SeaTown Sports

Kevin Cacabelos & Brian Elsner

By Seattle sports fans, for Seattle sports fans. The Wait for It Seattle podcast on SeaTown Sports provides insight and analysis on Seattle's sports teams. www.seatownsports.com

  1. 5d ago

    SeaTown Sports Pod, Ep. 108: A Downer Weekend in Seattle Sports, Told Through the Press Conferences

    Kevin and Daniel take one of the more deflating three-day stretches in recent Seattle sports memory and walk through it the honest way — by reading what the people responsible actually said. Jedd Fisch takes the blame for a two-minute clock blunder in an ugly home loss to unranked Minnesota. Mike Macdonald explains the Seahawks' first loss since last November. And Jerry Dipoto opens his end-of-season presser with a line that will get quoted all week, on a day the Mariners moved on from Dan Wilson and most of his staff. Plus a Rick Rizzs sendoff and a UW quarterback rushing-yards Top 5. Chapters * 00:00 — Blue Scholars, high school dances, and Seattle nostalgia * 02:03 — Setup: one of the most downer three-day stretches in Seattle sports * 02:30 — The Huskies lost at home to unranked Minnesota * 03:29 — Fisch’s two-minute clock blunder — “That’s my fault” * 04:49 — Does Fisch have too much on his plate with no true OC? * 06:46 — The resurfaced 2018 tweet: Fisch was McVay’s clock-management guy * 13:30 — The three-year slow-start pattern * 14:25 — Something’s missing: the “belief” factor * 15:43 — Demond Williams isn’t the player he was last year — yet * 16:51 — The Seahawks lost for the first time since November * 17:03 — Macdonald: “We were minus-three in the takeaway department” * 18:34 — Darnold looked healthy and mobile * 19:30 — 31 points despite the turnovers; the Jadarian Price fumble problem * 20:10 — Why the loss might actually be good for them * 20:55 — 44 rushing yards — worried about the run game? * 25:56 — The Mariners cleaned house * 26:30 — Wilson out (leaked Sunday); Acta, Seitzer, Hill, Young let go * 27:19 — Keeping Woodworth and Edgar * 28:00 — Dipoto: “If I didn’t have a job today, it’d be justified. We failed.” * 28:51 — Does Dipoto deserve a third managerial hire? * 31:07 — The Pete Carroll-style “mutual” exit framing * 32:29 — Dan Wilson’s solo presser was hard to watch * 34:04 — The clubhouse liked him — so whose fault is this? * 36:51 — The manager candidates board * 42:09 — A Rick Rizzs sendoff after 41 of the franchise’s 50 years * 49:17 — Top 5: UW quarterbacks by career rushing yards Follow SeaTown Sports Pod on Spotify Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Pod on YouTube. Links * Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Substack! * SeaTown Sports on Instagram 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

  2. Sep 21

    SeaTown Sports Pod, Ep. 107: The Mariners' Lost Season, Seahawks 2-0, and Sonics Getting Real

    Brian's on the PUP list, so Daniel Salle slides in for a football-heavy Sunday episode. Kevin and Daniel try to diagnose a Mariners season gone sideways — the offense that never clicked, the piggyback that didn’t work, the murky front-office and manager questions heading into the offseason — before pivoting to the good news: a 2-0 Seahawks team dominating with Drew Lock under center, a 3-0 ranked Huskies squad with a discipline problem to fix before Big Ten play, and genuinely real Sonics expansion momentum out of the NBA Board of Governors meetings. Daniel closes with a UW all-time receptions Top 5 that runs through Reggie Williams, Rome Odunze, and Jaydon Mickens. Chapters * 00:26 — Daniel Salle subs in; Brian’s on the PUP list * 00:52 — “The Seahawks are the opposite of the Mariners” (a first grader’s wisdom) * 01:46 — Laz Montes learned Coors Field on PlayStation * 02:30 — Woo and Kade Anderson shine in Colorado * 03:11 — Diagnosing the Mariners: what’s wrong isn’t obvious * 03:37 — Dan Wilson reportedly not expected back * 04:35 — Do you want Jerry and Justin to keep making the decisions? * 07:24 — The ownership-spending talking point (Kevin doesn’t buy it) * 08:30 — Cal Raleigh’s turnaround: AL HR co-lead since Aug 16 * 10:38 — The pitching staff’s rough second half * 12:47 — From a game away from the World Series to 10 under .500 * 13:00 — The piggyback post-mortem: it didn’t work * 14:20 — The Refsnyder / Taylor Ward mystery * 14:59 — Is something off at the plate philosophically? * 15:56 — No manager could’ve saved this (Cal, Donovan, Woo bad luck) * 16:37 — Daniel’s offseason stance: be ready for anything * 17:13 — Seahawks are 2-0 and dominating (31-7) * 18:11 — The Sam Darnold injury and Brian Fleury’s baptism by fire * 19:53 — Drew Lock is the perfect experienced backup * 21:16 — Is Fleury an offensive coordinator upgrade? Get JSN the ball * 22:48 — Next week vs. the 0-2 Commanders (Jayden Daniels hurt) * 23:24 — Huskies 3-0, ranked #26, beat Eastern Washington 48-16 * 25:43 — Demond Williams looked his best yet * 25:50 — The discipline problem: self-inflicted penalties * 29:07 — Does UW have a run game? The Minnesota test * 30:00 — Daniel’s ceiling worry: Sark-era vibes, 8-9 wins * 31:33 — The secret ingredient is experience (Indiana’s senior-laden title team) * 34:48 — Building the all-time Husky team + future legacy recruits * 35:03 — Titus Huard, Bryce Tuiasosopo, Rush Williams (legacy recruits) * 38:55 — SONICS: Adam Silver says Seattle is “far along” * 39:59 — Excitement meter + confidence it actually happens * 43:32 — So much NBA has happened since 2008 * 44:23 — Kevin Durant involvement speculation * 47:40 — Top 5: UW all-time receptions leaders Follow SeaTown Sports Pod on Spotify Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Pod on YouTube. Links * Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Substack! * SeaTown Sports on Instagram 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

