Hour 1 - Late Night Mariners Texts, Around The Weekend

The Mariners' disastrous three-game sweep by the Royals has sparked a wave of late-night despair among fans, with some texters declaring the season 'over' and the team 'cooked.' But host Mike Salk pushes back, arguing that while the team's performance was 'really, really poor'—marked by sloppy defense, mental errors, and baffling managerial decisions—this is still May, and the season is far from over. The real issue isn't talent, but consistency: the Mariners are playing clean baseball, and that’s what’s missing. Salk highlights the irony of a team with elite pitching and a strong offseason haul now struggling with basic execution. Meanwhile, the injury bug is spreading—Cal Raleigh’s 'general soreness' has escalated, Matt Brash is on the IL with a lat issue, and Brendan Donovan’s return is delayed. The bullpen is stretched thin, with young arms like Nick Davila and Cole Wilcox forced into high-leverage roles. Yet, as Salk reminds listeners, the Mariners once rallied from a similar funk with a five-game road win streak. The real test comes now: can they respond to Atlanta’s arrival with better focus, cleaner play, and smarter decisions? The answer may not be in the stats, but in the will to stop making avoidable mistakes. The episode also dives into the Seahawks’ rookie minicamp, where new draft picks like Jadarian Price and Julian Neal impressed with their fluidity and technique.