Dave 'Softy' Mahler and Dick Fain

Softy and Dick spent much of today at the Mariners' Media Day at T-Mobile Park, listening to Dipoto make his state of the team speech and talking with players. With the off-season bringing major changes to the lineup a lot of fans are a little freaked out, but what is there to lose? Even if this experiment fails, and the team isn't in the playoffs in 2021 or 2022, what's the difference? They weren't there anyway, and it wasn't getting done the way things were. They might as well try something new and hope it works. Jerry Dipoto certainly thinks these changes will bring this team success... eventually. He joins the show to discuss the roster shakeup, the difference between a reset and a rebuild, the signing of Ichiro, and more. We discuss what we've learned in our interview with Dipoto.

Tune in every Thursday at 4pm to hear Mike Holmgren with Softy and Dick Fain, from the Central Bar and Restaurant, on all things NFL and Seahawks. He is brought to you by El Gaucho, Masterpark, 30-10, Tacoma Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, Redbox, and by Washington Gold Casinos.

If each Seattle sports team were a stock, which team would you buy right now? The Mariners are at their lowest point, so they have the furthest to rise, but they could be a few years away still. The UW basketall team has started to rise, still a long way to go, but are getting there much faster. On another edition of Dick and Dave in the Locker Room (not actually in a locker room), they caught up with J.p. Crawford, and Mallex Smith. The Dawgs are trying to get a win in Eugene for the first time in nine years tonight. What's the key to a victory over the Ducks? Donald Watts has insight. Earlier today Softy asked Andy McKay to compare the depth of the minor league system today to the depth when he got here ...and he couldn't.

Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds are very slowly gaining each year in Hall of Fame voting, but they aren't gaining fast enough. If guys from the steroid era are going to get in, it's probably not going to be from voters who have dug their feet in about not giving them the vote. They're going to need new voters. In case you missed it, we replay yesterday's Edgar Martinez interview following the Hall of Fame announcement. The Huskies are 5-0 in conference and heading for a tough couple of games against the Oregon teams. Mike Hopkins talks about where the team is it, how long his East Coast influence on recruits might last, and what he has to say to the skeptics.

Mike Hopkins has been using his East Coast connections, getting a five-star recruit, making a bigger impact here and doing it faster than we all would have expected, and he hasn't even won anything yet. Once the team makes it to the tournament, gets a couple of wins, who knows how far this could go? Petros Papadakis has Ram fever.... or maybe not. He discusses the (contrived) enthusiasm in LA, his thoughts on the Rams - Saints game, Jake Browning, and is Chris Petersen the best thing going in the entire conference? Textimonials react to the first two hours of the show.

It's not officially official, but the Mariners are going to sign Ichiro to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training. Fans are... indifferent. If this were a season in which the team was expected to compete, fans would probably be more upset, but with nothing to play for, what's the harm? It'd be fine if the Mariners let him have a final goodbye, maybe during a nice long home stand where fans could come out to see him one final time,, but really bringing him back is an unnecessary move. Kevin Harlan, the voice of reason in pro sports broadcasting, has thoughts on last weekend's controversial calls, Tom Brady, and more. Jake Browning reflects on his time with UW; his successes, and dealing with criticism, his future plans, and what the UW quarterback room looks like next year.

We're joined by Ian Furness and Chuck Powell with analysis for our coverage of the official 2019 Hall of Fame announcement. Edgar Martinez has been waiting for ten long years, and today it was announced that he will finally be inducted this July in Cooperstown. One of Edgar's former managers, a man who may make the Hall himself, Lou Piniella joins the show to react to the announcement, and give thoughts on Edgar as a player. Mo Rivera is the first player to unanimously get nominated in baseball history. Softy is bothered by this. Edgar makes a few comments on his nomination.

We found out just after 3:00 that Edgar Martinez, after a long ten-year wait, will finally be inducted in 2019. Former teammate Bret Boone weighs in on his memories of Edgar, and why eh was so dominant against fellow Hall of Fame inductee Mariano Rivera. Former player and longtime broadcaster Ron Fairly describes what made Edgar such a great hitter. Textimonials react to Edgar's election.

We take a brief break from Edgar talk to discuss last weekend's Championship Weekend games, including the now-infamous non-PI call, the overtime rules, and the do-over potential. Then, the man of the hour himself, #11, Edgar Martinez joins the show talking about his career, and what it's like to finally make the Hall after such a long wait. Our own morning show co-host Bucky Jacobsen shares memories of playing with Edgar during his time with the Mariners. On this week's Tuesdays with Tipp, Dave Tippett is joined by former player and Arizona Coyotes color analyst Paul Bissonnette.

All controversies aside, yesterday's conference championship games were fantastic, but two teams had to lose, and two fanbases are crushed. Is it worse to get beaten or to lose because of bad calls by officials? We in Seattle have experienced both, losing in 2006 at least in part because of the officials, and in 2015 because of the interception on the 1 yard line. When it's the officials, it's more about anger, but when you lose on your own, it's more depression that sets in. Despite the two great games yesterday, the story is the officiating after the blown pass interference call in the NFC Championship game. The NFL needs to take a long hard look at how calls are handled. Maybe all plays should be eligible to be challenged. Officials should be full-time. We go to New Orleans to talk with WDSU-TV's Sharief Ishaq about yesterday's Saints loss to the Rams, and how fans are reacting after the missed call. Unsurprisingly, they're angry.