Cal Raleigh and Mitch Garver join FT @Mariners Camp + Seattle Mariners 2026 Season Preview

00:00:04
Speaker 1: All right, Well, here we are. We got him, We got cal Rawley.

00:00:07
Speaker 2: Here he is the big dumper. Do you get tired of that nickname? Uh?

00:00:12
Speaker 3: No, it's good.

00:00:13
Speaker 2: It's good. You're okay with it.

00:00:15
Speaker 3: Take whatever you can get, right, Yeah.

00:00:16
Speaker 1: But I mean you know you, you know, family and mom and dad and everyone.

00:00:21
Speaker 3: We've we've learned to embrace it. It's all good.

00:00:23
Speaker 2: I'll take you. Listen, the year you had.

00:00:25
Speaker 1: They if I had a year like you had last year, they could call me anything.

00:00:28
Speaker 2: I wouldn't care a right.

00:00:30
Speaker 3: Let's keep doing it until this one.

00:00:32
Speaker 1: I I just gotta say I I pined for you for MVP from starting about June until the whole year, even when I did your playoff series against the Tigers. The home runs you hit, the way you handle the staff. To me, listen, if you can't win the MVP with the year you had, then how is Aaron Judge ever gonna lose the MVP? Because you had one of the all time greatest years for a catcher, sixty home runs, the way you led your team to the postseason, won the division. Sorry, you should have been a Gold Glover.

00:00:57
Speaker 2: Again. I know who won it, but I.

00:00:59
Speaker 1: For me, you went platinum last year, and this year you don't even make the finals, So I don't know what else you could possibly do to not win the m v P.

00:01:09
Speaker 3: Win a world series. So I mean it's all good, you know.

00:01:12
Speaker 4: I mean, you know how all that stuff goes down, it's out of out of uh out of our control. So you know, just looking to to be as consistent as possible, you know, focus on the little things, try to take it one pitch at a time, win as many games as possible, and and uh, you know, hopefully at the end of the year, you know, went in that ring well will uh suthe a lot of a lot of.

00:01:33
Speaker 2: The pains, So especially in Seattle, right, Oh yeah, we.

00:01:37
Speaker 4: The fans are dying for for for a winner there, so that you know, we're happy with.

00:01:42
Speaker 3: You know, obviously what happened last year.

00:01:44
Speaker 4: We were very excited and very disappointed at the same time, but a huge step in the in the right direction and looking to to build off of that.

00:01:51
Speaker 5: So yeah, I was also on that m VP trained for you as well too, and I potentially got buried because you know, Aaron Judge is Aaron Judge. But the year you had like the catcher position, I mean, there's never been a better one. So I was tuned that horn as well. But my question to you is, what do you remember about that home run in Game five of the ALCS. I was fortunate enough to be there covering for the Blue Jays. It was one of the best atmospheres I had ever seen. And I know players, when they're in that moment, they kind of black out. Do you kind of even remember that moment of how loud it was and how electric it was in that stadium?

00:02:26
Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean I kind of kind of blacked out round the bases. But I mean, to me, I just more so remember Gino's home run. I mean, I mean that place was absolutely shaking. I mean the roof closed, you know, kind of you know, we weren't giving them a whole lot to cheer about those first two games there. You know, the Blue Jays kind of dominated us there in game three and gave four and they were just waiting to kind of verse like that, and when it happened, you know, that whole inning was was very special.

00:02:51
Speaker 3: And you know that's ah, Like.

00:02:53
Speaker 4: I said, it's a lot of people compliment you know Seattle. You know when they come there, you know how loud, it is the fans and how great of a place it is to play. So it was, it was, it was very fun.

00:03:03
Speaker 1: You guys have expectations now, yeah, especially with the team across the street from you guys in Seattle having just won the Super Bowl. All right, Yeah, so now there, this is kind of a new place for the Mariners. I mean, I think you guys, I just picked you guys to win the American League. I just think you guys have a great team Seattle, everything that's going for it. What do you have to do to help them? And not individually maybe, but what what is your stance after the way things ended last year? Did you go into the offseason and say, if I only could do X y Z better?

00:03:38
Speaker 3: Yeah?

00:03:38
Speaker 4: I think it's I think, to me, kind of what I mentioned earlier, just the little things, you know, I think, to me, the game is so it's so driven by you know, stats and analytics and and things like that, and it's those are obviously all important, and those are big chunk of it, but it's the little things that went baseball games, you know. You know, I hate to say it, but looking and looking at the Blue Jays like they did the little things just a little better us last year.

