To Love a Mariner

If the Seattle Mariners had a clear roadmap for the 2026 season, it's been abandoned by now – whether due to injuries, underperformance, or prospects knocking at the door. Eric and Jamie discuss aspects of Plan A that haven't panned out, as well as various attempts to improvise Plan B – including J.P. Crawford moving to third, and the controversial "piggyback."

CW: This episode contains discussion of anti-Black police violence. The Seattle Mariners are off to a lackluster start, but poor performance isn't all that can test one's fandom. Jamie and Eric discuss what it means when baseball players hold worldviews drastically different from one's own. In the second half, Brock Pytel (Doughboys, SLIP~ons) joins for the 2nd annual TLAM Standings Draft.

The Seattle Mariners are about to kick off their 2026 season! Eric and Jamie process what it means to be a consensus top AL West pick, then indulge in an annual TLAM tradition. This time Claire Jones joins to help look back at last year's players no longer in the organization, and to ask the question: where are they now?

The Seattle Mariners are preparing for their 50th season, but 2026 also marks the 25th and 30th anniversaries of M's home videos Sweet 116 and You Gotta Love These Guys, respectively. Jamie and Eric react to Rick Rizzs' retirement announcement, then embark on a VHS odyssey with return guest Amanda Lane Cumming (NW Baseball History). This one's for the cinema lovers.

Midway through the offseason, the Seattle Mariners have re-signed Josh Naylor and acquired Rob Refsnyder, Jose Ferrer and Andrew Knizner. Eric and Jamie gauge relative levels of excitement, then chat with Steven Blackburn about the saga of the Etsy Witch. The episode concludes with the results of the 2025 Standings Draft.

Another season in which the Seattle Mariners did not advance to the World Series is over. Jamie and Eric reflect on the team's postseason run, and attempt to view things positively by spotlighting every player's best playoff moment.

The Seattle Mariners have defeated the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS to advance to the Championship Series for the first time since 2001. Eric and Jamie recap the highs and lows, then preview the upcoming matchup against the Blue Jays.

The Seattle Mariners won the AL West and are playing the Tigers in the Division Series. Jamie and Eric talk about it! Playoff baseball, baybee.

The Seattle Mariners finally won their first road series since the All-Star break! Eric and Jamie tentatively celebrate while still reflecting on the recent skid. Then, musician, singer/songwriter and journalist Alex Hudson (Rec Centre, Exclaim!) joins the pod for a discussion of the current Blue Jays, '90s Mariners, and the Tacoma Dome.

Eugenio Suárez is back crushing dingers for the Seattle Mariners! Jamie and Eric discuss the acquisitions of him, Josh Naylor and Caleb Ferguson at the trade deadline — but not without lamenting Trent Thornton's season-ending injury. Listen until the end to hear a track from Jamie's new album with his band self//care.

The Seattle Mariners occupy a wild card spot at the so-called halfway point of the season. Eric and Jamie use the All-Star break to catch up on a smorgasbord of topics, including Big Dumper's derby win, ongoing fascism, the team's big-picture outlook, and where things are at with their standings draft.

The Seattle Mariners will be without Victor Robles for at least 12 weeks. Jamie and Eric reflect on this loss, then are joined by ball-knower Claire Jones for a discussion about the other four teams in the AL West. In lieu of early season predictions, the episode concludes with the inaugural TLAM MLB Standings Draft.

Opening Day is (almost) here! Eric and Jamie go over the short list of new names on the Seattle Mariners roster, then check in on every single member of the 2024 squad no longer in the organization. This episode ends with a few words in celebration of friend-of-the-pod Kieran Turner (1968-2024).

The Seattle Mariners had a lacklustre offseason, but unfortunately bigger problems exist in the world than just that. Jamie and Eric discuss the struggle to find meaning in professional baseball amid the horrors, then share big-picture thoughts on what the Mariners did(n't) do.

The Seattle Mariners haven't added a single player on a major league contract and we're already at the new year. Eric and Jamie resort to discussing minor league bullpen acquisitions like Drew Pomeranz and Sauryn Lao, before revisiting predictions from early 2024 and reflecting on the year that was.

The Seattle Mariners recently non-tendered four players. Jamie and Eric get into their feelings about Josh Rojas, and also say goodbye to Dave Sims. Special guest Amanda Lane Cumming joins at 25:37 to discuss her Northwest Baseball History newsletter, and the 1994 masterpiece Little Big League. (More of Amanda's Mariners writing can be found at Lookout Landing.)

The Mariners' 2024 season was a failure, but one bright spot was the (re-)emergence of Victor Robles. Eric and Jamie embark on the deepest of dives, telling his story from skinny kid playing 'la plaquita' to electric leadoff hitter in Seattle.

The Seattle Mariners fired longtime manager Scott Servais, and replaced him with someone named Dan Wilson. How do Jamie and Eric feel about it? It's complicated.

Randy Arozarena is a Seattle Mariner! Eric and Jamie discuss all the Mariners' deadline acquisitions and departures, the team's recent offensive outburst, and the players they were hoping to see gone just four weeks ago.

The Seattle Mariners dropped their home series against the Blue Jays, making it six series losses in a row. Jamie and Eric attempt to fix the offense by looking at each position player and determining where the team needs to upgrade.

The Seattle Mariners are in first place. Eric binge-listened to all 97 episodes of The Wheelhouse with Jerry Dipoto in order to discuss with Jamie whether this front office's tenure so far has been successful by its own terms.

The Seattle Mariners have finally won a series, sweeping the Reds in encouraging fashion. Eric and Jamie reflect on the early stretch of the season, then embark on a deep dive of lefty reliever Gabe Speier.

