Polanco's deal with Seattle was one year for $7.75M with a player option next year. I wonder if the latter is what kept the Astros from signing him knowing Crane doesn't seem to like going that route.

*Could've been the CBT threshold as well, obviously. The 2023 offseason was such a disaster in hindsight.

In reply to The Sun

The Sun said:

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Drunken Overseas Bettor said:

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That's all well and good but it doesn't answer my simple question.

If Yordan hit 61 after never hitting more than 37, would you think he was on steroids?

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To add, I wonder how the roid-promoters feel about this career.

Does anyone think this guy was on steroids?

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1961 -- Maris (batting 3rd) had Mantle hitting behind him (4th). Mantle -- at the time -- had already won the triple crown, been named an all-star 9 times and had 2 MVPs. You would think he'd get more pitches to hit as pitchers didn't want to face Mantle with guys on.

In 1960, Maris was batting 4th and Mantle 3rd. So, Maris was protecting Mantle.

It's conceivable that the additional protection in the lineup, along with the competition between the two guys, led to the uptick in HRs.

In 1962, Maris was dropped to 6th in the lineup and Mantle 7th. Mantle also only played about 120 games in 1962.

In reply to agproducer My brother in Christ, you are stretching harder than a heretic in the Spanish Inquisition.

In reply to Drunken Overseas Bettor Girardi, not Boone.

In reply to The Sun

The Sun said:

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Drunken Overseas Bettor said:

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That's all well and good but it doesn't answer my simple question.

If Yordan hit 61 after never hitting more than 37, would you think he was on steroids?

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To add, I wonder how the roid-promoters feel about this career.

Does anyone think this guy was on steroids?

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Who knows what those guys were on back then. He was almost certainly taking greenies.

1961 was the year the AL moved to 162 games and added two new teams. Total home runs in the AL increased 41% that season. Maris and Mantle hit 39 and 40 in '60 and then 61 and 54 the following season. Jim Gentile from the Orioles went from 21 to 46 and never again sniffed 40, topping out at 33.

In reply to Ag_07

Ag_07 said:

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Y'all do realize you all sound like Yankee fans who swore we were wearing buzzers?

Just wanted to point that out while we're talking hypocrisy.

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I believe that was the point?

In reply to MosesHallRAB04

MosesHallRAB04 said:

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Man he was out by a mile if Sanchez could catch.

And those ABs were long as hell.

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I was just watching that thinking how much I appreciate the pitch clock now when I go back and see old games where each AB just drags along. Helps when the hitters don't swing at every pitch too.

Also, if Yordan could stay healthy, it wouldn't shock me at all to see him hit 50+ home runs. I just don't think he'll ever play in enough games to do it.

In reply to Mr. Awesome Time

Mr. Awesome Time said:

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Polanco's deal with Seattle was one year for $7.75M with a player option next year. I wonder if the latter is what kept the Astros from signing him knowing Crane doesn't seem to like going that route.

*Could've been the CBT threshold as well, obviously. The 2023 offseason was such a disaster in hindsight.

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The Mariners are bringing back Jorge Polanco. They announced Monday that they've re-signed the veteran infielder to a one-year deal with a vesting/player option for the 2026 season. Polanco, an Octagon client, will reportedly be guaranteed $7.75MM. That comes in the form of a $7MM base salary in 2025 plus a $750K buyout on a mutual option. That mutual option can become a $6MM player option if Polanco reaches 450 plate appearances, and the option price would climb further, to $8MM, if he gets to 550 plate appearances. Polanco, who'll move across the diamond and play third base for Seattle in 2025, can earn an additional $3.5MM worth of incentives. If he hits all of those incentives and picks up the player option, the contract would top out at $18.5MM over two seasons.

With the incentives, it ended up being a 1/10 M deal with year 2 moving from mutual to player option. I assume he'll test the market again. He should be able to secure a deal worth more than a 1-year, $8 M contract in 2026.

I think the Astros and the fanbase thought he wasn't worth that. You can go back to last year's offseason thread to see it. Good for Seattle for taking their shot and hitting it.

In reply to iBrad

iBrad said:

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Also, if Yordan could stay healthy, it wouldn't shock me at all to see him hit 50+ home runs. I just don't think he'll ever play in enough games to do it.

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The physical nature and previous performances make Yordan hitting 60+ much more reasonable than Dumper.

In reply to The Sun

The Sun said:

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My brother in Christ, you are stretching harder than a heretic in the Spanish Inquisition.

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I've been very clear on the Cal thing -- I'm not saying he is cheating, using 'roids or doping.

I'm asking the question, "Could it be a possibility?" And that answer is, "Yes,it could be possible."

It is also entirely possible -- and most likely probable -- that nothing nefarious is going on, and it is all on the up-and-up. I've stated in previous posts that the power surge could be due to change in approach. He's hitting more fly balls this year and pulling the ball more.

But when I see a guy who has never hit more than 34 HRs in a season, playing a grueling position like catcher for 120 games, all of the sudden hit 60 HRs -- it seems suspect and I automatically question it.

What makes you think with all we've seen since the 90s -- 'roids, BALCO, electronic sign stealing by the Yankees, Red Sox and others, the Astros system and players like Robinson Cano (with the M's in 2017 and Mets in 2020), Jurickson Profar, Fernando Tatis, Jr., and our buddy Jose Alvarado being busted recently for PEDs -- causes Cal Raleigh and the Mariners to be beyond reproach? Because they are supposedly the feel-good story for MLB this year?

Jorge Polanco -- the big-time winner for the Ms in the playoffs this year -- was suspended for 80 games in 2018 for the steroid, Stanozolol: Polanco Suspension. What's to say he isn't using them again or shared with his teammates?

The Mariners have already been called out for blatantly stealing signs in the playoffs during a broadcast (not that there is anything wrong with what they were doing): Naylor Blatantly Stealing Signs

Think back to 2017 when we thought they were on fire and amazing -- and it turned out they were stealing signs with a pretty intricate system. The system ultimately turned out not to matter -- but it still happened.

Questioning what's going on isn't being hypocritical. It's a valid question.

Honestly, I don't care either way -- and we likely won't get any testing on it.

If you want to keep your rose-colored glasses on -- that's fine. But I take what I see with a grain of salt.

In reply to agproducer Cal had had interviews where he's talked about the approach change. The org told him your here to hit homers and drive in runs, not high average.

Nothing is impossible. I do understand people who might question it.

In reply to MosesHallRAB04

MosesHallRAB04 said:

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Cal had had interviews where he's talked about the approach change. The org told him your here to hit homers and drive in runs, not high average.

Nothing is impossible. I do understand people who might question it.

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So they told a career .220 hitter not to focus on his average.

In reply to txags92

txags92 said:

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MosesHallRAB04 said:

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Cal had had interviews where he's talked about the approach change. The org told him your here to hit homers and drive in runs, not high average.

Nothing is impossible. I do understand people who might question it.

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Can we tell Yainer and Walker that they are here to drive in runs, not K, and get some similar changes made?

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Well, to make it happen they will also need to mention it in interviews, but that aside, easy peasy

Are we seriously saying that a 2x jump in HR output cannot be questioned... at all?! Come on.

I don't know one way or the other, but I do know that trash fanbase in Seattle deserves every ounce of disdain and ridicule that you can muster thrown in their soy-drenched faces. **** every one of those vile degenerates. And yes, I know I switched from Cal to the fans cheering for him, but sometimes you gotta accept a little collateral damage. I sat through 18 innings of being called every name in the book, with Mrs. Marvin sitting beside me, until Pena sent their granola-munching asses back to their tent communes. Screw Seattle.