00:04:00
Speaker 3: And and uh, you know you could say, you know that game.

00:04:04
Speaker 4: Could have gone either way Game seven, but you know it went their way and they were able to you know, get some two strikes here, hits here and there, and you know, extend innings, put the ball in play when necessary, moved the runner.

00:04:18
Speaker 3: Not that we didn't do a good job of next. I thought we did, especially down the stretch.

00:04:21
Speaker 4: But it's little things like that, you know, making pitches when you have to executing in certain areas, you know, knowing knowing who to who to go after, who to you know, go around. So it's just little things like that that I think they are going to be, you know, unquantifiable in a way that are That's usually where at the end of the day, the teams in.

00:04:39
Speaker 3: October, those are the guys doing the right thing.

00:04:42
Speaker 5: So two questions, oh sorry, two questions for you kind of on that topic. Obviously you were at a front row seat to what the Blue Jays were able to do. Is that a conversation that you guys have had from like a hitting standpoint of you saw how difficult it was to just strike them out, and the value putting the ball in plays. That's something and you think as a team, you guys are going to implement moving forward. And on that same note, you did bring in two new hitting coaches last year. Was there any adjustments that they brought to you or was it just a matter of time for you to have their breakout year.

00:05:14
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think, uh, you know, to that first point, I think it's it's very important hitting with two strikes in this game, especially with with the way pitchers are now, they're just you know, they have great stuff and stuff is at all time time high. You know, not saying pitching itself is, but uh, you know, the stuff out there that's that's being thrown is really really good. So, you know, just being able to put the ball in play, being able to do those little things, not not not giving the other team easy out. So you want to make you know, all twenty seven outs. You want to make them work for it, make them field the ball, make them make the plays, do things like that. So I think we took it definitely a huge step in the right direction last year, adding you know, obviously those two hitting coaches and and Edgar taking over at the Helm. So obviously adding Naylor and Donovan, guys that are you know, that grind that bats out that you know, find a way to get those broken bat singles to use the whole field. It helps extend our lineup. And I think that's that's kind of what we were missing in a way. You know, we had a lot of had a lot of thump, we had a lot of you know, power, and but we also had you know a little bit of swing and miss in the game. And and to kind of compliment that out, adding those guys definitely help.

00:06:18
Speaker 6: So all right, we got the Warby Parkers. I got the Raiders, but one thing that upgraded to polarized, sorry about it.

00:06:30
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00:06:46
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00:07:21
Speaker 9: Cal Logan. Gilbert was on just a little bit ago, and he says that sometimes he likes when you come up to him on the mound and give him a little bit of attitude. And he also said that you said sometimes you know you should joke with him. How do you get the most out of your staff and you're kind of a steward of their career as well, a lot of different personalities to manage. How do you find you get the most out of each guy?

00:07:44
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean these guys different.

00:07:45
Speaker 4: I mean, I'm sure AJ could probably attest to that you as a catcher, you're more so, you know, playing I guess they're kind of Yeah, you're playing psychiatrists in a way. You're you know, you're helping them, You're you're talking to them, and you know it's uh. I always kind of like to explain that you know each guy's difference. It's, you know, some guys you pat on the butt, some guys you know you have to kick him in the butt, and some guys you just leave them alone.

00:08:15
Speaker 3: And and uh.

00:08:16
Speaker 4: Those are kind of the three categories that people fall into. And and just knowing you know each guy, you know, hopefully we're getting thirty starts out of our five, and you know there's gonna be ten starts, so they're really good. They don't need anything. There's gonna be ten starts. They're just okay, And there's gonna be ten starts with they're bad. It's gonna be more so in those twenty okay and and bad starts. What can we get out of them? And how can we get them through those innings? And that's kind of how I look at it.

00:08:40
Speaker 2: I asked, I asked Logan, exactly what you said? I said, Is he a joker? Like you come out? Do you have Cal come out to you a joke? Do you have col come out and yell at you, or do you have Col come out and coddle you and say it's okay, buddy, You'll get through this. And he actually said that he wants you to yell at them. So next time you go to the mound, just let him have it.

00:08:55
Speaker 3: I mean, if whatever he wants pictures, it's always whatever they want.

00:08:59
Speaker 2: Exactly whatever they want to do. And I then I asked him.

00:09:02
Speaker 1: I said, one of the most incredible stats I've ever seen is that you went the entire year was zero pass balls, which is is mind boggling to me. Is as much as you play, and the guys with the stuff that they have, and as good as you.

