Lookout Landing

Kate and Joe talk about the Mariners sixth-round pick Emerson Hancock as well as review the first day of the draft as a whole. They also discuss Day Two strategies and targets, and how the Mariners might address the gaps in their system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to draft week, where the slots do matter and nobody knows what's going on. John, Kate, and Joe join forces all the same to offer our last thoughts before things go down this Wednesday and Thursday. The topics of conversation include... Why is Emerson Hancock sliding in so many projections? And do we still want him if he's there at No. 6? Nick Gonzales or Max Meyer? Which of the top names could possibly slip to Seattle? What compels someone to go from Roswell, GA, to Roswell, NM? How do teams value organizational fit in a draft with so much talent? Who would we like most for Seattle at No. 6 and No. 43? And much more. Check out lookoutlanding.com for all our draft coverage, including Joe's final mock draft, with a big 'ol surprise at No. 10. Music: "Kin II" by Midnight Survivor / "CHANCES" by KAYTRANADA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

0:00-11:45: A lovely reunion conversation is immediately interrupted by Kate updating us on her mobile, liquor-slurping neighbors. As per usual, this portends another conversation that has absolutely nothing to do with the intended purposes of this podcast. Before getting back on track, Matthew addresses the recent events in America and implores you to do what you can. 11:50-24:45: We get into MLB’s proposed plans for getting the season going. This includes some talk about timelines, player payment, and locations. All of this stumbles into open suggestions for how certain teams can recreate the environment of their home parks. This is the part where we’re contractually obligated to wonder if the Mariners could sneak into the playoffs and subsequently start an unbearable discussion about whether it counts. 24:50-49:55: Digging into listener questions! Thank you as always to those who submitted, we know it’s been a while since we spoke to you directly. Questions cover topics like how players will come out of th

Among many other things, this was a grim few weeks for baseball in the United States. The Mariners cut 44 minor leaguers, including several players with longer tenures in the organization than anyone not named Seager. John, Joe, and Kate talk through a number of players whose careers in Seattle's affiliation came to an end this week, with a focus on the implications for the minor leagues going forward, what the Arizona Fall League may look like, and how independent baseball will be increasingly worth everyone's time. At around the 35:00 minute mark, the discussion turns to the draft. Georgia RHP Emerson Hancock has been mocked to the Mariners a couple times now, representing a surprising shift for one of the premier arms in the pool. We go into what's precipitated that perceived slip and whether we'd be on board if he's still available at No. 6 (you can hear Kate screaming 'YES'!!!! without the headphones). Afterwards, we turn our focus beyond the first round and each talk through a few names at every pick -

0:00-28:10: Mourning a Memorial Day without baseball before welcoming Mariner legend Bucky Jacobsen to the show! Bucky breaks down the origins of his name and how he went from the smallest kid in his school to a hulking MLB slugger. Which earthly process does Bucky’s career most resemble, and how did it come out of eastern Oregon? He also shares a story about his athletic career in the aquatic world. 29:15-43:55: Let’s dig in to Bucky’s career, starting with the day he got called up in 2004. You might not remember which beloved Mariner got released to make room for big #33. You definitely don’t remember what happened in his first game, which was a disaster for the Mariners but memorable for Bucky, especially because of a pregame ritual that ticked off the second baseman. 44:00-55:55: What changes has Bucky noticed in baseball culture today compared to when he played? Which future Hall of Famer did Bucky describe as having a “dump truck ass” when they crossed paths in the Venezuelan winter ball? This leads to

Kate, Joe, and John tackle MLB's most recent proposals for how teams might handle the shortened season, and how minor league baseball and prospects may be impacted. With a taxi squad proposal involving 30 active players and 20 taxi squad "reserves", teams will be digging into their prospect pools for big league action this year if games take place. What might that roster look like for the Mariners? And are there players who might be better or worse suited for such an arrangement? We also discuss the news of the day, with the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim laying off and/or furloughing much of their scouting and player development groups. After this podcast was recording, the Athletics informed their minor leaguers they would cease paying them, but would not release them from their contracts, beginning June 1. We discuss how these circumstances may have lengthy ramifications for some teams, the AL West in particular, and how that will likely bleed into the MLB Draft as well. Music: "Wrecki

0:00-12:25: Gabey Lucas, a writer and editor for UW Dawg Pound and local comedian, joins the show to chat about the Mariners and all that surrounds this team. What has she been watching to fill the sports void? Korean baseball? Cornhole? Who’s been the biggest winner of quarantine? After exchanging pleasantries, Matthew and Gabey talk about SB Nation’s Dorktown documentary about the Mariners. 12:30-29:55: What are some of the similarities between the Mariners and UW football, or Seattle sports at large? It certainly doesn’t seem like a coincidence that a lot of the city’s sports history mirrors its dreary sensibility. As Mariner fans, the losing obviously hovers over a lot of our collective experience, but how often do you really think about the sustained failure? We also wonder how much sucking creates apathy in the players, as well as how Seattle’s personality as a city could be a turnoff for southern players. 30:00-45:35: Some Braden Bishop UW x Mariners crossover content! When will the Mariners have their

