seven. The
Mayors are going to serve up another crap sandwich this season.
I used to love this team. The only thing they
added this office was Nintendo pack to the uniform. Shame
on the MS.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
Yeah right, exactly, exactly. Another one of our guys loyal listener,
Mark Marquis or Marcus Marcus Marcus from the two h
six Marcus. I'd rather listen to Mariner talk all the time,
but does that guy really think a sports show should
only talk about one topic that he cares about?
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (29:15):
I know, Marcus, I know, right, seriously, now we're here,
We're here, just we're gonna keep it to one topic
for three and four hours because everybody wants to just
talk about the Mariners for three or four hours. Now,
I'm all about Hey, Tomorrow, Thursday, Friday, Monday, next Tuesday.
We're gonna be real. Once the real game start on Thursday,
(29:38):
We're all in. We are all in, and they will
comprise Numero uno. But like bro, like come on, man,
all right, Uh, I'm gonna say, you know, we had
so many of them in our screen refresh. But a
lot of the people who texted in about the two
hour State of Seattle Roundtable, we appreciate those. So all
(30:01):
of you who did that, I'm gonna give all of
you a what do you say? Text of the day.
It just got refreshed so many times that but I
felt though it was an awesome two hours, and yeah,
I'd like to do that more and more. That was funny. Chuck,
Chuck did. Chuck showed a new side today that I
had heard. I mean I heard him a lot, but
he showed a different side today that Chuck can get
(30:23):
a little spicy on the air, and I eat spicy
in a good way. It's a fun way, all right.
The mayor crosstalk next right here on MJ in the
midday ninety three to three KGRFM. I'm gonna f Jerry
all right, thanks to Chris Crawford. I definitely remember Chris Crawford.
(30:44):
Thanks for him for coming on. Listen whatever. Daniel Kramer,
he owes us to make good, so he better come
on tomorrow or Thursday. So get on that, all right, Chris,
Let's get on that, dude. Yeah, yeah, I get it.
I get it. It's your job and I understand that.
But yeah, there's a make good coming up, a lot
(31:08):
of great things next week. I don't want to jinx it,
but Iron Eagle told me he'll be able to come
on with us next week. The voice of March Madness
for CBS. It's done a great job with Grant Hill
and Bill Raftery, the governor on the March Madness coverage,
so he will hopefully join us next week. Joining us
(31:28):
right now is the Mayor of Maple Valley, Ian Ferness,
who has a long day dude had to drive in
like two hours to get to the studio in rush
hour traffic. Today, do the two hour State of Seattle
Sports roundtable. Head on over to the krack In Hockey studios. There.
He've got his show to do coming up here in
(31:50):
about ten minutes, and then's got the cracking game. So
the day's not full. I don't think there's enough hours
in the day for the mayor to work today, but
we appreciate him anyway, and thanks again for uh for
making time with us. So uh Ian got a lot
of positive responses though, from people on the the State
of Seattle Sports to our roundtable.
Speaker 6 (32:10):
Yeah, you know, the only negative to the day you
just because like listen, we're you know, and as as
Kevin Clapo said, we're on the you know, the fun
and games or whatever department.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
I would always call it the toy department.
Speaker 7 (32:21):
Yeah, that's what we do.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (32:22):
Yeah, the commute sucks. I understand. I understand why. You know,
morning drive radio is still a thing, whether it's a
music format or ours. It's big because you know what,
people are stuck in their cars. Big shout out to
Amazon for bringing everybody.
Speaker 7 (32:36):
Back to the office.
Speaker 6 (32:37):
I know, right, but uh, you know the community was bad.
Uh that's fine. What what's brutal is? And because from
the commute it was foggy the whole way in.
Speaker 7 (32:48):
I I finished, you know, we finished. Yeah, it's a show.
Speaker 6 (32:52):
And and uh CrossFit our CrossFit GM CrossFit guy.
Speaker 7 (32:56):
Now Mark he got us. We got lunch with him
in purple sheet.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (33:00):
I don't know who gets credit for that. Probably Land actually,
because those guys don't care about us, but she does.
Yeah we love Land, Yeah, Arden or somebody. But I
get in the car and it's like, oh my god,
it's sunny and clear. It's seventy degrees today. This is
golf course weather. This is not hockey weather. This is
not this is not radio show or hockey show weather man.
(33:20):
This is And of course we'll have that for one
day and then it gets crappy the rest of the week.
So that's the only downside. I need to be on
a golf course right now. But Sobia, here we are,
and you a.
Speaker 7 (33:28):
Way we go.
Speaker 6 (33:29):
I actually, I will admit this. I actually almost enjoyed
the two hours with all you guys this morning.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
I did too. No, I was my first, so I
really enjoyed it. I thought it was great.
Speaker 6 (33:39):
And it was fun and I loishly because we got
the chuck drop that we all saved now too.
Speaker 1 (33:43):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that was great. He went on record
he's got Jared Dipota winning the World Series two.
Speaker 7 (33:48):
H Yeah, that was Jerry.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
Yeah that one, that one yeah, yeah, I yeah. He
by the way, he unsolicited offered.
Speaker 7 (33:57):
That that was that was completely unsolicited.
Speaker 6 (34:01):
You know what, buddy, that's that lives on an Infanty's
that's on the wall for infamy.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
So yeah, I thought it was bad when I was
talking about and the reason why, I know, it's just Dix,
but I would say Dick's Burgers because if I said,
I just like, you know what, right, So I would
always put the burgers and people like, oh, it's not
I'm like, there's a reason why I'm throwing the burgers
in there at the end. So so yeah, so like
(34:31):
you know, by Ian, you know one thing I'm checking
off too. And and you brought this up for opening day,
but I'm gonna tell you right now, even more seats
available for Friday night. Wow.
