Locked On Mariners - Daily Podcast On the Seattle Mariners - MARINERS POSTCAST: Seattle Mariners SHUT DOWN TORONTO BATS in Game 1 of ALCS

Starting point is 00:00:04 This is the Mariners Postcast. Your instant game reaction for the Seattle Mariners. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Wow. What a huge win. Game one of the ALCS goes the Mariners way. It's just, I don't even know how to describe it at this point because you get so many herculean efforts.

Starting point is 00:00:35 I'm using a Chris Crawford term there. It starts with Bryce Miller. It continues with Cal Raleigh. It continues with Jorge Polanco. The bullpen. You can throw Julio Rodriguez in there as well. So many awesome performances. Just two days after going 15 innings against the Detroit Tigers in game five.

Starting point is 00:00:58 While Toronto was sitting there waiting for you with their ace, you throw out your fourth best pitcher on short rest, and you get the game one win in the ALCS. Just fantastic. You stole a game. I don't think it's overstating that you stole this game. And the Mariners were the better team. I think besides that first pitch from Bryce Miller,

Starting point is 00:01:23 you got a ton tonight. We'll talk about Bryce Miller's star. We'll talk about big dumper coming up huge. We'll talk about Jorge Polanco coming up huge. We'll talk about this bullpen today. but Chris Crawford, I want to know your thoughts as the Mariners win game one of the ALCS. Hi, I've just got to be completely honest with everyone. I didn't think they stood a chance of winning this game.

Starting point is 00:01:48 I thought there was no freaking way. And it was because of everything that could have possibly been going against you. You have your fifth best starter at best going against what I still believe is their best starter, or the guy who's pitching game too might have something to say about it. But their most reliable starter, the guy you know you're going to get the most against. You have a team that is traveling across the country

Starting point is 00:02:14 from Seattle, Washington to Toronto, whatever province it's in. And you have everything going against you. And you come out with a win here. And I don't think you can overstate how massive this is. I don't think you can overstate it. And a ton of credit to all 20s. 26 dudes today, even the ones who didn't play, even the ones who didn't play to come out and have an effort like this where you were clearly the better baseball team for the last day day as well, clearly the better baseball team for the last eight innings.

Starting point is 00:02:49 It makes game two now and, you know, we're just talking about game one, but you have to lay in the fact that game two is now icing. Game two is now an icing game and it's a chance for some delicious icing like Costco cheesecake. icing, like the type of icing that you want to live on icing. Oh, this is such a big win. And there are so many people who deserve such plotts for being able to take this one. I am steal one from my grandma, pleased as punch. It says punch indeed. And what a, like, we've been doing this all year.

Starting point is 00:03:25 And I think it's the perfect time to do this again. Let's start with the start because, oh my. Goodness. Considering the circumstances, considering the expectations, considering the stakes, this might have been the greatest Mariners start in this postseason, Chris Cross. Yeah, yeah. I mean, especially when you consider the level of expectation, right? Because I thought we were going to get three or four out of Bryson feel pretty good about it.

Starting point is 00:03:57 You know, like, hey, okay, you know, sets you up pretty well for game two. you know, maybe you didn't have to use the high leverage guys. That's how negative I was. And it wasn't because of a disbelief in this team. It was just situational, right? And the fact that Bright Miller for the majority of this year has been a bad baseball player. He's been a bad pitcher. There's a reason for it.

Starting point is 00:04:19 It's injury related. It has anything to do with nothing to do with injuries. But oh my gosh. So first inning, very first pitch. He misses the strike, misses his, excuse me, where he wants that ball. to go. It leaks out over the plate. George Springer puts a terrific swing on it. It's one nothing. Nathan Luke's has one of the best at bats you'll see. And I think struck out. I think it was strike three. We could talk about the unpunit. It was actor again after not being a factor in

Starting point is 00:04:47 game five. But he issues that walk. He gets Vladdy to hit a piss missile right to Julio Rodriguez. And I'm not feeling good. And then the next batter walks. And I'm thinking, oh my gosh, this is going to be ugly. If he can keep it to two runs, I'm going to feel great. Not only did he keep it to just the one run. I think he gave up one base runner for the rest of that game. He was phenomenal, phenomenal. And here's another case of where, look, strikeouts are the best. Strikeouts are what you should go for. You don't have to strike guys out to get batters out, though. And was there some hard contact that went unrewarded for the Jays in this game? Yeah, absolutely there was. But for the most part, Bryce Miller was shoving, locating everything and changing eye levels.

