Locked On Mariners - Daily Podcast On the Seattle Mariners - Ace Fraley Flies High Again

Episode Date: June 11, 2021

Wednesday night's game was certainly one of the most memorable games thus far, and a prime reason for that is Mr. Jake Fraley. D.C. talks about this fun game -- fun despite it being an extra-inning game -- and talks about the exploits of Mr. Fraley. In addition, this was the first Major League game for Dillon Thomas, who had been in the minor leagues for almost a decade. And while he did go 1-5, he impacted the game with his glove, and his one hit was crucial. Ace Fraley also had a good game Thursday morning, though he was one of the few Mariners who could make that claim. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today on Locked-on Mariners is the Ace Fraley show. Welcome to Locked-on Mariners, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Here's your host, D.C. Lundberg. Good evening, Mariner fans. We have one really fun game to talk about, and also this morning's travesty. We will spend much more time on the former here on this early evening edition of Locked-on Mariners, part of the Locked-on podcast network, or T-L-O-P-N-O-P-N-L-Lopens. and brought to you by Stath Hero. Please remember to download, rate,

and follow this program on whichever podcasting app that you personally care to use. Ask your smart device to play Locked on Mareem's podcast already program here on Tlopin. This morning's game took so long that I began preparing it. While it was still in progress, I started getting the show together

as it was winding down, and I wound up getting distracted when the game was over as they went into the post-game show Root Sports has this habit of playing the worst rap crap that they can find leading into the post-game highlights. I almost used the word music, which would have been wrong, since rap is not music. In any case, yesterday evening's game was quite fun.

Had a little bit of everything. Good starting pitching from both starters, for the most part. Really good defense by both teams, highlighted by one Jake Freely. Yes, thank you very much. And an exciting finish, despite playing under T-Brizzles. ball rules. Dylan Thomas made his major league debut after 10 years in the minors, and the 28-year-old minor league veterans sure made his presence felt early with a great jumping catch up against the

wall in the second inning, and boy, was he pumped up after that. Kyle Seeger was robbed of a home run in the first inning by Derek Hill, who crashed into the wall. He had to leave the game, and he was placed on the injured list this morning. Casey Meis hit two batters in the first inning, neither of them scored, however. Mitch Hanigur was on base when Kyle Seeger was robbed, so that catch saved two runs, not just one. Chris Flexen labored a bit in the fifth inning, allowed a home run to Jake Rogers and an RBI single to Robbie Grossman,

also allowed a sacrifice fly in the third. Flexen pitches six innings, allows six hits, three runs. They were all earned. He walked one, allowed that one home run to Mr. Rogers, and struck out three. Jake Rogers, by the way, looks like he should play for the 1986 Red Sox with that spectacular mustache that he has. The Mariner's bullpen was also pretty good until the 10th inning.

Paul Seawald and Raphael Montero both pitched scoreless innings in the 7th and 8th. It's amazing that Montero didn't blow the game since he was pitching in a tie ball game, and the 6th inning sure was fun, wasn't it? J.P. Crawford started things off with a double. Again, having a very good stretch for Mr. Crawford. Manninger followed with a single, and then Kyle Seeger hit a no doubt about it, three-run bomb to tie the ballgame. Taylor Tremel walked with two outs but was caught stealing at second base in a play that did not look particularly good.

The game was tied through eight and a half innings. Miguel Cabrera led off the bottom of the ninth with a single against Drew's second rider, whom I can no longer call Shaggy because that is apparently J.T. Chagwa's nickname. He was pinched run for, by the way, by Eric Haas. Nomar Mazara strikes out after an eight pitch at bat, making Steck and Rider work. But then Isaac Paredes hits the first ball he sees, kind of a low inside fastball, off the outside corner, golfs it out to dead left field. It would have been out of there.