Speaker 7 (34:42):
Wow, it's listen.
Speaker 6 (34:44):
Maybe maybe the signing of cal Raly gets you know,
sells a couple of tickets.
Speaker 7 (34:48):
Yeah, I doubt it. I don't think so.
Speaker 6 (34:50):
I mean, it's not like he was going somewhere right,
it's it's it's a great story. It's win win team.
Everybody like that. I heard you and Chris and and
so forth.
Speaker 7 (34:59):
But the fact.
Speaker 6 (35:01):
Is is that, you know, as we discussed this morning,
the relationship with the fan base and the baseball team
is dysfunctional as can be. Now, winning cures all, we
all understand that. But I just I think there's a
massive reluctance to for people in this market to want
to spend money because they feel like their investment in
the team doesn't pay off and the team investing back
(35:22):
into the product. And that's that's a sad state of affairs. Man,
that is a sad state of affairs. I mean, the
other two major league teams in the market both spend
to the salary cap. That's just how it works in
the NFL and the NHL.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
And by the way, Ian, can I just ask you
a question last of my check. Is there a salary
cap in MLB?
Speaker 6 (35:40):
There is not.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
Yeah, that's what I thought. Yeah, that's what I thought.
Speaker 6 (35:42):
Not, I mean, it's and so I think that's what
bothers people, you know, I mean, there's one in the
w NBA. Storm spend right to it and are aggressive.
The Sounders. There's a big salary cap and issues in
terms of you know what you can pay guys in
the MLS. They spend to that and they invest in
the product, and I think that's that that's where the
the issue lies. And you know, if nothing else, I
think people got that out of what we did this morning.
(36:02):
But yeah, it's unfortunate. Opening Day should be a sellout.
Opening Day should be a jam pack stadium, and it
should be a day to celebrate baseball, and you know
it's it will be, but it just it's gonna be
sad to look up and see a lot of empty seats,
especially in the upper decks.
Speaker 1 (36:16):
Yeah, I know, so it's uh, but I will tell
you this, I'm excited for this season, which I think
that you know, so many other people are as well.
I can tell you coming up here on Friday night,
and I'm just throwing this out because I'm looking at
all the tickets are available for the first fifteen thousand fans.
Randy A Rose, the rain a crossed Armor hoodie night.
(36:39):
So there's that.
Speaker 7 (36:40):
What the hell is that.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
I don't know, crossed arm hoodie.
Speaker 6 (36:42):
Night, Like, are you like in a straight jacket, Like
you can't move your arms? Yeah, it's if you put
the thing on. Is that how that works?
Speaker 1 (36:48):
No, it's it just shows him in a silhouette of
him with his arms crossed with the number fifty six.
Oh okay, yeah, yeah, that's what I was thinking too,
you were saying.
Speaker 6 (36:58):
I was like, wait, are the are the arms stitched together?
So like you put it on and you can't move. Oh,
by the way, let's not bury the lead here. Sam
freaking Donald on at two o'clock.
Speaker 7 (37:08):
With Sam Donald on today.
Speaker 6 (37:10):
Yeah, we had Sam Donald on at two o'clock and uh, well,
we'll take in with Palozolo at one twenty today talking
NFL Draft. Basically, we'll go through some of the guys
we mentioned this morning. We spent god, we spent a
lot of time talking about interior offensive alignment on our
state of the Union, didn't we. I mean, that's the
biggest concern in this market right now for any team
(37:30):
is well Mariners offense and Seahawks interior of the offensive line.
So we'll go through who's available in the draft coming
up with Palosolo today. But yeah, as you mentioned, Sam
donald Sea Hot Quarterback Live is gonna call in it
right around two o'clock today, so that'll be kind of
fun our first conversation here with him on KJR. So
I'm looking forward to that.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
And he and will not be asking about ghosts first
touch out.
Speaker 7 (37:53):
Yeah, all the suggestions that Faine and Softy gave me.
Speaker 1 (37:56):
Well, I threw it about I threw the ghost one,
you know, you know, was I was working up in
Boston when that that tough on, you know what, you know,
probably better, probably better.
Speaker 7 (38:05):
I want to ask him about that either, It'll all
be good.
