Matthew Britton is just terrible in the field defensively...

maroonmania

Senior
Feb 23, 2008
11,053
700
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he botches some of the easiest plays I've ever seen. What does it matter what kind of arm you have if you can't seem to ever field a ball cleanly.
 

War Machine Dawg

Redshirt
Oct 14, 2007
2,832
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Frost was playing well and had 2 doubles. He's quietly improved to the point where he's a productive player for us. I just don't get the infatuation with Britton. He must be hell in practice, but he sucks when the lights are on.
 

missouridawg

Junior
Oct 6, 2009
9,385
278
83
Frost was not pulled for Britton. Cohen pinch hit with P. Casey at Brayden Jones' spot(lefty-right matchup move) when Vandy changed pitchers. He then subbed Matthew Britton into that position and moved Frost to 3B.

There's no infatuation with Britton. Cohen made a strategic move that resulted in Britton playing about 6 innings this game. Everything is going to be ok.
 

War Machine Dawg

Redshirt
Oct 14, 2007
2,832
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I'm actually listening to the game. I heard Casey PH, but didn't realize it was for Jones. Still, it's a baffling decision. Jones > Britton right now. You can say it was strategic or whatever you want, but this is one of those times where I feel Cohen overmanaged. I've been one of Cohen's biggest defenders, but I'll also call him out when I feel he deserves it. And continuing to play Britton is entirely his call. It's inexcusable, especially when Demarcus Henderson is available on the bench. Britton may be good in time, but right now he's a liability.
 

was21

Senior
May 29, 2007
9,844
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eternity...I think this board has been taken over by 12 year olds for the most part.
 

maroonmania

Senior
Feb 23, 2008
11,053
700
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but that doesn't erase the fact that he had been a liability for a couple of years before this latest stretch.
 

Todd4State

Redshirt
Mar 3, 2008
17,411
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I'd say we're in pretty good shape.

For whatever reason, Cohen wants Henderson to focus on one position- and that's outfield. Yes, he has played some third- only because of the injries we've had.

I think he wants Demarcus- who is a RS freshman- to focus on one thing right now so that's he's not overwhelmed.
 

War Machine Dawg

Redshirt
Oct 14, 2007
2,832
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Cohen has definitely shown signs of doing that. He's doing the same
thing with Renfroe, too, if you think about it. He's barely spent any
time at catcher so far this season. I thought he'd be in more of a
platoon situation with Slauter. But a lot of that probably has to do
with the injury rash we had and the fact that Slauter has been even
better than expected.

Overall, I'm pretty pleased with where we are, all things considered.
With any luck at all we should've taken 2 of 3 from LSU. And Auburn was
just a bad series. It happens. I hate it, but you gotta move on. My
only real disappointment is in how poorly Routt has pitched so far.
Hopefully he can figure it out and return to form, because we
desperately need him to be that No. 2 guy behind Stratton. Still, I
think we make the SECT and a regional, which is really all I was asking
this year considering the inexperience we have, especially after all the
injuries. And now that we're getting healthy, you can see the
difference those guys make. I'll be glad when Norris is healthy enough
to play the field again and Stark comes back to hopefully play some 2B.
When that happens, I think we'll be a VERY tough team to beat the last
few weeks of the season. A lineup of Frazier, CT, Norris, Renfroe, Rea,
Porter, Brownlee, Stark/Frost, and Slauter is very solid.
 

Todd4State

Redshirt
Mar 3, 2008
17,411
1
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And we need that, and we also need Renfroe's bat in the lineup. I'm not sure that Renfroe's future with MSU is at catcher- you have Slauter coming back next year, and I think we might try to work Daniel Garner, a freshman, in some.

I agree with you about Routt- but he's had his toughness questioned at times while he has been at MSU. Sometimes he has games where you think- well, he's turned the corner and he's a warrior- like Ole Miss and GT last year- and then next thing you know he can't find the strike zone and he's pissed at Cohen for pulling him out of games where he is getting hit.

Stark will not play second base at MSU. I doubt he ever will. He doesn't really have the skill set to play second base- he's a pitcher that can play some outfield. I really think if you put Stark at second base it would be worse than Britton from a defensive standpoint. I would much rather have Sam Frost at second base any and everyday from a defensive standpoint even when he was struggling real bad than Stark. And the way Frost is hitting right now- there's no reason to not play him at second base.

This is our best lineup when healthy:

C- Slauter
1B- Rea
2B- Frost
3B- Norris
SS- Frazier
RF- Brownlee
CF- Bradford
LF- Renfroe
DH- Porter
 

Forrest4Moore

Sophomore
Nov 14, 2011
605
168
43
be second in the SEC in batting average for conference only games. He has earned a starting spot, at least until he stops hitting. I say that hoping he continues to hit well.

Skimming through our conference only statistics I noticed that Henderson's OBP is less than his BA.... that takes talent. I have honestly never seen that before in my life.

Also, Adam Frazier is a stud. And, thank God Norris is back. We are completely different offensively with him in the lineup.
 

jeremyrbrown

Sophomore
Sep 4, 2008
1,537
194
63
OBP = (H+BB+HBP)/(AB+BB+HBP+SF)

So if a player has fewer BB and HBP than SF, like Henderson does in SEC play, his OBP will be lower than his AVG.
 

bulldogcountry1

Redshirt
Jun 4, 2007
2,311
1
38
I just don't see what Britton brings to the table at all. He may have a bright future, but there hasn't been one moment where I've thought, "oh, there it is.". His fielding is bad, he's hitting about .100, and he just always looks overmatched. If there isn't one guy in that dugout that can't do better, even with all the injuries, that's pretty scary. If we are ever going to get back to national relevance, we have to have freshmen that could at least look like they deserve a quarter scholarship.