Lineup for Tomorrow

[Commercecomet24]

I know Luke's taking a lot of heat for the stolen bases but this ain't all on him. Our pitchers are extremely slow to the plate(all over 1.5 to the plate), and all over the place with pitches. They had our pitchers timed. Realmuto wasn't throwing anyone out with our pitchers today! They didn't give him much of a chance to throw anyone out. Also on 2 sbs at third Alford missed the tag on one(called out but was reversed on review) and on another one he didn't get back to the bag in time because the throw beat the runner. Yeah Luke could do better but he hasn't had any help at all.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Why? We didn't bat Downs or Hujsac today but you want Hoyle to get ABs. Geez.

I'm saying we need to get our bench guys ABs. I'm guessing you didn't read the original post that mentioned both of those guys specifically.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I know Luke's taking a lot of heat for the stolen bases but this ain't all on him. Our pitchers are extremely slow to the plate(all over 1.5 to the plate), and all over the place with pitches. They had our pitchers timed. Realmuto wasn't throwing anyone out with our pitchers today! They didn't give him much of a chance to throw anyone out. Also on 2 sbs at third Alford missed the tag on one(called out but was reversed on review) and on another one he didn't get back to the bag in time because the throw beat the runner. Yeah Luke could do better but he hasn't had any help at all.

So Commerce you know more about this than I do, is that something that our pitchers can remedy or are all our pitchers just slow to the plate and that's what they'll be for the season and we're going to get ran on at will.

[Commercecomet24]

So Commerce you know more about this than I do, is that something that our pitchers can remedy or are all our pitchers just slow to the plate and that's what they'll be for the season and we're going to get ran on at will.

You've got to vary your deliveries. Slide step every now and then, hold the ball longer freeze the runner, go quick to the plate,etc, don't just go with same delivery over and over. You could tell they had us timed. We weren't doing anything to slow them down. Heck our guys were not doing anything to mess with the runners timing and on top of that they were all over the place with their command and all those things kill a catcher throwing out runners.

ETA if you go back and watch the replay when they were stealing third they were just taking as soon as our pitcher looked away from them to the plate.

[StarkVegasSteve]

You've got to vary your deliveries. Slide step every now and then, hold the ball longer freeze the runner, go quick to the plate,etc, don't just go with same delivery over and over. You could tell they had us timed. We weren't doing anything to slow them down. Heck our guys were not doing anything to mess with the runners timing and on top of that they were all over the place with their command and all those things kill a catcher throwing out runners.

Now the next question, can any of our pitchers do that without becoming head cases and hitting Ronnie in the Triple Crown Club more times than they can throw it in the zone.

[Commercecomet24]

Now the next question, can any of our pitchers do that without becoming head cases and hitting Ronnie in the Triple Crown Club more times than they can throw it in the zone.

Lol now that's a good question. I think that was a big part of the problem today. They were so focused on trying to throw strikes after all the walks they just lost all track of baserunners. It looks like everyone but Dohm had the yips today cause they were missing big.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Lol now that's a good question. I think that was a big part of the problem today. They were so focused on trying to throw strikes after all the walks they just lost all track of baserunners. It looks like everyone but Dohm had the yips today cause they were missing big.

Well and I'm sure it's tough to pitch when you're so worried about walks because you know a walk is basically a double or even a triple but at the same time you can't pitch meatballs up there either.

[Commercecomet24]

Well and I'm sure it's tough to pitch when you're so worried about walks because you know a walk is basically a double or even a triple but at the same time you can't pitch meatballs up there either.

If you're over 1.5 to the plate the catcher ain't throwing nobody out.

There's a reason first and third base coaches are carrying those stop watches

[StarkVegasSteve]

If you're over 1.5 to the plate the catcher ain't throwing nobody out.

So is it just a team with slow deliveries or is it a team that can't hold any runners? Or both? I mean some of these same guys were pitching last year and teams weren't running at will on us then. Granted we had a better catcher too.

[Homedawg]

I'm fine with Jordan learning and adjusting to college pitching while playing but based on what I've seen so far I don't believe that should be in the 3 hole until we see some improvement. If VMI pitching can hold him in check this well that doesn't bode well for how he will fare against SEC pitching.

He was our best hitter in the fall and spring. It wasn't by accident. He's a rookie. He was nervous as hell and he's not pull happy. Relax. He's gonna be fine. It might take him a minute to chill. Heck, last year was Yeager and he was a grad transfer. Year before was Scotty. Dakota is WAY more talented than them put together. It's two games!!!

[Homedawg]

Well and I'm sure it's tough to pitch when you're so worried about walks because you know a walk is basically a double or even a triple but at the same time you can't pitch meatballs up there either.

Blaming the catcher on you throwing more balls than strikes is well.... weak. Do your job and then we can worry about the damn catcher.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Blaming the catcher on you throwing more balls than strikes is well.... weak. Do your job and then we can worry about the damn catcher.

Well that's easier said than done. If you're slow to the plate and the catcher isn't elite then you're terrified of every ball. And if it was as easy as throw more strikes than balls then they're be a lot more pitchers in baseball to choose from. Locating a 93 mph fastball in tight windows is a pretty difficult task, especially when you're surrounded by 12 thousand people.