Opening day has arrived for the Seattle Mariners. Jamie and Eric assess the rest of the AL West, then predict how the season shakes out for the Mariners and MLB at large.

The Seattle Mariners have won just a single spring training game, but Eric and Jamie remain unconcerned. They focus their attention on 7 players on minor league deals, then say goodbye to all 33(!) 2023 Mariners no longer in the organization.

Spring training has started and the Seattle Mariners' roster is more-or-less complete. Jamie and Eric discuss the additions of Polanco, Santos and Voth, then chat with Micah Blunt (@M_Bleezie13) about Mariners fandom, meeting Aquasox players, and collecting baseball cards.

The Seattle Mariners finally have a full-time designated hitter, by the name of Mitchell Lynn Garver. Eric tells Jamie Garver's life story, but not before the two discuss the Mitch Haniger reunion, as well as the acquisitions of Anthony DeSclafani and Luke Raley.

The Seattle Mariners are having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad offseason. Jamie and Eric pinpoint four events that have signaled the team's unwillingness to spend, then discuss ten players who have joined the organization thus far.

The Seattle Mariners' season is over. Eric and Jamie discuss what went wrong down the stretch, revisit some predictions from earlier in the year, and share who they're cheering for in the playoffs.

The Seattle Mariners have only the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros left to play on the regular season schedule. Jamie and Eric discuss where the team is at, then chat with comic book artist Gina Wynbrandt, author of 'How Jarred Kelenic Got His Groove Back.' (Find Gina on Twitter and Instagram.)

The Seattle Mariners are leading the AL West! Eric and Jamie discuss their recent surge, then zone in on the newly acquired Josh Rojas - tracing his journey from tee-ball brat to Rainbow Warrior to bonafide big leaguer.

The Seattle Mariners had a quiet yet controversial trade deadline. Jamie and Eric discuss the departure of Paul Sewald, the return package from the Diamondbacks, plus peripheral moves and transactions from around the division and wild card race.

The Seattle Mariners have played very well in July, and enter the trade deadline in an interesting situation. Eric and Jamie take a deep look at the career of last year's deadline prize: La Piedra, aka starting right-handed ace Luis Castillo.

The Seattle Mariners have lost three consecutive series, most recently to the last-place Nationals in what feels like a low point on the season. Jamie and Eric discuss the disappointing first half with musician Brock Pytel (Doughboys, SLIP~ons). SLIP~ons Heavy Machinery EP out June 30th!

The Seattle Mariners salvaged a series in the Bronx with an offensive eruption, but continue to hover around .500. Mike Ford is a big leaguer, at least for the moment, and Eric seizes the opportunity to tell the lefty power hitter's life story.

The Seattle Mariners have a 29-27 record entering June. Trends have emerged, both positive and negative! Jamie and Eric nevertheless dedicate most of the episode to the AA Arkansas Travelers, enlisting the help of Sofie Dill (aka @sofieballgame on Twitter). Check out the Arkansas Travelers Youth Foundation! Soft Fossil: Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music

The Seattle Mariners can't seem to get past .500 - not unlike their High-A affiliate, the Everett Aquasox! Eric and Jamie recently caught the 'Sox at Nat Bailey, and decided to dedicate an episode to that team.

The Seattle Mariners recently salvaged a series in Toronto. Jamie and Eric briefly discuss the road trip, then launch into a deep dive on 12-and-under World Series hero and M's bullpen newcomer Trevor Gott.

The Seattle Mariners are 5-8 and fans MAY be overreacting. Eric and Jamie discuss the early results, then catch up with singer-songwriter and baseball enthusiast Craig Salt Peters.

The Seattle Mariners will face the AL West 52 times this regular season. While that is down from 76, it's still worth discussing! Jamie and Eric take a look around the division, then do a quick vibe check on the home team.

The Seattle Mariners used 59 players over the course of the 2022 season. Eric and Jamie discuss some of the non-prospect depth we might see in 2023, then say goodbye to some of the least familiar players who helped break the drought.

Eric and Jamie bring you the third and final installment of the all-time Jays/Mariners fantasy draft. Does either's team have a chance at the playoffs? Who would win a best-of-seven series? Is Rickey Henderson a better lead-off hitter than Leon Roberts? It's all impossible to say, really.

Jamie and Eric reluctantly discuss recent transactions, then dig into their respective fantasy pitching staffs. Part two of the all-time Jays/Mariners fantasy draft!

Eric and Jamie reflect on their first season covering the team, and construct a fantasy draft of only players who have spent time on both the Blue Jays and Mariners.

Friend of the pod Aili Meutzer returns to catch up with Jamie and Eric about the Mariners' ALDS performance, the juggernaut Astros and the fightin' Phils.

Eric and Jamie reconnect with musician and songwriter Brock Pytel (SLIP~ons, Doughboys) to discuss, debrief, and decompress from the wildest of Wild Card series.

Gabby AKA Robbie Ray's Pants returns to the podcast to chat with Jamie and Eric about the Mariners clinching a Wild Card berth, as well as the increasing likelihood of a Jays-Mariners postseason series.

Jamie and Eric talk all about their favourite September callup and the pride of Powder Springs: Taylor Trammell.

Eric and Jamie beat the dog-day doldrums by delving into "My Oh My" - both the 1995 Mariners home video and the 2010 Macklemore song.

Jamie and Eric talk all about very boring and not sexy bulldog, Marco Gonzales. Go Zags.

Eric and Jamie learn all about the young flamethrowing reliever from Los Mochis, Mexico: Andrés Muñoz. Also, Mariners take the season series from the Yankees!