00:09:14
Speaker 2: Are framing and moving the ball.

00:09:16
Speaker 1: And so I asked Logan, I said, can you take credit for the one you had in the playoffs on the split that was like and He's like, oh, you know, Cow's got to be better.

00:09:25
Speaker 2: And I'm like, are you kidding me?

00:09:27
Speaker 4: I know what one one mistake and get I get crucified for it. So yeah, I mean I want to go on record too. I want to, you know, get the let the world know that Logan Gilbert is not those splitter it's a fork ball, okay, and that thing is a complete like yes, it's a beast of a pitch, you know. I mean it's a it's a massive weapon, and there's a really tough pitch. You know, you probably had guys like that you're pushing one that was like this exactly. Yeah, it's a knuckleball, yeah exactly, And you know it does some different at times. You're really just trying to tackle it more so than like, I'm not trying to keep it a strike.

00:10:00
Speaker 3: I'm not trying to move it. I'm trying to just catch the ball.

00:10:03
Speaker 2: So he said he enjoys getting throwing him in the dirt to you too and watching.

00:10:07
Speaker 3: Yeah, he's basically throwing long darts out there for much half the time.

00:10:12
Speaker 5: So he Yeah, so eachro behind you a couple of minutes ago. You know, having him around, is there anything you've been able to kind of take from him? Just seeing him out there every day, the conversations you have with him.

00:10:24
Speaker 4: Yeah, he's great. You know, he's uh, he's an absolute work workhorse. I got to actually, I was up in Seattle a little bit of this off season. I was training at the field and and the guy's going in every day, so I got to you know, we were long tossing, working out hitting together. So it was it was a lot of fun. We uh New Year's we were out there throwing and and uh. It definitely helps that you know, he's in such great shape, you know, having somebody there to to work out with and uh do all that stuff. And he's just a great, great guy to have around. You can ask him questions. He's an open book. He's obviously one of the best hitters of all time. So you know, some things maybe uh you know, only he can do. But you know, it's always great talking to Ichy cal.

00:11:06
Speaker 9: Do you try to save a pitch for your guys until the second time through the order or you are attacking with whatever they have in their arsenal from the first batter of the game.

00:11:17
Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean it's a fine it's a fine line, right, I mean that's actually a good question. I mean it's a it's a fine line. You know, you want to you want to use their bread and butter, but you also understand. I think it's understanding hitters, right, you know, understanding Uh, you know what kind of hitter you have.

00:11:33
Speaker 10: In the boxes?

00:11:34
Speaker 4: That hitter a smart smart guy in the sense of is you know, if you get him out one way, you gotta get him out another way next time, and you know, obviously not trying to not do the same patterns over and over and trying to keep them on their toes because you don't want to fall into fall into rhythms and uh, you know, the same kind of sequences as well. So it's it's a fine line. You know, also understanding what the guy's got that day. If he's got something working and it's going good early, you know, let's let's hammer that whole uh until uh, until somebody proves that they can hit it. So also just it's pitched dependent, you know, a lot of sometimes we got some East West guys, we got some North South guys, and uh sometimes it's uh, just just a constant mix and just continuing to talk to them throughout the game and you know, what are that what are we seeing? I think that's the big thing is you know, you just gotta use to use your eyes. You got to watch the game. I think you can't just be so stuck to a to a plan or a scouting report. You gotta you gotta make sure you're what you're what you're seeing is adding up and that you guys talk and communicate throughout the game because ultimately, you know, that's the biggest test is the eye test.

00:12:37
Speaker 1: So you know all that, and then you still have to go out there and hit you hit sixty homers. So people don't understand how hard it is to be a catcher because it's not just about what they see. It's all the little conversations like you're talking about scouting reports, doing this, doing that. Before we let you go, I gotta ask you about WBC. Yeah, you're on the WBC or the USA team USA, which obviously we're all rooting for you, like to win the USA. What's it gonna be like for you to have to leave camp here for a few weeks and and go away.

00:13:04
Speaker 3: Well, I'm I'm super excited obviously.

00:13:07
Speaker 4: I mean, you know all the you know, getting to wear the USA across your chest and represent your country. You get to do this, get to be in that locker room with so many great players. I mean, it's gonna be crazy just looking around the corner and seeing the best players in.

00:13:21
Speaker 3: The world and just in the same locker room as It's crazy.

