Locked On Mariners - Daily Podcast On the Seattle Mariners - Marco and Mitch Power Mariners Past Guardians in Series Opener

Episode Date: August 26, 2022

Marco Gonzales went six strong and Mitch Haniger lifted a three-run blast to power the Mariners past the Guardians to open up a crucial four-game set at T-Mobile Park on Thursday. Ty and Colby hop on ...the mics with their thoughts on Gonzales' outing, the dirty play that forced Ty France out of the game and Haniger's success since returning to the big-league club.Be sure to follow or subscribe to Locked On Mariners wherever you prefer your podcasts! For questions and other inquiries, email: lockedonmariners@gmail.comStay up to date with all things Mariners at Inside the Mariners - a FanNation website covering the Seattle Mariners on the Sports Illustrated network.Follow the show on Twitter: @LO_Mariners | @danegnzlz | @CPat11 | @InsideMarinersFor more of Ty and Colby, check out their Patreon: patreon.com/controlthezone/ 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.

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 Marco Gonzalez and Mitch Hanager power the Mariners to a much needed three to one win over the Guardians. Our thoughts and takes from the game coming up here on the Locked on Mariners Post game show. Colby hit it. You are Locked on Mariners. Your daily Seattle Mariners podcast. Part of the Locked on podcast network. Your team every day. What's up, everyone?
Starting point is 00:00:21 Welcome to the Locked on Mariners Post game show. It is Thursday, August 25th, 2022. And thank you so much for making us your first listen after the game. We are free and available on all platforms with new episodes dropping every Monday through Friday. I'm your host, Taday Gonzalez, joined as always by my co-host, Colby Patnode. We cover The Mariners over at Inside the Mariners.com for Fan Nation over on the Sports Illustrated Network. Be sure to follow the show on Twitter at LO underscore Mariners. Follow Inside the Mariners at Inside Mariners.
Starting point is 00:00:51 You can follow me at Dane Gonzalez, that's D-A-N-Z-L-Z and Colby at C-P-E-E-1. and be sure to also check out our Patreon over at patreon.com forward slash control the zone. We post two additional podcasts on there every single week. Again, that is patreon.com forward slash control the zone. And if this is your first time joining us here on the Lockdown Mariners podcast, welcome to the show. If you like what you hear, give us a follow or subscribe wherever you're listening to this.
Starting point is 00:01:16 And if you're watching us on YouTube, hit the subscribe button, turn on the notification bell and give this video a thumbs up. We greatly appreciate it. On the show today, we're going to dive into Marco Gonzalez's big day on the bump, Will Benson intentionally kicking Thai France, and the success of Mitch Hanager, who was instrumental in the three to one win today since rejoining the ball club. Let's start with Marco here. Six strong innings of work today. Just four hits allowed. One earned run allowed in the first inning. Four strikeouts. 31% of his pitches resulted in a called strike or whiff. He was
Starting point is 00:01:58 big today. This was probably the best that you could get out of Marco at this point in the season. Colby, what did you see out of Marco today? Yeah, it was pretty aggressive for Marco. You know, he threw 32 fastballs and 27 cutters.
Starting point is 00:02:14 We haven't seen a ton of cutters from Marco this year. So that's something different. We've seen a lot more sinkers this year from Marco and he didn't throw a he didn't register a single sinker at all today. So his fastball, cutter, change up, used pretty, you know, pretty evenly, 32% fastball, 27% cutter, 25% change-up, even mixed in,
Starting point is 00:02:37 you know, 17 curveballs. It wasn't a super effective pitch for him. He got nine swings and no whiffs on it, but he did get two called strikes and four foul balls off of that pitch. So, you know, it was still a useful fourth pitch for him. Marco, this was probably as close to, after the first inning at least, this was probably about as close to 2020, Marco, as we've seen in a while. He was on the corners. You know, he was in the strike zone with everything, which is great because then he was able to expand the strike zone against the team that, you know, puts the ball in play a lot. They have a lot of really good athletes that they're, you know, they're fast. They don't strike out. So it's not an easy lineup to get through.
