Hogs vs Kentucky—-Baseball

[Feral]

We need a hitting coach....or some hitters...or a hitting coach that can make some hitters..or something like that.

As someone said earlier in this thread, we recruit incredibly well and we have excellent facilities, we're just not developing hitters and that's 100% on Nate Thompson.

Who's the last recruited hitter who actually progressed under his tutelage? Cayden Wallace?

[Son of Spam]

DVH made some head scratching moves this weekend. 

Diggs batting where he is in the lineup.
Going with Wood over Gaeckle in game 2.
Wilmsmeyer getting the start in game 1.
Edmunson over Lovich in game 3.
Rowland at DH (and not getting PH for) in game 3.
McEntire instead of Gaeckle in a manageable deficit situation in game 3.

Hopefully, DVH is just showing these guys that they can lose and may be trying to get their heads out of their asses. Lovich cost us 2 runs in game 2, but would be a better DH than Rowland. Lovich has done that same thing in the field twice this year. I think we take 2 of 3 from Ms. State at home, then lose at least 2 to eATMe. We will host a regional, but it will be debatable if we come out of it.

[Feral]

Re: Lovich, you're right, I forgot about him being a bit of a shitshow in the field.

Phil said it on the radio in the late innings but the Hogs are coming down to the wire and still don't have that LF spot figured out.

I'm to the point where I think Jones deserves a decent shot.

[Barton Fink]

Re: Lovich, you're right, I forgot about him being a bit of a shitshow in the field.

Phil said it on the radio in the late innings but the Hogs are coming down to the wire and still don't have that LF spot figured out.

I'm to the point where I think Jones deserves a decent shot.

I've been anti-Jones but he's no worse than the others. He at least plays a decent LF and is a power threat if he can make contact.

[Hizog]

I used to be critical of our offense in years past that relied on HR's to score.

...I miss those days now.

It's time to move on from Nate Shiebest Thompson

[Thin Red Swine]

I used to be critical of our offense in years past that relied on HR's to score.

...I miss those days now.

It's time to move on from Nate Shiebest Thompson

Are you saying it's time to order the Code Red?

[Son of Spam]

Well, at least we have a little time to rest now. No mid week games. Maybe we will practice hitting.

[Thin Red Swine]

Well, at least we have a little time to rest now. No mid week games. Maybe we will practice hitting.

That could be it. Maybe they haven't been.

Maybe they can have a team eyed doctor appointment.

[Hizog]

Are you saying it's time to order the Code Red?

Since you mention it, if anyone happens to know where Sam Olajabutu is these days, I know how he can make some NIL money.

[Barton Fink]

Believe Sam was just hired as an assistant at some in state HS. Forrest City maybe?

[Feral]

In his postgame presser after game 3, DVH sounded pissed about the hitting.

Basically said we're not getting the big hit when we need it and we're not hitting with RISP.

He also sounded a frustrated with Molina and how inefficient he is and how he gets to high pitch counts early. We're now 0-3 in his last three starts, and we're 3-4 in SEC games he starts (14-3 in the rest of our SEC games).

I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a shakeup in the rotation and Molina potentially go to the bullpen or get shut down for a bit.

[BleedinRed]

In his postgame presser after game 3, DVH sounded pissed about the hitting.

Basically said we're not getting the big hit when we need it and we're not hitting with RISP.

He also sounded a frustrated with Molina and how inefficient he is and how he gets to high pitch counts early. We're now 0-3 in his last three starts, and we're 3-4 in SEC games he starts (14-3 in the rest of our SEC games).

I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a shakeup in the rotation and Molina potentially go to the bullpen or get shut down for a bit.

[Usafhawg]

In his postgame presser after game 3, DVH sounded pissed about the hitting.

Basically said we're not getting the big hit when we need it and we're not hitting with RISP.

He also sounded a frustrated with Molina and how inefficient he is and how he gets to high pitch counts early. We're now 0-3 in his last three starts, and we're 3-4 in SEC games he starts (14-3 in the rest of our SEC games).

