Shohei Ohtani’s Frustration with Dalton Rushing Shows Why Mariners Should Value Their Catcher Room
Shohei Ohtani’s Frustration with Dalton Rushing Shows Why Mariners Should Value Their Catcher Room
The Mariners do not need catcher drama, and thankfully, they have avoided it.Tremayne Person|
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Seattle MarinersCan you imagine being Shohei Ohtani and getting shown up by your rookie catcher? Actually, can you imagine being the most famous baseball player on the planet, and then having your catcher turn one pitch challenge into a dugout storyline?
That is the kind of thing the Dodgers can probably absorb because they are the Dodgers. They have the record, the payroll, the stars, just..all the things. Los Angeles can have a catcher controversy for a few days and still be fine. The Mariners? They don’t have that luxury.
Seattle needs every edge it can get. One thing the Mariners should absolutely appreciate is that their catcher room doesn’t look anything like the one currently causing a stir in Los Angeles.
Dalton Rushing has already gone viral a few times this season, but his moment with Ohtani was a different kind of wild. In the middle of Ohtani’s start, Rushing appeared furious when Ohtani challenged one of his own pitches. Then Ohtani won the challenge, which made the whole thing pretty hilarious.
Dalton Rushing disagreed with Shohei Ohtani's decision to challenge.
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 25, 2026
Shohei was right pic.twitter.com/v1g2T8tbxI
Sure, Rushing is a young catcher learning how to handle a demanding job on a team filled with superstars. Catching in the big leagues is hard enough. Catching for the Dodgers, with Ohtani on the mound is a different beast. But that’s also the point.
The Dodgers are down Will Smith who’s on the IL with neck inflammation. Ohtani’s numbers with Smith (0.74 ERA, 5 ER over 10 games) behind the plate have looked completely different than they have with Rushing (4.34 ERA, 9 ER over 3 games).
And that’s where the Mariners situation comes into play.
The Mariners’ Catcher Room Has Given Seattle a Real Layer of Stability
The Mariners already know what elite catching looks like because Cal Raleigh has become one of the most important players in the sport. But the real catcher-room advantage isn’t just Raleigh. When Raleigh missed time, the whole thing didn’t collapse into chaos.
Shohei was right. pic.twitter.com/7QrHnc88EN
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 24, 2026
Mitch Garver and Jhonny Pereda were not perfect. But they held their own and got through games. Even provided some offensive spark. They managed the pitchers well, even when there was some learning to do.
There was one moment where Pereda and Emerson Hancock clearly needed to get on the same page. That’s going to happen. But it never turned into the kind of public, dugout-wide episode we just saw with Rushing and Ohtani.
When Freddie Freeman, Dave Roberts and your mental skills coach all have to pull you aside in the same inning, then yeah, something’s off.
The easy joke is that the Dodgers are dealing with rich-team problems. Their rookie catcher has a viral moment with Ohtani, their injured All-Star catcher is unavailable, and everyone starts dissecting body language. It’s objectively funny. But it’s also a reminder about how fragile stability can be, especially with your catcher.
The Mariners cannot afford that kind of noise. The piggyback drama has been enough for the Mariners to try to manage, and they aren’t built like the Dodgers. They don’t get to survive this kind of choppiness.
That means keeping everyone on the same page is extremely important. And right now, compared to what is happening in Los Angeles, the Mariners should feel a little better about theirs.
Published 17 hours ago
TREMAYNE PERSONTremayne Person is the Publisher for Mariners On SI and the Site Expert at Friars on Base, with additional bylines across FanSided’s MLB division. He founded the Keep It Electric podcast in 2023 and covers baseball with a blend of analysis, context, and a little well-timed side-eye just to keep things honest. Tremayne grew up a Mariners fan in Richmond, Va., and that passion ultimately led him to move to Seattle to cover the team closely and become a regular at home games. Through his writing, he connects with fans who want a deeper, more personal understanding of the game. When he’s not at T-Mobile Park, he’s with his dog, gaming, or finding the next storyline worth digging into.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