Speaker 6 (38:07):
I'm actually it will be fun to ask him about
the Clint Kubiak offense. And and Fame gave me a
great suggestion from the press conference. He talks about want
to be a point guard at the quarterback position, So
we'll kind of talk to that about us what that
means from Sam Darnold's perspective. So I'm looking forward to
talking to him. He was he killed the press conference
to open did I just crushed it? So looking forward
(38:28):
to hav him alive on the air at two o'clock TWN. Yeah,
that will be coming up at two o'clock.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
The Mayor of Maple Valley Ian Fernes, and don't forget
cracking pregame at five point thirty and game against the
Calgary Flames coming up at six. Things. So, Christopher Kid
and Chris Crawford, I Dave definitely remember you and I
appreciate you stepping up today. We'll see tomorrow right here
on MJ in the midday of ninety three to three,
kJ aren't them
And I appreciate. This is the first time I get
a chance to talk to him. Chris. Great to know
you've only been here for less than two months, but
uh yeah, so I appreciate. Also, he also does NBC
Rotal World for baseball and Emerald City Spectrum for Mariners coverage,
so he's all about the Mariners. So, Chris, good to
meet you. I'll be it by phone. Your thoughts on
(00:22):
the cal Raley deal and what that means for the
Mariners for this season.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Well, we did meet when I was hosting Free and
let's not forget about that.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
We did. Oh my god, christ oh man, Chris, you're right,
my bad. We did. Yes, we did, and you know
what that was like? That was like forever in a
day ago. So sorry about we did meet.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yes, you may have had some other things going on.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Yeah, I think so, yeah, yeah, you know what, you
do know what it was, Chris. Here's the thing, speaking
of the Mariners, I was living across the street from
t Mobile Park for three weeks and so everything within
that time frame is all hazy, which is when we met.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
So yes, hundred percent, no, Yeah, it's it's great to
talk to you on the radio, though. I feel weird
cheating on I in a little bit, but I'm happy
to answer any question.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Well, I'll tell you what, just so you know, if
you want to put this in sort of a relationship standpoint,
Ian actually allowed it. So you were technically what they
call it now, Chris, you are e and m ethically
non monogamous as they call it, Yes, polyamorous. Okay, So
what does the move mean in terms of resigning cal Raley.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
It's huge. It is a I went on with Softy
when I was also cheating on I and back then
after the Julio Rodriguez extension. And while it's not that
from a national perspective, it is that and then some
from a local perspective. And how important is for the
Mariners because this is the ultimate win win win, because
(01:58):
it is great for Big Dumper aka Kyle Rally, it's
great for the Seattle Mariners, and it's great for fans
of the Seattle Mariners because they are locking up one
of the most popular players, not just with fans but
the Seattle Mariners, like one of the true leaders of
the organization. And I got to be honest with you, Mark,
(02:19):
I never thought it would happen, even after he changed organizations,
So for those of you who don't know, he was
represented by Scott Boris for a long time and switched
organizations are excuse me, switched agencies, and that gave a
little bit of hope. But it was still felt like
cal Raley was the type of guy who wanted to
test for THEE Agency, in part because I feel like
(02:41):
he is more of an East Coast guy than a
West Coast guy. But the Mariners were able to get
it done. They're locking up one of the best catchers
in baseball, one of the best hitting catchers in baseball,
certainly one of the best defensive catchers in baseball, and
one of the leaders. I don't think you can overstate
how important today is.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Yeah, and you look at the infield, Chris Crawford here
on MJ in the midday on KJR ninety three to
three FM, you look at you look at just this
team and you know they needed something positive going into
the season because we talked about it. We had the
State of Seattle Sports Roundtable today from nine am to
(03:18):
eleven right here on ninety three to three KGRFM. They're like,
there's thousands of tickets remaining for Opening Day, Chris. I mean, Chris,
that's Chris. I just came from arguably the worst Major
League Baseball market in the world, Tampa Bay, Saint Petersburg
and the Race don't have trouble selling out Troupic Cana
(03:41):
Field for opening Day. Now after that, forget about it.
But at least opening day they got that.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yeah, I mean, this is I think a response to that.
I think this is a little bit of a response
to we because look, even with the Mariners not doing
much in the offseason in twenty twenty three, or excuse me,
twenty twenty four and in twenty twenty three, but in
particular twenty twenty four, the fans still showed up. The
(04:09):
attendance was great. But I think people are finally saying,
we need to see improvement from this roster. We need
to see a long term commitment. And I don't think
it's completely coincidental Raleigh Sis contract with the Mariners struggling
to sell for that first series. You know, it doesn't
(04:30):
help that they're playing the artist formally known as Oakland
in that first series. Sure, but the Mariners should sell
out that first series. If they're playing Washugel Community College,
it shouldn't matter. This is I think a response to that,
and it's good. It's good, and it shows that sometimes
(04:50):
pressure works and sometimes if you put your money where
your mouth is, people will respond to it. And I
do think that this is a response to saying we
need to sign our most important player to show that
we are committed to twenty twenty five, of course, but
twenty twenty six, twenty twenty seven. It wouldn't shock me
(05:12):
if a Logan Gilbert extension gets announced relatively soon after this.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Chris Crawford here on MJ in the midday on ninety
three to three KJRFM. So that's the good news. It's
a full note trade clause, which is even better news
is certainly for cal Raley. You know he's gonna love that.
Now that with all that being said, give me your complete, total,
(05:39):
full onboard psycho analysis of the twenty twenty five Mariners
going into opening day. That I'm bullish, Chris. I think
this team's gonna win over ninety one games. I think
they're gonna go to the playoffs. But I want to
hear from you in terms of everything, like the totality
of the offseason, which to call it disappoint would be
(06:01):
doing a disservice to the word disappointing. It was pathetic.
It was pathetic. So why should fans have this glimmer
of hope going into this season that it won't be
like last year blowing a ten game lead in the division.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Boy, you can make a lot of cases for it.
And the more that I look at this roster, the
more volatility screens out to me, because there are just
such a wide range of outcomes. Now the positive is,
even with the George Kirby injury, and you know, it
does sound like this is more precautionary than serious, But
(06:38):
even with that injury and not seeing he wants to
miss a couple of months, you still have as good
a rotation as anybody in baseball. That big four and
then Emerson Hancock is a perfectly promulent steal a term
from The Simpsons fifth starter for you, But you have
four legitimate guys who would pitch at the top of
a rotation. You have one of the best closers, and
(06:58):
Andres Munos who just so happened to have developed a
change up that is getting beyond rave reviews to go
with his fastball slider combination and a two seamed fastball
as well, so a closer with four pitches that can
miss bats and has been as good at missing bats
as anybody. It sounds like they're gonna get Matt Brash
back at the end of April, one of the best
(07:19):
swing and misstarters in in relief. With greg Ory Santos,
I think the bullpen and the pitching staff is going
to be fine. You have Big Dumper, who is one
of the best backstops in baseball. You have Lulio Rodriguez,
one of the best center fielders. We need to see
more consistency for sure, but one of the best and
certainly one of the most talented outfielders in baseball. You'll
(07:40):
have Victor Roeblis for a full season. He was a
you know, to say there weren't high expectations was an understatement,
but was one of the best lead off hitters in
baseball entered into there. Luke Rayley was one of the
better first basements outside of or excuse me, he was
one of the best hitters. We'll see how he does
it first base outside of a two month sample size.