Starting point is 00:03:18 Marco gets through six on 101 pitches, throws 70 strikes, actually gets nine whiffs, including five whiffs on the change-up out of 12 swings. Also got four called strikes on that change-up. So 36% called strike or whiff rate on the change-up is pretty good. The big one, though, I think today, the difference was the forcing fastball. 14 swings, only three whiffs, but 13 called strikes. So when you add up the called strikes and the whiffs, 50% of the fastball he threw had no damage. come off of them. No balls put in play. And that's huge pitch for Marco. He was great. He was on the
Starting point is 00:03:59 corners. You know, like you, like you had mentioned, he kind of bulldoged his way through this lineup. Again, it was pretty close to vintage Marco. So I like to see a few more strikeouts. I think you finished with four. But, you know, for what Marco is, this is about as good as you could have hoped for. And it was kind of a different Marco. So that that's maybe something to keep an eye on. Again, a lot more four seamers, a lot fewer sinkers today. And we saw the cutter come play, which is a pitch he kind of shelved recently. So, uh, we'll see what Marco does next time out. But for this outing, he was, he was pretty darn good. Yeah, some of the best stuff and the best command that we've seen on Marco in quite some time. And like you said, he was able to expand the
Starting point is 00:04:39 strike zone as this game went along. He was getting guys to even chase outside of the zone. That was really impressive to me. Um, generating a lot of weak contact in this game. Not a lot of hard hit balls given up. Uh, and against this lineup, I mean, it's, it's kind of easy to, to, to, for get how good this Guardians lineup is. It's really good. I mean, you look at their lineup, particularly the one through six in that lineup is incredibly dangerous. To only limit this team to one run is an incredible achievement.
Starting point is 00:05:09 And so, I mean, you know, you needed Marco to be this today. You needed one of your leaders to be at his very best. And, you know, he hasn't been for quite some time. And you got that and then some today. I mean, it's pretty remarkable considering the situation, considering the circumstances around this game. And, you know, coming off of a very disappointing loss yesterday, coming off of a two and three stretch against the two worst teams of baseball, you needed to get off on the right foot in this series. This is a huge, huge, crucial four-game set with the Guardians. And you had to get off on the right foot here in this series.
Starting point is 00:05:46 And I mean, they needed every bit of what Marco and the bullpen gave them today because, you know, the offense still struggled. a lot, right? They get the three run homer from Hanager and then after that they only record two more hits for the rest of the day against Tristan McKenzie and the Guardians bullpen. So the Mariners needed this performance. This was perfect. This was perfect timing. This was everything. This was, I mean, it couldn't have come at a better time. Yeah, I mean, the offense was, as you say, it wasn't very good. All the damage came in the first three hitters of the game. They had a little bit of a threat there in the eighth. Couldn't figure that out.
Starting point is 00:06:27 But, you know, at least this time around, this one felt more like it was just that Tristan McKenzie was pretty good, not that the offense was terrible today. McKenzie's probably got a really good shot to be a pitcher of the month in the American League for August. And, you know, the Mariners, they were okay against him. They, you know, only eight whiffs. I believe they struck out only four times. He didn't have a called strike in whiff rate of over.
Starting point is 00:06:53 25% on any of his three pitches. You know, they were pretty, they were putting the ball in play. They had 18 foul balls off of him. So it's one of those things where McKenzie was really good, but the Mariners put up some pretty good at bats. He got into a little bit of rhythm after the second or third inning, which kind of, you know,
Starting point is 00:07:13 threw the Mariners off their pace a little bit. But for the most part, they were having relatively good at bats. There weren't a ton of chases or anything like that. Tristan McKenzie's just, you know, on a role right now. and thankfully the Mariners were able to tag him before he figured it out. And that's kind of how you have to win in the playoffs because you're not going to string hits together in multiple innings against,
Starting point is 00:07:32 you know, the Garrett Coles or the Justin Burlanders of the world. When they struggle, you have to take advantage. You have to get the big hit. And Mitch did. So it definitely felt like a playoff game today. Maybe not with the crowd.
Starting point is 00:07:43 Pretty sparse crowd. Today, I believe, was the first day of school in the Seattle area for a lot of people. But yeah, pretty sparse crowd. back-to-back day games, whatever. I'm not worried about the crowd size. It's going to be there this weekend. Don't worry about that. But there was intensity.
