TBTL Episode #4580 “It Gets Vedder”
Date: October 21, 2025
Hosts: Luke Burbank & Andrew Walsh
Episode Overview
In this post-playoff episode, Luke and Andrew unpack their complex feelings after the Seattle Mariners’ season-ending loss in Toronto. Contrary to the expected devastation, both hosts acknowledge a surprising sense of relief mixed with pride for their team’s unexpected playoff run. The show covers the emotional rollercoaster of fandom, the unique pressures of playoff baseball, bandwagon fans, notable game moments, Mariners fandom culture, and even diversions into classic Pacific Northwest “best-of” lists like beers and popcorns. The tone is self-effacing, confessional, and ultimately celebratory of shared sports heartache and joy.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Processing the Mariners’ Loss: Relief & Gratitude
[02:43–12:02]
- Volatile Emotions: Both Luke and Andrew expected to be devastated after the Mariners’ Game 7 loss, but instead feel an odd sense of relief, having been so emotionally exhausted by each high-stakes game.
- Luke:
“It was not a casual relationship. It was something that would either absolutely ruin my night and possibly really kind of put me in a funky mood for the next day or something that would just put me on cloud nine. And that sort of emotional volatility is kind of tiring after a while.” [03:16]
- Andrew:
“It almost felt like a balloon had popped and it was like, okay, let's get on with life now.” [06:05]
- Sense of Perspective: They note that as lifelong fans of teams with long histories of heartbreak (Mariners, Browns), they’re oddly prepared for these moments and can appreciate the surprising success of the season rather than dwell on disappointment.
- Mutual “Beta” Fandom: Both sheepishly confess to taking solace in their team’s progress and hint at fan guilt over not being consumed by agony.
- Social Media Empathy: Andrew recounts reading about devastated young fans and feels grateful not to be “that right now.”
Mariners Fandom & The Playoff Experience
[12:13–19:54]
- Different Kind of Pain: The hosts compare the loss to other historic Seattle sports heartbreaks (ex: Seahawks’ Super Bowl interception), concluding this one feels more acceptable—perhaps because the Mariners overachieved.
- Luke:
“I was like, there’s like—we're the last, we're in the last three teams left in baseball...This all just felt like house money to me. And it was super fun.” [10:17]
- Hope for the Future: Optimistic about being regular postseason contenders if the core stays strong and management continues to invest.
Bandwagon Fans & Citywide Joy
[16:18–18:10]
- Inclusivity Encouraged: The hosts welcome fans jumping onto the Mariners bandwagon, calling it fun to share their passion and citywide excitement, dismissing any old-school gatekeeping.
- Luke:
“The bandwagon is big and get on it. It’s fun.” [18:08]
- Family Moments: Luke’s daughter, living in LA, sent him Mariners-related memes and even wore a Yankees hat given by Julio Rodriguez, highlighting sports’ ability to connect families across generations and geography.
Breaking Down the Game: Notable Moments & Mariners Culture
[18:28–29:59]
- Booing George Springer: Extended riff on Seattle fans booing former Astros/now Blue Jays player George Springer, referencing the Astros cheating scandal. Both relish the Northwest’s long memory:
“The Northwest remembers.” [21:01] “We boo the cheating Astros around here.” [22:30]
- Blue Jays’ Victories Relived: Springer’s pivotal home run is acknowledged as inevitable narrative justice, replaying in Luke’s mind even at 3:00 AM:
“I did wake up in the middle of the night, Andrew, with the George Springer home run replaying in my brain.” [28:08]
- Managing Post-Game Anxiety: Both discuss the emotional hangover of loss and how, oddly, it brought other anxieties (like dog-sitting) to a close in their lives.
National Perspective & The Ephemerality of Sports
[14:13–16:18, 32:47–34:33]
- No One Else Cares: Luke is comforted that national newspapers barely covered the Mariners’ loss—reminding him that outside of the Pacific Northwest, the pain has no staying power.
- Life Moves On: They highlight the unique, ephemeral obsession of following a playoff run, and how quickly fans move on when their team is gone.