(08:02):
Poorge Polanco is a great bounce back candidate. JP Crawford
should be better with the bat. Ryan Bliss has looked
good at second base. Randio rose Arena a huge addition
from Tampa Bay, from your former neck of the wood. Yeah,
getting him for a full season. There is so much
to like, and yet all of those guys I mentioned
to you outside of the rotation and outside of Raleigh
(08:25):
and Julio offer extreme positive highs and extreme potential loads
as well. JP Crawford was a disaster with the bat
last year. Victor Roeblitz has shown he can only do
it for seventy eight games so far in his MLB career,
second base has been such a problem.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
By the way, let me jump in there real quick.
What about Dylan Moore.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Well, to me, Dylan Moore is a problem with his
roster two because Dylan Moore is a perfectly good utility infielder,
but he's not good enough to be an everyday player.
He's just not. And unfortunately, Dylan Moore is as poorly
built for his home ballpark as any player in baseball.
He just those type of guys who are basically three
(09:11):
outcome type of players who either walk, strike out, or
run into a homer. That's Dylan Moore, and that is
not a good skill. Set for Safego Field akat Mobile Park.
I'll always call it safegu Mark. I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
And by by the way, you know, you know what, Chris,
I love that. I like like that. Like the other day,
like I got my you know, producer here has never
seen Good Fellows, Casino Godfather want of Godfather too. He
was correcting me because I called where the Lakers play
the Staple Center. It will always be the Staple Center.
I don't care what they're calling it now. I know
Staple Center for especially the Lakers who cares about them.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
It's just one of those things as we get older,
we put into our mind those stadiums. But yeah, there's
so much to like about this roster. But I don't.
I don't disagree with people who are negative on it,
that they should have gone out and gotten a legitimate
middle of the order bat, that they should have improved
second base more and third base more. That there are
(10:08):
questions about whether you know, it's hard to stay healthy
in your rotation three years in a row. And no
team is going to rely on their starting rotation more
than the Seattle Maners. It's not even close. The rotation
has to be not just good, it has to be
great for them to reach that ninety one win.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Much so so, Chris, Chris, so let me bring that up.
Sure if this and I agree with you, because I mean,
this rotation is the best. I mean, I think it
even now with the bullpen Inspire getting allegedly getting his
pitch back, and you mentioned Munios and all the other
guys in the bullpen. I think over the totality, it's
(10:45):
the best pitching staff overall in baseball. Is that going
to be enough?
Speaker 2 (10:51):
That's the question mark. And if for it to be enough,
they need Julio Rodriguez to play at a star level,
and as a twenty four year old, it's time to
have a little higher expectations. I think you know certainly
has not been not even close to bad, but inconsistent
at times like there have been real eyes in real loads.
They need for Hey Polanco to play at the level
(11:11):
he was when he was with Minnesota. They need Randy A.
Rose Arena to be the version that he was from
twenty twenty two to twenty twenty three, and at times
at twenty twenty four.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
They will need these guys to just if this offense
can be average, it can be if it could be
an average offense to go with upper echelon pitching, then
the sky is the limit. But no matter how good
you're pitching is, if you cannot consistently score four to
five runs a game, you cannot make a deep run
(11:44):
into October.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
You can't. It's too much. You're acting too much, because
every once in a while, those pitchers are going to
have clunkers. They are going to be two or three starts.
There are going to be road starts where ascension to
the meeting, where guys are going to have bad outings
and their offense has just not been good enough, particularly
last year, to overcome that. If they can't be an
(12:06):
average offense, they cannot make the pay postseason. If they
can be an average offense, or maybe even a tick above,
you know, that would be lovely to see, then they
are a legitimate World Series contender.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Chris Crawford here on MJ in the midday ninety three
to three KJRFM, we talked about speaking of Crawford, your namesake,
last name JP, I might add his ops and Softy's
brought this up several times. Dropped by fifty points in ops.
(12:37):
How does that happen? From twenty twenty three to last year,
and do you see him being able to bounce back
this season.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
So I don't think it's it's kind of weird. I
definitely don't think he's as good as he was in
twenty twenty three. I also don't believe he's as bad
as he was in twenty twenty four. His approach still
at the plate is real good. Like through fifty two
walks in one hundred and five games that puts you
almost exactly on an eighty walk pace. That's really good.
He slugs thirty twenty one now three point twenty one
(13:11):
is a bad slugging percentage for a backup catcher, for
an everyday middle infielder, even if you're not expecting the
same type of power as a corner outfielder or a
corner infielder, that's atrocious. I don't think he's that bad
because he's added some loft to his swing and he
appears to be able to recognize pitches a little bit
on top of being you know, the patient hitter that
(13:34):
he is. If it can be more along the lines
of the three eighty slugging percentage, they're gonna be fine,
at least at the shortstop position. Now, I will say
I have some doubts about JP Crawford defensively. His range
to the left and right continues to get worse, and
this pitching staff has a lot of ground balls, a
lot of ground balls and not being right up the
(13:57):
middle is a problem. And so JP Crawford needs to
be at least an average hitter to be a legitimate
starting short stuff. But to answer your question, I think
JAMP Crawford will be fine at the point. Will he
be good enough to be a top of the order
hitter like he was for their playoff run and for
(14:17):
their in previous seasons, I don't know, and I would
lean towards no interesting.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
So all that being said, give us a player or two,
and why this player is going to take a step
to the next level this year that nobody sees coming.