But I'm sure you know what happens next game. It did go over the wall, but not for long. As Jake Fraley leapt up with his back against the wall, timed that leap perfectly, made an outstanding catch to Rob Mr. Perides of that home run through an absolute strike to the cutoff man Shed Long Jr., who threw onto first base to double up Hoss, who had wandered way too far off the bag, and that, ladies and gentlemen, was the play of the year,

considering the circumstances. Aaron Goldsmith was going bananas on television. I was going bananas in the living room. Shannon, my roommate, had actually gone into her bedroom because I was cooking asparagus, which apparently makes her ill. And as I was going nuts and she's in her bedroom, she called me on the phone to ask what the heck was going on. So I told her, and I kept checking MLB, the MLB app,

for the highlight so I could send it to her on her phone so she could watch it. And while preparing for this episode, I watched that play four more times. It was that good, ladies and gentlemen. But with getting back to the game, the good news on that play, the Tigers did not win and the Mariners were still alive. The bad news, however, it was the bottom of the ninth inning with a tie ball game, which meant that T-ball rules would be in effect for the rest of the game,

pretty much spoiling not everything. But those T-ball rules are just so ridiculous. Both free runners for both teams scored in the 10th inning, who cares. And then the Mariners go off in the 11th. There's a one-out intentional walk to tie France, and then Ace Fraley hits a solid line drive up the middle to score the free runner. You know, good hit, but big deal, the free runner scoring, who cares?

Then Tramel is hit by a pitch to load the bases. Chedlong Jr. hits into a force play, forcing out to tie France at home. And then Dylan Thomas steps up to the plate. He had gone 0 for 4 up until that point, and his first Major League hit came at the most opportune time. Another solid line drive up the middle. Both Ace and Tram scored to bring the score. to 7 to 4. Murphy then follows with a double to score Long and Thomas,

who was motoring around from first base. 9 to 4 is the score at this point, bringing in Keenan Middleton to pitch the bottom of the 11th inning, and he was rough once again. Robbie Grossman led off the 11th, pardon me, with a two-run home run. Remember that there's that stupid free runner on. So it's a two-run home run rather than a solo home run.

Jonathan Scope hit a single, but Middleton then went one, two, three, the rest of the way, and the score ended with a, or the game ended, pardon me, with a six, nine to six score. What is wrong with me? I guess I'm still just kind of a little amped up from last night, even though this morning's game was sucked. Winning pitcher last night was the avocado, J.T. Chagua,

but he also had a blown save. It would have been his first Major League save, but it also would have been a very cheap win, since the difference would have been the free runner. As it was, the avocado earns his first win, as a Seattle Mariner. The Mariners are now 6 and 0 while playing under T-Ball rules. The first three were cheap wins, where the difference was the free runner,

and that includes the eight-inning extra inning game, which was part of a double-header in Baltimore in mid-April. The last three extra-inning games the Mariners played, the difference was not the free runners. So those were legitimate wins. We are up at the trivia corner now, ladies and gentlemen. Today is the birthday of a former mariner. Quite a few former marinerers, actually, including Floyd Bannister,

but this question is not about him. This one's going to take a little bit of time to set up. The Mariners traded away Carlos Guyan after the 2003 season to make room for new shortstop, Rich Arrilla, and that did not go very well. So the next off season, the M's signed as a free agent, someone to take Arilius place, a speedy, defensive-minded slap hitter with a little

pop in his bat, who had spent 2004 with the Red Sox, but most of his career, with the Reds. Who am I talking about? I'll tell you after this word from Statt Hero. Do you know that 85% of people who play Daily Fantasy Sports lose?

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three times back on your first play. They're giving you a 300% match that is unheard of. Go to stathero.com slash locked on. Stathero.com slash locked on. Answer to the trivia question, ladies and gentlemen. After the

failed Rich Aurelia experiment, the Mariners acquired Pokey Reese to play shortstop for the 2005 season. Happy birthday to Mr. Reese. Don't remember him? He never played a game as a Seattle Mariner. He spent the entire season on the disabled list. In fact, after 2004 with those Red Sox, he never played another major league game despite numerous comeback attempts. The opening day shortstop for the Ems that year was Wilson Valdez, claimed off waivers at the very end of spring training, and then dumped mid-season

after hitting a robust 198 and playing a rather unimpressive shortstop. League average for sure, but nothing special, and certainly not good enough to justify an OPS of 489. The Mariners called up shortstop's Mike Morse and Unieski-Bentencourt. Morse's defense was so poor. He was converted into an outfielder when Benton Court was called up. Benton Court was one of the most frustrating and uncoachable Mariners players I can remember. He'd stick around a few years, but his defense really wasn't anything to write home about, and he was atrocious offensively.