Starting point is 00:05:36 That's what made Bryce pitcher their best pitcher at the end of 2024, changing eye levels with the fastball and the splitie. Today it was more the fastball and the curve ball, but it was still effective regardless. Yep. I don't think you can over. The biggest thing for me, not just the one run, getting sticks from Brace. Yes. It's the length with when you had no guys. it left in the tank in terms of, compared to what you normally would have. It was so huge. And it wasn't like, oh, let's just kind of stretch him out

Starting point is 00:06:09 and kind of get as many, much of them as we can. He was great today. Regular season, he's probably going another inning. Regular season, he's probably going one more. But I totally get that call. Real quick, not real quick. The bullpen usage today, I loved from Dan Wilson. Yes.

Starting point is 00:06:26 Loved it. A lot of people were wondering about Gabe Spire there. Gabe Spire versus 678 is the perfect time to use Gabe Spire after he had struggled. Dalton Varshow can't hit left-handed pitching. Ernie Clement, I know he had a really good series against the Yankees. I still feel pretty confident Gabe Spire getting that guy out. And gosh, I don't even remember who's hit an eighth for Toronto right now. But that's the perfect time to use Gabe Spire.

Starting point is 00:06:51 Perfect time. You show trust in him, but you're also showing a little bit of, oh, we got to be a little careful here too. he use this guy. Obviously, you wouldn't be using him against Vladdy no matter what, like unless you're like down all of your relievers. But that's a great usage of Dan Wilson. Matt Brash continues to just look phenomenal. And Andres Munoz, man, he's the idea that there were people questioning this guy as a closer still makes me mad. Just absolutely pisses me off. Because this guy says good of a closer as anyone in baseball, that slider today was so freaking good.

Starting point is 00:07:30 dominated Vladi Jr. That was the middle of that order. And he dominated it. What an unbelievable job by that bullpen. Yeah. And let's not forget like this isn't just, this is another level of domination because of who you were facing. This is a Toronto team that came in scorching hot. And they lit up a decent Yankees pitching staff at least decent. Sure. And I get the matchup wasn't great. Oh, I think Anders froze. You guys can let me know if Anders froze. Yeah, I'm sorry if I'm talking over you, Anders. It could be me frozen, but I think it might be your internet there. Chat, let me know.

Starting point is 00:08:17 I don't think that you can overstate how good the pitching staff was here. Anders, if you can hear me, just exit and come back in and we'll do a quick commercial break. I don't think you can overstate how good the Seattle Mariners pitching was against a really good lineup. And they're so good at home. So good at home. Yeah, Bryce says here, Bryce Miller froze him up. Absolutely. That's just how good Bryce Miller was.

Starting point is 00:08:46 He even got Anders Hurst out. So we're going to take a quick commercial break. Give some love to our sponsors because we cannot do this show without them. And we'll be back to talk about some absolute clutch hitting on the locked on Mariner postcast. Let's go. Today's episode is brought to you by Monarch Money. Most people can't name all their financial accounts or even what they're worth,

Starting point is 00:09:15 whether it's 401Ks, properties, or investments. And when you don't have the full picture, you can end up leaving money on the table. That's why there is Monarch money. It's an all-in-one personal finance tool that brings your entire financial life together in one clean, easy-to-use interface on your laptop or your phone. Monarch is built for people with busy lives. If you put off organizing your finances, Monarch is for you. Monarch does heavy lifting for you.

