Wait For It Seattle, Ep. 99: The Piggyback Is Back, Seattle Is Having a Month, and Kraken Offseason Update

Wait For It Seattle, Ep. 99: The Piggyback Is Back, Seattle Is Having a Month, and Kraken Offseason Update

Episode 99 — the Leonard Williams episode. Brian Elsner [https://substack.com/profile/5499489-brian-elsner] and Kevin Cacabelos [https://substack.com/profile/166826474-kevin-cacabelos] are back to debating the piggyback (everyone hates it), break down Seattle’s incredible World Cup month, react LIVE to the Giannis-to-Heat trade, recap the Kraken’s Father’s Day acquisitions, and introduce a brand new segment: Seattle Sports Legend of the Week. First inductee: Angry Doug Baldwin. Plus a UW 2027 recruiting class quiz where Kevin nailed four straight in order. Chapters * 00:00 — Episode 99 = the Leonard Williams episode * 02:17 — Cortez Kennedy wore #99 his rookie year (deep cut) * 04:00 — The Leadoff: Take the piggies to the market * 05:30 — Bryce Miller / Castillo piggyback already failed * 06:00 — Dipoto’s “minor league origin” defense * 09:30 — Logan Gilbert’s bullpen-saves quote * 10:00 — Brian’s football scripted-plays comparison * 11:30 — Why Castillo can’t get traded ($27M next year) * 12:30 — Mariners Twitter discourse is unhinged * 14:00 — The Josh Naylor tanking take * 15:50 — Rob Refsnyder roster math * 18:00 — JP at third base + Donovan return projection * 19:20 — Seattle Is Having a Month * 20:30 — USA 3-1 Australia at Lumen Field * 22:30 — The Pioneer Square / Men in Blazers / Marshawn pregame * 25:00 — Should the World Cup always be in North America? * 27:00 — Buc-ee’s TikToks and US food culture * 28:50 — Ivar’s * 30:40 — Sounders fans noticing the Seattle hype * 32:00 — USA round of 16 in Seattle on July 6th = $3,200 cheapest ticket * 33:30 — Brian’s downer: stop talking about USA winning the World Cup * 35:00 — Father’s Day = Kraken Christmas * 41:10 — BREAKING NEWS on air: Giannis traded to Miami * 42:20 — Live reaction: Hero, Ware, Hawks Jr., Jović, 3 firsts * 43:00 — Steinbach now projected #14 to Hornets * 43:30 — Allen Graves projected mid-1st round (SCU pride) * 45:00 — NEW SEGMENT: Seattle Sports Legend of the Week * 45:30 — Doug Baldwin gets the first nod * 46:00 — “You want pedestrian? Watch this.” → Super Bowl XLVIII * 48:00 — Doug Baldwin ranks #60 on our Top 100 * 50:50 — Top 5: UW 2027 commits ranked 90+ by 247 * 58:00 — Bonus: Top 5 Mariners starters if you had to pay them * 59:30 — Bryce Miller for All-Star this year Follow SeaTown Sports’ Wait For It Seattle Podcast on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6eP9O5Tam3ieexGGD0ZFAY?si=95275c50d2b340f8] Subscribe to the Wait For It Seattle Podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@waitforitseattle]. Links * Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Substack [https://www.seatownsports.org]! * SeaTown Sports on Instagram [http://instagram.com/seatownsports_official] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.seatownsports.com [https://www.seatownsports.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Wait For It Seattle, Ep. 98: World Cup in Seattle, the Mariners Are Hurt, and the Seahawks Whale

