[jaa36]

AG: Welcome back to The Wheelhouse. I'm Aaron Goldsmith, and here with me as always is Jerry Dipoto. Welcome, Jerry.

JD: Thanks Aaron.

AG: Well, after a lot of activity last week, a pretty quiet last couple of days before the deadline for you.

JD: Oh, believe me, they weren't quiet on my end. We had a lot of deals we were looking at, and we were pretty close to swinging a deal for a starting pitcher, but just didn't quite pull one off.

AG: A lot of the big names that people expected would be traded actually stayed put- Chris Archer, Marcus Stroman. Were you in on either of them?

JD: We were, for sure. Cole Hamels was another guy we actually came pretty close to swinging a deal for. But in the end, the asking prices were just too high. And to be honest, we've got a pretty good starting five to being with.

AG: Well, the week itself started off pretty good. What was it like to sweep the Houston Astros?

JD: Oh, it was amazing! The Astros are the best team in the league, and there's nothing better than beating the best. The offense was really clicking, 15 runs in one game, 11 runs in the next. It was a terrific stretch. Dee Gordon was all over the bases. Mitch Haniger had four hits in a game. Robbie hit two home runs.

AG: And then there was Jean Segura!

JD: Jean was fantastic, and won his second Player of the Week award this year. 13 hits, a home run. He's just been the steady heartbeat of our offense all year long.

AG: The 15-5 win on Tuesday was especially exciting, with the team getting down 3-0 in the first, but clearly the offense wasn't having any of that.

JD: Nope. They got right back into it in the bottom of the first, and just kept the pressure on the rest of the game.

AG: Was the second half of the week a let down, losing three of four to Toronto?

JD: I'll be honest, it was, a little bit. We started pressing a bit on offense, and we really got shut down by a couple of lefties in Jaime Garcia and J.A. Happ. We'll get right back at it this week, though, no problem.

AG: Was it weird to see your team hitting against Nick Vincent?

JD: And Tony Zych! Yeah, it was. Their whole bullpen was pretty exhausted, so we put up a couple of runs on him. We know the secret to hitting his mysterious elevated cutter.

AG: I can imagine, Jerry. Within your bullpen, a rough week for Juan Nicasio, who gave up seven runs in three innings. Is he wearing down as the season goes on?

JD: I don't think so, to be honest. He had some trouble locating the slider the other night. He's spending a little extra time with Mel Stottlemyre Jr. this week to work that out. It's always hard to coax Juan out of the weight room for things like that, but this week he's been up for it.

AG: Today's the first day of a ten-day road trip now, heading to Texas tomorrow. A cool 85 degrees in Texas today. Would you say you're glad it's not 20 degrees warmer?

JD: It easily could have been, Aaron. I remember those games down in Texas, and in Miami, and it could be just broiling some days. We'll have plenty of Gatorade on hand this week, but it could have been worse.

AG: You say we, but you aren't traveling with the club this week, are you, Jerry?

JD: No, I'm not- this is a good opportunity to see some of our minor league affiliates, so I'll be in Tacoma today and tomorrow, Modesto on Wednesday and Thursday, and then Everett for Friday and Saturday. The schedule works out really well to do that.

AG: Anyone you're looking forward to seeing play?

JD: Well, for nostalgia's sake, Hisashi Iwakuma with the Rainiers, though he's had a pretty rough season. Guillermo Heredia and Daniel Vogelbach are of course down there as well. With Modesto, Sam Carlson's our top pitching prospect, and really gathered a lot of interest at the trade deadline, though he's had a tough year this year. And in Everett, it would be Joe Rizzo, who's off to a great start this year.

AG: Well, let's take a listener question here. This week's question comes from Katie in Covington, who writes, who on the Mariners would win in a contest of brains, brawn, and beauty?

JD: Wow, great question, Katie! Well, let's see... For brains, you've got a lot of contenders. I think Ichiro, with how cerebral he is with his approach at the plate, would probably be the guy. Brawn, well, Juan Nicasio is on the short list, but it's gotta be Nelson Cruz. And for beauty, I think I would lean towards James Pazos and his mustache.

AG: I can't quibble with any of those answers, Jerry. Well, we'll finish up here. Good luck with the road trip, and we'll talk to you next week.

JD: Thanks Aaron.

AG: See you next week on The Wheelhouse.