First, congrats on the big win yesterday. Unlike the last couple of years, this team showed some fight and battled back when they could have tucked tail and gone home. My goal for the weekend: Avoid a sweep. Mission accomplished.
Friday's Game: That's baseball. As much as I hate that phrase, I don't think we're nearly as bad as what happened. Friday & Saturday proved that to me. Just one of those games you write off as a fluke.
Saturday's Game: Stratton didn't have his A stuff again, but did enough to keep us in the game. Unfortunately, we crapped our pants at the plate every time we had a RISP. That has to change. Played solid D.
Sunday's Game: Gutsy performance from Caleb Reed. Girodo got the job done. And Stark made some HUGE pitches for a freshman to slam the door. Played solid D again. Showed some real fight and pride to salvage a game after getting down 4-0. The freshmen stepped up and showed they're legit. Wasn't real happy with the lineup or decision to start CT, but I'll get there next.
I like Cohen. This last class of freshmen is legit. But some of his personnel moves frustrate me to no end. I understand he wants a lefty in the rotation for SEC play. But in this league, you better go with your 3 best starters, even if they are all righties. And right now, our 3 best starters are Jones, Stratton, and Mitchell. If Routt gets healthy, he could be the legitimate 3rd starter and the lefty Cohen wants. But starting CT wasn't a very good move, as far as I'm concerned. I also question the decision to sub in Trey Johnson on D when we brought in Stark to pitch. Brownlee and Shepherd were both still available on the bench. Brownlee & Shepherd >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Trey Johnson when it comes to D.
I was ok with the Friday & Saturday lineups overall. The exception was Sam Frost, but aGAIN, I'll get there momentarily. But I wasn't happy with Sunday's lineup. We'd already dropped 2, so you better put your best offensive lineup out there against your opponent's weakest starter. I'm usually ok with Thigpen behind the dish because of his D and the ability to use Freeman as DH. But with CT as P/DH yesterday, start Freeman. We need his bat in there.
And that brings me to Sam Frost. Mr. Sub-Mendoza himself. How is this guy still starting? If anything, yesterday proved he can't be trusted in a clutch situation. Frazier stepped right in and delivered a HUGE hit to tie it. Frost plays good D, but it's not so much better than what Frazier, Stark, or Henderson offer that it justifies his black hole-like offensive presence. On Frost's best day, his upside is a Delta State starter. The 3 freshmen all have SEC upside. I think it's worth it to work through their growing pains at 2B and hope they become solid contributors by the last month of SEC play. It's not like we can't always go back to Mr. Sub-Mendoza if they can't get it done.
My proposed lineup: Vickerson, Collins, Parks, Freeman, CT, Norris, Ogden, Stark, Brownlee. I'd also be ok with: Vickerson, Collins, Parks, Freeman, CT, Thigpen, Ogden, Stark, Brownlee as a slightly more defense oriented lineup. But I'd really like to see my first lineup. I think that it gives us the best chance to win right now.
Friday's Game: That's baseball. As much as I hate that phrase, I don't think we're nearly as bad as what happened. Friday & Saturday proved that to me. Just one of those games you write off as a fluke.
Saturday's Game: Stratton didn't have his A stuff again, but did enough to keep us in the game. Unfortunately, we crapped our pants at the plate every time we had a RISP. That has to change. Played solid D.
Sunday's Game: Gutsy performance from Caleb Reed. Girodo got the job done. And Stark made some HUGE pitches for a freshman to slam the door. Played solid D again. Showed some real fight and pride to salvage a game after getting down 4-0. The freshmen stepped up and showed they're legit. Wasn't real happy with the lineup or decision to start CT, but I'll get there next.
I like Cohen. This last class of freshmen is legit. But some of his personnel moves frustrate me to no end. I understand he wants a lefty in the rotation for SEC play. But in this league, you better go with your 3 best starters, even if they are all righties. And right now, our 3 best starters are Jones, Stratton, and Mitchell. If Routt gets healthy, he could be the legitimate 3rd starter and the lefty Cohen wants. But starting CT wasn't a very good move, as far as I'm concerned. I also question the decision to sub in Trey Johnson on D when we brought in Stark to pitch. Brownlee and Shepherd were both still available on the bench. Brownlee & Shepherd >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Trey Johnson when it comes to D.
I was ok with the Friday & Saturday lineups overall. The exception was Sam Frost, but aGAIN, I'll get there momentarily. But I wasn't happy with Sunday's lineup. We'd already dropped 2, so you better put your best offensive lineup out there against your opponent's weakest starter. I'm usually ok with Thigpen behind the dish because of his D and the ability to use Freeman as DH. But with CT as P/DH yesterday, start Freeman. We need his bat in there.
And that brings me to Sam Frost. Mr. Sub-Mendoza himself. How is this guy still starting? If anything, yesterday proved he can't be trusted in a clutch situation. Frazier stepped right in and delivered a HUGE hit to tie it. Frost plays good D, but it's not so much better than what Frazier, Stark, or Henderson offer that it justifies his black hole-like offensive presence. On Frost's best day, his upside is a Delta State starter. The 3 freshmen all have SEC upside. I think it's worth it to work through their growing pains at 2B and hope they become solid contributors by the last month of SEC play. It's not like we can't always go back to Mr. Sub-Mendoza if they can't get it done.
My proposed lineup: Vickerson, Collins, Parks, Freeman, CT, Norris, Ogden, Stark, Brownlee. I'd also be ok with: Vickerson, Collins, Parks, Freeman, CT, Thigpen, Ogden, Stark, Brownlee as a slightly more defense oriented lineup. But I'd really like to see my first lineup. I think that it gives us the best chance to win right now.