Episode 98 — Brian’s back. He spent the past month traveling and he came back just in time to attend Belgium vs. Egypt in Seattle. Kevin Cacabelos [https://substack.com/profile/166826474-kevin-cacabelos] and Brian Elsner [https://substack.com/profile/5499489-brian-elsner] break down the full World Cup experience (tips for anyone going Friday to USA-Australia), the Mariners injury crisis ending with JP and Cal coming back, the NBA expansion rumor mill, and a Top 5 about Mariners steals leaders. Chapters * 04:12 — Brian went to the World Cup at Lumen Field * 05:18 — How he got tickets through the Reign STH lottery * 07:11 — Tips for Friday: light rail in from the north * 08:35 — Pioneer Square pre-game atmosphere * 09:08 — Julio, Woo, and Randy were also at the match * 10:30 — Walking into the stadium and getting through security * 12:00 — Inside the stadium fan experience * 14:14 — Egypt fans dominated 75/25 * 15:08 — Seattle’s stadium is getting praised internationally * 16:02 — Pro tip: don’t drive from the south * 18:00 — Mariners game Friday after USA-Australia * 19:40 — Sports bucket list talk (Mariners World Series, Olympics 100m final) * 23:26 — Mariners: 37-36, first place, plus-20 run differential * 25:47 — The team is shattered — injuries everywhere * 27:42 — JP and Cal coming back changes the lineup * 28:11 — Rotation Q: what’s the TBD on Thursday? * 30:34 — Does the six-man rotation kill the bullpen? * 32:08 — Grading Colt Emerson, Munoz, and Garver * 35:00 — Andres Munoz’s blown save problem * 36:00 — Garver’s elite ABS challenges * 37:15 — Refsnyder vs. Pareda roster decision * 38:30 — Storm lost again — Awa Fam vs. Valkyries * 40:50 — Tankathon update: Storm have 7% odds at #1 * 44:30 — Seahawks ownership: the local whale? * 46:00 — Steve Ballmer speculation * 47:00 — Melinda French Gates joins Kraken ownership * 49:55 — Top 5: US National Team players on MLS rosters * 53:00 — Top 5: Mariners single-season steal leaders Follow SeaTown Sports’ Wait For It Seattle Podcast on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6eP9O5Tam3ieexGGD0ZFAY?si=95275c50d2b340f8] Subscribe to the Wait For It Seattle Podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@waitforitseattle]. Links * Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Substack [https://www.seatownsports.org]! * SeaTown Sports on Instagram [http://instagram.com/seatownsports_official] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.seatownsports.com [https://www.seatownsports.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Wait For It Seattle, Ep. 97: The Mariners' 8-Game Streak, the Piggyback Works, and Wemby Takes Over

Daniel Salle back in for Brian. The Mariners are on an 8-game winning streak that started right after last week’s “don’t panic” episode. The Castillo/Miller piggyback is actually working (the numbers are filthy). UW football’s recruiting class keeps growing. Mitch Johnson’s Spurs are in the NBA Finals against the Knicks. Plus Stephen Curry’s billion-dollar Lining deal and Myles Garrett to the Rams. Also: pour one out for the East Bay catalog. Chapters * 00:00 — Intro * 02:22 — Mariners on an 8-game winning streak — what’s clicking? * 03:08 — Julio Rodriguez heating up at the perfect time * 06:23 — Roster depth gives them cushion for Cal & Donovan injuries * 09:33 — Garver vs. Parada backup catcher question * 10:13 — The Castillo/Miller piggyback numbers * 11:58 — Castillo finishes a 10-inning game and the bullpen rests * 14:00 — Could the piggyback be a playoff weapon? * 14:48 — Props to the Dipoto/Hollander front office * 15:53 — Mets sweep watch + Tigers/Skubal trade rumor * 16:40 — UW Football: 4-star WR from Texas commits * 17:08 — How official visit weekends actually work * 20:13 — Should UW always lock in the #1 in-state recruit? * 21:36 — National recruiting footprint: Arizona, Texas, beyond * 25:18 — Mitch Johnson did it: Spurs in the NBA Finals * 25:30 — Spurs vs. Knicks preview * 28:34 — Wemby is unique, scary, and not even at his peak * 31:55 — Top 5: Knicks All-Stars 1999–present * 35:00 — Top 5: Biggest NBA shoe deals all-time * 39:00 — East Bay catalog nostalgia * 40:47 — Myles Garrett to the Rams * 42:00 — Reminder: football is two months away Follow SeaTown Sports’ Wait For It Seattle Podcast on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6eP9O5Tam3ieexGGD0ZFAY?si=95275c50d2b340f8] Subscribe to the Wait For It Seattle Podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@waitforitseattle]. Links * Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Substack [https://www.seatownsports.org]! * SeaTown Sports on Instagram [http://instagram.com/seatownsports_official] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.seatownsports.com [https://www.seatownsports.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Wait For It Seattle, Ep. 96: The Piggyback, Mariners Panic, and Seattle's All-Time Best Hoopers