[Commercecomet24]

So is it just a team with slow deliveries or is it a team that can't hold any runners? Or both? I mean some of these same guys were pitching last year and teams weren't running at will on us then. Granted we had a better catcher too.

Today we did a crappy job holding runners on. It can be corrected and I'm sure Lemonis will focus on it. Most stolen bases are stolen on the pitcher not the catcher. Luke's pop is not bad at all, actually average for a college catcher but he has to have some help from the pitchers. They've all got work to do pitchers and luke.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Today we did a crappy job holding runners on. It can be corrected and I'm sure Lemonis will focus on it. Most stolen bases are stolen on the pitcher not the catcher. Luke's pop is not bad at all, actually average for a college catcher but he has to have some help from the pitchers. They've all got work today pitchers and luke.

Good to hear that it's not as bad or as unfixable as some might believe. Do you have any observations or thoughts on our other catchers?

[CaptainObvious]

You don?t make your 5th year senior catchet the one and only team captain and then bench him so the pitching coach and pitchers are going to have to figure out how to hold runners.

[StarkVegasSteve]

You don?t make your 5th year senior catchet the one and only team captain and then bench him so the pitching coach and pitchers are going to have to figure out how to hold runners.

Which is why I was against naming him captain, or at least the only captain. It would be beyond a bad look to just straight bench him so we'll either have to live with it behind the plate or move him to DH or 1B

[Commercecomet24]

Good to hear that it's not as bad or as unfixable as some might believe. Do you have any observations or thoughts on our other catchers?

Yes these are things that can be improved on and of course if we don't walk a small village we don't have to worry about so many stolen bases lol. Luke will never be Logan Tanner but his pop time is good enough if we give him a chance. Highfill is gonna be good one he just needs some time.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Yes these are things that can be improved on and of course if we don't walk a small village we don't have to worry about so many stolen bases lol. Luke will never be Logan Tanner but his pop time is good enough if we give him a chance. Highfill is gonna be good one he just needs some time.

That's kind of what I was told. I was told a few weeks ago that we were worried about Hancock throwing down to 2nd. Said he wasn't very accurate and didn't have much zip on it. But that he managed the staff and was ahead hitting wise on Highfill. Said Highfill is probably the most athletic catcher we've ever had, but that there's still mental things he needs to learn about catching at this level.

[TNDawg35]

We've also had 6 errors in 2 days and a catcher who has allowed 13 SBs in two days. I'd say that warrants discussion of a change.

Also, Dakota is 2-9 for the weekend. No RBIs and 2 K's. Does have 3 BBs which shows a bit of patience. We can give someone else a look out there without giving up on him. I'm not saying start benching him I just think we need to give guys like Hujsak and Chance opportunities in the field and since Lemonis is not going to take out Ledbetter or Clark so Jordan is the only one left.

Dakota is a true freshman who has HUGE potential. He is pressing a little too hard which anyone starting their first 2 college games would do. You let him work out the kinks right now against subpar pitching. You don?t bench him after 2 games, especially to downgrade with the replacement. Give the kid a chance. He just needs to relax.

You don?t change the line up unless Highfill can go. If he is healthy, you let him catch tom and put Hancock at DH. Hines is out 1b now. Believe it or not, we are really really young and still have over 30 hits and scored 24 runs in 2 games. Pitching is the problem right now. I wouldn?t even say the errors are really bad. Everyone has errors opening wknd when your this young. A lot of unsettles nerves out there right now. (Take out Forsythe cause he makes the plays he has screwed up this wknd)

I did like what I saw out of Logan Forsythe Fri. He threw strikes and challenged hitters. The got screwed on the one walk he had cause the ump blew the call. He should have k?d the guy. I have a feeling we see Loftin and Lo tom. lol was warming up today but Dohm was doing good.

I thought Davis looked ok, Holcomb looked ok til the ump blew his call then he kinda unraveled. The ump today was very inconsistent. He would squeeze then open wide up. Even hunt was squeezed when he started walking people, but he let it get to his head. You could see him mouthing when Lemonis came to get him.

I?m really interested to see how Gartman does tom. We saw personally last year that he can throw strikes.

Gotta shake today off. It?s over. 1 bad loss won?t hurt us. Everyone is gonna have them. Hell Arizona beat Tenn and then turned around and lost to Fresno State. Tenn is 0-2. That vaunted LSU offense that was suppose to be the Powerhouse only scored 5 today on 7 hits. Shake it off and show up today and take the series?

[Commercecomet24]

That's kind of what I was told. I was told a few weeks ago that we were worried about Hancock throwing down to 2nd. Said he wasn't very accurate and didn't have much zip on it. But that he managed the staff and was ahead hitting wise on Highfill. Said Highfill is probably the most athletic catcher we've ever had, but that there's still mental things he needs to learn about catching at this level.

Highfill is extremely athletic and can really run too. He needs to learn to be more calm he can be a little too hyper behind the plate still but that just comes with time. My son was a catcher and I remember when he was a freshman an mlb coach told him after a game, you're really good back there but you'll be even better when you learn how to be calm back there.