Starting point is 00:08:00 There was good starting pitching. There was good bullpen. Every single hit seemed like a big one. It could change the game. It was very much a playoff atmosphere. And I think the Mariners in Cleveland are two teams that match up pretty well against one another. So I expect this to be a really hard fought, you know,
Starting point is 00:08:17 seven games or six games now that they'll play each other over the next 10 days or so. I think if we get this rematch in the in the wild card round, I like the Mariners chances, but it's not going to be easy. This, this Cleveland team can pitch and they put the ball in play. They are, they are extremely pesky. And then, of course, they kind of have, you know, Naylor and Ramirez to provide the big power, which is, is terrifying in the eighth inning. Thank you. You have Andreas Munoz. Yeah. When Jose Ramirez stepped to the play with two on, two out. Let's just say, yeah, let's just say I was feeling a little nervous about that when that happened.
Starting point is 00:09:00 But fortunately, Andres Munoz's the slider is breaking the scale right now. It's pretty nice. It's pretty nice. And it's gotten him out of a lot of tight spots. He's one of the best relievers in baseball, man. And he just keeps on dominating. And it's so fun to watch Andres Munoz pitch right now. 13 swings on the slider?
Starting point is 00:09:19 Yeah. Seven whiffs. Here's, Andrus Munoz did not have a single called strike today. Wow. Through 17 pitches, got seven whiffs, nine foul balls, only one ball put in play. He's, he's something, man. He's a lot of fun to watch. You go up there and hack like Cleveland did today, or you go up there and take pitches.
Starting point is 00:09:41 It doesn't really matter. You're not going to. Yeah. It's over. So, yeah. You know, Cleveland, Cleveland plays, you know, good defense. It puts the ball in play. It pitches well, but so do the Mariners.
Starting point is 00:09:55 So do the Mariners. And defensively speaking, it was a nice day for the Mariners as well. J.P. Crawford, of course, with that really nice scoop and diving toss out of his glove. Yeah, for the out-on at first to get Josh Naylor. Yeah, even the ball that Swares got at the end of the game. Yeah. Playing out of position, kind of a tricky hop, having to throw across his body a little bit. Got enough on the throw.
Starting point is 00:10:20 and Jake Lamb with his biggest contribution of the year, catching that ball. Ooh, he's no Jake Bowers, but he's getting there, guys. He's pretty good. He's got big Logan Morrison vibes, man. That's what he gives me, particularly at the plate. He looks like he's swinging a sledgehammer up there. If you ever barrel something up, oh, my God. It's going to go 420 feet, but, yeah, we'll see.
Starting point is 00:10:44 We'll see. Unfortunately, the Mariners today lost Thai France again, this time to a bruised Reich. Keff, we'll be talking about that and the injury that, or the play that unfortunately led to him leaving this game. It was pretty questionable. We'll get into that in just a moment. But first, a message from the NHTSA. You're hanging out with some friends and putting back a few drinks. A few becomes a few too many.
Starting point is 00:11:10 And as the evening comes to an end and people start to head out, you think of calling for a ride. But nah, you live nearby. You can make it home okay. It's no big deal. What are the odds you'll get pulled over anyway? And even so, what's the worst that could happen? Your insurance goes up, you lose your license, you lose your job, you toll your car. What if you kill someone?
Starting point is 00:11:28 Everyone knows about the risks of driving drunk. The results are tragic and often deadly. However, that still doesn't stop everyone from getting behind the wheel while under the influence. That's why police officers are out there right now looking for impaired drivers on our roads to save lives. So if you think you're okay to drive after a few drinks, think again. Play it safe and plan ahead to get a ride. It only takes one mistake to change your life or someone else's forever. Drive sober or get pulled over.
Starting point is 00:11:55 You're listening to the Lockdown Mariners podcast. Thank you again for making us your first listen after the game. So Ty France had to leave this game pretty early on with a bruised right calf. That is the diagnosis after a couple of plays at first base. In the first setting, the play that ended up scoring the Guardian's lone run of the game, It was a possible double play ball. Unfortunately, J.P. Crawford's throw went a little high and forced France into the air. And his legs and Jose Ramirez's legs kind of got tangled up there.
