Hour 2 - Julio's Best Offensive Start, What Action Is Reasonable For The Mariners, Blue 88
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The Mariners are two games back in the American League West despite a 20-22 start, but the real story isn't their record—it's the league's collapse. As Brock and Salk dissect Julio Rodríguez’s surprisingly strong offensive start (274 batting average, 790 OPS, 127 WRC+ through May 11), they argue that his early success—despite defensive struggles and low stolen base totals—was a win for the team’s long-term strategy. The real issue isn’t Julio, but the fact that the entire American League is in disarray: the Astros are abysmal, the Red Sox and Tigers are underperforming, and even the Yankees are flawed. With no team truly dominant, the Mariners aren’t buried—they’re just two games out in a weak division. The hosts conclude that the most reasonable action isn’t a trade or managerial change, but patience: let Cal Raleigh, Cade, and Colts develop, trust the rebuild, and wait for the division to sort itself out. The only real danger? Relying too much on wins against the Astros, who’ve accounted for five of Seattle’s 20 wins.
Julio Rodríguez’s 274 batting average and 127 WRC+ through May 11th represent a successful offensive start, even if defense and steals lag.
The Mariners are only two games back in the AL West because the entire American League is underperforming—no team is dominant.
The Astros are so bad they may lose 100 games this season, and five of the Mariners’ 20 wins came against them.
The most reasonable action for the Mariners right now is to do nothing—stick with the rebuild and let young players develop.
Cal Raleigh’s 0-for-36 slump is concerning, but not a reason for panic; the team has time to fix it.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Opening Banter & Lyle’s Freshman Intro
Brock and Mike open with light banter, reflecting on Lyle Goldstein’s freshman football introduction and sharing a humorous anecdote about his nervousness. They set a playful tone for the show.
Julio Rodríguez’s Offensive Start: A Success
“If the goal for Julio was just don't give it away in the first month of the year, I think you have to sit here and say today that that was – All right, fine, first quarter of the year. I think you have to say today that was an unmitigated success.”
The American League’s Collapse: A Rare Opportunity
“You're just, you know, all of these challenges that they've gone through have just not really put them too far behind the eight ball, if at all.”
Cal Raleigh’s Slump & the Case for Patience
Cal Raleigh’s 0-for-36 streak is discussed, but the hosts stress that it’s not a reason for panic—especially with the weak competition and the team’s long-term rebuild in progress.
The Mariners’ Real Problem: Relying on the Astros
“Take the Astros out of it, and they are 15-22. The Astros have accounted for five of their 20 wins.”
“The final push was you want to win a Super Bowl, then you've got to be a Seattle Seahawk.”
“My suggestion for the Mariners, do nothing. I know it sounds hard. You're two back in the division. It's a bad division. You're waiting on Colts. You're waiting on Cade. You're waiting on Cal to start hitting.”
“You're just, you know, all of these challenges that they've gone through have just not really put them too far behind the eight ball, if at all.”
Hosts
Guest
mike salk
person
brock huard
person
seattle mariners
other
julio rodriguez
person
cal raleigh
person
seattle seahawks
other
houston astros
other
lumen field
other
seth wickersham
person
harold reynolds
person
Hour 2 - So Many Mariners Contributed This Weekend, Mariners Takeaways, Blue 88
Brock and Salk • 42m • 4/13/2026
Hour 3 - Julio Rodriguez Weekend Quotes, Keith Law
Brock and Salk • 47m • 4/13/2026
Hour 3 - Julio Rodriguez Is The Ultimate Driver Of The Mariners, Jeff Passan
Brock and Salk • 42m • 4/14/2026
Hour 4-Brock's Draft Profile, How real was the M's last series?, and Answer the Question Jerk
Brock and Salk • 43m • 4/14/2026
Hour 1 - Late Night Mariners Texts, Jeff Passan
Brock and Salk • 43m • 4/15/2026
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