Right now, I'm.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Gonna go with Ryan Bliss, and I think part of
it is because number one, I want to see a
Ryan Bliss Robbie Telez Buddy Copp comedy. Just because we've
got a five foot five guy and a six foot four,
two eighty guy standing next to each other in the infield,
I just think.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
That would be that would be oh.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
It would be so good to have the interior offensive
lineman in the backup point guard next to each other
at first and second base. Is just so good. But
I think that Ryan Bliss has a skill set that
works really well with the Seattle Mariners. He is a assertive hitter.
He takes good at that. He recognizes pitch as well,
which is so important for a young player. He you know,
(15:18):
he has some issues with his hands defensively, but he
has more range than any second baseman they've had since Cano,
and it's not even close. He's going to be a
big health defensively assuming he is that second baseman. But
I think he's the type of guy who can hit
two seventy and get on at a three twenty clip.
And he's cut some sneaky pop in his bad as well,
(15:39):
like if hitters challenge him on the inner part of
the plate, he will make them pay for it. He
can either drive the ball into the gap but occasionally
take it over the fence. I think Ryan Bliss is
going to be a big part of the Seattle Mariners success.
And then I'll give you one other one. If Polanco
can't handle things defensively, and if he does stuffle with
(16:00):
the bat. I've been so impressive with what I've seen
from Ben Williamson in this spring, and I talked to
a couple of scouts about it. They gave him on
the twenty eighty scouting scale seventy grade onto the gloves,
like a chance to be a legitimate star defensive player.
And yeah, there's some concerns about the power, but he
has great back to ball skills, He's patient, he draws walks.
(16:22):
I think Ben Williamson is somebody who isn't getting enough
credit for being a potential contributor to the twenty twenty
five Seattle Mariners. If Plato can't get it done, I
would not be shocked at Ben Williamson ends up being
the starting third basement for the Marriors.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Wow, and you look at the Mariners and we were
doing on the State of Seattle Sports roundtable today and
you know, Dick Fang was bringing up being just seeing
from a fantasy standpoint that really other than cal Raley,
like from first base to third and second in short gut,
we're really poor grades. Yeah you know me, So this
isn't like you know, this isn't a gold glove infield.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
No, no, that's the thing. It's like, it'd be one
thing if these guys were great defensive players, but you know,
had some flaws with the bat. You know, these are
mediocre t not good defensive players who also have question
marks with the bat. Like Luke Rayley. As much as
I like the guy, he's had basically half a season
(17:22):
of great success. And that's asking a lot for a
guy that's probably going to hit in the middle of
the order against right handed pitching. Ryan Bliss still has
question marks. JP Crawford, like you said, coming off in
atrocious year, Porgeye Polanco coming off of etrocious year, and
Porgeye Polanco is a bad defensive player. I do not
think the third base experiment is going to work. I
(17:44):
hope I'm wrong, but I don't think it's going.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Hey ChRI, Chris, you know what. Just hit me though,
and as you're in the point, please just hold that
for one second and we're we're up against it. But
I just want to say one thing. Yeah, forty eight
hours ago, the Mariners release Mitch Hanneger, who at the
time was going to be the third highest paid player
on the team, even though he won't be on the
team in twenty twenty five at fifteen and a half
(18:06):
million dollars a season, isn't it just a little conspicuous
that does cal rolly thing happened forty eight hours after
the Hanniger thing.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
You know, maybe maybe a little. But I will say
this where it makes sense is Mitch Hannager, who baseball
diehard snow, has not been very good over the last
couple of years and was atrocious last year. I think
that the average Seattle Mariner fan really likes Mitch Chaniger
because he's a hard worker. He had some great quotes.
(18:39):
He had some quotes about a not so popular Mariner
in jefse Winker that's played well with the fan base.
So maybe that helps a little bit. Because I do know,
like my grandma was not happy to see that Mitch
Chanager was released, so I know she will be very
excited when I get off the phone with you and
call her and tell her about the big Dupper extension
that she'll be excited. So maybe there is something to that.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Yeah, well, Chris, listen, I appreciate you stepping up to
the plate and hitting a home run, even though Opening
Day is still you know, just less than fifty five
and a half hours away. Thanks for making time. Always
a pleasure to talk to you. And I vividly, vividly
remember you, meaning you multiple times, I might add, so
now that I've got my place now, now my head
(19:23):
is on straight and it's been a lot listen game
in an hour early. And believe me, I know we get.
We work in the toy department of life, Chris. So
I'm not complaining. But you know, when you're on the
air for four hours, Chris things after a while, it
just sort of becomes a little discombobulated.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
You know, totally understand it. But I did need that confidence,
Bruce Tager, remember, oh very much.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
So I'll say this I I before I let you go,
I want you to hear this. I have a lot
of faith in Chris Crawford, more than I do in
JP Crawford.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
It might be damn with saint praise, but I'll take
it for sure.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
There you go, all right, Chris, thanks man, appreciate it
all right. Coming up next we will get to the
what do you say text of the day. If you
want to hear your text writ in red on the
air in real time, well you can do it four
nine four or five one we got a lot of
great ones. People love the two hour State of Seattle
Sports Roundtable. So what do you say text of the
(20:23):
day four nine, four or five to one on ninety
three three kJ Artham.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
You're listening to the exclusive home of the Huskies, the
kracking and March Madness.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
Now back to Mark James MJ.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
In the midday on Sports Radio ninety three point three kjim.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
What do you say text of the day four nine,
four or five to one? If you missed any bit
of this show or the State of Seattle Sports two
hour Roundtable. Apparently our streaming numbers were through the roof,
so uh you check that out. Well, all the podcasts
will be up there for you on the new and
improved iHeartRadio app and then you just search for ninety
(21:08):
three to three KJRFM. You can listen there and check
out the podcast there. But that was fun. It was
fun with the guys, with the boys just going around
the room and in, you know, shooting the ish, so
to speak. And it was loose. There was nobody, you know,
nobody was waiting outside the studio for the other guy
to you know, to to start throwing hands. Uh and
(21:32):
and Softy and I co existed better than I thought.