Brian’s off this week, so Kevin’s joined by recurring guest Daniel Salle. They open with the Castillo/Miller piggyback that’s already getting weird, defend the Mariners against the increasingly loud “this roster is flawed” crowd, get deep into the Mitch Johnson story (and Seattle’s NBA Western Conference Finals coaching connection), and close by drafting an all-time Seattle high school basketball-alum starting five. Also: pour one out for Wild Waves and Enchanted Village. Chapters * 00:00 — Intro + Daniel Salle joins * 02:15 — Wild Waves & Enchanted Village closing * 03:11 — Castillo got pulled at 58 pitches and looked pissed * 07:36 — What do the Mariners do with the piggyback now? * 12:37 — Are the Mariners actually broken? Or is the panic premature? * 16:05 — Rob Refsnyder regrets + biggest disappointments * 18:00 — Defending Dipoto: This is the best Mariners front office ever? * 21:38 — Mitch Johnson’s path from O’Dea to the Spurs * 24:00 — All-time NBA coaching Mt. Rushmore * 28:46 — Friends of Hoop squad: Mitch, Spencer Hawes, Brockman, Micah Downs * 32:13 — Jamal Crawford on the broadcast & the Legion of Boom comp * 33:00 — Jamal weighing the Kentucky assistant job vs. coaching JJ * 35:33 — Draft: Seattle’s all-time starting 5 Follow SeaTown Sports’ Wait For It Seattle Podcast on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6eP9O5Tam3ieexGGD0ZFAY?si=95275c50d2b340f8] Subscribe to the Wait For It Seattle Podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@waitforitseattle]. Links * Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Substack [https://www.seatownsports.org]! * SeaTown Sports on Instagram [http://instagram.com/seatownsports_official] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.seatownsports.com [https://www.seatownsports.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Wait For It Seattle, Ep. 95 - J.P. Crawford Discourse Is Out of Control, the Storm Need to Be Bad on Purpose

Brian Elsner [https://substack.com/profile/5499489-brian-elsner] and Kevin Cacabelos [https://substack.com/profile/166826474-kevin-cacabelos] go back and forth on the Shams/Shai MVP spoiler, dig into the Seahawks 2026 schedule, address the J.P. Crawford social media discourse, and break down the Storm’s tanking strategy with live tankathon.com simulations. Plus a Top 5 about Notre Dame Seahawks draftees and an active-coaches-wins record quiz Chapters * 00:00 — Intro + episode 95 tease + NBA video game memories * 03:11 — Leadoff: Shams spoiled the MVP announcement * 08:50 — Seahawks 2026 schedule: most anticipated games * 13:18 — Christmas night vs. the Rams = playoff vibes * 15:00 — Toughest Seahawks schedule stretch? middle of season vs. end of season * 16:30 — Claude predicts Seahawks 13-4 (favored in 14 of 17 games) * 18:00 — Russell Wilson retirement broadcasting prediction * 26:50 — Is this the best Mariners front office era ever? * 27:54 — Which Mariner injury concerns you most? * 28:32 — Cal Raleigh’s floor and ceiling for 2026 * 29:18 — Pier 62 floating barge for World Cup * 32:13 — What would you use a floating barge for? * 34:00 — Storm tanking strategy + live tankathon simulations * 36:30 — Tanking philosophy: it’s OK to want them to lose * 37:54 — Brian is 0-4 going to Mariners games this year * 38:55 — Top 5: Notre Dame players drafted by the Seahawks * 42:50 — Top 5 counter: Most wins among active D1 basketball coaches Follow SeaTown Sports’ Wait For It Seattle Podcast on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6eP9O5Tam3ieexGGD0ZFAY?si=95275c50d2b340f8] Subscribe to the Wait For It Seattle Podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@waitforitseattle]. Links * Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Substack [https://www.seatownsports.org]! * SeaTown Sports on Instagram [http://instagram.com/seatownsports_official] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.seatownsports.com [https://www.seatownsports.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]