The Extra Innings podcast returns with Times beat writer Ryan Divish and columnist Larry Stone analyzing the Mariners’ recent road trip where they went 6-3 with series wins over the Tigers, Blue Jays and Rays.
But it was more than just the wins. There was manager Scott Servais benching Mallex Smith and criticizing rookie left-hander Yusei Kikuchi. Divish and Stone discuss how Servais handles those sorts of situation and his approach to disciplining his players in private and public.
They look at Kikuchi’s season as a whole and whether his 98-pitch shutout of the Blue Jays is more telling than his struggles leading up to it.