Mariners Hot Stove: MLB lockout continues, remembering Julio Cruz

Mar 2, 2022, 12:00 PM

Baseball fans watch as Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during a news conference after negotiations with the players' association toward a labor deal. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

BY SHANNON DRAYER

Mariners Insider, Seattle Sports

On the darkest of baseball days the Hot Stove could only do so much but nonetheless we persevered. One hour of baseball talk on the airwaves Tuesday night, and yes, we have a podcast.

There were the regulars, a prospect interview, a visit from Gary Hill, and get to know a 710 ESPN personality’s baseball. But also a good look at the current situation in baseball and where things stand after talks between MLB and the MLBPA broke off and the cancellation of regular season games by MLB followed and what could happen next.

Rob Manfred cancels 1st week of season as sides fail to end MLB lockout

Learning that the shift had been discussed in the final day of negotiations led to a hearty debate on the show about the necessity of restrictions on positioning with the hosts taking opposite sides. We were able to find a bit more agreement on expanded playoffs, a key negotiating piece for the players.

Away from the labor discussions, we got to know pitching prospect Bryce Miller a bit better as he joined us from Peoria. Fresh out of the 2021 draft where he was a 4th round pick, Miller is a great example of the “waves of talent” Jerry Dipoto aims to keep generating. A teammate of Zach DeLoach at Texas A&M, Miller was one of the players who opted to go back to school for a senior season after the 2020 draft was cut to just six rounds due to the pandemic. A two-way player – mainly a closer on the mound – he tried starting in his final season and saw good results. In a minicamp bullpen he hit triple digits and looks like an interesting option for the Mariners as either a starter or reliever. He is up for either path and is looking forward to further developing in the Mariners system.

In our continuing “Get to know your 710 personality’s baseball” we heard from Dave Wyman, who talked about the process of learning the game of baseball coming off his football career.

The show also included a beautiful tribute by Gary Hill to an original member of the Mariners and longtime Spanish language broadcaster Julio Cruz, who sadly passed away Feb. 22.

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