Before watching this drama I knew nothing about baseball and did not even understand the rules. After watching the drama, I still don't understand how it works. But, the fact that I enjoyed it regardless tells a lot about what kind of drama this is.

Hot Stove League is not the kind of drama I usually watch but I wanted something different, and it was !
I found the fact that there was no romance really refreshing, I think it makes the drama more realistic and keeps the focus on the working aspect, which the drama is all about. I especially liked the relationship between the main characters. I felt they portrayed the complexity of work relationships very well, from being reluctant to welcome someone new to feeling like a piece is missing when someone leaves... They build their relationship through their work and slowly become more than colleagues. The chemistry between the main trio was great but also with the secondary characters. The Dreams felt like a team from the top to the players.
I also liked how the drama focuses on different jobs, from management, to the coaches, to the players. It is not a world I know a lot of so it was interesting to learn more about what goes behind the scenes in sports.

But they were some things I didn't like. I could not feel any sympathy towards Kwon Kyung Min even though the drama tries to justify his actions. So I felt frustrated during his scenes and only wanted to fastforward. It was very different from Im Dong Kyu whom I hated at first but came to understand.
Also, I would have liked to see more of the relationship between the brothers. I felt the second part was lacking in this aspect (well, it was non-existent), when they should have shown its development.

All in all, a drama for those who want to learn more about this kind of workplace and enjoy watching a team trying to achieve their Dreams ;)