  3. Aug 30

    SeaTown Sports Pod, Ep. 106: Macdonald Is a Top-2 Coach, the Sounders Finally Spend, and UW Women’s Basketball Targets Nation’s Best

    Brian opens by vowing not to talk about the “stupid Mariners” again until they reach .500 (a bases-loaded walk on a wild pitch was the final straw). From there it’s a football-forward episode: two weeks of Hard Knocks and the growing case that Mike Macdonald is a top-2 NFL coach, Myles Gaskin as Seattle Legend of the Week ahead of the Apple Cup, an Apple Cup rivalry that may have run its course, the Sounders finally spending real money on striker Dejan Joveljić, and a UW women’s basketball program suddenly recruiting against UConn and South Carolina. Plus a chaotic “that guy rocked” trivia game to close. Estimated Chapters * 00:29 — Episode 106 / the 106 bus route * 01:23 — Lincoln got issued Kam Chancellor’s number 31 * 02:02 — Leadoff: the stupid Mariners (bases-loaded walk on a wild pitch) * 06:41 — Hard Knocks two-week catch-up * 07:55 — The growing case: Mike Macdonald is a top-2 NFL coach * 09:04 — Macdonald as a masterclass in teaching + relationship building * 11:03 — “Cura personalis” — reaching each player where they are * 11:22 — Cooper Kupp sat vs. the Titans; Jake Bobo’s ACL injury * 12:32 — Macdonald’s empathy + Leonard Williams checking in on him * 12:45 — Leonard Williams signs an extension / becomes a favorite * 13:22 — Did the culture create the Super Bowl or vice versa? * 15:47 — Bud Clark’s injury shown on Hard Knocks * 18:24 — John Schneider’s Three Amigos movie-quote bit * 19:43 — Movie quotes segment (Speed, Point Break, Toy Story) * 24:42 — Seattle Legend of the Week: Myles Gaskin’s Apple Cup dominance * 27:48 — Chris Polk’s 284-yard Apple Cup counter-argument * 29:18 — Three things to watch in the Apple Cup opener * 33:22 — Quaid Carr projected RB1, not Jayden Lamar * 35:33 — Has the Apple Cup rivalry run its course? * 38:19 — The Sounders finally spent money: Dejan Joveljić * 42:09 — UW women’s basketball is swinging for the fences * 43:54 — Kaleena Smith: the #1 recruit in the 2027 class visits UW * 46:44 — Kaylor Buse (top-52, 2027) names UW in her top 5 * 48:19 — Finley Parcher (Lynden) * 53:06 — Top 5 game: “That Guy Rocked” roster trivia Follow SeaTown Sports Pod on Spotify Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Pod on YouTube. Links * Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Substack! * SeaTown Sports on Instagram 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

  4. Aug 16

    SeaTown Sports Pod, Ep. 105: Hard Knocks Ep 2, the Arnold Signing, and Reading the Comments