I didn't think there was enough. I didn't feel like that,
you know, there'd be enough air in the room for
he and I to be on the air at the
same time, But yet there was so there is that.
How about this from the two IHO six. I feel
like I'm eating crazy pills. The m's lineup has not changed.
(21:53):
We'll get off to a slow start, get a ten
game lead, then blow it down the stretch, just like
last year. They did zero in the off season to
support the offense and pitching staff. So frustrating. Can't argue
that one, can't, are you? I mean that's the that's
the general, that's the uh unsilent majority, the unsilent majority.
Speaker 5 (22:17):
Hmmm, let's see this one is from the five oh nine.
You know what's disappointing talking about the Mariners? Who cares
about them? It's the same thing every year. This team
is going to be great, This team is actually better
(22:38):
than last year. This year they're going to make the playoffs.
What actually happens the same thing, losing games, no hitting
and not making the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
It's so tired, it's so old.
Speaker 5 (22:50):
Hopping up this dogwater franchise that never committed to anything
but taking money from the fans.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
You know, no, But listen, it's one of the things
that I've just really hit me since I've been here,
is just how and I get it. I'm with the
fans on this. I understand, you know, I understand in
terms of there's a reason why there are tickets remaining.
I mean, that's sad in a top thirteen market for
(23:24):
them for there to be tickets on sale for opening day.
It's bad, man, It's really bad. And you know, and
that's one way. Listen, when you don't put money into
the franchise, you can't expect the fans to put money back.
(23:46):
If you don't put money into the product on the field,
don't expect the fans to support it as well with
their money, because they will hit you. They will hit
you that way. And then once they do that, it's
tough to overcome. It's tough to overcome a negative. And
the negative is I mean, I'm looking at right here,
(24:09):
right now. So I went to the Mariners site as
we speak right now to buy tickets ticketmaster dot com.
So this is the official thing of the Mariners. It's
loading and yeah, yeah, except continue, Okay, it's still loading.
I mean there are a lot of seats remaining. A lot. Yeah,
so I mean a lot of upper deck, so you know,
(24:31):
most of the lower deck is looks like it's sold out,
which is good. But still I mean, and here's the thing.
I'm gonna give them benefit of the doubt that they're
gonna sell out opening night? What about the next night?
What about next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers.
(24:53):
That's what I see opening day, the first weekend. Listen,
they're gonna get I'm sure the turnstiles will not. We'll
be certainly getting a lot of access from the fan
base this weekend because it's opening Day and opening weekend.
And for the people who aren't able to go on
Thursday night because they got to work early the next day,
they'll go on Friday night or Saturday or Sunday. What
(25:14):
about Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in that three games set
against Detroit? Just saying, just saying, so, plenty of seats
still available. Let's see to do. By the way, this
guy texted in like eighteen times. And when I tell
you eighteen times, I literally mean eighteen times. We resigned
(25:38):
cal Raley and this guy where he's referring to me,
spends the next thirty minutes talking about random national sports news.
Make that make sense? Okay, pal, Well you texted this
in for the first of eighteen times at twelve oh
six pm, if I'm not mistaken. At that point, what
(26:00):
were we let me see, twelve oh six pm we
had Chris Crawford on. Okay, and at eleven oh six am,
after the two hour State of Seattle Sports roundtable, Softie
was in and we were talking about the Celtics sale,
meaning what that could mean for hopefully the pending we hope,
we hope for announcement of the Sonics coming back to Seattle.
(26:23):
Tell me where and now if you're talking about the
hitting to all fields segment, hitting to all fields is
hitting to all It's exactly what it is. It doesn't
have to be local, it's hitting to all fields. So
but you know what, I'll tell you what. We appreciate
your time spent listening in the radio world. We call
that TSL. Thank you for listening. So there's that, go Chris.
Speaker 5 (26:46):
This next one is from our guy Joe. Out of
the four two five man Seattle fans are blind. Hanneger
Money off the books, Dinnix stand cows spending nothing.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
It's a joke.
Speaker 5 (26:55):
If you don't win and perform, we will forget the
calacter too. Quicker than MJ forgot who Chris Crawford was.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Yeah, did I sound like Arthur Fleck from The Joker there?
With that laugh? I kind of felt at the end,
I did, even though you know how about this man? Yeah,
there's a lot of good things here. All right, let's
see here, I am getting from the three to six. Oh,
(27:27):
what's up? Three?
Speaker 4 (27:28):
Six?
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (27:28):
I'm getting thoroughly exhausted. With Seahawks fans getting upset about
Schneider not signing more offensive lineman free agency, there was
very little that would truly upgrade the trenches outside of
Will Fryes that they tried to sign but refused a
medical and when we wouldn't go five years. Honestly, hats
off to everything Schneider has done this offseason with the
roster finances, in draft capital. He's not sitting on his
(27:52):
hands in perpetual mediocrity. Let's just hope he can find
some o l depth. That's a good one, and I
will tell you I co side on that. I am
good with everything Schneider's done except for giving DeMarcus Lawrence,
who hasn't had a double digit SAX season in seven
or eight years, eighteen million guaranteed the game, eight million guaranteed.