Starting point is 00:12:29 And that's potentially how he suffered the bruise calf. Then later on in the game, Will Benson, Guardian's center fielder, runs down to first on another ground ball to J.P. Crawford throw to first. and Benson pretty clearly appears to wind up a kick with his left leg and hits the left ankle of Thai France pretty hard. And France eventually had to leave the game after that. Colby, there's after seeing it more and more, because at first I thought, you know, it's a bang, bang play. You know, stuff happens at first. But after watching it more, after watching this play more,
Starting point is 00:13:14 It, to me, very clearly, looks like Will Benson, you know, with the knowledge of France hurting his leg on the Ramirez play, was trying to hurt France even further. Yeah, he coper kite him. He swept the leg. It's literally the left leg goes from straight to out to the side to, you know, he kind of curves it. Like it literally looks like he's lining up for a point after or a corner kick. And so it's clearly intentional. no way around it. You know, it's, it's one of those things where you'd like to give the guy the benefit of the doubt,
Starting point is 00:13:51 but when you watch it over and over again, you can see there's clearly intent there that he was trying to hit France's leg because France wasn't standing on top of the bag or anything like that. Play wasn't super close. Like it wasn't like he was just running wildly trying to beat out the throw. He was going to be out. And yet the leg still has a half circle motion. upright to the spot where France had, you know, banged his leg against Jose Ramirez's leg.
Starting point is 00:14:21 For what it's worth, Ty France, and I'm just reading a quote here, I don't know how this was said, but Ty's quote doesn't seem to make it, doesn't seem to me that he believes that that was an accident. Ty France says, I felt like I gave him a majority of the bag, and then that happened, and then he left it at that. So, and he did. He gave him the whole bag. There was no reason for him to swing his leg like that. And he did. It's clearly intentional.
Starting point is 00:14:50 There's no way around it. We'll see if the Mariners want to retaliate. They didn't today. It was close game. Makes sense to maybe wait. But we'll see what happens if Benson's in the lineup tomorrow. I don't know. Miles Straw might be back.
Starting point is 00:15:03 So Benson might be on the bench. But we'll see. We'll see what happens. We'll see if the Mariners choose to retaliate. It's a dirty play. There's no way around it. Completely unnecessary. and you know it's one of those things where there's just really no justification of it like Jose
Starting point is 00:15:19 Ramirez fine whatever you could argue that he maybe ran towards the inside part of the bag instead of the outside part of the bag whatever he started out on the grass he was peeling back and he just didn't get over fast enough this one was clearly intentional he saw a hobble player he took his leg and he he swung it at tie france's leg in an attempt to injure him and he succeeded and yet it didn't make a lick of difference. So it's a dirty play, and in my mind, Will Benson is a dirty player.
Starting point is 00:15:47 And, you know, it's so far as I know, the Mariners have not addressed it in any other way, and the guardians have not addressed it either. So we'll see if anything comes of it. But, you know, tomorrow's maybe a game to watch now, more so than it already was because that's a dirty play. And the Mariners, that's not one that's going to settle well with that clubhouse. after they look at it after everybody gets a good look at it yeah no it's uh it's despicable
Starting point is 00:16:13 it's an absolute reprehensible act by uh will benson who uh yeah like like you said uh to me as a dirty player that was a dirty play that's uh just uncalled for um you know because you you have the knowledge there like it's very clear i mean it was just an inning beforehand that france got hurt uh and he you know he was on the ground in pain after that play with ramirez as well you know There was visible evidence that France was in some pain. And, you know, France is already dealing with some pain, of course, in his left arm with the elbow injury and also the wrist injury.
