Jarred Kelenic hitting .449 with 4 HRs and 9 RBIs in spring so far

DawgOfTheAges

Fishpo31 said:

Guys like Moore are interesting. He’ not an everyday player, but he does stuff that an everyday player is unable / unwilling to do…adequate defense at multiple positions (including SS / CF), baserunning, capable pinch hitter. Most important, he wants to do it. It allows you to rest JP, Geno, and others, without praying the ball isn’t hit to them. Haggerty too…

I have always felt that the 2001 M’s MVP was McLemore because of this very reason. When Guillen was lost in the playoffs, Lou lost the flexibility of plugging him in to exploit matchups

Exactly, McLemore was not only a great musician [if u think that] but also the prototype for what you hope for in a utility player... the guy that has above average starter level ability and can play almost any position, and as a result gets in the range of starter level minutes while moving around the field... its the lack of starter level ability that leaves me a little cold on Moore ~ he is really a AAAA player that is versatile, can run, is injured somewhat frequently and is a selfless teammate. A good dude, i just hope that we get to the point via quality depth that we can do better.

Tequilla

TheRoarOfTheCrowd said:

Tequilla said:

My semi trained eye says that what I’m seeing and hearing from Kelenic is real and not a fluke

Maybe, and the trend is obviously a good one, but meanwhile the broad mix of innings filler to major league pitchers and guys that are simply trying to get their pitch count up at this point in spring training means that batters have been able to sit on a pitch [fastball], so we will see about Kelenic.

I could care less about numbers

It’s about his attitude, approach, and ability to get out of his way and letting his talent work

Technically when you watch his ABs this spring you’re seeing a far more compact swing and a willingness to stay on pitches even if that means going oppo … these are traits and tendencies that you see in good hitters

The other big gain is on his mental side and not getting out of his way. He’s talked about how his goal is to win each pitch … that’s obviously never going to happen but it doesn’t matter. The positive growth there is it highlights a willingness to flush what just happened and refocus on the next pitch … that’s what you want to hear from someone that has developed a process that they are comfortable with and can repeat

Obviously we’ll see how this works the first time he gets into a regular season slump because it happens for everybody …

But I’m cautiously optimistic that we will start to see what his talent is capable of … if he approaches that the Mariners win the West

dnc

TheRoarOfTheCrowd said:

Fishpo31 said:

Guys like Moore are interesting. He’ not an everyday player, but he does stuff that an everyday player is unable / unwilling to do…adequate defense at multiple positions (including SS / CF), baserunning, capable pinch hitter. Most important, he wants to do it. It allows you to rest JP, Geno, and others, without praying the ball isn’t hit to them. Haggerty too…

I have always felt that the 2001 M’s MVP was McLemore because of this very reason. When Guillen was lost in the playoffs, Lou lost the flexibility of plugging him in to exploit matchups

Exactly, McLemore was not only a great musician [if u think that] but also the prototype for what you hope for in a utility player... the guy that has above average starter level ability and can play almost any position, and as a result gets in the range of starter level minutes while moving around the field... its the lack of starter level ability that leaves me a little cold on Moore ~ he is really a AAAA player that is versatile, can run, is injured somewhat frequently and is a selfless teammate. A good dude, i just hope that we get to the point via quality depth that we can do better.

Disagree, rate state wise Moore was every bit as valuable last year as McLemore was in 2001. McLemore only had two other seasons in his career where he had the value of an above average starter, Moore already has two (well one and a half depending on how you treat 2020).

Moore's every bit the super utility guy McLemore was. Probably more. I don't think we disagree on McLemore's value I just think you're really underrating how good Moore has been.

And he'll never have a shitty rapper named after him.

Fishpo31

I agree, but that is why they are role guys. A lot of people went nuts on Haggerty last year, but if they were forced to play him every day, he would recede to below MLB average, as would Moore. They both play with energy, which is just what is needed for the role.

Above average starter- level ability means a starter…the below average tools would be exposed with daily use, and the injury thing because of their effort.

Mac was one of the best at it. I remember Bloomquist leaving because he wanted to be an every day guy, went to KC (IIRC), and became their utility guy.

DawgOfTheAges

dnc said:

TheRoarOfTheCrowd said:

Fishpo31 said:

Guys like Moore are interesting. He’ not an everyday player, but he does stuff that an everyday player is unable / unwilling to do…adequate defense at multiple positions (including SS / CF), baserunning, capable pinch hitter. Most important, he wants to do it. It allows you to rest JP, Geno, and others, without praying the ball isn’t hit to them. Haggerty too…

I have always felt that the 2001 M’s MVP was McLemore because of this very reason. When Guillen was lost in the playoffs, Lou lost the flexibility of plugging him in to exploit matchups

Exactly, McLemore was not only a great musician [if u think that] but also the prototype for what you hope for in a utility player... the guy that has above average starter level ability and can play almost any position, and as a result gets in the range of starter level minutes while moving around the field... its the lack of starter level ability that leaves me a little cold on Moore ~ he is really a AAAA player that is versatile, can run, is injured somewhat frequently and is a selfless teammate. A good dude, i just hope that we get to the point via quality depth that we can do better.

Disagree, rate state wise Moore was every bit as valuable last year as McLemore was in 2001. McLemore only had two other seasons in his career where he had the value of an above average starter, Moore already has two (well one and a half depending on how you treat 2020).

Moore's every bit the super utility guy McLemore was. Probably more. I don't think we disagree on McLemore's value I just think you're really underrating how good Moore has been.

And he'll never have a shitty rapper named after him.

Agree, I am hopefully just undervaluing Moore [he had a great year in his breakout, hopefully he plays back to that] ~ we all obviously agree on the value and function of the role player and the key to the flexibility provided.

Fishpo31

dnc said:

TheRoarOfTheCrowd said:

Fishpo31 said:

Guys like Moore are interesting. He’ not an everyday player, but he does stuff that an everyday player is unable / unwilling to do…adequate defense at multiple positions (including SS / CF), baserunning, capable pinch hitter. Most important, he wants to do it. It allows you to rest JP, Geno, and others, without praying the ball isn’t hit to them. Haggerty too…

I have always felt that the 2001 M’s MVP was McLemore because of this very reason. When Guillen was lost in the playoffs, Lou lost the flexibility of plugging him in to exploit matchups

Exactly, McLemore was not only a great musician [if u think that] but also the prototype for what you hope for in a utility player... the guy that has above average starter level ability and can play almost any position, and as a result gets in the range of starter level minutes while moving around the field... its the lack of starter level ability that leaves me a little cold on Moore ~ he is really a AAAA player that is versatile, can run, is injured somewhat frequently and is a selfless teammate. A good dude, i just hope that we get to the point via quality depth that we can do better.

Disagree, rate state wise Moore was every bit as valuable last year as McLemore was in 2001. McLemore only had two other seasons in his career where he had the value of an above average starter, Moore already has two (well one and a half depending on how you treat 2020).

Moore's every bit the super utility guy McLemore was. Probably more. I don't think we disagree on McLemore's value I just think you're really underrating how good Moore has been.

And he'll never have a shitty rapper named after him.

I believe it, and did not look at numbers. I was scouting during 2001, and Mac just stood out for me, really, the first time I really saw the utility value…and, no Lil’ UTI Moore, for chrissakes, LOL!