I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a shakeup in the rotation and Molina potentially go to the bullpen or get shut down for a bit.

I'm thinking Gage Wood will start next Sunday.

[Feral]

To be fair, that may have been an answer to a Bob Holt question, which would make sense. 😂

[Feral]

I'm thinking Gage Wood will start next Sunday.

Agreed. DVH sounded extremely high on him after game 2, and his "he might take someone's job" comment would definitely make you think he's sniffing the starting rotation, especially now that McEntire has tailed off.

[Show-Me Hog]

Some great Arkansas coach said all sickness is not death.  We're going to host a regional no matter what.  Hosting a Super-Regional is still up in the air.  3-3 or better, we will.  0-6 we won't.  1-5 or 2-4, toss up.  Our lead pitcher is still awesome.  Our bats are death right now and "not getting the key hit" is simply regression to the mean since that's ALL we were getting in the first 3/4 of the season.  Of course we're going to hit a stretch when we're not.

If our pitching and hitting once again converge about Sunday of the Regional weekend, and stay together the next couple of weeks, we have a shot at the whole thing, which is always a crapshoot anyway.  Sometimes a simple pop fly is the difference between dogpile and agony.

[Cornhogio]

Tygart isn't exactly shredding right now either.  Maybe start Wood on Saturday, and more of a Johnny Wholestaff approach on Sunday.  McEntire can't be the first guy out of the pen either. 

[Feral]

Tygart isn't exactly shredding right now either.  Maybe start Wood on Saturday, and more of a Johnny Wholestaff approach on Sunday.  McEntire can't be the first guy out of the pen either. 

I'd be intrigued by Gaeckle in a starter/opener role. He's our most reliable, consistent pitcher outside of Hagen.

DVH won't do it since he's too valuable right now in a twice a weekend closer/high leverage role, but I think he'd be great starting (and will likely be at the front end of our rotation next year).

[DirkPiggler]

Tygart didn't pitch as badly as his line indicated Saturday, and his two previous starts were his best of the year in SEC play.  I didn't understand the move of going back to White catching him after Rowland had caught the two previous times he pitched which were much better.  It would have made sense if we had been trying to get more offense in the lineup, but to turn around and DH Rowland the next day...WTF?

The other problem with moving Tygart to the pen is how he reacted once things went south on him Saturday.  Like I said, he was doing okay...not great, but good enough early on.  Then he grazed a sure DP ball that would have gotten him through the 2nd unscathed.  Then Lovich's derp happened, which put three on the board.  Brady seemed to lose it once he hit a little adversity.  That's not something I want to see in a prospective closer or relief stopper, which is where he would be if he falls out of the rotation.

Gaeckle is our second best pitcher.  Foutch may be third.  I wouldn't be opposed to letting Gabe start in place of Molina, but we need someone available to finish out 2-3 games in a weekend.  Foutch may be that guy, but I'm not sure I trust him enough yet.

[Son of Spam]

Tygart didn't pitch as badly as his line indicated Saturday, and his two previous starts were his best of the year in SEC play.  I didn't understand the move of going back to White catching him after Rowland had caught the two previous times he pitched which were much better.  It would have made sense if we had been trying to get more offense in the lineup, but to turn around and DH Rowland the next day...WTF?

The other problem with moving Tygart to the pen is how he reacted once things went south on him Saturday.  Like I said, he was doing okay...not great, but good enough early on.  Then he grazed a sure DP ball that would have gotten him through the 2nd unscathed.  Then Lovich's derp happened, which put three on the board.  Brady seemed to lose it once he hit a little adversity.  That's not something I want to see in a prospective closer or relief stopper, which is where he would be if he falls out of the rotation.

Gaeckle is our second best pitcher.  Foutch may be third.  I wouldn't be opposed to letting Gabe start in place of Molina, but we need someone available to finish out 2-3 games in a weekend.  Foutch may be that guy, but I'm not sure I trust him enough yet.

I wouldn't mind seeing a little more of Faherty. He is a string bean, but has shown promise when put in.