South Alabama baseball thoughts

[Todd4State]

First of all, this was a potentially nice win. It's the kind that might make a difference in seeding later on down the road possibly- USA has a legit ace that I think is going to win them a lot of games in the Sun Belt. They also completely kicked 11-2 USM's ass last week during the midweek.

Which is why- even though it worked- I disagree with throwing our freshmen pitchers out there like it was Alcorn. It was just really risky IMO. If he wants to do that against Alcorn, or any of the other OOC opponents other than Memphis, USM, or Ole Miss that's fine. And on that point, I would have liked to have seen Breaux go a little deeper only like an inning or two more and then bring in Small, and then finish the game up.

And to be fair, there were some good things that did indeed come out of pitching like we did- Beaux at least looks to be about where Daniel Brown is at worst and Ethan Small stole the show. Noah Hughes got hit a little bit- but that was after Collins misplayed a ball again which extended the inning. Cyr looked OK. But the other thing that really excited me was seeing Zac Houston mow their guys down in the 8th. He's building up as a relief guy now- he got out of a big jam against USC and then he did start off with two walks but I think a lot of that was losing his concentration because he didn't get a call. If Zac steps up and becomes another force out of the bullpen for us, we are going to be really, really deep. Blake Smith looked dominant. We need to try to continue to build up and extend Breaux and Small- unless Sexton and Brown straighten up. Rigby pitched better too- other than the balk. Pilkington is looking better as well.

I thought we hit the ball pretty well after looking like kaka in the first few innings. Gavin's first home run really got us jump started, and then it was great to see Rooker come off the bench after he has been struggling come up with a huge double that put us ahead for good. We did a good job manufacturing a run with small ball and then Gavin knocked them out for good. Hopefully he keeps it up. I feel bad for Reid getting a home run stolen from him. Last year, we hit 22 home runs on the entire season. Right now we are at 8.

Marrero made a heck of a play throwing one of their baserunners out. He's going to be legit.

Collins made his typical misplay which again cost us runs- and we need Kruger to move back behind the plate ASAP so that we can put either Humphreys or Alexander there. We probably shut them out had it not been for that play.

Cody Brown did Cody Brown things even though he didn't get a hit- he had three walks, a stolen base and scored a run.

We have our most difficult pre SEC test next up in Oregon- weather permitting. It's a good chance to make some noise and it should get us ready for SEC play if nothing else. We need Sexton and Brown to really step it up. I'm guessing we'll see Breaux and Small start the midweek games next week and then SEC play starts.

[dawgday166]

It was a good win. Having said that, it's painful for me to watch a game that Cohen is managing. Different lineup everyday with players in different positions. Every play in the field or at bat is an adventure. Routine plays don't seem to be very routine. The only thing we consistently do really well for most part is bunt. I'm not very optimistic right now ... we'll see. It is obvious to me there is talent on this team tho. Maybe they'll overcome Cohen trying to manage every baseball game like he's trying to cure cancer using nuclear physics.

[msstate7]

Breaux getting pulled after 2 ip could've been to use him this weekend at some point.

[beretta]

i like how he used a lot of Fr pitchers to get experience, but if you have a Fr pitcher who is finding his groove, let him feed on that groove....im referencing Ethan Small.....he will be a future weekend starter imo.....guy just shows so much confidence and poise on the mound....he should have been left in the game to feed on the momentum and get even better.....

this team is going to lose some games.....bc of cohen, bc of youth.....i think that they will peak for a late season run and get stronger as the season goes on....post season should be fun....I really love our lineup (even with the changes)....i expect Marrero to get better at the plate as the season goes on.....im not as big of a fan of Cody Brown as some of you....i cringe and pray every time he is at the plate....

[CarolinaDawgs]

Big W. This team has some fight that last years didn't. Makes a world of difference.

[K9 Avenger]

It was a good win. Having said that, it's painful for me to watch a game that Cohen is managing. Different lineup everyday with players in different positions. Every play in the field or at bat is an adventure. Routine plays don't seem to be very routine. The only thing we consistently do really well for most part is bunt. I'm not very optimistic right now ... we'll see. It is obvious to me there is talent on this team tho. Maybe they'll overcome Cohen trying to manage every baseball game like he's trying to cure cancer using nuclear physics.

Broken record....wash, rinse, repeat....beat the dead horse....this board is almost unreadable during baseball season.....too many agenda driven posters

[Jack Lambert]

It was a good win. Having said that, it's painful for me to watch a game that Cohen is managing. Different lineup everyday with players in different positions. Every play in the field or at bat is an adventure. Routine plays don't seem to be very routine. The only thing we consistently do really well for most part is bunt. I'm not very optimistic right now ... we'll see. It is obvious to me there is talent on this team tho. Maybe they'll overcome Cohen trying to manage every baseball game like he's trying to cure cancer using nuclear physics.

I don't have a problem moving folks around to find the right mix going into the SEC season but it was either last year or the year before Cohen said in an interview that if they were not doing it that year they would have won a few more games. You don't lose games that way. You play the best guys you have and win at all cost.

[engie]

It was a good win. Having said that, it's painful for me to watch a game that Cohen is managing. Different lineup everyday with players in different positions. Every play in the field or at bat is an adventure. Routine plays don't seem to be very routine. The only thing we consistently do really well for most part is bunt. I'm not very optimistic right now ... we'll see. It is obvious to me there is talent on this team tho. Maybe they'll overcome Cohen trying to manage every baseball game like he's trying to cure cancer using nuclear physics.

Let me guess -- you also want Lowe to move down the lineup and Collins on the bench.

[engie]

I don't have a problem moving folks around to find the right mix going into the SEC season but it was either last year or the year before Cohen said in an interview that if they were not doing it that year they would have won a few more games. You don't lose games that way. You play the best guys you have and win at all cost.