not work the pitch count, would not draw any walks. He thought he was much better offensively than he was, and he would swing at everything. He may have swung up the pitcher through the rosin bag up to home plate. Coming up, I stopped stalling and finally talk about this morning's abysmal game. Maybe. But right now we've got this word of importance from Rock Auto, a family business serving auto parts customers online for 20 years. Go to rockato.com to shop for auto parts from hundreds of manufacturing. textures. Whether it's for your classic or for your daily driver, get everything you need and a few easy clicks delivered directly to your door. The rockado.com catalog is unique and remarkably

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Amazing selection, reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need, rockado.com. Welcome back to Lockdown Mariners. Here once again is your host, D.C. Lundberg. Can't you tell that I was trying to stretch out the trivia corner as long as I could to put off talking about this morning's game? Yeah.

Thank you very much, Joey Martin. and before we get into this morning's game, which is not going to take up too much time, I hope. There are some roster moves to get to before we get into it to buy even more time. The Mariners have traded for first baseman outfielder Jake Bowers out of the Cleveland Indians organization. He had been designated for assignment a few days ago,

and in return, the Mariners will send cash considerations or a player to be named later. To make room on the 40-man roster and the active roster, since Jake Bowers started this morning at first base. The mayor is designated for assignment infieler Jack Mayfield. Bowers is still relatively young. He's 25. He's a former top prospect with the Tampa Bay raise,

and he hit for the cycle in 2018, which was his first major league season. Decent pop, good on base skills, but way too many strikeouts. He plays first base, pretty good first base at that, left field and right field. So he kind of fills the Jose Marmaléhos role with better defense and a lot.

a little bit more speed, a lot more speed. Marmo couldn't run. But Bowers is, you know, maybe above average in terms of speed. This year for the Indians, Bowers slashed 190, 277, 280 in 43 games. He has a career slash line of 211, 3109, 365 in 256 games. He did not play at all last year, and he spells his first name J-A-K-O-B, just like professional bowler Jacob Buttriff. Mayfield did okay in limited time with the Mariners. He filled in at second base and third base, hit 176. Kind of tough to judge a player with only 11 games under his belt for any stretch. He was more or less of a stop gap, though, until Dylan Moore and some of the other established Mariners had returned. And with Shedlong Jr. coming back, he more or less became

redundant on the roster, especially with the Mariners needing help at first base, with Evan White still on the shelf, and Bowers is a good fit there. Yes, gang, I'm stalling. I have to talk about today's game. I don't care how short this segment runs. Today's game sucked. Justice Sheffield just did not have feel or command today. Did not show up in the bases on balls, but he got hit pretty hard.

Too many balls that he threw, caught way too much of the zone, and the Tigers took advantage, and there were some errors behind him, too, which did not help. He only goes four innings. He allows six hits. though. Five runs. Three of them were earned. allows two home runs, including the second batter of the game, Jonathan's scope, one walk and three strikeouts. Jake Taylor, Jake Taylor, Jake Rogers hit the other home run,

who also homered in last night's game. Jake Taylor's the catcher from Major League gang. Anyways, Mosevic and Vest both pitched again. I didn't realize that their ERAs had both risen to over five and a half. They've both been in a lot of ball games, ladies and gentlemen. Mesevich gave up three hits and two runs in his inning of work, a home run, that was to Robbie Grossman. Yaxel Rios came in and stunk it up again, one inning pitched, one run, two walks.

Hector Santiago pitched the eighth, and it wasn't real impressive, but he didn't allow the Tigers to score either. The Mariners only collected six hits all game, two of them by Mitch Hanigur, and they were both solo home runs, one of them as the second batter of the ball game. So in the first inning, the second batters for both teams, both went yard with solo home runs. So they were effectively even at that point. The other four hits were had by Kyle Seeger, Ty France, Ace Frealy, and Jake Bowers,

his first hit as a Mariner, which drove in Ace Fraley in the fifth inning with the Mariner's third and final run. Ty Frans was hit by another pitch today. That's 10 this season now, gang. Only Mark Kana of the A's has been hit more often in. the American League, I can't speak this league this evening for some reason, gang. The Mariners did walk three times. They left seven men on base, but on the bright side, Ace Freely had another good game. One for three with another walk and a run scored.