(28:15):
I went out a problem with it. I felt, zoh,
he overpaid for DeMarcus Lawrence everything other than that and
not upgrading the O line. But I agree. I think
the free agency class overall, not just O line. I
think overall and every position sucked. When Sam Darnold is
your best quarterback on the open market, it wasn't great.
It wasn't DK wasn't a free agent that was a trade.
(28:38):
There just wasn't. It wasn't a great free agency class overall.
It just wasn't. Let's be real.
Speaker 5 (28:44):
This next one is from the two to seven. The
Mayors are going to serve up another crap sandwich this season.
I used to love this team. The only thing they
added this office was Nintendo pack to the uniform. Shame
on the MS.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
Yeah right, exactly, exactly. Another one of our guys loyal listener,
Mark Marquis or Marcus Marcus Marcus from the two h
six Marcus. I'd rather listen to Mariner talk all the time,
but does that guy really think a sports show should
only talk about one topic that he cares about?
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (29:15):
I know, Marcus, I know, right, seriously, now we're here,
We're here, just we're gonna keep it to one topic
for three and four hours because everybody wants to just
talk about the Mariners for three or four hours. Now,
I'm all about Hey, Tomorrow, Thursday, Friday, Monday, next Tuesday.
We're gonna be real. Once the real game start on Thursday,
(29:38):
We're all in. We are all in, and they will
comprise Numero uno. But like bro, like come on, man,
all right, Uh, I'm gonna say, you know, we had
so many of them in our screen refresh. But a
lot of the people who texted in about the two
hour State of Seattle Roundtable, we appreciate those. So all
(30:01):
of you who did that, I'm gonna give all of
you a what do you say? Text of the day.
It just got refreshed so many times that but I
felt though it was an awesome two hours, and yeah,
I'd like to do that more and more. That was funny. Chuck,
Chuck did. Chuck showed a new side today that I
had heard. I mean I heard him a lot, but
he showed a different side today that Chuck can get
(30:23):
a little spicy on the air, and I eat spicy
in a good way. It's a fun way, all right.
The mayor crosstalk next right here on MJ in the
midday ninety three to three KGRFM. I'm gonna f Jerry
all right, thanks to Chris Crawford. I definitely remember Chris Crawford.
(30:44):
Thanks for him for coming on. Listen whatever. Daniel Kramer,
he owes us to make good, so he better come
on tomorrow or Thursday. So get on that, all right, Chris,
Let's get on that, dude. Yeah, yeah, I get it.
I get it. It's your job and I understand that.
But yeah, there's a make good coming up, a lot
(31:08):
of great things next week. I don't want to jinx it,
but Iron Eagle told me he'll be able to come
on with us next week. The voice of March Madness
for CBS. It's done a great job with Grant Hill
and Bill Raftery, the governor on the March Madness coverage,
so he will hopefully join us next week. Joining us
(31:28):
right now is the Mayor of Maple Valley, Ian Ferness,
who has a long day dude had to drive in
like two hours to get to the studio in rush
hour traffic. Today, do the two hour State of Seattle
Sports roundtable. Head on over to the krack In Hockey studios. There.
He've got his show to do coming up here in
(31:50):
about ten minutes, and then's got the cracking game. So
the day's not full. I don't think there's enough hours
in the day for the mayor to work today, but
we appreciate him anyway, and thanks again for uh for
making time with us. So uh Ian got a lot
of positive responses though, from people on the the State
of Seattle Sports to our roundtable.
Speaker 6 (32:10):
Yeah, you know, the only negative to the day you
just because like listen, we're you know, and as as
Kevin Clapo said, we're on the you know, the fun
and games or whatever department.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
I would always call it the toy department.
Speaker 7 (32:21):
Yeah, that's what we do.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (32:22):
Yeah, the commute sucks. I understand. I understand why. You know,
morning drive radio is still a thing, whether it's a
music format or ours. It's big because you know what,
people are stuck in their cars. Big shout out to
Amazon for bringing everybody.
Speaker 7 (32:36):
Back to the office.
Speaker 6 (32:37):
I know, right, but uh, you know the community was bad.
Uh that's fine. What what's brutal is? And because from
the commute it was foggy the whole way in.
Speaker 7 (32:48):
I I finished, you know, we finished. Yeah, it's a show.
Speaker 6 (32:52):
And and uh CrossFit our CrossFit GM CrossFit guy.
Speaker 7 (32:56):
Now Mark he got us. We got lunch with him
in purple sheet.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (33:00):
I don't know who gets credit for that. Probably Land actually,
because those guys don't care about us, but she does.
Yeah we love Land, Yeah, Arden or somebody. But I
get in the car and it's like, oh my god,
it's sunny and clear. It's seventy degrees today. This is
golf course weather. This is not hockey weather. This is
not this is not radio show or hockey show weather man.
(33:20):
This is And of course we'll have that for one
day and then it gets crappy the rest of the week.
So that's the only downside. I need to be on
a golf course right now. But Sobia, here we are,
and you a.
Speaker 7 (33:28):
Way we go.
Speaker 6 (33:29):
I actually, I will admit this. I actually almost enjoyed
the two hours with all you guys this morning.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
I did too. No, I was my first, so I
really enjoyed it. I thought it was great.
Speaker 6 (33:39):
And it was fun and I loishly because we got
the chuck drop that we all saved now too.
Speaker 1 (33:43):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that was great. He went on record
he's got Jared Dipota winning the World Series two.
Speaker 7 (33:48):
H Yeah, that was Jerry.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
Yeah that one, that one yeah, yeah, I yeah. He
by the way, he unsolicited offered.
Speaker 7 (33:57):
That that was that was completely unsolicited.
