UNO Friday Night Starter (former Robe offer and commit)

I have gone back and watched ESPN+ on demand UNO Friday night pitcher the last few games. Tyler LeBlanc from Lafayette High. He was a kid that Robe evaluated, recruited and offered. The kid was committed to sign here at the time of coaches untimely passing. The kid grew up a Cajuns fan and wanted nothing more than to be here. We all know Robe was a great evaluator of pitching talent. One of the first things Deggs did was pull this kids offer. There is absolutely no doubt this kid could have given you a better start against Tech last Wednesday and a better start than that same kid the week before. The kid would no doubt be one of your better options coming out of our current bullpen. He is an Ace on a pretty decent SLC squad.

It is just mind boggling to me that a college coach could evaluate the talent of the kid from Lafayette high yank his offer and offer a scholarship to Harvard instead. Nothing against the kid personally just watch the 2 of them pitch. It makes no sense. Obviously coach Robe knew what he was doing.

I’m sure there will be several others that have success elsewhere that didn’t fit the mold that Deggs/Thib are looking for.

That said, through 1.5 years I do have some concerns about the way pitching has been evaluated and coached thus far.

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Originally Posted by CajunStros

I’m sure there will be several others that have success elsewhere that didn’t fit the mold that Deggs/Thib are looking for.

That said, through 1.5 years I do have some concerns about the way pitching has been evaluated and coached thus far.

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Agree when it comes to pitching he should have left the mold as he found it. If the kid was good enough for toney the guy that saved his life. Good enough to be an ACE of a staff one would think he could contribute here?

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

Agree when it comes to pitching he should have left the mold as he found it. If the kid was good enough for toney the guy that saved his life. Good enough to be an ACE of a staff one would think he could contribute here?

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So, we went from a long 6’ 2” 185 lb lefty with a 90mph fast ball to a short 5’ 9” 235 lb righty and we going to say we got the right mold . . . When I found this out I said something is messed up. . .

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Originally Posted by CajunVic

So, we went from a long 6’ 2” 185 lb lefty with a 90mph fast ball to a short 5’ 9” 235 lb righty and we going to say we got the right mold . . . When I found this out I said something is messed up. . .

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Yes if that's your talent evaluator we should all be a little concerned. That was pre Seth Thib maybe he is better judge of pitching talent.

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

Yes if that's your talent evaluator we should all be a little concerned. That was pre Seth Thib maybe he is better judge of pitching talent.

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Right, that was before coach Thib was onboard.

Our current staff ERA vs a national Top 10 SOS competition (prior to state series) is pretty good. Inconsistent at times from most in the staff......but our SOS they pitched against was near top in nation.

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Originally Posted by Policarp

Our current staff ERA vs a national Top 10 SOS competition (prior to state series) is pretty good. Inconsistent at times from most in the staff......but our SOS they pitched against was near top in nation.

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Giving up just 3.75 runs per game since the 4 game losing streak (Troy sweep and Nicholls loss).

And that includes unearned runs and a couple of extra innings games.

Thats a good recipe for success…and consequently they are 9-3 in those last 12 games.

EDIT: Just went through the box scores. There’s been just 1 unearned run over the last 12 games, and they have played 3 extra innings. Team ERA over that span is 3.57. Thats pretty darn good.

And allowing just a single earned run over that span means the defense is playing well too.

Other than the 3 at Arkansas State, the schedule hasn’t been a whole lot easier over that time frame with 6 games against Ga Southern and South Alabama, and two against La Tech. But guys are starting to find their roles…and most of them are pitching well.

We are pitching better and playing better because of a few things:
1- the schedule has lightened up a hair
2- players have become more comfortable being uncomfortable
3- we finally have some defined roles for just about everyone wearing a uniform

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Originally Posted by lifetimecajun

We are pitching better and playing better because of a few things:
1- the schedule has lightened up a hair
2- players have become more comfortable being uncomfortable
3- we finally have some defined roles for just about everyone wearing a uniform

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I was editing my post when you posted this. We are on the same page.

The team is definitely trending in the right direction

What does any of this discussion have to do with the fact that we pulled a scholarship offer from the Friday night starter at UNO?

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Originally Posted by CajunVic

What does any of this discussion have to do with the fact that we pulled a scholarship offer from the Friday night starter at UNO?

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Not much. A point was made about how the pitching has been much improved lately. And it went from there. Who knows what this kid would be doing if he were pitching here? He’s not, so there’s not really much reason to continue to talk about it.

That said, I’m not sure you’re the best ambassador for keeping threads on topic.

Not to mention that, while he is the Friday starter at UNO (from what was said), he’s got a 4.58 ERA there while doing it. He gave up 6 earned runs in 4 innings against NW State and 5 earned runs in 7 innings against McNeese, which are the only teams that are on the Cajuns’ schedule.

I think UL is fine without him.

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Originally Posted by sportsfanatic21

Not much. A point was made about how the pitching has been much improved lately. And it went from there. Who knows what this kid would be doing if he were pitching here? He’s not, so there’s not really much reason to continue to talk about it.