    A Saturday-night episode covering a brutal Seahawks preseason debut (Brian watched all of it and regrets it), Hard Knocks episode two and the Terrion Arnold felony-charge signing question, whether Jerry Dipoto threw Colt Emerson under the bus over an undisclosed wrist injury, a deep dive on the Huskies' loaded defense, the Reign sneaking into playoff position, and a “reading the comments” segment that turns into a conversation about Mariners suffering. Brian closes with a UW all-time passing yards Top 5. Chapters * 01:48 — Leadoff: NFL preseason football is atrocious * 02:11 — Woodland Park Zoo tangent + the crow that stole Brian’s sandwich * 05:31 — Zoo trivia * 06:26 — The Seahawks preseason game was awful * 07:00 — Who actually played (no starters); Bud Clark disappointing * 08:33 — Mike Macdonald was visibly annoyed / “this isn’t our standard” * 10:42 — Hard Knocks episode two reactions * 11:20 — The Terrion Arnold signing (8 felony charges) debate * 12:31 — Seahawks fan polls: 80-85% say sign him * 14:00 — John Schneider is the best executive in the NFL * 15:14 — What makes this Hard Knocks great: culture over cuts * 15:33 — The shadow boxing segment * 17:49 — Seeing Emmanwori’s rehab in person * 18:37 — This week’s preview: Witherspoon becomes highest-paid corner * 19:47 — Mariners lost a brutal walk-off to the Astros * 21:12 — Brendan Donovan’s veteran leadership + Brock Rodden’s bat * 21:54 — Is it over for the Mariners? Both are on the fence * 24:17 — The Astros’ September schedule breakdown * 25:08 — Did Dipoto throw Colt Emerson under the bus? * 28:22 — Husky football deep dive * 28:35 — Is Demond Williams hitting a new level? * 30:03 — Christian Moss becoming the preferred target * 32:26 — The linebacker corps might be the best in the country * 34:53 — Desean Watts: highest-graded D-lineman in the Big Ten * 36:59 — The Reign are in playoff position + Brian’s suite story * 42:24 — Reading the comments segment * 46:45 — Cal Raleigh’s historic OPS drop (Hornsby, Hack Wilson company) * 50:00 — Bushman Fishes: “they’ve always been a disappointment” * 51:18 — Brian’s case for Mariners suffering in context (Guardians, Cubs) * 55:50 — Top 5: UW career passing yards leaders Follow SeaTown Sports Pod on Spotify Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Pod on YouTube. Links * Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Substack! * SeaTown Sports on Instagram 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

  5. Aug 9

    SeaTown Sports Pod, Ep. 104: Julio Deserves Better, Hard Knocks Reactions, and the Mariners Top 50

    A Saturday-night episode recorded during the Mariners’ 50th-anniversary weekend. Kevin leads off with a defense of Julio Rodriguez and the players against a toxic corner of the fan base, before he and Brian break down episode one of Hard Knocks (Derick Hall's monster truck, Cooper Kupp at Taylor Swift's wedding, the Sam Darnold leadership debate), and debate the Mariners Top 50 snubs. Kevin closes with a Mariners home run leaderboard quiz. Chapters * 00:00 — Saturday night pod / people know Brian from the clips * 02:18 — Leadoff: The 50th anniversary alumni home run derby * 03:29 — Julio DJing the event + Mariners Twitter meltdown * 05:20 — “The team is lifeless” debate — do they care? * 07:16 — Social media toxicity and the veil of anonymity * 13:06 — Hard Knocks episode one reactions * 16:14 — Favorite player: Derick Hall stole the show * 17:31 — Cooper Kupp: at Taylor Swift’s wedding, in the QB meetings * 18:18 — Sam Darnold leadership debate (”ginger cuz”) * 20:13 — Nick Emmanwori’s ankle scooter + McDonald’s approach * 20:44 — Witherspoon negotiation + Schneider’s agent clip * 22:50 — Witherspoon is PFF’s #1 corner, not in the NFL Top 100 * 26:02 — Who’s the star of Hard Knocks? * 29:04 — Mariners “new look offense” — Ward in, Donovan back, Cal hitting 8th * 30:43 — Brian is officially out on the 2026 Mariners * 31:20 — The brutal August schedule (Yankees, Astros, Brewers) * 32:03 — Top 50 snubs: Jeff Nelson, Tino, Edwin Diaz, Gino, Richie Sexson * 33:44 — Dave Valle got a broadcaster bump * 34:24 — 44 of 48 living players showed up; only Castillo skipped * 34:57 — A-Rod got cheered — Brian defends it * 37:14 — Mark Pope takes shots at Washington * 39:13 — Husky football practice notes (ranked #19, Christian Moss) * 41:16 — Bonus Top 5: Big Ten teams ranked above UW * 42:49 — Positive comments segment (shout-outs) * 43:31 — Travis’s Sounders roster overhaul take * 45:47 — Chone Figgins fights Don Wakamatsu (2010 flashback) * 49:59 — Top 5: Mariners home run leaders (more or less than Ichiro’s 99) * 52:18 — The top 5: Griffey, Edgar, A-Rod, Kyle Seager, Jay Buhner * 53:22 — Rick Rizzs in the Mariners Hall of Fame + sign-off Follow SeaTown Sports Pod on Spotify Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Pod on YouTube. Links * Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Substack! * SeaTown Sports on Instagram 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