Speaker 6 (34:01):
You know what, buddy, that's that lives on an Infanty's
that's on the wall for infamy.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
So yeah, I thought it was bad when I was
talking about and the reason why, I know, it's just Dix,
but I would say Dick's Burgers because if I said,
I just like, you know what, right, So I would
always put the burgers and people like, oh, it's not
I'm like, there's a reason why I'm throwing the burgers
in there at the end. So so yeah, so like
(34:31):
you know, by Ian, you know one thing I'm checking
off too. And and you brought this up for opening day,
but I'm gonna tell you right now, even more seats
available for Friday night. Wow.
Speaker 7 (34:42):
Wow, it's listen.
Speaker 6 (34:44):
Maybe maybe the signing of cal Raly gets you know,
sells a couple of tickets.
Speaker 7 (34:48):
Yeah, I doubt it. I don't think so.
Speaker 6 (34:50):
I mean, it's not like he was going somewhere right,
it's it's it's a great story. It's win win team.
Everybody like that. I heard you and Chris and and
so forth.
Speaker 7 (34:59):
But the fact.
Speaker 6 (35:01):
Is is that, you know, as we discussed this morning,
the relationship with the fan base and the baseball team
is dysfunctional as can be. Now, winning cures all, we
all understand that. But I just I think there's a
massive reluctance to for people in this market to want
to spend money because they feel like their investment in
the team doesn't pay off and the team investing back
(35:22):
into the product. And that's that's a sad state of affairs. Man,
that is a sad state of affairs. I mean, the
other two major league teams in the market both spend
to the salary cap. That's just how it works in
the NFL and the NHL.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
And by the way, Ian, can I just ask you
a question last of my check. Is there a salary
cap in MLB?
Speaker 6 (35:40):
There is not.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
Yeah, that's what I thought. Yeah, that's what I thought.
Speaker 6 (35:42):
Not, I mean, it's and so I think that's what
bothers people, you know, I mean, there's one in the
w NBA. Storm spend right to it and are aggressive.
The Sounders. There's a big salary cap and issues in
terms of you know what you can pay guys in
the MLS. They spend to that and they invest in
the product, and I think that's that that's where the
the issue lies. And you know, if nothing else, I
think people got that out of what we did this morning.
(36:02):
But yeah, it's unfortunate. Opening Day should be a sellout.
Opening Day should be a jam pack stadium, and it
should be a day to celebrate baseball, and you know
it's it will be, but it just it's gonna be
sad to look up and see a lot of empty seats,
especially in the upper decks.
Speaker 1 (36:16):
Yeah, I know, so it's uh, but I will tell
you this, I'm excited for this season, which I think
that you know, so many other people are as well.
I can tell you coming up here on Friday night,
and I'm just throwing this out because I'm looking at
all the tickets are available for the first fifteen thousand fans.
Randy A Rose, the rain a crossed Armor hoodie night.
(36:39):
So there's that.
Speaker 7 (36:40):
What the hell is that.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
I don't know, crossed arm hoodie.
Speaker 6 (36:42):
Night, Like, are you like in a straight jacket, Like
you can't move your arms? Yeah, it's if you put
the thing on. Is that how that works?
Speaker 1 (36:48):
No, it's it just shows him in a silhouette of
him with his arms crossed with the number fifty six.
Oh okay, yeah, yeah, that's what I was thinking too,
you were saying.
Speaker 6 (36:58):
I was like, wait, are the are the arms stitched together?
So like you put it on and you can't move. Oh,
by the way, let's not bury the lead here. Sam
freaking Donald on at two o'clock.
Speaker 7 (37:08):
With Sam Donald on today.
Speaker 6 (37:10):
Yeah, we had Sam Donald on at two o'clock and uh, well,
we'll take in with Palozolo at one twenty today talking
NFL Draft. Basically, we'll go through some of the guys
we mentioned this morning. We spent god, we spent a
lot of time talking about interior offensive alignment on our
state of the Union, didn't we. I mean, that's the
biggest concern in this market right now for any team
(37:30):
is well Mariners offense and Seahawks interior of the offensive line.
So we'll go through who's available in the draft coming
up with Palosolo today. But yeah, as you mentioned, Sam
donald Sea Hot Quarterback Live is gonna call in it
right around two o'clock today, so that'll be kind of
fun our first conversation here with him on KJR. So
I'm looking forward to that.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
And he and will not be asking about ghosts first
touch out.
Speaker 7 (37:53):
Yeah, all the suggestions that Faine and Softy gave me.
Speaker 1 (37:56):
Well, I threw it about I threw the ghost one,
you know, you know, was I was working up in
Boston when that that tough on, you know what, you know,
probably better, probably better.
Speaker 7 (38:05):
I want to ask him about that either, It'll all
be good.
Speaker 6 (38:07):
I'm actually it will be fun to ask him about
the Clint Kubiak offense. And and Fame gave me a
great suggestion from the press conference. He talks about want
to be a point guard at the quarterback position, So
we'll kind of talk to that about us what that
means from Sam Darnold's perspective. So I'm looking forward to
talking to him. He was he killed the press conference
to open did I just crushed it? So looking forward
(38:28):
to hav him alive on the air at two o'clock TWN. Yeah,
that will be coming up at two o'clock.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
The Mayor of Maple Valley Ian Fernes, and don't forget
cracking pregame at five point thirty and game against the
Calgary Flames coming up at six. Things. So, Christopher Kid
and Chris Crawford, I Dave definitely remember you and I
appreciate you stepping up today. We'll see tomorrow right here
on MJ in the midday of ninety three to three,
kJ aren't them
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
40s and Free Agents: NFL Draft Season
Daniel Jeremiah of Move the Sticks and Gregg Rosenthal of NFL Daily join forces to break down every team's needs this offseason.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.