Starting point is 00:16:47 And this, you know, and that's why this sucks even more because, you know, France has already been, you know, dreadful at the plate because of the injuries and coming off of the injuries. And, you know, he's also probably pressing at this point because it's getting really frustrating for him. And now on top of that, you know,
Starting point is 00:17:02 now he's got a lower leg injury as well. So that's just, you know, this sucks for him. We'll see how long it keeps him out. Fortunately, it's only a bruise. So you would figure that's not going to keep them out for very long if it does at all. You know, and fortunate that it wasn't any sort of ligament damage or anything like that,
Starting point is 00:17:20 especially on the kick to the ankle because you worry about like an Achilles there. You worry about a lot of stuff there. That's just a disgusting act by Will Benson considering the wrists of that. Because, I mean, you know, cleat goes the wrong way or something. and Ty France, you know, snaps his Achilles and he's out for the year, like, and possibly, you know, time next year as well. That's just, that's not, that's not cool. It was a play with the intent to hurt, to not, not to bruise somebody.
Starting point is 00:17:49 It was a play with an attempt to knock somebody out of a game and possibly for a series. Thankfully, it's a bruise. We'll see how the swelling goes. Wouldn't be shocked if he was DHEA tomorrow. Probably not going to play first base the rest of this week. there were some early murmurs that Evan White wasn't in the AAA lineup. That's no, that was never going to happen. Yeah, no.
Starting point is 00:18:11 They would play Santana. Yeah, they would play Santana and Lamb at first, and they would call up Tramel. Dylan Moore could also play some first. Yeah. They're good. Evan White will not take an epa for the Seattle Mariners this year. And if they do, I will send an autograph card to somebody. So it's not going to have to.
Starting point is 00:18:32 I didn't say it was a good one. I'll do it. Yeah, that's not the case. It doesn't sound like the IL is a thing for him right now. We'll see if he plays tomorrow, but I would imagine he gets back in the game at DH at some point today. Also, it sounds like there's a decent chance. Sam Haggerty returns tomorrow.
Starting point is 00:18:51 We saw him pinch run for, I think, the fourth straight day. So, I mean, you can't backdate the I, the IL stint. So hopefully he can play tomorrow, because I've seen just about enough of Jesse Winkerman left. field. I know you know the ball I'm talking about today where he kind of like came in, stopped for a second. Then, oh, no, I can keep going. And he barely caught it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That gave me a little bit of a heart, heart attack there. He's going to let that drop, isn't it? Yeah, yeah. My heart kind of dropped into the pit of my stomach when I saw the, yeah, yeah. No,
Starting point is 00:19:20 because there was a runner on, I think, at that time, too. And I was just like, Brash. Brash just walked the first guy or whatever. By the way, the decision to put Brash in a two-run game in the eighth. Was Castillo not available? Like I assume Seawald wasn't available. Back-to-back days, he's been pretty bad. Munoz, I think this was his third day in a row, so he's not going to pitch tomorrow.
Starting point is 00:19:42 But, like, I saw Castillo in there, like throwing the ball around a little bit. I was like, oh, okay, Castillo and the ape and, you know, Munoz, when you get to Ramirez. Yeah. And nope, went with Brash. I was like, not even Festa? Yeah, yeah, right, right?
Starting point is 00:19:58 Yeah. Like, Brash has been good. I don't give me wrong, but. Yeah, I thought maybe Festi would be the play there. Yeah, that was, you know, fortunately that did not hurt the Mariners in any sort of way, though Brash wasn't able to finish his outing. Yeah. Like Brash makes sense when you really need a strike out. Like any ball put in play is bad news for you.
Starting point is 00:20:18 You give him a clean inning. I kind of need a guy who throw strikes. So. Yeah. Yeah, I think he went into three full counts. Yeah. Yeah, he walked the first guy. And then he went three and one, I think to the next.
Starting point is 00:20:31 to the next year before he got him to pop up. So yeah, I mean, like, I like Brash. He's been pretty good, but I didn't like that that usage. Yeah, yeah. Weird decision. I was like, and then they kept him in there to face Rosario. Was it Rosario or was it? Who was it that's sitting ahead of, of Ramirez?
Starting point is 00:20:53 Well, there was, there's Kwan, there's Rosario. Yeah. Yeah. And then like Kwan, he has to face because he's got to face the three. Okay, fine. Rosario, I'm like, I don't want Jose Ramirez to get up with a chance to tie or take the lead. So the Rosario thing seemed very important to get him out. And Scott's just like, nah.