It's mock draft day on TMBM, and we're so excited to bring you a heaping serving of 2020 prognostication. John, Kate, and Joe have divvied up all 30 teams and make their selections, serpentine style, to give a sense of who might go where, and who that might leave available for the Seattle Mariners at picks No. 6, 43, 64, and 78. We go in order from No. 1 thru No. 43 on air, as well as including our selections at No. 64 and No. 78, but the full draft, with explanations, can be found in the episode article on Lookout Landing dot com. Whether you're a Mariners fan or not, let us know if you'd be happy with how things shake out! Music: "Things Can Only Get Better" - Howard Jones / "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" - New Kids On The Block Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the grisliest work behind us, John, Kate, and Joe look into the cheerier tidings of more recent drafts, hoping to get a sense of what's gone wrong and right, and what we might expect from the Mariners in the 2020 Draft. We talk extensively about pitching development, and how Seattle's knack for it in recent years has been encouraging. Conversely, we address the way Seattle's drafts in recent years have directly led to the dearth of middle infield depth in the system, and how their preference for college talent in the top of the draft has become conspicuous. Kate claims the 2018 draft class is shaping up to be the defining one of Dipoto's tenure. We talk about 3B/2B Joe Rizzo, who has a magnifying glass on him for many of the reasons listed above. Plus, plenty of discussion on who Seattle might take with their options BEYOND the first pick. Colt Keith fans make some noise. Music: "Ken II" by Midnight Survivor / "CHANCES" by KAYTRANADA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

0:00-23:00: Emily Nemens, author of the recently-released book The Cactus League, graces the hallowed air waves of the Lookout Landing podcast. Emily grew up in Seattle as a Mariners fan, but also a fan of baseball in general, which led to the publication of this book! As book tours are illegal right now, we try to replicate that through the power of podcasting. Our conversation starts with a general conversation about the book and the characters involved before delving into some of the process behind it. She also shares a story of her real life experiences at Spring Training, featuring none other than George Steinbrenner. 23:05-34:35: Was there any moment in particular that made Emily want to write a baseball book? What sort of memory association will come with releasing a book during a global pandemic? What was the hardest part of writing The Cactus League? 34:40-56:50: Emily reads an excerpt from the book, which details an on-the-field moment between a pitcher and catcher. We end our conversation by talki

John, Kate, and Joe coalesce to discuss something far less appealing than the upcoming draft: Seattle Mariners drafts of the past. Specifically, looking at the waning years of the Jack Zduriencik regime, and what happened with the 2013, 2014, and 2015 drafts. Plenty went wrong, obviously, but many of the picks made sense at the time, and only with the benefit of hindsight can we piece together how truly awry things went. Together, we try to put ourselves in the mindset of those drafts, and draw connections between the decisions made then and what might lie ahead in the 2020 draft. A healthy discussion on player development, communication, and what we all want to see next from the Dipoto regime lies within. Music: "The Tune Up" - Stalley / "CHANCES" - KAYTRANADA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

0:00-7:25: Matthew drops a fire intro before teeing up his guest, Lookout Landing staffer Grant Bronsdon. The fellas are joined together, separately, to draft teams of Glue Guys. This is essentially the direct opposite of the last draft they did, in which they tried to create the best possible teams in Mariner history out of individual players’ seasons. For this one, the only players who are eligible are ones who were not very good. If you were worth 3.0 Wins Above Replacement, sorry, you’re disqualified. This draft was inspired by Matthew’s world-changing article from last week. 7:30-29:55: With the first pick, Matthew perhaps falls victim to recency bias. Grant responds by taking someone from the 2001 team, but probably not who you think! After Matthew makes his second pick, a quick Internet search reveals a hilarious story about him. After a defensive specialist and a superstar on the come up get picked, Grant grabs the first pitcher and Matthew takes a cartoonish slugger. 30:00-39:40: Grant responds with

Kate and Joe are joined by MLB.com's Jim Callis to talk the MLB draft and the current state of the Mariners farm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe and John are thrilled to be joined by Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com and MLB Pipeline, who has covered prospects, the minor leagues, and the MLB Draft there since 1999. 0:00 - 14:00 - How does a prospects writer’s role change when suddenly the baseball has all disappeared? Mayo details how his work has changed (and how it hasn’t) during the COVID-19 shutdown. We also go into the ways that prospect coverage has changed since he began, dating back to the earliest drafts Mayo covered. Conference calls have given way to online drafts, and now a fully televised event that demands live coverage and analysis. Mayo also discusses how the growth of visibility for, and fan interest in, prospects has altered and impacted his work. 14:00 - 40:00 - The discussion turns to the Mariners in particular. What does the progression of prospects like Jarred Kelenic, Julio Rodriguez, Logan Gilbert, and Evan White look like for someone who has spent decades seeing top prospects come and go? Expanding on a series the MLB Pipeline team

