Any info on Thad Griffin?

[CajunAmos]

Looking at the young guys on the team, we appear to have a number of guys who can hit for average. I'm kind of hoping that Griffen can become a Justing Hemme type hitter (270-300 avg. 15-20 HR), and a great catcher (minimal errors, throw out 70% base runners and call a great game). Maybe I'm dreaming, but I'm OK with that.

[CajunRage]

Easy, just look at this year's club. Who carried us at the end and had all the big hits. MATT GOULAS.

He struggled at first but turned it on to finish strong.

.288avg 7HR 31RBI .425Slugging .350OBP

GEAUX UL!

I'm not hammering Goulas here, but he did it for one year. To add to my previous post, he may have a hole in his swing that no one has found yet. He could hit sub .200 for the next 3 years. I was looking for someone other than Lucroy that set the world on fire for 4 straight years.

I know it's a different sport, but a guy named Michael Jordan wasn't too hot in his early years.

[rgncjn12]

_ I'm not hammering Goulas here, but he did it for one year. To add to my previous post, he may have a hole in his swing that no one has found yet. He could hit sub .200 for the next 3 years. I was looking for someone other than Lucroy that set the world on fire for 4 straight years.

I know it's a different sport, but a guy named Michael Jordan wasn't too hot in his early years. _

Jeffries Tatford did it.

04 .188 (3-16) Griffen had 3times as many ABs and hit only .136
05 .335 3 32 .503 .412
06 .336 4 38 .481 .426
07 .351 10 46 .585 .484

[Cajuns78]

He hit .188 as a freshman.

[rgncjn12]

_ He hit .188 as a freshman. _

I fixed my post.

Notice Griffen had 3 times as many at bats as a freshman. Tatford didnt have near the chance as a Freshman as Griffen did.

I'd be willing to bet my paycheck Griffen doesnt have equal to or better numbers then Tatford in 3 years.

[CajunRage]

Jeffries Tatford did it.

04 .188 (3-16) Griffen had 3times as many ABs and hit only .136
05 .335 3 32 .503 .412
06 .336 4 38 .481 .426
07 .351 10 46 .585 .484

Did what? He had 16 at bats and hit .188. Hate to break it to you, but 45 at bats isn't much more (20% of a normal season). Again, name someone other than Lucroy that hit .300+ for all four years.

I'm not trying to talk down of these other players. I'm trying to get everyone off griffin's back. Give him a chance.

[rgncjn12]

_ Did what? He had 16 at bats and hit .188. Hate to break it to you, but 45 at bats isn't much more (20% of a normal season). Again, name someone other than Lucroy that hit .300+ for all four years.

I'm not trying to talk down of these other players. I'm trying to get everyone off griffin's back. Give him a chance. _

This is what I could find:

Corey Coles only played 2 years at UL before going pro.
02 .368 6 45
03 .371 9 45
Not to mention he was a very good pitcher also.

Dallas Morris
02 .264 7 32
03 .299 3 26
04 .373 12 51
05 .357 12 68

So its clear to see we have had numerous kids come in and contribute as Freshman that didnt have half the hype Griffin came in with.

Anyway you slice it .136 as a Freshman with all the hype is a dissappointment. And he had a problem of not catching the ball.

GEAUX UL!

[MetryCajun]

_ Lucroy was one of the best ever to be a cajun, and he had no struggles as a freshman.

.379 avg 5HR 48RBI .544Slugging .427OBP

If you can hit you may struggle to start your freshman year, but you figure it out quickly. Its true if you can hit you can hit!

GEAUX UL! _

I generally agree with the if you can hit you can hit statement. But lets wait another year before we give up on him. I seem to remember a horrible hitting catcher (Morgan) who was a good hitter his SR year. Lets hope we do not have to wait that long for Griffen to improve.

[rgncjn12]

_ I generally agree with the if you can hit you can hit statement. But lets wait another year before we give up on him. I seem to remember a horrible hitting catcher (Morgan) who was a good hitter his SR year. Lets hope we do not have to wait that long for Griffen to improve. _

I am far from giving up on Griffin. HOwever my expectations have been tempered after seeing him struggle mightily. I think his high expectations had us rushing to annoint him the next "Lucroy". I think he will be a solid player but not a 3rd round draft pick.

GEAUX UL!

[cajun2bag]

I disagree! Cap rarely had a chance to play Tatford only pinch hit with the exception of maybe 2 or 3 starts as a freshman. It is not like he played 15-20 games in a row to get in a routine. Griffin was the everyday catcher and never got going. I think Dillion will be a far better hitter but not sure how good he will be as a catcher. Griffin is a better catcher and I think that you have to have a leader and catcher before a good hitting catcher, but 136 come on. He has got a long way to go and I don't see him getting there in the next year.

[CajunAmos]

This is what I could find:

Corey Coles only played 2 years at UL before going pro.
02 .368 6 45
03 .371 9 45
Not to mention he was a very good pitcher also.

Dallas Morris
02 .264 7 32
03 .299 3 26
04 .373 12 51
05 .357 12 68

So its clear to see we have had numerous kids come in and contribute as Freshman that didnt have half the hype Griffin came in with.

Anyway you slice it .136 as a Freshman with all the hype is a dissappointment. And he had a problem of not catching the ball.

GEAUX UL!

I actually think he had less passed balls and threw out a higher percentage of runners than any of the other catchers last year.

[J-Town Cajun]

Justin Morgan came a long way his Sr. year and got drafted. His first 3 years he was frankly a horrible hitter but he did not K at the same rate as Griffen.

Griffen has the God given talent because of size and strength but he does have huge holes in his swing and will always be prone to strikeouts. He will hit better than .136 but I will be surprised if he is a .300 hitter, but I was wrong about Morgan before. I can see potential talent and Griffen's is not an avg. hitter but someone who can drive the ball into the gaps and hit the long ball. He also has good definsive skills and has the best arm behind the plate since I have followed the cajuns (late 90's).

I was very excited when Griffen committed to the cajuns because of the hype but when someone posted the video on him showcasing his hitting skills I was discouraged. The first time I saw him live was at the fall world series and his first 3 at-bats were strikeouts but his 4th was a HR.