Starting point is 00:21:12 Hey, at least Scott took him out before Jose. At least he didn't let him face Jose. That's true, but still, I was like, one batter sooner there, Scott. Yeah, it worked out. It worked out, you know. That was scary hours for sure. Shout out to Eric Swanson, by the way, who had a quietly had a very clean set. to kind of bridge the gap to Munoz there.
Starting point is 00:21:35 M.O.B. leader in ERA. Eric Swanson. I don't even think he's been that good since he come back from the injury. He's just been like, yeah, he's okay. And still someone ERA. Cool. Let's let it ride. Let it ride.
Starting point is 00:21:51 Let's ride. All right. No. We mentioned earlier the offensive struggles again today. And of course, as you mentioned, and Tristan McKenzie was really good today as well. So you just, you know, you also have to tip your cap there. But again, you know, only four hits in this game.
Starting point is 00:22:11 Two of them coming from Mitch Hanager. One of them, a big three run home run. Another opposite field single in the bottom of the eighth, which, you know, look, this is, you know, your big complaint about Mitch last year was, you know, he's selling out for power. He's, you know, I agreed with it to. I, yeah, yeah. All right. All right, both of us, both of us, both of us.
Starting point is 00:22:33 You're not going to throw me under the bus here, buddy. Both of us, both of us, both of us. Both of us were complaining about, you know, Mitch and how he just kind of changed his approach at the plate as of late. You know, coming off of the injury last year, seemed like he was selling out for power. You know, there was a lot more swing and miss in his, you know, that was evident in his game. He was hitting a lot more home runs, but, you know, there was a lot more just, you know, as I said, swing and miss.
Starting point is 00:22:56 But now, since he's come back from the, from the last injury, from the ankle, sprain on August 6th. It seems like he's using the field more. He's taking pitches and he's not trying to do just an incredible amount of damage. And he's just letting the home runs come to him. And that's, you know, that's happening naturally. We see, you know, three run home run today and also a big opposite field single that set up another scoring opportunity for the Mariners in this game in the bottom of the eighth.
Starting point is 00:23:26 And since, you know, entering this game, since coming back on August 6th, he's been. he was hitting 302 371, 460 with a 143 WRC plus and you know of course added two more hits today so that's only going to go up I mean what are you seeing out of Mitch
Starting point is 00:23:44 does he look different as different as he looks to me it's tough to say because I've such a small sample but because I feel like I'm seeing more like it's not fully the old Mitch right I don't think we're ever going to see the old Mitch whatever the old Mitch is but
Starting point is 00:24:03 But like, I, you know, I think we're seeing that something that's closer to that, right? A bit more of a patient hitter. And again, letting the power just kind of come naturally. Right. It's more of a blend between what we saw last year and what we saw when Mitch was like, you know, 370 on base guy. So, yeah, we're starting to see it. There's still some swing and miss. He's still susceptible specifically to changeups, which McKinsey doesn't have.
Starting point is 00:24:31 So worked out well. But yeah, no, he's hitting the ball a little bit more. He's working counts a little bit more. It doesn't look like he's trying to hit everything off the foul pole. Even the home run was to left center field. It wasn't dead left field. So, yeah, he's starting to stay in the middle of the field a little bit. Both hits, you know, in the middle third of the field today.
Starting point is 00:24:52 And you saw the power. He doesn't have to sell out to hit home runs. He's got plenty of power. And, you know, I guess what I'd like to see from Mitch going forward now, a few more doubles would be nice. I'll take the home runs. I'd rather have home runs than doubles, but doubles feel a little more repeatable to me than the home runs do.
Starting point is 00:25:12 So, yeah, he's been great since he's come back. The Mariners have needed him because the offense, you know, like 13 runs in the last five games. Just imagine what they be without Mitch, who has at least 5 RBI on two home runs in those five games. So, yeah, they need him. And he seems to be playing a pretty decent right field too. he looks a little more spry out there maybe
Starting point is 00:25:35 still not great but better and when you're comparing him to winker over on left field he's each your own as prime so and you know of course the arm the arm is still really good of course too and that's you know the one big thing
Starting point is 00:25:51 with his defense that is going to keep him in the field somewhat at least in the near future as long as that you know Mitch kind of reminds me of where, well, where Mitch is now in his career kind of reminds me of Jose Batista. And in some of those later years in Toronto, obviously not as, you know, he's not a perennial all star like Jose Batista was during those years in Toronto. But, you know, he's a guy that he's not the most athletic dude, but he does have like
Starting point is 00:26:18 one really big tool defensively with the arm. And on top of that, you know, he cranks stingers. He gets on base. And, you know, that's the thing that's what I want out of Mitch Hanigur. That's what I want out of this version. of Mitch Hanager is someone that is at least fairly reliable in the field and get on base a ton. You know, it takes pitches, takes walks, and, you know, uses the whole field, takes what the defense gives him and, you know, lets the power naturally come to him.
