00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 - It's incredible what Julio Rodriguez did.
00:05 It was a driving force for Seattle Mariners team
00:08 that has now won six games in a row,
00:10 including a pivotal three consecutive in Houston.
00:15 Donnie, the state right now of the Seattle Mariners,
00:20 are you buying in on this team
00:22 who has now overtaken the Toronto Blue Jays
00:26 by a half game in the American League?
00:29 Wild card standings?
00:32 - Buying in on a playoff, you know, maybe entrance.
00:35 Yes, I am because of how well they're playing.
00:37 And granted, we're now heading down the backstretch here
00:39 of August, one full month to go.
00:41 We'll see if they can stay as hot,
00:43 but this team is playing well.
00:44 Now, do I think they're gonna do damage
00:46 once they get into the playoffs?
00:47 Probably not, but all you need for a couple guys
00:49 in your lineup to wake up like Julio Rodriguez.
00:51 I just, look, I know the young pitching is like,
00:54 let's just say you have a veteran guy in Castillo, right?
00:56 You got a couple of young pitchers behind him
00:57 that have been performing well,
00:59 but this is one of those teams, Kevin,
01:00 which I expect to go back to what I thought they were.
01:03 A little bit less punch at the plate.
01:04 Like, let's just say Julio Rodriguez calms down at the plate
01:07 and Cal Rowley also is not homering every other night.
01:10 It seems like it's going on.
01:12 I just don't trust that lineup long-term.
01:14 I like their pitching.
01:15 I think it pitches well for that ballpark here.
01:17 And that's the type of ballpark club they have.
01:19 But if I need them to go on the road in the playoffs
01:21 to out slug somebody,
01:23 I just go back to what I think the Seattle Mariners
01:25 are supposed to be, not what they're actually doing now.
01:28 But again, I'm not taking anything away
01:29 from the playing good baseball.
01:30 And I do think there's a legitimate chance
01:32 they can be a wild card,
01:33 but I think that's probably the top of the spectrum
01:36 for them for me.
01:38 - So they've come all the way down at a plus 950 to win it.
01:41 If you look right in front of them,
01:42 nine to one tickets on Toronto and Minnesota.
01:45 Here's my question to you.
01:46 And I think I already know the answer to this.
01:48 If Seattle is able to secure that last wild card spot,
01:52 it is almost assuredly going to set them up
01:55 for a trip to Minnesota, Don.
01:57 You like this Mariners team more than the Minnesota Twins,
02:00 no?
02:01 - I mean, I guess you technically would,
02:05 but again, I'm trying to say,
02:07 no, if the Mariners are playing as good of baseball
02:10 as they are today on September 30th,
02:12 yes, my opinion is certainly going to change.
02:15 What I'm trying to do is to say, okay,
02:16 I understand the hot run for the Mariners from the deadline.
02:19 I get it, they're playing good baseball.
02:21 I just don't think this can continue
02:23 all the way through September and into the playoffs.
02:25 Will they challenge for a wild card spot?
02:27 I do believe they can, but if you're going to tell me then,
02:30 you know, Hula is going to have 22 hits every single week.
02:32 Well, I don't care what happens.
02:33 They're going to be a tough out in the playoffs,
02:35 but I'm just looking at it from a position of,
02:37 I know what the Mariners are capable of doing.
02:39 They're playing way above their pay grade right now
02:41 on offense, particularly some players carrying them.
02:44 If they level off here,
02:46 I think that's what the issue is going to be.
02:47 So again, they can make the playoffs.
02:49 I'm not looking for anything big, but again,
02:51 if they do continue to play on this streak, heck,
02:53 they might even win the division
02:55 and have home playoff games at that point.
02:57 (upbeat music)
02:59 [Music]