00:13:24
Speaker 4: I never got a chance to do this, Like I never got invited to temsa stuff growing up high school nothing, So this is a great opportunity.

00:13:31
Speaker 3: And and you know, I mean it's I.

00:13:35
Speaker 4: Think camp can kind of get along sometimes, and you guys can probably attest to that as well. I can kind of get monotonous and Madane, and uh, it's I'm excited to to get outside and learn some things and talk to some guys and and just step away and it's gonna be fun playing fun real baseball.

00:13:52
Speaker 2: Okay.

00:13:52
Speaker 1: And then last thing, is it true that because you caught Matthew Boyd's bullpens that you got him invited to Team USA.

00:14:00
Speaker 3: I can't take credit. I can't he.

00:14:03
Speaker 2: The fact that you catch bullpens in the off season. It also is mind boggling to me.

00:14:07
Speaker 1: No, not many, but Matthew Matthew boy came on here and said that you catch his bullpens.

00:14:13
Speaker 4: Yeah. Well he's a Seattle guy and he was with us for a short stent there in twenty two, so you know, he's, uh, he's a very good pitcher, very smart.

00:14:23
Speaker 3: You know, he knows what he's doing. He knows how to pitch.

00:14:25
Speaker 4: You know, he can locate, he can move the ball around, he can he can attack you different ways.

00:14:29
Speaker 1: So yeah, but here's the thing. I don't care if there who was pitching in Orlando, if they pitched me or not. If they call me and say, hey, we in the off season, will you come catch my I'm like, no, man, I'll pay someone to do.

00:14:39
Speaker 2: It, but I'm not doing that.

00:14:40
Speaker 3: I'll sit on the bucket for you.

00:14:42
Speaker 2: There you go, exactly.

00:14:43
Speaker 3: Yeah, he he's he's a good guys. He got another good guys.

00:14:48
Speaker 2: Right, Yeah, he's a really good guy. I appreciate it. Well, Cal, thank you very much. We appreciate it.

00:14:53
Speaker 3: Yeah. Thanks.

00:14:54
Speaker 1: I hope you guys win the World Baseball Classic and now your might pick to win the American League, so a lot of pressure now, thank you appreciate it.

00:15:03
Speaker 3: Thanks for having me on.

00:15:03
Speaker 9: Guys, if you are just joining us, we are at Marrier's camp and it is time to talk about the season preview for Seattle. Here on foul Territory, Alana Rizzo, n Plar and AJ Pierzinski. Let's look at the key additions and subtractions. We've already talked to a lot of these guys today, but this is a good club.

00:15:27
Speaker 3: Guys.

00:15:28
Speaker 9: Additions Brendan Donovan, Josh Naylor. I love that because of Tucker, the Pup, Jose Ferrer, Andrew Kinzer and the losses. These are some significant ones. Apenno Suarez of course, who went back to the Reds, Belonco, Harry Ford, Caleb Ferguson, Gregory Santos and Jerangelo. How do you say that? I don't know, Kevin, you want to try to say that for me?

00:15:50
Speaker 2: Nope?

00:15:51
Speaker 1: Okay, all right, since since he's a switch pitcher, he does with both hands alona hands. Yeah, he does like ninety eight right handed, ninety two lefty. The Mariner is only going to make him a righty. So we'll see what the Nats do with them.

00:16:09
Speaker 3: All right.

00:16:11
Speaker 9: Before the season actually begins. So this is a very good team you guys in the in the AL West. I'll ask for your prediction, KP. Where did the Mariners finish in the division first?

00:16:22
Speaker 5: Without a doubt? I mean, I think we can make an argument that this might be the best team in the American League. I think you know, they took you know, the AL least and American League champion Toronto Blue Jays to Game seven. And you know we talked about the Blue Jays losing in the World Series being four outs away. I mean, the Mariners were right there. They were a couple outs away, a couple of strikes away from getting a chance to go to the World Series, and they didn't even have a fully healthy rotation in that playoff series. If you keep these five guys healthy, and you know, they have a sixth and seventh guy that unfortunately may have to be pushed in the bullpen or start in triple A. But I love what they did this offseason. We see some of the guys that they lost, and I think they did a great job of going out and filling those holes at certain positions that where they lost guys. Bringing Josh Naylor back was huge for this team. He was incredible for them after the trade deadline. Not only his ability to play first base and the clutch hitting and you know his newfound ability to steal bases, but he just brings such an edge to that team and I think you ask anyone in that clubhouse, they were so happy to have him back. Josh Naylor is just a unique guy that every team needs one of those guys because he just holds everyone to a different standard in terms of his intensity and you know what he brings every day. And bringing a guy in like Brandon Donovan, who I still think his best baseball still yet to come, and him to be able to kind of slide over play third base, potentially fill a hole in second base, play some corner outfield, and then they got a young kid that they truly believe in that could play second base. So you know, I think they have the team to be able to run it back.