Other Seattle Sports: Seahawks Afterthoughts
[32:47–34:33]
- Mariners’ season dominated their emotional bandwidth, relegating a Monday Night Football Seahawks win to a mere “rounding error.”
- Andrew describes falling out of the rhythm of caring about football emotionally:
“It’s really weird...the Seahawks losses and wins don’t affect me anymore, which I think is a good thing.” [33:19]
Looking Forward: Hope for Next Season
[35:18–37:49]
- Countdown Begins:
“Pitchers and catchers report in 116 days.” [30:19]
“It gets Vedder. Now that’s the show title.” [35:31] - Express belief that Mariners are entering an era of sustained contention.
Sports Rivalries & Playoff Etiquette
[37:49–40:25]
- Debate who they’ll root for in the World Series (unenthusiastically siding with the Blue Jays over the “mega rich” Dodgers).
- Express grumbling about certain Blue Jays players but admit to softening, emphasizing that baseball heartbreak can temper past rivalries.
- Refer to Mina Kimes’ tweet reflecting pride and hope for the Mariners.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On fan relief:
Luke: “Somehow heartbreak feels good in a place like this.” [11:48]
-
On baseball’s intensity:
Andrew: “We were—we’re not telling our doctors where we took our blood pressure during these games.” [14:10]
-
On Mariners culture:
Luke: “In this house, we believe Bozo did the dub, and we boo the cheat and Astros.” [22:30]
-
On bandwagon fans:
Andrew: “Yeah, great, join the bandwagon. Like, why wouldn’t you?” [17:30]
-
On Mariners’ future:
Luke: “Let’s frickin build on this and let’s not make it another thing where it was a fluke and we have to go a long time to get there again.” [09:44]
Listener Interactions: The Best Beers & Popcorns
[57:53–70:50]
-
Best Beers Discussion: Drawing inspiration from a listener voicemail, they compile a list of “best beer experiences,” such as:
- Sneaky beer (in a coffee cup at child’s sports event)
- Surprise beer (given by a friend unexpectedly)
- Ferry beer (drank on a Washington State ferry after a night shift, as shared by long-time listener Mark)
-
Mariners game nostalgia: These stories invoke the community spirit of the Pacific Northwest, connecting mundane moments to local traditions.
-
Best Popcorn Pitches: Later, Andrew and Luke riff on the “best popcorns” settings:
- Movie theater
- Ferries
- At-home popcorn (with nutritional yeast)
- Sporting events (especially junior league games)
- Unexpected popcorn (places like hardware stores or Les Schwab tire centers)
Closing Notes
- Optimism for Mariners:
Both hosts express hope for next season and promise that with the baseball season over, they'll scale back Mariners talk (somewhat) for listeners less enamored with sports. - Outlook:
“It gets Vedder. That is the show title in my opinion...I do think that the Mariners are going to enter a streak, they're going to enter a period of time where they're going to win a lot more than they lose and it’s going to be really fun.” [35:31]
- Signature sign-off:
Luke: “Please remember, no mountain too tall.”
Andrew: “And good luck to all.” [73:06]
Important Timestamps
- 02:43 – Andrew joins, Luke confesses his relief at the Mariners’ loss
- 10:12 – Both reflect on the pride in the Mariners’ overachievement
- 16:18 – Discussion on how little national press cares about the loss
- 18:28 – Rivalries, booing George Springer, and sports grudges
- 29:58 – Coping with post-game anxiety, late-night replaying of events
- 32:47 – Seahawks win overshadowed by Mariners’ playoff drama
- 35:28 – “It gets Vedder”: Looking forward to next season
- 57:53 – Listener best beers segment
- 64:29 – Listener best popcorns segment
Summary in a Nutshell:
Luke and Andrew process disappointment and relief after the Mariners’ loss, celebrate the highs of this unexpected playoff journey, welcome bandwagon fans, dissect Seattle sports fandom quirks (like the long memory for Astros' scandals), and find comfort in the culture and camaraderie that come with heartbreak.
From post-game insomnia to ferry beers and the best popcorns, this episode is a loving, wry snapshot of Pacific Northwest sports melancholy and community.