Starting point is 00:09:40 You can link all of your accounts in minutes, see clear data visuals, get smart categorization of your spending, and finally feeling control of your money without ever touching a spreadsheet. That's the simplicity of it, the fact that you can put everything into one thing. It's the big dumper of financial accounts because it can do absolutely everything. So don't let financial opportunity slip through the cracks. Use code locked on MLB at monarchmoney.com in your browser for half off. your first year. That's 50% off your first year at monarchmoney.com with code locked on MLB. Today's episode is also brought to you by Fandul. The NFL season is here and Fandul has an

Starting point is 00:10:22 offer that you cannot miss. Right now new customers can bet just $5 and get $300 in bonus bets if you win. That's right, pick a bet, put down five bucks, and if it hits, you'll unlock $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. Hopefully somebody used it on Jackson Smith and Jigba and over receiving yards because holy crap, was that guy good today? Hopefully you bet the under on Jacksonville Jaguars points because that was pretty nice too. Long story short, go Seahawks. So what are you waiting for? Visit Fandual.com to download the Fandualt app today and get started. Here's my buddy. Hey, I'm back. Sorry, guys. Why don't we just switch? I'll host the second half of the show. Go ahead. I just want to give everyone a quick heads up that I'm at my parents' house, so that's why my Wi-Fi is crap.

Starting point is 00:11:15 They're not behind me. They're not here, but I kind of went in the little dent. They're not that cowboy in the back there? No, believe it or not. They are not. I thought that was a family photo. Yeah. Maybe it is. Maybe it is. So let's talk about the offense, Anders. That first inning was frustrating. And, you know, you get first and third with one out. And I want to ask you about the. one thing I have with Mr. Daniel Wilson today. Just the one thing. Ground ball to third base.

Starting point is 00:11:46 The contact play is on. I don't actually hate the contact play in that situation just because, you know, it's probably your best chance of getting a run in that situation. As much as I love Josh Naylor, you know, I get it, hopefully a bad throw or something along those lines. And you're trying to hustle to beat out the double play as well. Yep. You throw to the plate.

Starting point is 00:12:06 It looked really close, Sanders. and there were some images that were sent to me that suggested he was safe. There were images that were sent to me that suggested he was out. One way or another, Anders, you got a challenge there, don't you? Yeah, and it's at the very least a 50-50 call. And it's worth pointing out, number one, you get two challenges in the postseason. So that another one, people that are like, yeah, you got to save that. It's really early in the game.

Starting point is 00:12:34 You never know if you'll need it later. You have two. and I just I know it doesn't end up coming to bite you here but because you have two might as well use it there because it's so close if you get an early run there it's massive it's massive uh the other thing that I don't think a lot of people are recognizing we also could have for and this is less to do with the challenge more to do with the contact play they could have gotten a double play and that any would have been over anyway right like I was questioning their decision to throw home to one out you Yeah, like it was a pretty hard hit ground ball, well taken. There wasn't any bobbling whatsoever, and it was Jorge Polanco running to first. So it's not like he has a bunch of wheels. So I don't know. I think it sucks.

Starting point is 00:13:22 And a lot of people pointed out to me, you know, everyone blames Dan. And eventually is the manager's decision whether it's not. But it's not him that's getting the information. He's not actually watching the video. it's the video team that's doing it and then telling him whether the challenge or not. And then, of course, Dan Wilson is the one that decides to do it. So I don't know where the blame quote unquote lies for that non-decision or decision. But I'm just going to say the coaching staff.

Starting point is 00:13:51 And like I said, this is one of those situations where you don't know if it's on the manager or on somewhere else. Analytics team, replay team, whatever. But I feel like a challenge would have been warranted there for sure. My thing is, is that if it was the only challenge of the game and if you get the data, you see the image of the suggestion that his foot is over the bag, but not touching it, you know, okay. But if you get two, is there really going to be a situation? You hope not anyway. You hope not that. And you know what it is? If you do the challenge there, you just got to be really careful with the second one, really careful. Give it a

Starting point is 00:14:27 look. There's no harm in giving it a look in that situation. That's my only thing. And we've seen Dan Wilson do that before where it's kind of a gut challenge where it's just like, hey, you know, my guy tells it to me like why not let's give the challenge so i was very surprised more than anything else that he didn't it's to me it's the it's the floor versus ceiling thing right the floor of that is okay he still got one challenge left the ceiling is you get a run right and yeah you feel better at one one one nothing which you were down for a long time yeah but not for long not for too long anyway because cal raleigh and i'm going to be honest with the anders i was not feeling great about their swings against Gossman. It wasn't actually the swings against Gossman.