Corey Brock, the Mariners’ beat writer for The Athletic, joins the podcast to talk about the team’s past, present, and future. 0:00-23:55: Before we start, Corey checks in with John to make sure he has stockpiled all of Cooperstown’s best beers while quarantined. Recently, Corey published a story on Mario Mendoza, leading us to wonder how many other pieces he’s got in the chamber. Another pertinent question: are the replays of old Mariner playoff games getting old? While we’re remembering great moments in Mariner history, Corey recalls the days when fans were given weapons upon entering the Kingdome. 24:00-40:00: Where was Corey on the day that baseball stopped? Has he talked to anyone in the organization about their thoughts on the situation, or their strategies for staying in shape? Who will be at the greatest disadvantage when baseball resumes? Will the Mariners ever get to unleash their swarm of quad-A utility guys? 41:00-46:50: Corey devoted many words to Mike Cameron this offseason. Cammy is also Matthe

0:00-9:40: Matthew is joined by film producers Aditya Sood and Chris Miller to reflect on the paths that brought them from the suburbs of Seattle to Hollywood and how the Mariners figure in that equation. Both guys left the Seattle area for college and, upon ending up in Southern California, found themselves with tickets for a Mariners-Angels game in Anaheim on September 11, 2001. 9:45-31:05: How did Chris, a Lake Stevens native, and Aditya, a Bellevue native, end up meeting each other back in 1982? Why were they so into the Mariners at a time when they were the American League’s doormat? Aditya holds a certain Leslie Nielsen movie as one of the culprits. Chris sees an opportunity to merge his movie prop knowledge with his dislike of the Angels, and he takes it. What was it like trying to make it in the entertainment industry while the Mariners were simultaneously becoming the most entertaining team in the league? 31:10-48:05: Why are the Mariners always so good at doing the opposite of what they’re supposed

Welcome to the top. Joe, John, and Kate convene at last at the summit of the system to rain critique and praise on Seattle’s best hopes for the future. The top five are all that remain, and we dive deep on the crème de la crème. Kate laments missing out on her planned summer project: following RHP George Kirby with the same hawkish eye she laid upon fellow top-fiver RHP Logan Gilbert a year ago. Joe notes that high floors needn’t come without strong ceilings, which epitomizes both pitchers, as well as 1B Evan White. Discussion of White spurs reminiscence of, and contrition for, draft day in 2017, when White’s selection drew more grumbles than cheers from all three of us. Can he break the Mariners’ lengthy first base curse? Next, Joe and Kate explain how OF Jarred Kelenic narrowly edged out OF Julio Rodríguez for the top spot on our list, and we all debate whether we would want to see either or both players signed to long-term extensions. We go into depth on just what makes these now-well-known names so exciti

0:00-16:50: Matthew and Kate, aka Quarantina Fey and Amy Loner, describe their typical quarantine outfits and encourage you to do whatever your heart desires and stay away from activities that are supposed to be fun but feel like work. They also debate if Seattle’s current run of nice weather is good or bad for quarantining? 16:55-37:30: Diving into our Twitter questions, which provides a natural jumping off point for Kate to talk about her first foray into video games. Matthew only knows about video games that are at least six years old. Which player did Kate take the most joy in striking out while playing The Show? After this spirited discussion, we answer one of the best Mariner questions we’ve ever received.  37:35-50:35: What are the actual Mariners up to? You can check out minor league sidearm pitcher Jack Anderson on Instagram for some woodworking content. Isn’t it wild how clocks don’t exist anymore and all we have is our stomachs telling us that it’s time to eat again? Which novelty toy that was popu

John and Joe are joined by Baseball America's lead MLB Draft writer and National Writer, Carlos Collazo. Collazo lends his depth of knowledge to discussion on how the vastly condensed five-round draft, with the potential of 10 rounds at most, will impact MLB and the Mariners in particular. Collazo and the hosts address the developmental merits against the big picture drawbacks of MLB's plans to contract MiLB affiliations, and how that plan seems all the more likely with a shortened draft and disrupted season already in place. Turning to cheerier topics, the three discuss opinions on a few of the players best suited for the Mariners when they pick at No. 6 this year, including LHP Reid Detmers, LHP Garrett Crochet, RHP Max Meyer, OF Zac Veen, and OF Garrett Mitchell. For those interested in the nuances of putting together scouting reports, there's also a discussion on the usefulness of player comps in translating scouting to a wider audience vs. the dangers of portraying something narrowly applicable or merely

0:00-17:40: Matthew is joined by Nick Stillman, his former colleague at both Lookout Landing and Short Relief. They begin by talking about how normal and not weird their lives have been during this global pandemic. Just kidding! Did I fool you? Do you still remember how humor works? Is society still there? Are you high right now? Do you ever get nervous? 17:45-26:25: How on Earth do we fill the void left by baseball’s absence? Which food is most like watching the Mariners? What happens if, after all of this, the Mariners are just super good? 26:30-47:35: Are we ready to watch old Mariner games again? Matthew already treated himself to this one. What makes for a good Mariner re-watch anyway? What did we think this season was going to look like before the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 ruined our lives? Nick had high hopes for this group at least being a fun team to hang out with. Where are we at now, in terms of optimism for having a season? Luckily, podcasts are an essential business. 47:40-1:06:00: Why