Cann has made the decision to give up offensive production in the 7 and 8 holes (LA and Poole) for elite defense (LA) and elite speed in the outfield (Poole). It's working so don't change it until you have to.
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For the record, what's farther than starting in the sec?
Really? Eight? Wow. I had at least 4 that made it as far as he has........and I don't coach for a living, and never have. I also live in a small town and only coached park and rec soccer because nobody else would. Nice job there random, you really showed me!
No offense , but I have had former players playing on Sundays and in the Show each week; heck, I've had half the SEC west's assistants as well as some Big 12 and PAC coaches talk my ear off because some player or another that may have been gracing the locker room of schools I had been a coach at, but I don't let that get to my head and think I am or was some awesome coach or deify myself as some Demi-god coach because of what they accomplished and therefore I am the know-all/ be-all for answers. Matter of fact, I realize that players like those I had were players that would have shined if I had put them in a pond of crap at midnight because those kinds of players are just destined for bigger things
I can say this with absolute certainty - no one on this board at this moment in time could take the hand Cann has been dealt this year and made such a run. Yes, we have talent all over the field, but he has done a phenomenal job at getting them to do things to WIN. Heck, right now none of us are worthy of being the fabric in his jock strap as far as coaching decisions. Yes, it is frustrating to see what he is trying to do with this player and keeping big him swinging, but being a coach, sometimes you have to just keep on keeping on with SOME players. Not all players, but some, have to figure it all out by playing through it. Others have to be taken out in order to re-set mentally. Some you can cuss out, some you are gentle. Some you can push to the edge, while others have to be able to take a step back from it all in order to see it clearly.
And last but not least.......
Sometimes, not always, but SOMETIMES, you are the biggest prick this side of The Grove when they sing "Dixie".
What Cann is doing with what he has been given says he deserves a pretty lengthy leash as far as his personnel calls are concerned. He obviously doesn't trust anyone to handle the 5 as much as he does LA and that's okay with me at this point. Yes, LA needs to figure some things out at the plate but if he's the best fielding 3B we have by Cann's opinion and he feels it outweighs the difference in BA that we would gain from someone else then so be it.
Here's the deal. If the kid hits he will keep playing. He is a solid fielding INF, but some here think he is Brooks Robinson and others felt he was Ozzie Smith. This year I don't see a change being made, but Cann is about to start stock piling talent. He better learn to hit SEC pitching or he won't be playing 3b or SS in the future.
Situation.
If there are men on in scoring position with 2 outs or less who is the one or 2 guys you don't want at the plate.?
LA is at the top or near the top of that list. That's not a good thing in this lineup..
I'm not disagreeing.. I'm just saying.
But if we had a few OF that were swinging the sticks well, don't think Stovall at 3b and Cody at 2b wouldn't be an opinion.
LA hasn't taken NEAR the abuse IJ took on here, and most of that was unwarranted.
It's because some anointed him as the ONLY option at SS when we have a staple there already. I hope he does start to swinging the bat better cause he is our best option at 3rd.
But Bottom line is you don't produce you don't play. This isn't 9-10 year old ball where everyone plays and gets a trophy.