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AG: He's Jerry Dipoto, I'm Aaron Goldsmith, and this is The Wheelhouse. Jerry, welcome back.

JD: Thanks Aaron.

AG: Well, let's get right to it. Another good week for the Mariners, four wins and two losses. And we saw Robinson Cano selected AL Player of the Week, the second consecutive Mariner to win that award, with 13 hits, two home runs, seven RBI. Robbie on an absolute tear recently, with a twelve-game hitting streak, and an incredible 20 hits in his last 35 at-bats.

JD: He's been incredible. I think the ball is just looking like a beach ball floating up to him. We've gone over and over just how deep this lineup is, and Robbie is really the linchpin in the number three spot.

AG: The game on Thursday in particular showed how much Robbie means to this team. In that one, Felix has an early exit, leaving in the fifth inning. The bullpen really provides an amazing effort, with Juan Nicasio giving up 2 1/3 scoreless innings to keep the Angels' lead at one. Nick Vincent gives up a run in the seventh. And then in the eighth inning, two outs, Jean Segura strikes out but reaches first on a wild pitch. Robbie comes up, and absolutely pummels an 0-1 pitch into the left-field seats to tie the score.

JD: We've seen some really good crowds at our home games this season, and the atmosphere was absolutely electric. This town is ready for some playoff baseball, and it's been a playoff-like atmosphere this summer.

AG: Then you've got Edwin Diaz giving Scott Servais three and a third shutout inning, striking out five, just leaving it all out there. We've talked before about how flexible this bullpen is. There are a lot of managers who wouldn't bring the closer in at all in a tie game. Scott leaves him out there for ten outs in that situation.

JD: In this case, it really paid off. Like you said, Edwin had the good stuff, was commanding the fastball and the slider, and struck out five. He was fired up, and he did not want to come out of the game even after all that.

AG: So the game is still scoreless in the thirteenth inning. Two outs. Cano at the plate. Two-one pitch, he gets a curveball from Jose Alvarez that catches more of the plate than what he wants, Cano takes it into the left-field bullpen. Game over. Mariners fans absolutely pumped up.

JD: We have seen this team fight and scrap and claw all season, and we're in very good position moving forward.

AG: Let's talk a little more about the bullpen for a minute. We all know how good a season Edwin Diaz has had. How about James Pazos and Juan Nicasio?

JD: To a man, this has been a really good bullpen. As I've said all along, I give Scott credit for putting guys in situations where they can and do succeed. Pazos has been throwing gas all season, and he's struck out 77 guys in just 46 innings. He's got nine wins, and the starters have given him a lot of crap for vulturing all their wins when he comes in to bail them out in the fifth inning. They can settle that in the kangaroo court, but ultimately when the team wins, everybody's happy. Nicasio has also been incredibly reliable, with his ERA and even 3. Nick Vincent, Dan Altavilla, Mark Rzepczynski and Nick Rumbelow have all given us good innings, as well as Doug Fister in the long relief role.

AG: Can you tell us a little bit about Motter Pop?

JD: (laughs) Motter Pop. Yeah, Motter Pop started last year when he got off to such a good start, and it's really taken off this year. Taylor's played great in the utility role. He came right in with two hits in his first two at-bats a few weeks ago. Then he had the three-run homer last week. This week he had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth on Saturday and again, just an electric atmosphere in Safeco. He didn't quite pull it out that time, but you can bet Wade Davis was sweating to face him.

AG: Well, this week, playing the same two opponents, but on the road. Will you travel with the team to Denver?

JD: Yeah, I will. Lots of good memories from my time there. Not good memories of how I pitched (laughs), but it was a pretty interesting time to be a pitcher in Colorado.

AG: Anywhere I'd be likely to find Jerry Dipoto while he's in Denver?

JD: There's a place called Sam's- this is a family that's run diners for almost a hundred years- and you know I love a good diner.

AG: I am aware of that, Jerry. Well, OK, let's do a listener question. This week the question is from Glenn in North Bend. The question is, Jerry, can I get some playoff tickets?

JD: (laughs) Not on sale yet, Glenn. It's not too late to get some pro-rated Mariners season tickets so you've got a leg up on the competition should the stars align and the Mariners make the postseason.

AG: Good thinking, Jerry. All right, well, one more week until the All-Star break. Good luck, Jerry, and thanks for being with us.

JD: You bet.

AG: We'll see you next week on The Wheelhouse.