Cool. Who are the best guys we have? Not quite as easy as you imply is it?

You've got to figure that out -- with clear separation beyond a shadow of a doubt -- before you can play them every day. Before you even talk about who is the best situationally.

[Political Hack]

Was good to see them come back after a poor start, take control, and win the game comfortably. I liked the line up and if Collins is going to give us 3+ RBI a game you have to take the risk of having him at 3rd. What you can't do is allow errors at other spots when you have him in. A 2-base throwing error from SS can't happen in close games, especially when you have a defensive liability at 3rd.

I like using a lot of arms mid-week so almost everyone could go this weekend if needed, but you could tell Hughes was struggling a little early and they got him out fast. Getting a runner on and then giving up a bomb with 2-outs is rough, but it happens. He was throwing good enough up until that point. Just unraveled fast.

[engie]

Broken record....wash, rinse, repeat....beat the dead horse....this board is almost unreadable during baseball season.....too many agenda driven posters

Yep. It went from a great baseball discussion board to a total crap shoot sometime in the past two years. To be fair, it's Cohen's fault for not keeping his foot firmly on the neck of the faction of the fanbase that is now so vocal again(I'd bet it's largely the same vocal dissenters from the first couple of seasons to a very large extent -- aka "Polk" guys with new usernames). He had them beaten into submission -- he just didn't keep them there.

That said, there are a dozen or so truly excellent baseball posters here. That's what keeps me coming back and reading.

[msstate7]

My lineup vs Oregon (all lh starters, I believe)...

Robson cf
Gridley 2b
Kruger dh
Collins 3b
Rooker rf
Hump LF
Lowe 1b
Marrero c
Alexander SS

[engie]

Was good to see them come back after a poor start, take control, and win the game comfortably. I liked the line up and if Collins is going to give us 3+ RBI a game you have to take the risk of having him at 3rd. What you can't do is allow errors at other spots when you have him in. A 2-base throwing error from SS can't happen in close games, especially when you have a defensive liability at 3rd.

I like using a lot of arms mid-week so almost everyone could go this weekend if needed, but you could tell Hughes was struggling a little early and they got him out fast. Getting a runner on and then giving up a bomb with 2-outs is rough, but it happens. He was throwing good enough up until that point. Just unraveled fast.

IMO, Hughes has really good stuff. His off-speed pitches are electric. He's just not there mentally yet.

Blake Smith has the mentality on the back end that we have sorely missed ever since Holder. I love his approach. Did we give up a single hit after Hughes left the game?

[msstate7]

IMO, Hughes has really good stuff. His off-speed pitches are electric. He's just not there mentally yet.

Blake Smith has the mentality on the back end that we have sorely missed ever since Holder. I love his approach. Did we give up a single hit after Hughes left the game?

Smith...

1 ip 3 batters faced 3 k

[BB30]

Baseball is such a different sport. Everything has to come together to really have a strong season. You can't just out athlete people like you can in football and basketball. You have to find the guys early in the year that you can count on at the end. I don't see a problem with moving people around and seeing some young arms during a midweek game. Just because a kid can run a 6.6 60 or hit 96 on a gun does in no way shape or form mean he will be an asset to the team. Cohen has his faults but this team has a chance to be very good.

[dawgday166]

Let me guess -- you also want Lowe to move down the lineup and Collins on the bench.

No ... I don't. I want to stick with them, stay with a consistent lineup and see how it works over a decent amount of time. My main thing is I don't want to give up runs due to errors and mental mistakes. I like rock solid D and will trade some to get a really good bat in the lineup maybe. I don't think Collins should be moved all over the place .. play him at 3rd everyday and leave him there.

Like I've said previously, I cannot think of a really good team that has moved people at random all over the infield all the time. I'd also stick with a pretty consistent batting order for a period of time too.

[Homedawg]

Yep. It went from a great baseball discussion board to a total crap shoot sometime in the past two years. To be fair, it's Cohen's fault for not keeping his foot firmly on the neck of the faction of the fanbase that is now so vocal again(I'd bet it's largely the same vocal dissenters from the first couple of seasons to a very large extent -- aka "Polk" guys with new usernames). He had them beaten into submission -- he just didn't keep them there.

That said, there are a dozen or so truly excellent baseball posters here. That's what keeps me coming back and reading.

Good post.

[dawgday166]

Look at Cohen's lineup during 2013 Tournament run. Same every day 1-6 or 7 or so. Same infield. Look at Vandy & Florida and their lineups this year.

[Tbonewannabe]

Was good to see them come back after a poor start, take control, and win the game comfortably. I liked the line up and if Collins is going to give us 3+ RBI a game you have to take the risk of having him at 3rd. What you can't do is allow errors at other spots when you have him in. A 2-base throwing error from SS can't happen in close games, especially when you have a defensive liability at 3rd.

I like using a lot of arms mid-week so almost everyone could go this weekend if needed, but you could tell Hughes was struggling a little early and they got him out fast. Getting a runner on and then giving up a bomb with 2-outs is rough, but it happens. He was throwing good enough up until that point. Just unraveled fast.

Does him along with everyone else moving all over the infield increase errors? Every position is different so Cohen constantly moving someone around can only hurt us defensively. I understand if he is still trying to figure out where Alexander, Gridley, and Stovall should play but Collins should be either at 3rd or in the outfield unless he has to catch. He should take most of his reps at 3rd to get comfortable.

[Dallas_Dawg]

Most folks on here say they want Kruger behind the plate. Has anyone seen him catch? Is he a legit catcher?
And if he isn't healthy enough now to be back there, I don't see him being back there at all this year. He would have to knock the rust off in SEC play and I don't see Cohen doing that.