I will be surprised if Chance isn't in the lineup. He should be improved going into this year, he definitely got better last year.
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I will be surprised if Chance isn't in the lineup. He should be improved going into this year, he definitely got better last year.
That's a bit of an understatement. Marquette would have been our highest average hitter right out at the gate and very likely would have hit over .300 even in the SEC. He is projected to be a 1st rounder next year. Can you name one player on our roster coming back that you would have confidence in hitting over .300? Chance is our highest returning hitter for average at .286 at least for guys with 100 ABs. After that it falls all the way down to Hines at .257. Yes, our 2nd best returning hitter for average from last year's team is Hines at a whopping 257!Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach34
I will be surprised if Chance isn't in the lineup. He should be improved going into this year, he definitely got better last year.
He probably will but with Hines returning that threw playing time at DH/LF/RF into a big battle. Downs hit .300 this year he just couldnt stay healthy. Ace is going to play somewhere and hit in the middle of the order. Sullivan hit 17 HR's this past season and will be competing for AB's. Stevens was a big bat coming out of HSQuote:
Originally Posted by basedog
We have some real competition for playing time in 25
Competition is always a good thing, hopefully we have some depth, last few years has been really bad in the depth department.Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach34
Chance will 100% be starting & it's not remotely in question.
I'm wondering with the new bats coming in if he might get a shot to play 2nd. Larry played it most of the season with a terrible arm. Wouldnt be any different with Chance there
wait, what about the citadel guy. ain't he a mid infielder?
yes- he could play 2nd, SS, 3rd, or even CFQuote:
Originally Posted by Pancho
Meh . . . . . if we get to top 5, it will be in spite of Lemonhead and not because of him . . . . . .Quote:
Originally Posted by RockyDog
That would actually be his best position. He wasn?t an outfielder until he came here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach34
Downs is a curious case. He's a strong lad and sized for college power. He was also a big recruit. But his 29 hits last year were almost all singles. I think he got a rolling double or two. Schools like Tennessee don't have starters with sub 350 slugging percentage.Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach34
Even Polk commented that Downs hits like a small guy (paraphrasing). AD got 9 hits in the last 5 games, that took the average to 300 when it was 263 before. People do get better, if he can hit in 2025 like he did versus Virginia and St John, he's a big boost.
He has had some injuries. That has affected his power a lot I'm sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Federalist Engineer
I'm not sure what we're going to get out of him this year but I wouldn't be completely shocked if he comes out of nowhere and is fairly productive for us. I also wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being a PH guy for us and just is what he is.