He is now slashing for the season, 263, $500, 474. He's on base exactly half the time. 17 walks versus 12 strikeouts, but that strikeout percentage is in, striking out 3,000. striking out 31.6% of his at-bats. And since coming off the disabled list on May 31st gang, he is slashing 321, 486, 571. With all but one of his extra base hits coming since being activated, he had a double on April 2nd.

Strikeout percentage is rather similar. As mentioned earlier, the Tigers put center feeler Derek Hill on the disabled list, and they called up from AAA, Daz Cameron. And yes, ladies and gentlemen, that is the son of former Mariners center fielder, Mike Cameron. And he looks like his father as a ballplayer. Same smile, too. But very similar body type, remarkably similar batting stance,

and his swing is almost a carbon copy of his father's. Like father, like son, I suppose. This was his first game this morning, was his first game of 2021. And last year in 17 games for the Tigers, he slashed, 193, 222, 263. Played exclusively right field, but he was the center fielder in this morning's ball game. He was acquired by the Tigers at the trading deadline in 2017 as part of the package of players that sent Justin Verlander from Detroit to the Trash Tros.

I don't want to talk about this game anymore, so if you have a question or comment, please send it over to Lockdown Mariners at gmail.com, and I'll address it on the air in a future mailbag episode. Questions and comments on anything at all are highly encouraged does not have to be about the Mariners, baseball, or sports in general. Coming up, the M's Midwest Road Trip continues, as they are currently driving in a Winnebago to Minneapolis to try to find the spot where Mary Tyler Moore threw her hat in the air.

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Bet Online, your online sportsbook experts, promo code Locked On. All one word. Now back to Locked on Mariners and your host, D.C. Lundberg. Thank you once again, J.M. There will be a show tomorrow, ladies and gentlemen. I alluded yesterday that I wasn't positive that there was going to be a Friday show or not, but I was able to get it covered.

John Miller will be hosting tomorrow's show, Locked on Mariners contributor John Miller, and Jason Hernandez of Locked on Anaheim Ducks will be with him. And in an effort to avoid talking more about this morning's snooze fest, I will set up the upcoming series in Cleveland, which begins tomorrow afternoon. Cleveland is currently 32 and 27. second in the American League Central. That's four games behind the White Sox coming into today's action. That record still stands as they had an off day today,

and they have a team slash line of 22, 292, 387. That's 14th, 14th, and 10th, respectively, in the American League, in those three components of the slash line. Mariners, by the way, are dead last in all three components. The Indians do not walk very much. They have 172 walks, which is 8.1% of their place. late appearances, and they strike out a lot. 25.9% of their at-bats have ended in strikeouts, although the Mariners are striking out

at a much higher clip. 29.4% of their at-bats are strikeouts. Cleveland is fifth in the American League and stolen bases, however, so they will run. Pitching's been much better for them. 417 is their team ERA, which is at the middle of the pack in the American League. It is eighth. Their team whip is 1.291. Their starter's ERA is 474.

Their bullpen's been much better. Their reliever's ERA is 3-3-4. That's third in the American League, and fifth in Major League Baseball. Friday's starter for Cleveland is Aaron Caval, or Cavali, I'm not exactly certain to be honest. He's 8 and 2 this season with a 3-4-9 earned run average. That's far below the team starters ERA.

In 80 innings pitched, he's allowed 18 walks, 13 home runs, and he struck out 58. He faced the manors on May 14th in Seattle, lasted 6 and 2 3rds innings, gave up 5 runs, they were all earned. 7 hits, 2 home runs, a walk, and he struck out 6. In his last 2 starts combined, which were against Toronto in Cleveland, and at Baltimore, 12 innings, 8 runs, all of them earned, 17 hits, 1 walk, 5 home runs, and only 5 strikeouts,

and an opponent's batting average of 340. His ERA went from 304 to 349 in just those two starts. So he might be in a little bit of a slump right now, or he might turn it around, only time will tell. We'll find out together tomorrow evening. Friday's starter for the Mariners is Justin Dunn, who is slated to come off the injured list after only missing one start. Hopefully that means Yaxel Rios will be DFA'd.