  6. Aug 3

    SeaTown Sports Pod, Ep. 103: The Castillo Trade, Schmetzer's Meltdown, Hard Knocks Is Here

    Episode 103 opens with Kevin Cacabelos admitting he went to a Reign match wearing Bay FC gear, which spirals into a genuinely great conversation about how long it takes to actually understand a sport. Then: the Mariners fleeced the White Sox in the Luis Castillo trade, Brian Schmetzer had a meltdown blaming a Timbers Tifo for a six-game losing streak, Hard Knocks drops in two days, and Brian Elsner closes with a Top 5 that puts Luis Castillo's Mariners legacy in brutal statistical perspective. Chapters * 00:31 — Welcome back / vacation mode / Kevin’s 30-year-old Mariners hat * 01:50 — Leadoff: Kevin went to a Reign match in Bay FC gear * 03:21 — Jess Fishlock scores 5 seconds after subbing in at 39 years old * 04:47 — The Reign have won 3 of 4 since the World Cup break * 07:05 — How long does it take to actually understand a sport? * 08:21 — Chuck Klosterman’s “Football” and what we don’t see when we watch * 11:58 — Watching off the ball is the next level of fandom * 13:37 — Why football’s stop-start pace is the actual appeal * 15:29 — Hockey is the only sport that’s better live * 16:41 — Mariners trade Luis Castillo to the White Sox * 17:48 — The White Sox are paying his ENTIRE salary * 19:34 — Mariners netted ~$15M + a top-15 prospect * 20:11 — The trade grader called it an overwhelming Mariners win * 23:22 — Seranthony Dominguez gave up the Suárez grand slam * 24:07 — Should the Mariners keep dealing? * 24:52 — Brian’s hot take: trade George Kirby now * 26:00 — You can’t sign five starters to mega deals * 29:15 — The Mariners have the only + run differential in the AL West * 31:27 — Brian Schmetzer’s Tifo meltdown after a 6-game losing streak * 32:36 — What a Tifo actually is (and why the Timbers’ was incredible) * 34:44 — “Your point is that the Tifo made you sad?” * 35:52 — Hard Knocks drops in two days * 36:22 — Why Mike Macdonald might be the best coach in Seattle sports * 38:59 — Camp standouts: Elijah Arroyo, Bud Clark, Byron Murphy * 39:44 — Brian Fleury and the pre-snap motion buzz * 42:10 — UW offensive line: possibly the best in 15 years * 46:42 — Who gets the most carries against the Cougs? (Jaden Lamar) * 49:25 — Luis Castillo’s legacy conversation begins * 50:11 — Castillo is one of 8 holdovers from the 2022 playoff team * 55:29 — Top 5: Mariners career WAR leaders among pitchers * 57:24 — Freddy Garcia (5th), Mark Langston (4th), Iwakuma (7th) * 59:04 — Luis Castillo is 23rd all time. Bryan Woo is 22nd. * 1:00:06 — The counterargument: playoff moments matter in Seattle * 1:02:49 — Next week: Hard Knocks Ep. 1 + trade deadline fallout Follow SeaTown Sports Pod on Spotify Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Pod on YouTube. Links * Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Substack! * SeaTown Sports on Instagram 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

  7. Jul 21

    SeaTown Sports Pod, Ep. 102: Sounders Are a Mess, Seahawks Rookie Outlooks, and Evaluating Seattle Coaches

