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0:00-12:00: We’re back! Two episodes in two weeks, who knew that was even allowed? This week’s guest is Sam Delaplane, relief pitcher in the Mariners’ minor league system. Sam was with Arkansas in 2019 and took part in Spring Training, Summer Camp, and all the goings-on in Tacoma during the pandemic before recently being added to the 40-man roster. Sam is currently in Arizona, where he’s been bored enough to call in to our podcast! What’s a typical day look for a baseball player trying to train while not getting COVID?
12:05-35:00: How has being short influenced Sam’s baseball journey? Industry consensus tells us that the jump to Double-A is tricky, so let’s hear what someone who’s done it in real life has to say. Which Twins legend with a .248 career batting average gave Sam a bunch of trouble in Arkansas, where he played with Kyle Lewis, Evan White, Justus Sheffield, and a truckload of current and future Mariners? Sam then lobbies for a fellow short pitcher to make the Hall of Fame and tells a story about being totally hosed in his prep days.
35:05-39:55: What’s the plan for 2021? What does a successful season look like for Sam Delaplane? He has something very specific and somewhat obvious in mind.
40:00-1:02:50: Let’s get silly, we know what you came here for. Kate fawns over Sam’s dog, who has picked up its own version of a slider. Stories from Summer Camp, living in a hotel, taking the T-Mobile mound, and peering into Kyle Seager’s mind come next. Sam tells us some of the inside information he learned about HOW TO BE A PROFESSIONAL. The show ends with his best stories about weird karaoke on a bus and his favorite minor league cities. Mad love to Utah Jones.
“I’ve always said MiLB needs more Swedish pop” -@mroberson22
— Lookout Landing (@LookoutLanding) July 28, 2019
Check out 2019 draftee Utah Jones showing off some serious pipes on the late-night bus to Frisco: pic.twitter.com/uHnu18hW6O
Music: “Wah Wah” by George Harrison // “Side A (Old)” by Danny Brown