Razorback baseball--2024

[buff2.0]

That's a big need.

Your avatar gives me a big need as well.

[Mazeppa Pompazoidi]

Can Stovall play SS?  Holt could stay at 2B.

Looks like we got a new SS.  Good hitter, but needs work in fielding.

https://arkansas.rivals.com/news/sacramento-state-transfer-wehiwa-aloy-commits-to-arkansas?ga_source=tm

[Thin Red Swine]

Coll being unable to edge out Bolton reminded me of the Dukakis-Bush debate skit from SNL. "I can't believe I'm losing to this guy."

Bolton was one of the most elite defensive shortstops we've ever had. That's always DVH's first priority for the position. He hit a little and got on base other ways. His OBP was higher than Stovall and Slavens among the regular lineup guys.

[DirkPiggler]

Bolton was one of the most elite defensive shortstops we've ever had. That's always DVH's first priority for the position. He hit a little and got on base other ways. His OBP was higher than Stovall and Slavens among the regular lineup guys.

Compared to Battles, Bolton was below average defensively.  That's setting the bar really high though. 

Bolton made most of the plays he could get to.  There's value in that, but his range was less than stellar.

[hit_that_line]

DVH doing work in the portal. Supposedly we're on a couple pitchers from Wichita State.

[joebobhog]

DVH doing work in the portal. Supposedly we're on a couple pitchers from Wichita State.

we are sorely fucked.

[BleedinRed]

Compared to Battles, Bolton was below average defensively.  That's setting the bar really high though. 

Bolton made most of the plays he could get to.  There's value in that, but his range was less than stellar.

This is flat out wrong.  Can you name one play that Bolton didn't make that Battles would have?   Bolton played lights out in this year.  

[BASS]

My eyes tell me battles is the best short stop we've had in my time of watching Arkansas baseball.

And he hit pretty well too.

[hit_that_line]

This is flat out wrong.  Can you name one play that Bolton didn't make that Battles would have?  Bolton played lights out in this year. 

Well, there's this thing called range. Don't let them ruin your overhype of the white athlete though.

[Son of Spam]

My eyes tell me battles is the best short stop we've had in my time of watching Arkansas baseball.

And he hit pretty well too.

Biggers wasn't bad either.

[Spiderham]

This is flat out wrong.  Can you name one play that Bolton didn't make that Battles would have?  Bolton played lights out in this year. 

He hit lights out too.
 
Like the lights were actually out during a night game. 

[Usafhawg]

Well, there's this thing called range. Don't let them ruin your overhype of the white athlete though.

Hey bitch, how does your pride let you keep posting here?

[BleedinRed]

Well, there's this thing called range. Don't let them ruin your overhype of the white athlete though.

Can't name one single play so you revert to race. Predictable. 

[DrMongoose]

well, Jayson Jones is still on the roster so what does the Sac State guy mean for him? Brooks tells me this is huge as he really follows college baseball.

Still, we need pitching. the pitching performance center is in what year 3 coming up and we have not seen anyone emerge or noticeably improve.

[DirkPiggler]

This is flat out wrong.  Can you name one play that Bolton didn't make that Battles would have?   Bolton played lights out in this year. 

If I wanted to go back and watch every chance he had, or if I had access to the I of A's trackman data, I'm sure I could find a bunch. 

[DirkPiggler]

well, Jayson Jones is still on the roster so what does the Sac State guy mean for him? Brooks tells me this is huge as he really follows college baseball.

Still, we need pitching. the pitching performance center is in what year 3 coming up and we have not seen anyone emerge or noticeably improve.

Jones didn't play SS at all this year.  He's probably going to play 3rd if at all.

[Barton Fink]

Yeah I don't think Jones has the quick mobility to play SS. Third is his likely landing spot.

[Thin Red Swine]

Compared to Battles, Bolton was below average defensively.  That's setting the bar really high though. 

Bolton made most of the plays he could get to.  There's value in that, but his range was less than stellar.

I definitely didn't say he was better than Battles. I looked back a few years for BA, OBP assists and fielding percentage. Battles is clearly the best but Bolton's numbers on defense are reasonably comparable. He was comfortably better than Biggers and Bernal, and miles better than Casey Martin (lowest bar).

You're right there aren't numbers reported for range. 

[olive_branch_hog]

Still, we need pitching. the pitching performance center is in what year 3 coming up and we have not seen anyone emerge or noticeably improve.

Stings.

Also, true.

[DirkPiggler]

I definitely didn't say he was better than Battles. I looked back a few years for BA, OBP assists and fielding percentage. Battles is clearly the best but Bolton's numbers on defense are reasonably comparable. He was comfortably better than Biggers and Bernal, and miles better than Casey Martin (lowest bar).

You're right there aren't numbers reported for range. 

I wish D1 or some other entity would publish some defensive stats similar to the ones prevalent in MLB.  They are far from perfect as standalone numbers but can help paint the full picture.

Totally agree on Bolton's standing among the others listed, although I'd say he's probably similar to but a little above Biggers. If he could have performed offensively for the whole year the way he did the last couple of weeks of it we would be looking at him much more favorably.