    Episode 102 opens with Brian Elsner’s Odyssey IMAX review (which becomes a metaphor for people who don’t know soccer telling the world how to fix it), before Kevin Cacabelos and Brian dig into the Sounders’ identity crisis, run a 0-10 impact scale on every Seahawks rookie, roast or toast every Seattle head coach, and read Logan Gilbert’s full-throated Dan Wilson defense on KJR. Kevin nails the Seattle Storm all-time All-Star Top 5 in one go. Chapters * 00:00 — Late night podcasting + Brian’s Odyssey IMAX review * 06:38 — Sonics gone 18 years / Odyssey metaphor * 08:18 — Leadoff: Sounders lost 5-1 to Portland after World Cup break * 08:46 — Loyal listener James’s Sounders meltdown texts * 10:00 — What are the Sounders doing? Zero dollars spent this offseason * 12:16 — Sounders 18 goals scored (Inter Miami has 38) * 13:00 — The Clint Dempsey / Obafemi Martins era vs. now * 15:00 — Every Seattle team has a plan except the Sounders * 17:19 — Sounders defensive identity: nobody wants to watch it * 18:42 — Seahawks lightning round: rookies 0-10 * 20:37 — Nick Emmanwori on PUP list — panic level? * 32:38 — Coaches in Seattle: roast or toast * 33:31 — Mike McDonald: TOAST * 33:56 — Brian Schmetzer: TOAST (still) * 34:20 — Laura Harvey: middle * 34:47 — Tina Langley: on the upswing + Hannah Stein lawsuit * 38:32 — Lane Lambert: little roasty * 40:04 — Sonia Raman: too early / 1-11 in close games * 42:44 — Danny Sprinkle: full roast, no identity * 45:00 — The three types of college basketball coach hires * 49:46 — Jedd Fisch: has an identity, “be a pro” * 53:16 — Dan Wilson: more toast than roast * 54:53 — Logan Gilbert’s full KJR quote defending Dan Wilson * 56:32 — Clubhouse is behind Wilson — game over * 1:01:04 — They’re not firing him before the 50th anniversary weekend * 1:03:12 — Top 5: Most All-Star appearances as a Seattle Storm player Follow SeaTown Sports Pod on Spotify Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Pod on YouTube. Links * Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Substack! * SeaTown Sports on Instagram 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

  8. Jul 14

    SeaTown Sports Pod, Ep. 101: Seahawks Sold, Mariners Hot Takes, and Sonics Draft History

    Episode 101 — Brian Elsner and Kevin Cacabelos came back from a two-week hiatus with a LOT to cover: the Seahawks sold for a record $9.6B (all proceeds to charity), a full round of Mariners hot takes at the all-star break, the Kraken falling into a potential franchise-changing defenseman, a new "Is It Too Late?" segment for the Storm and Reign, and a deep Sonics draft history quiz that starts with trading Scottie Pippen and ends with Corey Maggette being immortalized in rap lyrics. Chapters * 02:15 — Leadoff: Seahawks sold to the Khosla family for $9.6B * 03:00 — All proceeds go to charity per Paul Allen’s will * 04:30 — Should we worry about the 49ers 3% stake connection? * 06:00 — New owner syndrome: what’s the first move? * 08:00 — Kevin’s prediction: they won’t change enough * 09:00 — Long-term tangent: football, concussions, and career limits * 14:00 — Seattle and the Seahawks: the fandom came first * 18:30 — Mariners hot takes begin * 19:00 — HOT TAKE: Trade Randy Arozarena? * 22:00 — HOT TAKE: Trade George Kirby? * 25:00 — HOT TAKE: Fire Jerry Dipoto? * 27:30 — HOT TAKE: Fire Dan Wilson? * 29:00 — HOT TAKE: Julio Rodriguez is not elite * 35:30 — Kraken draft: Chase Reed (7th pick, defenseman, “steal of the draft”) * 38:30 — MLB Draft: Ace Reese (24th pick, 3B, Mississippi State, Matt Carpenter comp) * 39:30 — Dominic Santarelli (18th round, going to LSU — Kevin’s heartbreak) * 40:50 — Jake Brown (LSU) and Nathan Taylor (Cincinnati) picks * 43:30 — Is It Too Late: Storm (6-19, yes it’s too late) * 44:30 — Skylar Diggins pattern of conflict at each stop * 46:00 — Is It Too Late: Reign (3 points out, no way too late) * 48:30 — Is It Too Late: Mariners (1.5 out, eternal optimist says no) * 50:00 — Kevin’s family day at T-Mobile Park (both sons’ first game) * 54:00 — Cal Raleigh hitting .162 — can he get to .230? (No.) * 57:00 — The case for just getting in: hot at the right time wins * 59:00 — Top 5: Sonics first-round picks traded on draft night Follow SeaTown Sports Pod on Spotify Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Pod on YouTube. Links * Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Substack! * SeaTown Sports on Instagram 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

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

By Seattle sports fans, for Seattle sports fans. The Wait for It Seattle podcast on SeaTown Sports provides insight and analysis on Seattle's sports teams. www.seatownsports.com

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