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Podcasts March 23, 2026

Episode 375 – Unparalleled Mariners Anticipation

RUNDOWN

Mitch opens from Portland, where he spent the weekend with his son and attended NCAA Tournament games—including Gonzaga’s elimination, which he thoroughly enjoyed. The guys dive into what makes March Madness special, highlighted by a classic David vs. Goliath battle between Arkansas and High Point.

Mitch is joined by Brady Farkas and Joe Doyle as the Mariners head into Opening Day with a surge of offensive production after a sluggish spring. The guys highlight breakout signs from Cole Young and Dom Canzone, while also addressing concerns around JP Crawford’s injury, Cal Raleigh’s uneven World Baseball Classic impact, and roster decisions in the infield and rotation.

Mitch welcomes Steve Phillips for his annual Opening Day visit, where the longtime MLB insider says the World Baseball Classic has players—especially hitters—more game-ready than ever to start the season. Phillips is bullish on the Mariners, calling this their best opportunity to win the division and make a deep run, while also addressing concerns around pitching durability and bullpen volatility. The conversation expands league-wide, with Phillips explaining why the Dodgers are both dominant and good for baseball, why Shohei Ohtani remains a near-lock MVP, and ultimately predicting a Dodgers–Mariners World Series.

Mitch and Puck open with some leftover tension from a previous discussion before diving into Mitch’s surprising admission that the World Baseball Classic didn’t resonate with him. Mitch explains that, despite the talent on the field, it doesn’t feel meaningful to the American baseball audience—pointing to player opt-outs and inconsistent participation.

GUESTS

Brady Farkas | Host, Refuse to Lose podcast
Joe Doyle | MLB analyst, Over Slot
Steve Phillips | MLB Network / SiriusXM / Former Mets GM
Jason Puckett | KJ-Aren’ts / Puck Drop

TABLE OF CONTENTS

0:00 | Portland, Gonzaga’s Exit, and the Birthday Game; Mitch checks in from Portland after watching Gonzaga get bounced—and rolls into a loaded birthday trivia game.

15:49 | Mariners No-Table: Spring Bats Wake Up as Opening Day — The Mariners’ offense shows late life in spring training as Opening Day looms—but questions remain about lineup depth, health, and early-season readiness.

41:04 | Steve Phillips: Opening Day Buzz, Mariners Hype, and Dodgers Dominance: Steve Phillips says this might be the Mariners’ best shot yet—while the Dodgers loom as baseball’s overwhelming favorite.

1:02:38 | KJ-Aren’ts with Jason Puckett: WBC Doesn’t Land for Mitch — And It Gets Tense; Mitch admits he couldn’t get into the World Baseball Classic—and it sparks real tension in a separate conversation that clearly struck a nerve.

1:24:00 | Other Stuff Segment: Mariners Opening Day expectations, World Series odds and roster questions, Arozarena/Raleigh tension resolved, March Madness Speedo distraction, Brandon Roy response to Garfield allegations, WNBA reaches new CBA, Seahawks RB situation per John Schneider, Michael B. Jordan In-N-Out moment, Syracuse coaching hire (McNamara), Tiger Woods Masters return buzz RIPs: Robert Mueller (81), Dennis “Loverboy” Condrey (74), Rex Culpepper (28), Chuck Norris (86) Headlines: FDA eases tanning bed rules, Camel pageant disqualifications for “hump plumping,” Brain-eating virus claims, Fentanyl found in Barbies at Missouri store

Podcasts March 16, 2026

Episode 374 – Seahawks Searching & Cinderellas Dancing

RUNDOWN

Mitch opens the show from Los Angeles, where he’s in town to watch Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs play the Clippers—but not before attending a Division II baseball series featuring players who grew up with his sons. The conversation shifts to March Madness, with Mitch explaining why he believes the top teams—especially from the Big 12—are clearly ahead of the rest of the field.

The Seahawks No-Table crew breaks down a turbulent offseason following their Super Bowl win. The trio discusses key departures in free agency, the team’s deliberate approach to the salary cap, and why Seattle may rely on player development and the draft rather than splashy signings.

Mitch talks with Tennessee State head coach Nolan Smith after the former Duke All-American and national champion led the Tigers to an Ohio Valley Conference title and an NCAA Tournament berth in his first year running the program. Smith reflects on learning the coaching profession under Mike Krzyzewski, navigating career setbacks after leaving Duke, and how those experiences shaped him as a leader.

Mitch and Queens University head coach Grant Leonard talk after the Charlotte-based Royals captured the Atlantic Sun title and punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament in their first season eligible for Division I postseason play. Leonard explains how a balanced offense—with six players averaging double figures—helped fuel the run, while also discussing the reality of roster building in the transfer portal era.

Mitch welcomes back North Dakota State head coach Dave Richman, whose Bison are headed to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time under his leadership after another Summit League title and a 27-win season. Richman talks about balancing loyalty to Fargo with the reality that successful mid-major coaches are constantly linked to bigger jobs, while also explaining how roster building has changed in the portal and NIL era.

Mitch talks with Troy head coach Scott Cross after the Sun Belt regular-season and tournament champion Trojans earned their second straight NCAA Tournament berth. Cross explains how he rebuilt the roster after losing several starters to bigger NIL deals by promoting reserves who helped the program reach last year’s tournament.

GUESTS

Brady Henderson | Former University of Washington point guard and longtime Huskies basketball radio analyst
Jacson Bevens | Host, Refuse to Lose podcast
Nolan Smith | head coach, Tennessee State
Grant Leonard | head coach, Queens University
Dave Richman | head coach, North Dakota State
Scott Cross | head coach, Troy

TABLE OF CONTENTS

0:00 | Division II Baseball, March Madness Picks, and the Birthday Game

19:00 | Seahawks No-Table: Seattle’s Super Bowl roster takes offseason hits, but the Seahawks’ front office stays committed to long-term roster building instead of panic spending.

45:35 | Nolan Smith: Former Duke star Nolan Smith takes Tennessee State to the NCAA Tournament in his first season as a head coach.

1:02:09 | Grant Leonard: Queens University shocks the Atlantic Sun and reaches the NCAA Tournament in its first year of Division I eligibility.

1:15:24 | Dave Richman: North Dakota State coach Dave Richman returns to the NCAA Tournament—and reflects on building a winning program in Fargo during college basketball’s NIL and transfer-portal era.

1:33:42 | Scott Cross: Troy head coach Scott Cross returns to the NCAA Tournament with a roster built on loyalty, development—and an unlikely pipeline from Puyallup, Washington.