Hour 2 - Cal Raleigh's Struggles, Most Concerning Mariners Trends, Blue 88
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The Mariners' early-season struggles are centered on Cal Raleigh's devastating 0-for-32 slump, a collapse that has exposed the team's fragile margin for error. Hosts Brock Huard and Mike Salk argue that Raleigh's 2023 MVP-caliber performance was the single greatest factor in the team's ALCS run, and his current drought—worsened by an oblique injury and mounting pressure—has left the Mariners unable to close out tight games. They draw a stark parallel to a quarterback regressing from elite to average, emphasizing that no team can survive such a loss of production from its cornerstone player. Yet, they remain hopeful: with only two and a half games behind the A's in a weak division, a turnaround is still possible if Raleigh rediscover his form. The episode also critiques the team’s lack of runners in scoring position and sloppy execution, while contrasting the Mariners’ struggles with the Tampa Bay Rays’ surprising success—despite leading MLB in sacrifice bunts, proving that analytics can evolve beyond conventional wisdom. The hosts debate whether the Rays are playing a modern version of Moneyball by exploiting overlooked strategies, even if they contradict traditional sabermetrics. Finally, the show shifts to lighter fare, with Salk recounting a chaotic father-daughter hockey game where he played the goon to keep up with his daughter’s speed, and the hosts mockingly dissect the Seahawks’ draft performance and the soft market rumors surrounding their ownership sale.
Cal Raleigh’s 0-for-32 slump is the primary reason the Mariners can’t close tight games, despite strong starting pitching.
The team’s success last year was built on Cal Raleigh’s MVP-level performance—no other factor came close.
A 0-for-32 streak from a team’s best hitter is unsustainable; the Mariners are not built to survive this kind of collapse.
The Tampa Bay Rays are leading MLB in sacrifice bunts—17 so far—proving that analytics can embrace unconventional strategies that work.
The Rays’ success shows that Moneyball isn’t about one stat—it’s about finding undervalued edges, even if they contradict popular beliefs.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Cal Raleigh's 0-for-32 Slump: The Heart of the Mariners' Struggles
“You just can't have your best hitter go 0 for 32. Like I don't know how else to say that. You just can't.”
The Weight of Expectations: Cal Raleigh’s Mental Burden
“And that weight that you carry in those eyeballs and all of it, there is a weight to that.”
The Rays’ Contradictory Strategy: Sacrifice Bunts as a Modern Moneyball Play
“If the Rays have looked at everyone else and said, no one else is doing this, let's try it. It'll confuse everybody else.”
Sloppy Play and Controllable Errors: The Mariners’ Hidden Weakness
Lyle’s critique highlights the team’s recurring errors—like airmailed throws and pickoffs—as preventable issues that undermine their competitiveness, even if they’re not losing games due to talent gaps.
Mike Salk’s Father-Daughter Hockey Game: The Goon in the Locker Room
“I just went, does he wipe her out once? No, he doesn't wipe her out. Just once threw her to the ground.”
“You just can't have your best hitter go 0 for 32. Like I don't know how else to say that. You just can't.”
“If the Rays have looked at everyone else and said, no one else is doing this, let's try it. It'll confuse everybody else.”
“And that weight that you carry in those eyeballs and all of it, there is a weight to that.”
Hosts
Guest
brock huard
person
mike salk
person
cal raleigh
person
tampa bay rays
other
seahawks
other
cecily salk
person
seth wickersham
person
leonard williams
person
hakeem butler
person
deMarcus lawrence
person
Hour 2 - So Many Mariners Contributed This Weekend, Mariners Takeaways, Blue 88
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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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