00:17:57
Speaker 9: You're not the only one that thinks that. Fan grafts according to them. As far as division standings, they have the Mariners at eighty eight point one, and the Rangers and the Shrows, Athletics and the Angels. If you look aj at the playoff projections for the Seattle Mariners, they have a sixty one point three percent chance of winning the division. They clinch it bye by forty four point eight percent, they clinch a wild card by just under nineteen percent, and they make the playoffs. It's a pretty good percentage in terms of going back to the postseason at eighty point one percent. Do you are you in accordance with KP that they win this division.

00:18:34
Speaker 1: I think they win the division by the way, and I think they win it easily, and I think they I'm going to I'm going to make a bold prediction right now. I think they go to their first World Series ever for the Seattle Mariners.

00:18:44
Speaker 9: Is that right? Is that because Calson right next to you, we.

00:18:47
Speaker 2: Can you can't.

00:18:47
Speaker 1: I don't e think'll can hear me right now, But I'm just saying that. I think they go to the World Series for the first time. I think they have the team. I think the ownership will make the Ray moves. I think they have the pitching, and they were they were close last year, and I think this is the year where they finally get it done.

00:19:01
Speaker 9: What pushes them over the edge.

00:19:04
Speaker 1: I think that I think that the Donovan move I really like. I think they're starting pitching, will stay healthy their bullpen, and you know what the biggest thing for me is they've been there and they've done it now and they've tasted that success, and I think this year is the year they finally get to the World Series.

00:19:19
Speaker 9: You said that they're winning the division. Uh, what do you like about this team or what are some challenges do you think that they that they need to shore up to get to where they want to be?

00:19:29
Speaker 5: Well, there's obviously something that happens to hitters, you know, when they go to Seattle. It's a difficult place to hit, so can Brandon Donovan be the kind of same quality hitter he had been somewhere else. But really, for me, it's just health, you know, the health that they're starting pitching, because for as difficult that it as it is to potentially hit, and for whatever reason, Cal was able to make that stadium look small. They don't have to score that many runs. They just got to play good defense and trust. And we haven't even gotten to their bullpen. Their bull is disgusting and they only got better by bringing over Ferreira from the Nationals. He is a nightmare to face. Gabe Spier now has a running mate with another left handed guy in the bullpen, you know, arguably the best closer in baseball. They have all the ingredients there. And to AJ's point, they've now been there, they've experienced it. They were so close, and these guys got a chip on the shoulder, they're hungry, they've experienced it. I just know from firsthand experience being so close, what those conversations were like with my teammates in the offseason and just trying to get a little bit better and motivating each other and potentially even getting down to spring training a little bit earlier because you're just so excited to be with that group of guys again. And I think the Mariners have all the ingredients to get back there and potentially over the hump.

00:20:46
Speaker 2: Mitch Garver lead addition here to Mariners camp rocking the seventy seven on the jersey, are you going to be a new pulling guard for the Mariners?

00:20:57
Speaker 11: It's actually a testament to Luke Jackson. Oh there you go, good teammate ours we had last year. We had a blast with him. U seventy No, I was last guy in camp. Honestly, the club has told me when I came in, there's either zero or seventy seven.

00:21:08
Speaker 2: Dude, go zero.

00:21:10
Speaker 11: No.

00:21:10
Speaker 2: I didn't want the you don't want to be a zero.

00:21:12
Speaker 11: I didn't want the zero zero jokes coming with that, So I picked seventy seven.

00:21:16
Speaker 1: If you make the team, are you gonna switch yes back to eighteen?

00:21:19
Speaker 10: Yes? Yeah. You and I just talked about this.

00:21:21
Speaker 2: Well, yeah, but the people don't This is what people don't know that we've play.

00:21:25
Speaker 11: I said, listen, I'm gonna talk to Cooper Chriswell, I'm gonna say listen, it's not my choice.

00:21:30
Speaker 10: It's my wife's choice.

00:21:31
Speaker 11: I need Humber eighteen back because she has all the stuff with the eighteen on the sleeve and the jackets and the all the playoff stuff.

