Midshipman’s Log, June 16, 2019: All-Star Breaks; Pro Debuts; Evan White stays hot; Cal Raleigh goes yard

Your tri-weekly minor league highlights roundup

The Mariners farm is both more exciting and more functional than it’s been in a long time, which means it’s worth paying attention to how the prospects are performing down at the lower levels of the organization. In addition to our stalwart State of the Farm weekly roundup that takes a longer view of the farm, we’ll have minor league roundups thrice a week or so to share some highlights, gifs, and notes in our Midshipmen’s Log (it’s...

Mariners Moose Tracks, 6/17/19: Austin Nola, Matt Strahm, and Justin Upton

The Padres and Rockies may have been playing football with their scores this weekend.

Good morning everyone! I hope you all had great weekends and are ready to get the week started. Here are some links for you today.

Austin Nola, who hit .327/.415/.520 with 7 HR and 37 RBI in 54 games as a C/1B with Tacoma, is being called up to take Encarnacion’s roster spot.

If he gets in a game, he’ll already become 51st player for Mariners...

Watch: SEA 6, OAK 3 - Mariners plate 4 in the 8th for 6-3 win

6/16/19: Mariners plate 4 in the 8th for 6-3 win

Mariners scrape together enough cash for decent Father’s Day gift, win series

Mariners make dad joke out of Oakland pitching staff

These days, when I see my dad after Mariners losses, the first thing he says, quickly and with just a shade of bitterness, is: “I know, I know. Draft pick.” He’s never been a big follower of the minors, and forget college baseball—he had a momentary interest when UW was in it last year, but even that didn’t translate over to following the draft. I try to put names to what can be done with high draft picks, pointing out how well...

31-44: Chart

Mariners win another series, win roadtrip 5-4

Rich dad: Kyle Seager: .288 WPA

Poor dad: Omar Narvaez, -.064 WPA

Moment of the game:

Austin Nola has been in the minors for over seven years. Today he made his MLB debut, and got a hit. He also made several fine plays at first.

First big league hit ?#TrueToTheBlue x Austin Nola pic.twitter.com/pRoNczBEyn

6/16/19: Open Game Thread

Can’t get swept, at least

Yesterday, the Mariners traded off the most objectively fun thing remaining on the 2019 team when they sent Edwin Encarnación away to the Yankees in (re) return for teenage pitcher Juan Then. It was a move fans had been expecting since before the season began, but it doesn’t make it easier to bid the parrot and its master adieu, although I do look forward to bandwagoning the Yankees when they face the Astros in the playoffs.

The Mariners went on to get...

Yankees now have ridiculous lineup after Edwin Encarnacion addition

The New York Yankees appear intent on living up to their Bronx Bombers nickname with their addition of Edwin Encarnacion. Encarnacion becomes the latest power hitter to join the New York lineup. As ESPN’s Jeff Passan notes, the move will give the Yanks astounding depth and possibly the deepest lineup in the sport. There isn’t a single easy out in the entire lineup. Even the non-power hitters, like DJ LeMahieu, can easily hit .300. Of course, health matters, as evidenced by the fact that...

Mariners ownership reportedly wants to 'trade anyone making money'

The out-of-contention Mariners cut some payroll Saturday when they traded pricey slugger Edwin Encarnacion to the Yankees. If Seattle ownership has its way, that won’t be the last payroll-slashing deal the Mariners make in advance of the July 31 deadline. Owner John Stanton & Co. would like to move "anyone making money," according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network. Considering the way the Mariners’ season began, this probably isn’t the news their fans were expecting back in April....

Mariners call up catcher/infielder Austin Nola, older brother of Aaron

The Mariners will call up catcher/utility infielder Austin Nola to the majors, manager Scott Servais told reporters following tonight’s game. Nola will take the roster spot left open after Edwin Encarnacion was traded to the Yankees earlier today. This will mark the first time that the 29-year-old Nola has appeared in the big leagues, following an eight-year professional career largely spent in Miami’s farm system. Originally drafted in the fifth round by the Marlins in the 2012...

Mariners to select contract of catcher/infielder Austin Nola, older brother of Aaron

The Mariners will call up catcher/utility infielder Austin Nola to the majors, manager Scott Servais told reporters following tonight’s game. Nola will take the roster spot left open after Edwin Encarnacion was traded to the Yankees earlier today. This will mark the first time that the 29-year-old Nola has appeared in the big leagues, following an eight-year professional career largely spent in Miami’s farm system. Originally drafted in the fifth round by the Marlins in the 2012...

