Episode 1194: Season Preview Series: Mariners and Rockies

## Summary

*Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about the passage of the so-called “Save America’s Pastime” Act, the future of minor-league spending, the endangered status of lower-level independent leagues, Ryan Zimmerman’s spring-training trailblazing, leadoff hitter Aaron Judge, actual likely Opening Day Dodgers starter Matt Kemp, a Zack Greinke anecdote, and Miguel Cabrera’s solution for not knowing teammates’ names, then preview the 2018 Mariners (20:38) with FanGraphs’ Meg Rowley, and the 2018 Rockies (53:35) with Rockies Magazine’s Jesse Spector.*

## Topics

* Are the Mariners distinguished from the rest of the division?
* Why did the Mariners not get any starters this offseason?
* Is the anger towards the Angel's because of Shohei Ohtani?
* Dan Vogelbach
* Mike Zunino outlook
* Ichiro resigning, what does it mean?
* Have the Mariners gotten any better at player development?
* Where is the Mariners bullpen depth?
* What is Felix Hernandez outlook?
* Is there a Hisashi Iwakuma rebound coming?
* Does Jerry Dipoto get another deal if this year is bad?
* Does Dee Gordon deal look good?
* Mitch Haniger outlook
* Did the Rockies get any better?
* Have the Rockies solved Coors Field?
* What happened to Ian Desmond last year?
* Is there anyone behind Jon Gray that can step up?
* Jess has no idea who the number 2 is in the rotation.
* Is Adam Ottavino healthy?
* How much credit did/should Bud Black get for last seasons success?
* What have the Rockies done to make it easier for their players on the road.
* Do you expect Nolan Arenado to be resigned?
* Should you dock Nolan Arenado for playing at Coors.

## Interstitials

* Buzzcocks, "Sixteen Again"
* Manassas, "Colorado"

## Banter

* Minor league payment bill
* Ryan Zimmerman's spring numbers
* Matt Kemp is going to be a Dodger this year.
* Aaron Judge hit lead off on Friday.
* Zack Greinke threw nothing but 85 MPH fastballs in a spring training game with the Royals.
* Miguel Cabrera’s memory problems.

## Notes

* The Sonoma Stompers, as well as many other independent league teams, are endangered.
* “MLB spend millions of dollars lobbying this bill that they could have spent paying minor leaguers” - Ben
* Ben thinks this bill will change someday but doesn't know when or how.
* Ryan Zimmerman is batting .500 with a .1000 slug% this spring, in his 2 spring at bats, in February.
* Jeff says spring training is too long.
* Miguel Cabrera just calls everyone “bro".
* The Mariners window is just about closed.
* Meg doesn't think all the anger is due to the Shohei Ohtani signing, just nowhere else to yell.
* Mariners open to competition at 1B.
* Mike Zunino had a 154 wRC+ last season.
* Meg worries that the Mariners may have to release Ichiro at some point.
* Meg is optimistic about the Mariners player development.
* Jeff compared Dan Vogelbach to baked beans.
* “This will probably be Felix Hernandez last opening day start" -Meg
* “They are never getting out of that deal, they will be paying his children money" - Meg on Robinson Cano
* Meg predicted the Mariners win 79 games this year.
* “It's a Tigers length rebuild at least" - Meg
* Fans that are angry are looking ownerships way.
* Jesse thinks the Rockies got better just by getting older.
* Jesse expects Ian Desmond to improve.
* The Rockies were a below average hitting team and an above average pitching team last year.
* Coors Field will never be solved says Jesse.
* “When it come to Ian Desmond, moving him around isn't doing him any favors.” - Jesse
* Ian Desmond had a 75 point drop in slugging percentage last year.
* Adam Ottavino had a 10% increase in walk rate last year.
* “Bud Black got an appropriate amount of credit” - Jesse
* Rockies tOPS+ was 80 last year.
* “I don't think there's anything they can do” - Jesse on mitigating the Coors effect even on the road.
* Nolan Arenado has a tOPS+ of 84.
* Jesse expects Nolan Arenado to be back.
* Jesse predicts the Rockies win 91 games this year.

## Links

* https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-1194-season-preview-series-mariners-and-rockies/
* https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/save-americas-pastime-act-could-wound-or-kill-indy-leagues/
* https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/nationals-journal/wp/2018/03/20/ryan-zimmerman-insists-hes-not-out-due-to-injury-he-just-found-a-spring-training-loophole/?utm\_term=.eaa8cd6063af
* http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2764251-2-time-mvp-miguel-cabrera-is-stuck-in-baseball-purgatory
* http://www.banishedtothepen.com/2018-season-preview-series-index/