Starting point is 00:15:08 There were so many balls hit to the warning track today. So many balls that they just got under. And I was just kind of feeling like it's one of those days. It's one of those days where Gossman has the good splitter today. And they just haven't when it's been high and let it fly, they just haven't got it done. But on a pitch that was not high on low, down low, Cal Rale comes up as huge as possible and gives you that tie game. This guy's just special. I mean, it's such a great swing, too. And they talked about it. John Smoltz did, which crazy that he actually can talk about something other than pitching. Wow. But it was a great swing. He was so quick to the ball. That's when Cal Raleigh is locked in, right? And he was that

Starting point is 00:15:55 way for most of the game today. He was taking some great A-Bs. The top of the order was great. mine is maybe Randy. But everyone else at the top of that order was doing exactly what they needed to do today. But Cal Raleigh, man, in the moment where you absolutely needed him the most, I think it was one of those situations where once the first came, everyone else was like, okay, now we're locked in, we're getting our offense going. It's such a momentum thing with this team in particular. We've talked about it if it matters or not with just baseball in general.

Starting point is 00:16:27 I think with this team, there is an element of that for sure. When Cal, your guy that's carried you all season long, hits one out, and your pitcher has done amazing work just to keep it one zero at that point. And then it's a brand new ball game just like that. It's the guys woke up and it's like, okay, let's go. And you saw that for the rest of the game. And then from there on out, it was all Mariners. All Mariners.

Starting point is 00:16:49 All Mariners. Yeah, they absolutely dominated this game from that point on. So in that same inning, and here I'll just give you my, unsung hero right now and there's a tullio rogeriguez because drawing that walk to get dothman out of the game then getting to second base on the wild pitch and allowing horay polanco the opportunity to be going to make the joke because i said i was going to do it you can call it me at the ralph lauren factory outlet mall because it's polo season baby it is absolutely polo season and for him to hit that liner and I got to be honest again.

Starting point is 00:17:26 I'm never lying, I guess. I say I got to be honest too often on this show and ivory show. As soon as that ball dropped in, and as soon as Julio Rodriguez crossed home plate, I knew the Seattle Mariners were going to win this game. I knew the Seattle Mariners were going to win this game. And you know, Mr. Tom, Chris made an appearance.

Starting point is 00:17:42 I just felt so confident that they were going to get the job done because I saw Toronto Press. I saw Toronto Press. And this is what's really interesting to me, Anders. I think they're going to be pressing even harder tomorrow because it's a must-win game for the Toronto Blue Jays tomorrow. Really good pitcher on the mound for them. Really, really, really, really talented.

Starting point is 00:18:03 But you still got to score. You still got to score runs. Have they announced a starter for game two yet, Anders? The Seattle Bears. I haven't seen anything. Let me scroll through Twitter real quick. I want to say it's going to be Castillo. I would be completely surprised if it's not.

Starting point is 00:18:20 See, I think it's going to be Gilbert. I think it's going to be Gilbert. I think so. Just because two days rest on 30 pitches, what was basically his throw day and how good Castillo's been at home, I think they want to save him for that home start. We know it won't be will. We know it won't be Kirby, but I'll be really curious to see what they go with. They may not announce it until tomorrow. They may see who's feeling the best, you know, but that's big. And then, you know, sorry to skip ahead, but the liner to make a 3-1. The, once again, a terrific piece of hitting from Jorge Polanco. This guy has just been. And again, my favorite part about Jorge Polanco, and I don't blame anyone for not wanting

Starting point is 00:19:03 Jorge Polanco before the season. I don't. He was terrible. Yeah. But this is, this is why baseball's the best, because baseball offers redemption arcs better than any other sport. And the redemption arc for Jorge Polanco cannot be overstated. He should win comeback player of the year.