That said, I’m not sure you’re the best ambassador for keeping threads on topic.

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I am not an ambassador and have never claimed to be and there is absolutely no reason to believe this kid would not also be doing just great here.

I dunno.

Looks like it’s a good thing he’s had healthy run support.


https://unoprivateers.com/sports/bas...r-leblanc/5266

Robe liked some STM pitchers.

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Originally Posted by JMVCAJUNS

Robe liked some STM pitchers.

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I hate the fact we lost one to a school in Mississippi

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Originally Posted by Vincent2

I hate the fact we lost one to a school in Mississippi

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Are you saying he was offered by UL and choose to leave the state?

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Originally Posted by JMVCAJUNS

Are you saying he was offered by UL and choose to leave the state?

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Lowest cost of entry more than likely

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Originally Posted by Vincent2

Lowest cost of entry more than likely

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Right off hand I only know of Scott Dohmann, Wyatt Marks and Hogan Harris from STM that were good pitchers.

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Originally Posted by sportsfanatic21

Not much. A point was made about how the pitching has been much improved lately. And it went from there. Who knows what this kid would be doing if he were pitching here? He’s not, so there’s not really much reason to continue to talk about it.

That said, I’m not sure you’re the best ambassador for keeping threads on topic.

Not to mention that, while he is the Friday starter at UNO (from what was said), he’s got a 4.58 ERA there while doing it. He gave up 6 earned runs in 4 innings against NW State and 5 earned runs in 7 innings against McNeese, which are the only teams that are on the Cajuns’ schedule.

I think UL is fine without him.

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Unless they played mcnesse twice someone needs to talk to the official scorer. When you have runs score due to a routine ground ball rolling under your short stops glove that’s not earned. That was clearly an error.

If you read the first post it was about pulling a schooly from this kid and giving it to Harvard who he is clearly better than. I watched him pitch 3 times and I’d take him on my staff any day before Harvard, Menard and Perrin to name few.

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Originally Posted by Cajun Monkee

I dunno.

Looks like it’s a good thing he’s had healthy run support.


https://unoprivateers.com/sports/bas...r-leblanc/5266

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Against mcnesse he was scoreless through 5. That’s been his MO. Strong start. Runs late. IMO probably gets left in one or 2 innings to long. They may not trust the bull pen.

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

Unless they played mcnesse twice someone needs to talk to the official scorer. When you have runs score due to a routine ground ball rolling under your short stops glove that’s not earned. That was clearly an error.

If you read the first post it was about pulling a schooly from this kid and giving it to Harvard who he is clearly better than. I watched him pitch 3 times and I’d take him on my staff any day before Harvard, Menard and Perrin to name few.

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While Havard has definitely had his issues, in the common opponents games, Havard has given up 0 earned runs over 6 innings against NW State and McNeese.

Would this other kid be better? Who knows? All you can really go on is what they’ve done against similar competition. And Havard has been much better. The other kid doesn’t have great numbers, even if he is starting on Fridays for UNO (which is far from a great program these days). He’s had good outings against the likes of ULM, Youngstown State and Houston Baptist. Other than that, he’s gotten knocked around every time out.

Again, the UNO kid isn’t here. So there’s not much use in talking about the what ifs.

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Originally Posted by sportsfanatic21

While Havard has definitely had his issues, in the common opponents games, Havard has given up 0 earned runs over 6 innings against NW State and McNeese.

Would this other kid be better? Who knows? All you can really go on is what they’ve done against similar competition. And Havard has been much better. The other kid doesn’t have great numbers, even if he is starting on Fridays for UNO (which is far from a great program these days). He’s had good outings against the likes of ULM, Youngstown State and Houston Baptist. Other than that, he’s gotten knocked around every time out.

Again, the UNO kid isn’t here. So there’s not much use in talking about the what ifs.

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How many times have you seen the other kid pitch? Watch his stuff then watch Harvard. You can see it on demand on ESPN+. To compare mcneese or north western state on a Tuesday to a Friday we don’t know if they are sitting some starters getting some guys some reps. Just watch the two pitch and compare.

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Originally Posted by sportsfanatic21

While Havard has definitely had his issues, in the common opponents games, Havard has given up 0 earned runs over 6 innings against NW State and McNeese.

Would this other kid be better? Who knows? All you can really go on is what they’ve done against similar competition. And Havard has been much better. The other kid doesn’t have great numbers, even if he is starting on Fridays for UNO (which is far from a great program these days). He’s had good outings against the likes of ULM, Youngstown State and Houston Baptist. Other than that, he’s gotten knocked around every time out.

Again, the UNO kid isn’t here. So there’s not much use in talking about the what ifs.

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Well, he will probably get a Thur/Fri start against SE and Nichols in the next couple of weeks and we can see how this works out. I still agree with Krazy that it was an ill advised move to yank this scholarship.

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Originally Posted by Vincent2

I hate the fact we lost one to a school in Mississippi

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Are you talking about the one currently at ole miss?