Finally! Official Hot Stove League Thread

[Seattle or Bust]

Nothing much knew here but Hollander puts the philosophy right out there. Sustainability over trying to win a WS for a franchise that hasn't been to a WS in almost half a century.



https://sports.mynorthwest.com/1740720/ ... -take-off/

I feel like this is just another way of the front office saying,

"We failed to attract any quality free agents due to tight budget constraints from our ownership. We felt that it was best as an organization to resort to plan B which is to develop prospects that have failed in the past because we made mistakes in their development process in order to maximize their growth as a major league ballplayer."

Exactly.

Am I the only one that's not really that stoked for Spring Training?

It's a truly weird experience I'm having. In years where we absolutely have 0 chance I find in excitement in the prospect that the unproven may just surprise us. I don't think I ever had more fun watching a team than the first 20 games of 2019.

Now it's like my expectations were truly raised and this off season and I just feel so strongly that because they again went soft (AGAIN...) it's going to lead to some frustrating mediocrity. I swear to God Jarred Kelenic better fucking hit or I'm going to be unrelenting.

[D-train]

My biggest issue with JK is that he could improve massively over last season this season. Raise his BA by 50 points and his OPS by 150 points and still be a terrible hitter for a LFer. That would only put him up to .191 with a .684 OPS. That is actually about what I expect him to do.

[Seattle or Bust]

My biggest issue with JK is that he could improve massively over last season this season. Raise his BA by 50 points and his OPS by 150 points and still be a terrible hitter for a LFer. That would only put him up to .191 with a .684 OPS. That is actually about what I expect him to do.

Gonna take a .250/.310/.430 split for me to not call for Jerry’s head and not go after all the Twitter homers.

[Sexymarinersfan]

My biggest issue with JK is that he could improve massively over last season this season. Raise his BA by 50 points and his OPS by 150 points and still be a terrible hitter for a LFer. That would only put him up to .191 with a .684 OPS. That is actually about what I expect him to do.

Yeah, but at this point I'll take that production from him all day long.

[D-train]

My biggest issue with JK is that he could improve massively over last season this season. Raise his BA by 50 points and his OPS by 150 points and still be a terrible hitter for a LFer. That would only put him up to .191 with a .684 OPS. That is actually about what I expect him to do.

Gonna take a .250/.310/.430 split for me to not call for Jerry’s head and not go after all the Twitter homers.

I shall take the under.

[gil]

My biggest issue with JK is that he could improve massively over last season this season. Raise his BA by 50 points and his OPS by 150 points and still be a terrible hitter for a LFer. That would only put him up to .191 with a .684 OPS. That is actually about what I expect him to do.

It figures that he will turn it around after his sophomore slump in 2022.

[Sexymarinersfan]

My biggest issue with JK is that he could improve massively over last season this season. Raise his BA by 50 points and his OPS by 150 points and still be a terrible hitter for a LFer. That would only put him up to .191 with a .684 OPS. That is actually about what I expect him to do.

Gonna take a .250/.310/.430 split for me to not call for Jerry’s head and not go after all the Twitter homers.

I shall take the under.

I will too, no doubt

[GL_Storm]

I expect JK will hit in the .230-.240 range with an SLG in the very low .400's, which is consistent with an ISO of .170 or better. For Jarred, it will come down to some marginal improvements in his swing, pitch recognition, and perhaps bat speed. I never thought there was a bat speed issue, but I guess there's been some speculation that he lost bat speed last year when he bulked up. I have no idea if that's actually the case, but I guess it's a possibility.

I'm also going to make a prediction. If JK has not improved over the offseason and doesn't make the opening day roster, or he does make the roster and just isn't very good, they will trade him to the Dodgers or the Red Sox. I think the Dodgers are most likely with Red Sox second most likely.

[Seattle or Bust]

Kelenic hit a homerun in Arizona off a fastball from a righty that throws 94 mph fastball. Naturally Mariners Twitter erupts in elation.

I want the kid to succeed... but man... some people can't help themselves.

[GL_Storm]

I want to believe.