Starting point is 00:19:20 He won't. but he should win comeback player of the year. Yeah, for me, I'm going to go my unsung hero is, ooh, what's a clever way of saying this? I'll just kind of say it, and then you can think of a clever way to say it. Randy and Victor Robles' defense is switching places because Randy makes an outstanding catch in left field, and Victor Wolblis, there's some sort of adventure going on there in the bottom. Line up cards! Oh, line of cards! Oh, thank God to win. this game and that run doesn't end up scoring because otherwise we're talking about it.

Starting point is 00:19:55 I think that's a great point. Randy or Rosarena played a really good defensive game today. It's kind of funny. What Randy helped you a lot today with is base running and with defense. Yes. And, you know, the base running's been there for most of the year because, you know, you see the stolen bases. And I can remember a few gaffes, but for the most part, it's pretty good there. Yeah. There have been defensive adventures and then some. But Randy was so. so good charging the baseball today. As good as I've seen him in a long, long time. That was massive.

Starting point is 00:20:28 I think that's a great call, that he was the unsung hero with his defense for sure. That might be one of those statements that, like, in movies, when someone states it, it like opens up a bomb or something like that, Randy or other than defense is what causes. Yeah, that's a good point. The end of the world, but, oh, he was so good.

Starting point is 00:20:47 Can I also quickly shout out J.P. Crawford's defense at short. I know he doesn't necessarily make any crazy plays, but his throws have been much stronger lately. Yes, yes. And that was something I was really worried about, especially going into the Detroit series coming out of the regular season. I think he looks healthier now. Obviously, you'd like him to do a little bit more offensively

Starting point is 00:21:08 because he hit the ground ball to the exact same spot four different times. But him being an average to good, possibly shortstop, just making the plays that you need to, doesn't have the most range in the world, absolutely it will play in this series because you need good defense. And especially the way Polo has been playing much better at second base as well, I'm feeling better and better incrementally about the middle infield right now defensively. So, and I would totally agree, I'll bring up this point real quick before we end. Number one, it has been announced. Logan Gilbert will be starting game two.

Starting point is 00:21:43 Got it. Absolutely the right call. Absolutely the right call. And then you can play with the Wu, Kirby Castillo. It doesn't really matter. what order you go, I think, with those guys at home. But I do think going with your second best or best starter in that situation is the right call. Real quick on the Crawford thing. The big thing that I have noticed with Crawford lately is he's not rushing his throws. He's taking some time. He's taking that crow hop.

Starting point is 00:22:09 He rushed some throws in the Detroit series. He's rushed some throws all year. And some of that has to do with not trusting your arm strength. I think he's kind of realizing, you know what? I've got some time here. I have one of the best wop, wet ass, you know what,

Starting point is 00:22:25 stretchers in the baseball. I get it. It's like, how do I say this? Right. I'm sorry, he looks like Megan the stallion out there sometimes and he gets the job done. He is the real big dumper. He is the real big dumper.

Starting point is 00:22:41 But he's taking that time. And he played, you know, he goes hitless, I believe, in this game, but he draws a bunch of three ball counts. Great to see. Gino get a double after that's yeah i was going to make sure we got that in too oh i hope gino can get going man because they need it so bad so bad this is a great win uh game two tomorrow at two o'clock because why not uh Logan gilbert against tray is savage gonna see a lot of spitties

Starting point is 00:23:10 gonna see a lot of spitties from both these guys we'd really appreciate it if you hit like if you hit subscribe stay tuned for tying colby they will definitely have an episode coming up talk about the joy but your seattle mariners are now three wins away from going to the world series they have stolen home field advantage the one of the best home teams outside of the blue jays has stolen home field advantage 1150 of you at one point in here this is just insane we appreciate it so much so very much we'll be back tomorrow let's go make it too well and i will set the outro video because that's what we do. Locked on Barriers. Let's go.

Starting point is 00:23:52 Talk to you guys tomorrow. Go Mariners. This is the Mariners Postcast. Your instant game reaction for the Seattle Mariners. Part of the Locked-on podcast network, your team every day.

Locked On Mariners - Daily Podcast On the Seattle Mariners - MARINERS POSTCAST: Seattle Mariners SHUT DOWN TORONTO BATS in Game 1 of ALCS

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