Former Mariners tracker

[Coeurd’Alene J]

Servais' comments seem odd. If he thinks Kikuchi was overreacting to bad outings and listening to too many suggestions why didn't he do something about it? Isn't that a manager's role?

Ya this team is supposedly the greatest elite pitching organization and marshmallow is powerless to coach him

[Donn Beach]

If he won't listen...and it's not supposedly, they have a string of successes

[Captain 97]

In other former Mariners news, I was watching the Jays game last night. They’re looking like they’re starting to click.

Yusei Kikuchi tossed 6 innings, and apart from a few hiccups, he looked really good. Why wasn’t he this good when he played for us? He’s 2-1 on the season with 33 SOs and a 2.38 ERA.

He was good for us in spurts. He actually made the all star team for the M's. His issue has always been consistency. He will have a few good outings and then get absolutely bombed for a few outings. In 2021 for the M's, in his 10 best starts he gave up just 6 runs in 62.2 Innings for a 0.86 ERA. In his 10 worst starts he gave up 46 runs in 41 innings for a 10.09 ERA.

[Donn Beach]

. Now O'Neill, who was traded last winter for 21-year-old fringe pitching prospect Victor Santos and reliever Nick Robertson, is playing well in his first days with the Boston Red Sox, generating a .459 on-base percentage and a .750 slugging percentage.

In a sense, St. Louis was vulnerable for this kind of scenario to play out -- O'Neill had played well for the Cardinals in the past, finishing in the top 10 of the MVP voting in 2021 and winning two Gold Gloves, but he was sidelined by injuries constantly in 2022 and 2023. As Jordan Walker, Lars Nootbaar, Dylan Carlson, Alec Burleson and other outfielders graduated into the majors, the Cardinals had to make choices and began by dangling O'Neill into the market last year.

And if O'Neill goes on to have a strong season, the Cardinals might not be the only team with regret -- all teams other than the Red Sox could've snagged him for a good deal, as well.

[D-train]

otoh Kelenic hit a single last night but his OPS which was well over 1000 after the first week or so is down to .759. He is on pace for 0 HRs and 21 RBIs.

[bpj]

otoh Kelenic hit a single last night but his OPS which was well over 1000 after the first week or so is down to .759. He is on pace for 0 HRs and 21 RBIs.

Ever since Kelenic came back from kicking the cooler he's hit like Ichiro in his later years.

A lot of singles. A few singles that he stretches into doubles with his speed. And sprinkle in a few walks. But his power has completely evaporated.

I think pitchers had figured out Kelenic late last year, and it took them less time to adjust this year.

Pitchers are throwing him fewer fastballs and fewer sliders. But they're throwing him more cutters, curveballs, and changeups.

Good hitters adjust. Bad hitters don't, and then they kick coolers. Just kidding, maybe he'll figure it out, but I think the pitchers have found his holes. And they're drilling them like a Texan oil field.

.633 OPS in his last 15 games.
.473 OPS in his last 7 games.

[Big_Maple]

Good hitters adjust. Bad hitters don't, and then they kick coolers. Just kidding, maybe he'll figure it out, but I think the pitchers have found his holes. And they're drilling them like a Texan oil field.

.633 OPS in his last 15 games.
.473 OPS in his last 7 games.

I don't want to continue to revel in his failures now that he's gone, but I am still bitter about how he shit in the nest on the way out.

But here's an objective observation: sure the guy has talent, but he's also super immature (Exhibit A: water cooler kicking) and he gets inside his own head.

He's a walking feedback loop. If he's doing well, he tends to thrive and continue to do well. But once he starts struggling, his struggles amplify like compound interest.

As you say, NL pitchers are figuring out how to pitch to him, and he's starting to strike out more. I think he's gone go all Kelenic in himself and become his own worst enemy. Watch for the precipitous decline - we saw the same thing happen last year.

[Sexymarinersfan]

Why don't we just call this thread, , Former Mariner Kelenic tracker?

[Juliooooo]

Why don't we just call this thread, , Former Mariner Kelenic tracker?

fraley is still sitting around a .900 OPS… and we’re stuck watching Raley bunt to try to get hits. Caballero isn’t lighting the world on fire though, but doing better than Polonco…

[D-train]

Why don't we just call this thread, , Former Mariner Kelenic tracker?

fraley is still sitting around a .900 OPS… and we’re stuck watching Raley bunt to try to get hits. Caballero isn’t lighting the world on fire though, but doing better than Polonco…

Yep Winker, Fraley, Kikuchi and Seager of have all been discussed in the past couple pages.....