Starting point is 00:26:45 And we're seeing that right now. And that's huge. And, you know, really, this just makes me want the Mariners to resign him even more so now for, you know, when we get into the off season because this version of Mitch Hanigur, what we're seeing right now, he helps. He helps a lot. Yeah, right now after today he is hitting 275, 327, 500. It's 139 WRC plus.
Starting point is 00:27:09 Here's probably the best news of the so far. And again, it's only 110 plate appearances, and they're the definition of scattered plate appearances. Sure, yeah. But 21.8% strikeout rate so far. That's really good. That's below league average in a good way. And, you know, you look at where 2019,
Starting point is 00:27:30 He was at 28.6. Last year he was at 24.5. So 24.5 is about 2% above league average. This year he's 1% below league average, again, in the positive way. The only thing, you know, really waiting for, I would like to see the walks get closer to 10%. But, you know, like I said, we're in an era right now offensively where, you know,
Starting point is 00:27:53 league average on base is like 310 and Mitch is at 317. Or 327. So you take what you can get there. and the power is great and the contact is great. And he just looks very good. He looks healthy. And, you know, it's personally, it's hard to imagine. It's hard for me to imagine that he's wearing a different uniform next year.
Starting point is 00:28:15 It just seems like the Mariners and Mitch are headed for really an inevitable marriage, even if it is only a one-year commitment. For sure. And, you know, last year, you know, of course he didn't post the highest strikeout rate of his career, but the whiff rate was the highest of his career by a long shot too. It was 13% last year. It's taken more chances last year. Yeah, taking more chances last year.
Starting point is 00:28:40 Yeah, 13.1% whiff rate. Before that, his career high was 10.9%. He's gotten that down to 10% flat this year. So that's a really big key for Mitch right now. It looks like he's reacting more than guessing. He's also swinging outside of the zone, just 29.4. percent of the time this year. Last year was 33% of the time. So yeah. Yeah, we'll see if you can keep it up for the rest of the year. But yeah,
Starting point is 00:29:07 it does look like Mitch is maybe recognizing spin a little bit better this year. So he's not out there or maybe he trusts his his bat speed a little bit more this year because last year I remember him being very susceptible to change ups and he was constantly trying to gear up to hit the fastball. This year it looks like he's reacting again instead of guessing randomly. So we'll see. You know, you can be fooled in a small sample size, but so far so good. Mitch has been exactly what the Mariners need. Just he needed a little more help us all. Yeah, yeah.
Starting point is 00:29:38 All right, well, that's going to do it for a show. So nice to actually talk about a win today instead of that depressing episode we recorded yesterday. Much prefer this over that. Thank you so much for joining us here on the Lockdown Mariners podcast. For Colby Patnode, I'm Tadding-Zallis. Be sure to give us a follow on Twitter at L0 underscore Mariners. You can follow Inside the Mariners at Inside Mariners. You can follow me at Dan Gonzalez,
Starting point is 00:30:01 the C-A-N-Z-L-Z and Colby at C-Pad 11 at CPAT-11. You can also find all that stuff in the description of this episode. And thank you again for making us your first listen after the game. Now make your second listen, the Lockdown MLB podcast. MLB expert Paul Francis Sullivan brings humor, passion, and unique perspective on every team and the biggest stories around the league. Follow the number one daily league-wide podcast,
Starting point is 00:30:25 Locked on MLB on the Odyssey app, YouTube and wherever you get your podcast just like us. And with that, have yourself a beautiful baseball day. We'll see you tomorrow. Peace.

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.