Expanding The Grid Episode 14 - Adam Marco - May 14, 2020

Host David Kahn is joined by Corey Brock from The Athletic Seattle to break down the Mariners' 2020 draft class. David and Corey delve into how the shortened draft played out, the Mariners' strategy with only 6 picks to make, how those selections will play into Seattle's rebuilding process and more. Later on, they also discuss MLB's return-to-play negotiations and how those ramifications are changing the state of the game.

Host David Kahn is joined by former Power players Nick Kingham (1:17) and Mel Rojas Jr. (31:38) to discuss their journeys to the Korean Baseball League (KBO). Kingham delves into how he ended up on the SK Wyverns in 2020 (2:44), some of the differences he has dealt with between MLB and the KBO (5:13), including battling the language barrier, learning the culture in Korea and what life has been like during a pandemic in a foreign country. Kingham also details how helpful it has been to have his wife, Logan, with him during all of this (17:30), who he reached out to for advice when he got to the KBO (20:07) and his favorite Korean foods he's tried (22:20). Kingham then relives his MLB debut in 2018 (26:50) and season spent in Charleston (27:30).

Rojas reveals the reasons he ultimately decided to come to the KBO in 2017 (32:11), seeing the KT Wiz develop as a new franchise during his four years in Korea, and how it feels to be playing in the only consistent live sports right now (40:00), including playing with no fans and different types of entertainment around the park. He also talks about which new players he has given advice to when they joined the KBO (47:00), his favorite KBO mascots and stuff to do in Korea (51:15) and his best memories from his time in Charleston (54:15). 

Host David Kahn is joined by former voice of the Power, and current voice of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Adam Marco, to look back at his 10-year tenure in Charleston. Marco discusses how he ended up in The Capital City (5:04), his favorite memories and players during his time in West Virginia (7:38), including Cole Tucker (16:05), as well as shares his top adventures with Power General Manager Jeremy Taylor (24:36). Marco also gets into the evolution of his blog-turned-Twitter-hashtag Minor League Kerouac (28:33), and what his initial impressions were of The Toastman, as well as how they evolved (39:17).

Host David Kahn is joined by the inaugural voice of the West Virginia Power, Andy "The Bull" Barch, to revisit the first few years of the Power and discuss Andy's time in The Capital City. Barch talks about opening Appalachian Power Park (7:10), what it was like to witness Ryan Braun (14:40) and 2020 Power manager Eric Farris (27:30) in West Virginia, Eric Fryer hitting the only cycle in Power history (30:35), changing affiliates from Milwaukee to Pittsburgh (42:05) and the 2009 All-Star Game in Charleston (47:45). He also relives some of his greatest memories with Power General Manager Jeremy Taylor (57:50).

Host David Kahn is joined by 2020 Power hitting coach Rob Benjamin, who talks about his career in coaching, how he adjusted to life as a Minor League coach (6:00) and who he reached out to for advice while in the DSL, as well as his thoughts on Mariners prospects Noelvi Marte and Jonatan Clase (12:22) and their relationship with former Power player Julio Rodriguez. Benjamin also delves into how he founded the RIOT Hitting Academy (16:54), how much his mom has influenced his life (22:00), his All-Time Puerto Rican baseball team and favorite food recommendations and his best mantras as a hitting coach (31:50). Finally, Dominick Lorenz quizzes David to see if he can guess the baseball movie by only hearing its greatest hit (41:38).

Host David Kahn is joined by the Assistant Hitting Coach of the Seattle Mariners, Jarret DeHart, who discusses his rapid shift from playing to coaching (5:20), how he's providing assistance during the COVID-19 crisis (13:15) and advice he's received from Mariners' hitting coach Tim Laker and his college coaches in regards to his new role (21:10). DeHart also delves into his favorite memories from Tulane (29:20), his biggest coaching influences and being in Japan with the Mariners for Ichiro's final games of his career in the Tokyo Dome in 2019 (37:15). Finally, David and Dominick Lorenz pay tribute to the greatest beards in MLB, including DeHart's, with a draft-style pick-em (45:00).

David Kahn is joined on the podcast by returning guest Bryan Pall (1:50), who talks about how he's adjusting to life in quarantine, including an odd story about his flight home from Spring Training (3:10). He also provides updates on former Power players Nolan Hoffman and Jamal Wade, who are rehabbing from injuries, and gives a preview of what to expect when Sam Carlson and Max Roberts make their way to West Virginia (8:35). Pall also discusses MLB hitters he wants to face (14:40), his off-season training regimen (24:40), pranking Charlie McConnell (31:30) and other clubhouse games the team played in 2019, as well as his thoughts on Tiger King and building LEGO sets (38:10). Finally, David and Dominick Lorenz share their favorite baseball memories from their respective seasons (44:45).

2020 Power pitching coach Nathan Bannister joins David Kahn on the podcast in the inaugural episode of Season 2. Bannister delves into his transition from player to coach in a matter of months in 2019, relives some of his fondest memories from his time as a professional player and at Arizona, including his wild draft day experience, discusses his love of golf, ping pong and Westworld and so much more!

In a preseason edition of Expanding The Grid, David Kahn previews the 2020 coaching staff, led by a familiar face, Eric Farris, who was the team's hitting coach in 2019 and also played for the Power in 2008. Later on in the show, Farris answers questions from the media during a conference call leading up to the 2020 season about becoming the manager, the rest of his staff and his expectations for this year. 

Hosts David Kahn and Kyle Youmans are joined by Power outfielder Charlie McConnell (2:30), who discusses how he developed into such a great defensive outfielder (5:20), how he's worked through some of his slow offensive starts the last few years, his relationship with Bobby Honeyman, Ryan Ramiz and Ryne Ogren (14:55), getting drafted and how being at Northeastern and playing summer ball helped him rediscover his love of baseball (22:30). He also recounts a marathon 18-inning game (26:20) against the school he almost went to, delves into his love of community service and reveals how much he's really broken down his swing since his sophomore year of college (33:10). Lastly, he also tries to remember every time he's sleep talked with Bryan Pall.