Game of the Week: August 4: SEA @ OAK

[Commissioner Erick]

Seattle Mariners (69-44) @ Oakland Athletics (60-52)


SEA: Luis Mendoza (12-4, 3.82)
OAK: Anderson Espinoza (2-2, 4.08)


Mariners 3 Key Stats:


115: Seattle injury days this season: Seattle has suffered the second fewest injury days in the AL, a key reason for their success. They’re completely healthy now and on a nice run, pulling to a six game lead in the AL West. P.J. Mainville has been a major factor as team trainer. He’s been on the job since 2022 and has made the playoffs five of his nine seasons, despite going through a number of coaching regimes. One of the best trainers in the league, if he can keep Seattle healthy, he may see the playoffs for a sixth time in 10 years.

5: Players on team options for next season: Seattle currently has only a shade under $2 million available in budget space for next season. They can assign less money for development and make some moves in arbitration to get a little bit more money, but no matter what, the team will be close to their budget with their current roster. Seattle will be forced to make decisions on relievers Anyelo Luna, Circus Dusing, catcher M.J. Melendez, backup Mike Becker, and super utility player Vinny Escudero. The Mariners will hope for a deep playoff run, not only for their obvious end goal of winning a championship this season, but to help with their books next year. An early exit could significantly hamper Seattle’s depth in 2032.

1: Times allowing double digit runs in their past 86 games: The Mariners allowed 10 or more runs their first two games of the year, and four of their first 22 games. They allowed a nine and an eight run game during that start as well. Unsurprisingly, the team was only 12-15 after Ignacio Tonche hit a Grand Slam off Monster Koch in a 11-7 Mariners loss in Minnesota April 24. Seattle has really settled in since them. They’ve allowed double-figures in runs just once, when they allowed 10 runs in Toronto on June 11th—and won. The team is first in runs allowed as a result, and the team has gone 57-29 since that April 24th game.


Athletics 3 Key Stats:

23: Wins in games against left-handed starters: Seattle has the most wins in the American League against left-handed starters. Second? The Oakland Athletics. Their .773 OPS is third in the league against lefties, which has allowed them to go 23-19 against southpaws. They’ve faced Luis Mendoza this year three times with mixed results. In Oakland in early March, they homered twice, banged seven hits, and tagged him for five runs in 3 innings in a loss. In Seattle in mid-May, Mendoza stymied the A’s for 6 shutout innings. Right before the All-Star break, Mendoza allowed five walks, but only two hits and two runs in 5 innings in a Seattle blowout. Round four will be tonight.

5.7: Elias Ramirez’ WAR: The main haul of the Juan Castereno trade, Ramirez was an elite prospect, and he’s been an elite player. The Rookie of the Year in 2030 with 42 doubles, 25 homers, 20 steals, and 15 outfield assists, Ramirez has taken things to another level in 2031. He already has 28 homers to go with 27 doubles and 26 steals, giving him a chance to go 40-40-40. He walks a fair amount, plays excellent defense, and unlike Castereno who was all about himself, doesn’t make any noise in the clubhouse. He leads the league in WAR and may be the season’s MVP, and is only making the minimum. The A’s have him on a minimum contract, looking to maximize their success with him on a cheap contract.

.300: Amed Rosario’s average: Oakland traded away an All-Star having a strong season this year. Amed Rosario was hitting .300 before he and Danny Tammaro were dumped to Cleveland to save money and pick up an intriguing arm in Boomerang Paz and a prospect in Kyle Williams. Milt Pool has moved over to Third Base to replace Rosario’s production, but it’s led to Raul Mondesi being inserted as the team’s Designated Hitter. Mondesi has mostly been a bit player since 2025 putting up negative WAR every year, except for 156 games with the A’s in 2027 where he produced 0.3 WAR. Aramis Ademin only has a .665 OPS as other options on the MLB roster. That may not be enough to get Oakland to the playoffs.


Questions for the GMs:


For Jay Bigs, you added Josh Hancock to be your Hitting Coach entering the season. Why did you sign him and what do you think of the job he’s done?

Michael Green had such a strong year last year, and wasn’t doing too poor of a job this year. How come you’ve sent him to Triple-A?

Every single team in your organization has a winning record. How much attention have you given your minor leagues to have it where every single club is winning?

For Garrett White, Adam Haseley has a strained quad and is day-to-day. There’s no telling how long it will take to heal. Will he play through the injury?

Lucius Fox has been on a rehab assignment for a week. Will he get called up today?

You’re starting Rule V pick Nick Markell in Left Field and journeyman Raul Mondesi as the DH. Do you feel you have enough offense to make it to the finish line?


TRIVIA: Raul Mondesi had the second most Plate Appearances on the 2025 Oakland Athletics. Juan Castereno was first. Who was third?