00:21:38
Speaker 10: She's got it all.

00:21:38
Speaker 2: So I said, what's going to costume?

00:21:42
Speaker 10: I don't know yet.

00:21:43
Speaker 11: We haven't we haven't even talked about that, and I haven't really thought about it. Just trying to get in here and get ready for the season.

00:21:50
Speaker 1: Were you you're such It surprised me that you were such a late signing. Was that Were you thinking about retiring? Was there no offers out there?

00:21:57
Speaker 2: Why was it? Why did it take you? I mean something, You're an established major league player at an important position that can hit bombs.

00:22:04
Speaker 10: There was you know, there was never any conversation about retirement. I was.

00:22:09
Speaker 11: I feel more prepared now to play than I have in years. Physically, mentally, I'm ready to go. It was just a strange off season.

00:22:16
Speaker 2: It was quiet.

00:22:17
Speaker 10: There's still players out there that.

00:22:19
Speaker 11: Are really, really good major league players, and there's no offers, there's no talk about signing, you know, any kind of deal. So I was fortunate to have Cal reach out to me. He said, hey, just give them Mariners call to see what happens. So we did that and within twenty four hours we had it worked out.

00:22:37
Speaker 10: So here I am.

00:22:39
Speaker 5: Yeah, I feel like someone who's been in that situation many times over the last you know, four years of my career. It's kind of crazy how when you just have a relationship with a team or a front office, you can just pick up the phone and call. And I feel like there's just kind of an issue with transparency sometimes between agents in front offices. So good for you for picking up the phone. I feel like that's how I got my last job in baseball too. I just picked up the phone and they're like, oh, you'd come out to camp, and I'm like, yeah, you know you you could have called me all You could have called me all off season. So good for you for doing that. My question to you is being with cal the last two years, you know, what have you seen from him in terms of how he's he's changed and turned himself into this superstar player.

00:23:23
Speaker 3: Uh?

00:23:23
Speaker 10: You know, I would say not much has changed.

00:23:26
Speaker 11: And that's the special thing about him is he's he's been probably the most consistent guy I've I've been around talents there. Obviously, he's a great person, great great human just his ability to make a game adjustments and he adjusts really quickly. You know, when he feels something's off, he's he's able to adjust.

00:23:45
Speaker 10: More so.

00:23:45
Speaker 11: Impressed with his durability behind the plate, uh, super durable player. He gets back there. He catches every day, which you know, you know, it's it's hard to do. Yeah, and you did it for many years, but it's it's something that takes a lot of time to learn how to do and be able to just game plans, adust strategy, go from series to series, whether you're having success or not, and continue to get back there and give your best.

00:24:08
Speaker 2: What you caught.

00:24:09
Speaker 1: You came up as a catcher and then you kind of went away from catching and just became a DH Was that hard?

00:24:14
Speaker 10: It was very hard. It was very hard.

00:24:16
Speaker 11: And the reason it started was in twenty three when I was with Texas. We couldn't find anybody that really had success in that DH spot, so I slotted in there. I had a knee injury earlier in the year I slotted into the DH spot, had won a ring by the way, I want a ring, that part of it. Bank had a little success on the second half of that year and and just you know, from that point on, I was dhent, but I really missed it. In twenty four, I really missed it. Came back to catching, and you know, catching this staff here in Seattle has been awesome. I love working with these guys. They're super talented, We're deep and pitching. It really is a lab and we continue to pump out quality starters, quality arms every year.

00:24:53
Speaker 5: Yeah. I wanted to follow up on that too, you know, talking about you went in a World Series in Texas and then being so close and getting the World Series last you talk about the kind of similarities between that team and you know, two thousand and twenty three and the team you were on last year, and probably a big reason you wanted to come back.

00:25:10
Speaker 11: Yeah, it's it starts in the clubhouse. It's it's a tight group of players. Everybody's so talented, and there's talent all the way across the league. But it all kind of determines, you know, what the clubhouse is like, what are the vibes in the clubhouse. Can guys show up to work every day and be excited, and that's that's a big thing. Sometimes it's hard to go to the park every day you're like, man, I don't want to do it. But when you have a group that's this tight, you show up every day. Everybody wants to pull for each other, and everybody wants to play, whether you're in the lineup or not.

00:25:39
Speaker 1: When you went back to catching, was it twenty four you went back. I remember, yeah, Service was still the manager here and I had a conversation when I had a Mariners game and Cal was Cal had caught like I don't know how many games a run.

