Quote Originally Posted by Irondawg View Post
Whereas I was once optimistic that our problem was too many hitters, the reality is looking more like we have too many guys that are the same hitter and they all play 3B or COF. I'm not sure there is really that much difference in Brown, Vickerson, Smith in the OF and Spruill, Reynolds, Gridley, Holland in the IF with Britton the weakest hitter and has honestly probably about played himself out of the conversation. Rooker and Humphries give you some power potential in the COF/DH spot but you lose some plate discipline, speed and defense.

On the IF guys I'm also not sure how to rate them all defensively.

Gridley has earned the PT until he loses it in my book. Humpreys is the guy we need to become an xbh threat and run producer so I'd give him a few more weeks to earn/lose that spot. To me he DH's unless you want to get Rooker's bat in there (assuming he's worth than Hump defensively). and if we keep never hitting XBH then we need to roll the dice with Rooker. Right now I'd give Holland, Smith and Brown most of the other PT

vs RH:

Robson
Heck
Collins
Humphreys
Brown
Rea
Holland
Smith
Gridley

vs LH

Gridley
Heck
Collins
Humphreys
Rooker
Smith
Rea
Holland/Spruill/Britton
Robson (if robson looks terrible vs LH maybe Smith could play CF)
Power hitters typically strike out more than contact hitters/speed guys in general. The power hitters that don't strike out a lot are usually going to end up in Cooperstown barring steroid use. Now, in a perfect world you would have legit all five tool guys. But that's not even a reality in MLB, much less the SEC.

And no, I'm not advocating against power hitting- I'm just saying that those guys are going to strike out some and to expect it, but the trade off is going to in the form of home runs and extra base hits. So, it's worth it in the long run depending on the overall production of the player.

Really the only hole in the lineup I see is at third base.

C- Worst case scenario is Lovelady, and he has been a pleasant surprise so far.
1B- Rea has done pretty well- with 9 BB's and 1 K.
2B/3B- Gridley is hitting very well and will be a freshman player of the year candidate.
SS- Heck is hitting well- almost .400
LF- Humphreys will be fine.
CF- Robson is hitting over .400
RF- If Smith can't come back, Vickerson is doing well.
DH- Rooker needs to play more and leads the team in home runs.