'14 season recap

[Shamoan]

Single hitting team that struggles to hit singles at times
Enigmatic mid-season saturday starter that otherwise makes batters look like clowns, but in the starting role, struggles at times...still a hell of a pitcher
badass second baseman that will be extremely hard to replace
bad base running throughout, but seemed to correct itself 2/3 of the way in
oh, the bunting...
rea's slump
heck being one hell of a shortstop
Lindgren killin' it
hendo hitting into fewer dp's this season
bradford's lolly-pop arm in center, but finishing the season strong at the plate
holder being holder
growing pains at catcher, but an invaluable season behind the plate


how i will remember the '14 season...all-in-all, we just didn't have enough when it mattered. some good, some bad...this end was inevitable, but it still hurts to go out like that with that bush league environment...nothing against the ragin cajuns, they have a fine team, but i dont care for the field or the calls, but it is what it is. if the umps keep that up, im sure they will have no problem with making it to omaha.

 

[drt7891]

I want our hitting approach to become more aggressive. We are so flippin passive at the plate... we don't attack pitches, we sit back and wait on pitches and we can hardly get any power that way. I want to see our approach at the plate change completely.

I want to see Heck try to increase his throwing velocity, too. He's as good a fielder at SS as anyone and his release is VERY fast... but he can get a few more baserunners out if he had about 5-8 mph more zip on the ball. Britton will be very good at 3b next year and if his hitting can come together, he will really be a valuable player.

 

[klong-dog]

I get tired of seeing our short **** guys hittng routine fly balls.

gets old.

 

[ronpolk]

I want our hitting approach to become more aggressive. We are so flippin passive at the plate... we don't attack pitches, we sit back and wait on pitches and we can hardly get any power that way. I want to see our approach at the plate change completely.

I want to see Heck try to increase his throwing velocity, too. He's as good a fielder at SS as anyone and his release is VERY fast... but he can get a few more baserunners out if he had about 5-8 mph more zip on the ball. Britton will be very good at 3b next year and if his hitting can come together, he will really be a valuable player.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Heck at 2nd next year. We got a guy coming in next year, John Holland, who I think will be our starting SS.

 

[8dog]

The crazy part about this offense is heck was better statistically offensively than fraz last year. Collins was infinitely better offensively than ammo. Pirtle was better than pirtle. And we were far worse.

 

[drt7891]

The middle of the lineup hurt us BAD this year. Detz and Rea provided a ton of slugging and power last year, and this year really disappointed. No one else could really fill those roles in the middle of the lineup.

 

[ronpolk]

The crazy part about this offense is heck was better statistically offensively than fraz last year. Collins was infinitely better offensively than ammo. Pirtle was better than pirtle. And we were far worse.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you're saying but are you saying Heck had a better offensive season than Frazier last year? I'm not looking at the stats but I though Frazier led the nation in hits. I also thought he was around .350. Don't get me wrong, Heck had a nice season but I'd trade him for Frazier in a heart beat.

 

[8dog]

I just look at sec only stats. Thats the best way to judge to me. Heck bad a better ops and bat avg than frazier.

 

[patdog]

Heck also played a much weaker conference schedule this year than Frazier did last year. Plus you're completely ignoring what Frazier did in the postseason last year, and what Heck didn't do. I like Heck. He had a pretty good season for us. But he's not even close to being what Frazier was last year.

 

[8dog]

Im not arguing who is better. But hecks production during the most important part of the year (where you earn the right to host assuming you dont lose to holy cross and memohis) was as good or better. We thought it would be impossible to replace fraz and we pretty much did it. Yet were far Worse offensively in the reg season

 

[DawgatAuburn]

The assumption you listed is the reason why the whole season stats are important. No matter what their stats were, we didn't lose those games last year. I have no idea what Frazier or Heck did or didn't do in OOC games, but they both had the opportunity to play them, so count 'em.

 

[patdog]

Uh, the most important part of the season is the postseason. And there's no comparison between Frazier and Heck there.

 

[Lawdawg.sixpack]

^ He do got a point.

 

[512taylor]

On the surface, it seems like in way too many games, we had an inning that looked like someone would get brain freeze which eventually cost us a W.

 

[8dog]

Heck hardly played in the ooc. That was part of the problem.

I

 

[8dog]

The point is about our offense. That over any significant stretch we could replace fraziers production and over that stretch be far worse offensively considering the other factors is mind boggling. And to compare production during sec play is a pretty good sample. I mean heck hit almost 20 points higher than frazier in conf.

 

[BiscuitEater]

And yet ...

how i will remember the '14 season...all-in-all, we just didn't have enough when it mattered. some good, some bad...this end was inevitable, but it still hurts to go out like that with that bush league environment...nothing against the ragin cajuns, they have a fine team, but i dont care for the field or the calls, but it is what it is. if the umps keep that up, im sure they will have no problem with making it to omaha.

Take away couple of walks, HPB, and wild pitches or add one timely hit and we're headed to Oxford.

Cajuns really take advantage of their 'home field' and it should be a good series against the bear sharts.

 

[Confucius Say]

The crazy part about this offense is heck was better statistically offensively than fraz last year. Collins was infinitely better offensively than ammo. Pirtle was better than pirtle. And we were far worse.

Yea, but no Renfroe (or anything close to him offensively). No Rea and Detz (they were physically present, but not the same production).

 

[Confucius Say]

The point is about our offense. That over any significant stretch we could replace fraziers production and over that stretch be far worse offensively considering the other factors is mind boggling. And to compare production during sec play is a pretty good sample. I mean heck hit almost 20 points higher than frazier in conf.

Its not mind boggling. Its fairly simple: 2014 team was absolutely devoid of power or slugging (doubles and triples). We were a singles team, thus without a walk/hbp/error, it took three hits in an inning to score a run. Not that way in 2013.

That said, if we don't throw four wild pitches/passed balls in one inning last night, we are in the supers.

 

[57stratdawg]

It just comes back to Rea and Detz. I thought Rea was headed for a .275, 10HR type season. If he puts up those numbers, he could have 55+ RBIs this year. Collins was okay at clean-up, but he was right about .200 on the season with RISP.

Suddenly, Detz isn't getting on base, Rea isn't producing, and the guy replacing them is having trouble plating guys - the offense is dead. All of that despite the leadoff guy (Heck), basically replicating Frazier's production from 2013.