Sun rises in East, Mariners lose snoozer to A’s, Sun sets in West

Mariners lose to plucky team, pluckily

I’ve watched enough Mariners games that my brain has developed a subconscious heuristic for creating expectations of each game.

First - who are the Mariners playing?

Is it the Angels? Mike Trout will do a bunch of stuff, Albert Pujols will play like he’s still good, Kole Calhoun will do something to piss everyone off, but the Mariners might still end up winning, because the Angels are almost as embarrassing as the Mariners.

Is it the White Sox? The...

30-44: Chart

How low can you go?

Simply not sleeping: Tim Beckham (0.056 WPA)

My Sleep Number setting is 45!!!!!!!!: Gerson Bautista (-0.265 WPA)

Then Again - Mariners trade Edwin Encarnación to Yankees for RHP prospect Juan Then

The Mariners return a familiar prospect in exchange for their veteran slugger.

Many parrots outlive their caretakers, so it should come as no surprise that Edwin Encarnación and his silent passenger are moving on from the Mariners before the season’s end. The fact that EE even began the season in Seattle was surprising. He departs a fan favorite, hitting more homers (21) in his ~half a season than Justin Smoak did in any season in Seattle. Encarnación departs for the Evil Empire,...

Yankees acquire Edwin Encarnacion from Mariners

The Yankees have acquired first baseman/DH Edwin Encarnacion from the Mariners, ESPN.com’s Jeff Passan reports (Twitter link). Right-handed pitching prospect Juan Then is headed to the M’s in the trade, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports, and USA Today’s Bob Nightengale adds that Then is the only player being acquired in exchange for Encarnacion. According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (Twitter link), the two teams are “essentially splitting the money” owed to...

Yankees reportedly acquire Edwin Encarnacion in trade with Mariners

The New York Yankees have added another big bat to their roster. The Yankees on Saturday evening acquired Edwin Encarnacion in a trade with the Seattle Mariners, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The New York Post’s Joel Sherman says 19-year-old pitching prospect Juan Then may be included in the trade. Encarnacion had been sidelined recently with a lower back issue, although that may have been the Mariners being extra cautious as they pursued trade options. The 36-year-old DH has...

Mariners’ Edwin Encarnación traded to Yankees?

The looming returns of Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge weren’t enough for the New York Yankees, as they’ve now reportedly agreed to a deal to acquire another All-Star slugger. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Seattle Mariners slugger Edwin Encarnación is being traded to the Yankees. Encarnación’s power will fit in perfectly at Yankee Stadium and with New York’s lineup. The 36-year-old owns a .888 OPS this season with 49 RBI and an AL-leading 21 home runs. The 36-year-old...

6/15/19: Open Game Thread

they’re really leaning into this opener thing huh

Last night was fun, huh? Maybe let’s do it again tonight.

Lineups. Encarnacion sitting with a sore lower back again pic.twitter.com/RA8Z8g673n

For the fifth time this season, the Mariners are deploying an opener. Gerson Bautista is getting his second crack at it after firing 1.1 scoreless innings on Wednesday, though he’ll probably only stick around for the first. Wade LeBlanc is next up,...

The Lookout Landing Father’s Day Gift Guide

if you’re shopping at this point, this is the level of advice you deserve

Hello and welcome to the Lookout Landing Father’s Day Gift Guide! As a dad I am eminently qualified to give advice about What Dads Want. Unfortunately, none of that advice is contained here.

Look, I have so many thoughts. First, stop trying to make “Roll deep” happen. It’s not going to happen. Next, what in the hell is this even saying? “Seattle Mariners! Roll...

Fair-Weather Fans

On fathers, sons, and the language of sports

In December, the month he died, my dad called me almost every day. This was a violation of our previous arrangement: speaking briefly every few months, mostly about the weather. I’d watch the phone light up with his name, buzzing with neediness that made me embarrassed for him. My father was always a private man. Private in the way that fathers strive to be when protecting who they are from their children. As far as I understood my father was...

Mariners Moose Tracks, 6/15/19: Justus Sheffield, Hunter Renfroe, and Mr Little Jeans

have any of you ever seen a moose in real life?

Good morning, everyone.

[grabs chair, spins it around, sits backward, tosses an apple in the air]

I’m your substitute teacher. Literally the only thing we’re doing today is clicking links. As long as you do that, everybody gets an A+. Your regular teachers will be back soon.

Hearing Justus Sheffield has been sent down to AA, Arkansas to try to get back on track....