I've not been impressed with him at all. And Dunn's been sort of hit or miss this season like most of the rotation, honestly. He's 1 and 2, but has a 318 earned run average and a 1.191 whip. A ton of walks, however, 27 walks in 45 and a third innings. That's a lot. That equates to 5.4 per 9, way, way too many. Not a ton of hits, however, 27 hits, same number of walks out also. And he has also given up five home runs, which isn't a tremendous

amount. The things that have that have hurt just and done this season, obviously the walks, but also the high pitch counts. He's gotten into a lot of deep counts, a lot of two, two counts, full counts, what have you, which has really elevated his pitch count and he hasn't been able to go deep into a lot of ball games. Saturday will be a 1.10 p.m. Pacific start time. Indians starter is to be announced, but the Mariners starter will be Yisei Kikichi, who will not miss any time after having to leave his last start after twisting his knee upon being hit by a line drive. This season, he's 3 and 3 with a 405 earned run average, lower whip than Mr. Dunn at 1.065. 66 and 2 thirds innings for Kikigigisan, 20 walks, 69 strikeouts, 51 hits, and 13 home runs.

That's really been the thing with Kiki-Jan, the home runs. He's gotten the walks under control. His command is much better than it's been in years past, but he needs to do a better job keeping the ball in the ballpark. Having said that, he has been the best Mariner's best starter overall, and he's also been able to eat a lot of innings. Sunday is going to be another morning game, 10.10 a.m. start time in Seattle and Tacoma. It'll be Logan Gilbert versus Shane Bieber.

Gilbert earns his first Major League win his last time out, five innings pitched, two hits, one run. It was earned. It was a home run, as a matter of fact. He did walk four. That's a lot for five innings. It's a lot for nine innings, quite honestly, with seven strikeouts.

His last two starts combined, which were in Seattle versus Oakland and then in Anaheim, pardon me. Wow. 11 innings. Three runs all earned, seven hits, five walks, four of them in the last start, 12 strikeouts, one home run, and a 245 earned run average,

and an opponent's batting average of just 184. Cleveland is a weak offense. team. If Mr. Gilbert has command of his breaking pitches and doesn't overuse his fastball, this could be a good matchup for him. Opposing him, however, is the 2020 Sy Young Award winner. Shane Bieber, this season he is 7 and 3, with an ERA way down there at 296 and a whip of 1.188 in 13 starts. His 85 innings pitched leads the American League. His 122 strikeouts leads the American League. He's walked 31, however, that's 3.1. That's 3.5. 3.3 per 9, which is just right around league

average, and he's given up 9 home runs. He's a stud, ladies and gentlemen. The Mariners could have a rough time in this one. I predict that this will be a quick 2-hour and 40-minute pitchers duel. Might be going on a limb with that one, but if Mr. Gilbert is sharp and Mr. Bieber

is on top of his game, this one could go rather quickly. It could be a 1-0-0-0-2-2-1 final, something of that sort. That's going to do it for this one, ladies and gentlemen, remember that tomorrow I will not be here, but Locked On Bears contributor, John Miller will be. He will be joined by Jason Hernandez and also Ethel Mertz, Woodsy Owl, and a taco. Not taco, the guy who did the bizarre cover of putting on the ritz, but a taco.

Please remember to download Rage and follow Locked on Mariners. Look for us in any podcasting app that happens to spring into your mind. Leave a rating and review of your podcasting app of choice, so allowed. Thank you very much for listening to you today's show, ladies and gentlemen. I will be with you next week. Remember John's hosting tomorrow. That'll be fun. Get all the sports news you need in under 20 minutes with the Locked On Today podcast.

Host Peter Bukowski will keep you updated on the latest news in every major sport with Lockedons team of local experts. Follow the Locked On Today podcast on the Odyssey app or wherever you get podcasts. This is Joey Martin speaking for Locked On Mariners, part of the Locked On podcast network.