00:25:51
Speaker 2: They didn't really have anyone. You were the only catcher, and he said, we're gonna let Mitch get back there again. Was that awesome for you to get back?

00:25:59
Speaker 1: And they like phased you in like it was spring training, right, Oh, you can only catch five innings, Hey, you can only catch five innings before you and then it was like six innings and then seven innings.

00:26:10
Speaker 10: Yeah, it was uh yeah, it was in early part of the year. I went back there.

00:26:15
Speaker 11: In my first game, I caught George against Houston at home, and George had a great game.

00:26:20
Speaker 2: He pitched really well.

00:26:20
Speaker 11: But I came out when George came out, so he I think he went six innings and I came out with him and uh. You know, in the next game, I was supposed to go like seven or eight something like that, and we ended up playing extra innings in Kansas City.

00:26:32
Speaker 10: So I caught like eleven.

00:26:33
Speaker 2: Oh nice.

00:26:33
Speaker 10: Yeah, so I just got thrown right back in there, no problem.

00:26:36
Speaker 11: And uh, well, you know, cal catch was five six days a week, so I had enough time to run.

00:26:41
Speaker 2: It was the first foul ball, like I hadn't had it for a while.

00:26:43
Speaker 10: You know, I don't remember. I don't remember.

00:26:46
Speaker 1: Did your teammates give you like a standing ovation when you came out with George?

00:26:50
Speaker 11: No, No, it's uh, it was business as usual, okay. You know I think I was. I was super proud that I was able to get back there and catch them. And it was hard because I'm working with a new staf. It was brand new to me. I didn't really catch anybody like that, so it was nice.

00:27:04
Speaker 2: Though they gave you George, they didn't give you Logan throwing splitters or fifty two foot splitters. You know.

00:27:10
Speaker 11: They all got to do is put up my glove like this, Georgia, you any knuckleballs, he always throws one in the bullpen, but.

00:27:17
Speaker 2: He didn't throw any any gain, not that night. That's awesome.

00:27:21
Speaker 5: Yeah, I'm looking on paper right now. If all five of those guys are healthy, I mean, is this It's obviously the best pitching staff in baseball. I've never seen anything like it, you know, being in that division in twenty three. Luckily I was right handed, so I didn't have to face these guys. But what a nightmare for for hitters. When all the five of those guys are healthy.

00:27:41
Speaker 10: It's it's a lot of different looks. You know.

00:27:45
Speaker 11: We we in Seattle have prided ourselves on being able to throw strikes, get ahead of guys, attack the zone with all of our best stuff, and they all do it really well.

00:27:56
Speaker 10: And it's not just all five of them. I mean, there's more behind him.

00:27:59
Speaker 11: We got Emerson Hancock, who was big for us last year, stepped up when we had a bunch of injuries. They got a couple of young kids coming up that are have some really really big stuff. You know, we're talking about Kate Anderson and Sloan We're talking about guys that have upper nineties fastballs and not just one fastball, but two or three, which is so unique and it's very hard to replicate.

00:28:20
Speaker 2: But there's a lot of talent in this organization. Do you think they're gonna bounce back? Because everyone talks about long playoff run hangover, especially your bullpen Munos and in Brabrash and Spire and all those guys. I mean, they threw a lot of innings and a lot of innings deep into the year for longer than they ever had. Do you think they're gonna be fine right coming back?

00:28:39
Speaker 10: Yeah, they're gonna be fine.

00:28:40
Speaker 11: And they have the WBC, So I look at it as kind of a way to kickstart the season, not as much as a as a negative, more so as a positive. They get to play in that competitive environment earlier earlier in the season, got a few additions as well. Obviously got fer air over from Nationals and that track. He's he's nasty. He's got the upper nineties sinker, big leftended arms, so that'll help Gabe out a little bit, take take a little bit of leverage off them.

00:29:06
Speaker 10: And there's just more arms. There's more arms.

00:29:08
Speaker 11: I haven't got to catch everybody in spring yet, but there's always going to be more.

00:29:12
Speaker 1: You love WBC, though, You're going to get a lot of a batch with cal going right. Yeah, I mean as much as sometimes as you're like, oh, the picture's got to go pitch for you trying to win a job. Him going to the WBC is an opportunity for you to get back there, learn the new guys, and get a beast to show yourself up.