[Jay Bigs]

1. you added Josh Hancock to be your Hitting Coach entering the season. Why did you sign him and what do you think of the job he’s done?
I did intially go after a different hitting coach but someone else paid him more so I had to look for options. Our hitting coach from last year I dont think was getting enough out of the players so when I found Hancock whos only experience was in the NY Minors he had all the attributes I wanted. A well balance set of preferences with outstanding development and handling aging, but while still favoring prospects. I wanted an all round offense type of guy and he also had great relationships with all the key batters going into the season. I think hes doing an excellent job and hell be here going forward.

2. Michael Green had such a strong year last year, and wasn’t doing too poor of a job this year. How come you’ve sent him to Triple-A?
Its unfortunate with Green out of no where at the start of the season he had a drop in mechanics despite hitting well during spring and obviously having an excellent year last year. Despite that hes still a good player and this was more him being the odd man out essentially. Zettel/Kim/Becker have 1B/DH locked down vs all types of pitching so he couldnt play there, I brought in Santiago initially to stay in CF but after bringing in Salinas to strengthen our up the middle defense this meant shifting Santiago to RF where hell be better defensively for us too. LF is essentially locked down vs RHP by Morales with a good glove and hes hitting better than Green currently, and vs LHP Escudero has been pretty much undroppable since getting the starting LF position. Its a shame hes still got talent and I think hell still be a good big league player but based on projections it may have to be with another team and we may look to shop him in the offseason. Till the end of the season though hell be ready in case we do get any injuries in the back end or want to carry an extra bat in the playoffs.
 
3. Every single team in your organization has a winning record. How much attention have you given your minor leagues to have it where every single club is winning?
This is something I actively monitor and try and achieve and you could say I micro manage every level. When I joined the minors were in a shambles with players constantly switching up and down the minor teams so my first task was implement a structure to be able to develop my prospects that I planned to draft or bring in via trades. Those first couple of years was acquiring not only talented players but good leaders and clubhouse attitudes that could facilitate good development. In each tier there is a set 10 or so players that we will keep around at those levels until they age out but the majority of the starting positions will be prospects we want to develop. As you can see so far its working, winning teams generally develop players better throughout the minors and its something I will continue to try and do. 

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA: Jay correctly guessed Jeter Downs

[Commissioner Erick]

Mariners 2 - Athletics 1


WP: L. Mendoza (13-4)
LP: Anderson Espinoza (2-3)
SV: B. Villeneuve (2)


Seattle picked up a win at O.co Coliseum, toppling the Oakland Athletics, 2-1. Pitcher Luis Mendoza was one of the reasons the Mariners triumphed. Mendoza went 6.1 innings to notch the win. He scattered 3 hits, walked 1, and struck out 7. His record improves to 13-4. The American League West Division-leading Mariners have a record of 70-44.

Raimfer Salinas, the two-time All-Star , had a direct impact on the outcome. Salinas contributed a 2-run single in the top of the fifth inning to put Seattle up, 2-1.

"Our goal is to improve each and every day," Salinas told the Seattle Today.


Questions for the GMs:


For Jay Bigs, Felipe Chavez pinch hit for Ji-hu Kim in the eighth inning. Did you agree with the move?

Luis Mendoza only allowed one ball to be hit over 100 miles an hour. How good has he been at limiting hard contact?

What would you say was the key at bat of the game?

For Garrett White, your offense really suffered with Elias Ramirez getting the day off. How concerned are you that you only put up one run today?

How did your first round pick last year, Sulo Modin, look in his first game?

Raul Mondesi went 0-4 and is now hitting .103. I understand a lack of options forcing him into the lineup, but why did you bat him cleanup?


TRIVIA: What three players have won more than 15 games in a season for the Athletics?

[Jay Bigs]

1. Felipe Chavez pinch hit for Ji-hu Kim in the eighth inning. Did you agree with the move?
Im not sure I would of made the move since Kim has been hot recently walking a ton and hittingthe ball hard but Chavez has also been consistant vs all types of pitching so I can understand the decision.

2. Luis Mendoza only allowed one ball to be hit over 100 miles an hour. How good has he been at limiting hard contact?
Hes been really good overall tbh. I thought he would be a better player when he wasnt unhappy and that seems to be the case. Hes a good leader in the clubhouse and everytime he steps on the mound we seem to pick up the wins, that shows on him having one of the highest wins out of SP in the league right now.

3. What would you say was the key at bat of the game?
Honorable mention to Salinas driving in 2 but I believe Melendez single moments before getting runners at the corners was the at bat that really put the pressure on Espinoza and opened the way for Salinas to get the plaudits. Melendez with a great game with his bat and as always solid behind the plate. 

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 2: Ben Vincent guessed Brandon Finnegan, Tim correctly guessed A.J. Puk, and Jay correctly guessed Doug Heppenstall