00:29:27
Speaker 11: Absolutely, I'll get a lot of playing time. And not only that, I mean I love watching WBC as a fan. I think it's a great event. I'm excited to watch my teammates compete, go out there and play meaningful games and February and March and it'll be fun to watch.

00:29:43
Speaker 5: When you when you decide to come back to Seattle, is there a conversation with the front office if Mitch Garver does X in spring training, he's going to make the team, or you just kind of know what you have to do to make the team.

00:29:55
Speaker 11: I know what I have to do, and you know, nothing's going to be given to me. I got to go out and win the job. And I think I have the advantage in a good way because I know this staff so well. I know the organization and how they like to play, and that gives me a little bit of an edge. But I still have to go out there and perform. You know, you can't walk out there and just be a body. You have to go out there and hit, and you got to play well, and you got to be positive, and you have to lead the staff and show that you can do all the.

00:30:18
Speaker 10: Things that you need to do.

00:30:20
Speaker 2: Oh, I'm excited, KP. He's got me excited. Vibes here high in Mariner's camp and Mitch wish you the best of luck. Hopefully you get that eighteen back.

00:30:27
Speaker 10: That's right, let's go get it. Thank you, AJ, Thanks KP.

00:30:31
Speaker 5: Good seeing you.

00:30:39
Speaker 9: And today, guys, we are checking out the American League Pennant odds. You can see it there. The favorite are the Yankees at plus four twenty five, the highest ticket percentage the range or excuse me, the Tigers at twenty point one percent, the highest handle percentage Blue Jays at twenty eight and a half. Essentially, and the biggest liability is the White Suck so AJ break this down for us, obviously, I know what the favorite meets? What what? What?

00:31:06
Speaker 1: What can we show that traffick again the biggest biggest That means if the White Sox win the al penant, that the bet MGM is going to lose the most money.

00:31:17
Speaker 2: Right, That's how we take.

00:31:20
Speaker 1: That's what I would Damn, someone's got a lot of confidence in the White Sox. I ain't gonna lie people that many people bet on the White Sox to win the penant Oh, let's go White Sox.

00:31:31
Speaker 9: What's highest handle percentage mean?

00:31:34
Speaker 2: I mean two has the most.

00:31:36
Speaker 5: That means the most people have probably bet on the Blue Jays. Is That's what I'm assuming in the highest ticket.

00:31:42
Speaker 2: I don't really know.

00:31:42
Speaker 5: I don't know the betting lingo. Maybe I should have.

00:31:47
Speaker 1: Yeah, we're scott, I know how to bet, I just don't know the lingo, right, So I know with that.

00:31:55
Speaker 5: Though, do you believe that the Yankees should be the odd thing over the Blue Jays after what we saw last year? And I could even make an argument that the Tigers potentially would be the next team, next team I would put maybe below the New.

00:32:09
Speaker 9: J's About the Mariners?

00:32:11
Speaker 1: Yeah, what about this team right here? What about these guys? They've they made some nice moves. They brought back Nailer, they they are starting rotations intact. Their bullpen is nasty and by the way, they added one of the nastiest lefties from the Nationals for Forerrero.

00:32:25
Speaker 2: I'm gonna say it wrong.

00:32:25
Speaker 1: So Ferrero, the lefty from the Nationals, who's just absolutely disgusting. They brought in Brendon Donovan. I mean, listen to Mariners. They don't forget the Mariners were one pitch away from going to the World Series and beating the Blue Jays, and beating and being the Blue Jays last year. So it's hard for me not to look behind me and look at these stud pitchers they have in this lineup they have and say, how can you bet against the Mariners?

00:32:47
Speaker 9: Now, Luis Castillo is behind you, go talk to him. It's a pretty good arm.

00:32:52
Speaker 5: Yeah, and that might be there. That might be their fifth starter. That might be their fifth starter now, which is pretty scary thought to have least catch you as your number five.

00:33:03
Speaker 1: Oh he doesn't take the ball. Oh he doesn't take the ball every fifth day and pitch every fifth day.

00:33:08
Speaker 9: Handle is the amount of money bet on a team, So handle you like, Okay, So there you have it. Okay, well good. I think the Mariners have a much better chance than people are giving them credit for. But whether you're watching the action on the field, the court, or the ice, you want to remember the most exciting moments long after the final whistle. Betting with boosted odds can get you started on that journey. Guys, Activate your odds boost token on any sports bet and you'll receive a bigger payout if you win. Grab your token. Elevate your excitement with bet MGM. Gambling problem or concern called one eight hundred gambler