What happened to Cook?

[cajun2bag]

_ Definitely. Mike Cook on his game is arguably our best starter. _

I disagree, when Wilborn is on his game he is the best. If that dude could throw more strikes, he has the best stuff on the team. I am not sure Mike has good enough stuff to get through the lineup of one the elite teams twice. Wilborn has the stuff to do it, but just can't seem to stay in the strikezone!

[wcd35]

_ I disagree, when Wilborn is on his game he is the best. If that dude could throw more strikes, he has the best stuff on the team. I am not sure Mike has good enough stuff to get through the lineup of one the elite teams twice. Wilborn has the stuff to do it, but just can't seem to stay in the strikezone! _

Yea, really its splitting hairs, because both guys have shown they can dominate when on. Wilborn looked fantastic for a good bit of the game yesterday. Obviously he throws heat and gets a lot of K's but his fastball had really good movement yesterday and he was able to mix it up some and really kept them off balance at times. He cant rely too much on the fastball as seen with that first HR, but he was solid the rest of the way for the most part. And of course, there is a reason all the scouts show up to watch him.

We have seen Cook do great things already in his brief career. He has a lot to learn but can be a great pitcher when he develops consistency and confidence. Also, the run support this weekend had a good bit to do with how we pitched.

[ManAboutTown]

Robe went with Blake in game two because of two things: UALR struggles against left-handed pitching, and Haegen earned a shot a start with his relief performance against FAU. Cook is fine, and I wouldn't be surprised if he got a few innings in Houston. I would also argue that "stuff" wise, Wilburn is our most Dominant starter when he is on his game. Mostly because he is a lefty, and his breaking ball is sharp and bites hard when he's got his a game working.

My concern is Tyler Benzel. Anybody know whats up with him? He was hot early, played the best defensive third of anyone, and now he has sniffed the lineup in over a week. Is he injured?

[wcd35]

My concern is Tyler Benzel. Anybody know whats up with him? He was hot early, played the best defensive third of anyone, and now he has sniffed the lineup in over a week. Is he injured? _

Well it would have been hard to sit Keefer or Griffen this weekend. Keefer has started every game this season and is our most consistent hitter. I know he had a couple of errors but he has been good in the field. It would be difficult to move him to catcher because of how good defensively Griffen is and the fact that he is getting his bat going for the first time in his career at UL. Its extremely difficult for guys to steal on Thad.

I'm sure we'll see some lineup mixing soon, but we werent struggling too bad there. Benzel will get his shot if he's not hurt.

[ManAboutTown]

_ Well it would have been hard to sit Keefer or Griffen this weekend. Keefer has started every game this season and is our most consistent hitter. I know he had a couple of errors but he has been good in the field. It would be difficult to move him to catcher because of how good defensively Griffen is and the fact that he is getting his bat going for the first time in his career at UL. Its extremely difficult for guys to steal on Thad.

I'm sure we'll see some lineup mixing soon, but we werent struggling too bad there. Benzel will get his shot if he's not hurt. _

I took those things into consideration, but I was a bit baffled when Tyler didn't get any PT against the cowgirls. Once Goulas is healthy enough to play in the field, we could DH Keefer, and put Tyler at 3rd. Only thing is, I think our best OF is Olason, Whip, and Smith.

Either way, its good to have a depth issue like this

[scotto_25]

We were talking about that this weekend. When Goulas is healthy enough to play the field who gives?? Who do you take out and whose stick are we going to lose?

I would play Goulas, Olasin, Smith in the field.
I would keep Keefer's stick definitely in the lineup.
Then you have to figure out how to get both Benzel and Whipple in there....which is not a bad thing to have to deal with.

We have 3 bats that should be in the lineup every game but it's just impossible to have. Any team would be lucky to have Alex Fuse, Whip, & Benz as their starters!

[cajun2bag]

_ We were talking about that this weekend. When Goulas is healthy enough to play the field who gives?? Who do you take out and whose stick are we going to lose?

I would play Goulas, Olasin, Smith in the field.
I would keep Keefer's stick definitely in the lineup.
Then you have to figure out how to get both Benzel and Whipple in there....which is not a bad thing to have to deal with.

We have 3 bats that should be in the lineup every game but it's just impossible to have. Any team would be lucky to have Alex Fuse, Whip, & Benz as their starters! _

I don't think teams would be willing to have a player hitting 218. Now they may want this player on the bump! you gotta keep Whip in the line-up. Benzel will not play in the field very often because Keefer will man up 3rd for the rest of this year. Goulas will be in Left field, Olasin in Center, Smith in Right, Whip DH.. Maybe Benzel gets in as a DH against Lefties?

[wcd35]

_ I don't think teams would be willing to have a player hitting 218. Now they may want this player on the bump! you gotta keep Whip in the line-up. Benzel will not play in the field very often because Keefer will man up 3rd for the rest of this year. Goulas will be in Left field, Olasin in Center, Smith in Right, Whip DH.. Maybe Benzel gets in as a DH against Lefties? _

As a side note, he is referring to Fuselier for the .218 comment.

[ManAboutTown]

_ I don't think teams would be willing to have a player hitting 218. Now they may want this player on the bump! you gotta keep Whip in the line-up. Benzel will not play in the field very often because Keefer will man up 3rd for the rest of this year. Goulas will be in Left field, Olasin in Center, Smith in Right, Whip DH.. Maybe Benzel gets in as a DH against Lefties? _

We have to keep in Whip in the lineup. We need is lefty bat, and I like his consistency at the plate. He also plays a great LF. His arm is extremely strong and if I'm not mistaken, leads the team with 5 OF assists.

I think Keefer can play better at third, but so far, Benzel has been the most fluid 3-bagger we've had all season. Makes the throw everytime, and moves well laterally. His stick was there as well.. I don't know.

[cajun2bag]

_ We have to keep in Whip in the lineup. We need is lefty bat, and I like his consistency at the plate. He also plays a great LF. His arm is extremely strong and if I'm not mistaken, leads the team with 5 OF assists.

I think Keefer can play better at third, but so far, Benzel has been the most fluid 3-bagger we've had all season. Makes the throw everytime, and moves well laterally. His stick was there as well.. I don't know. _

Are we suggesting that we should go ahead and bench our most consistant hitter so we can replace him with someone that doesn't hit as well and fielded under 900 over the course of a full season?

I gotta think that Keefer will be playing 3rd, as long as he keeps hitting and doesn't just boot everything.

[ManAboutTown]

_ Are we suggesting that we should go ahead and bench our most consistant hitter so we can replace him with someone that doesn't hit as well and fielded under 900 over the course of a full season?

I gotta think that Keefer will be playing 3rd, as long as he keeps hitting and doesn't just boot everything. _

I'm suggesting that the hot corner was a problem last year, and is still not solidified. We need stability there, and Keefer is not the answer defensively. He's been better than hicks (which thats not hard to do) and okay most of the time, but he gets shaky in key moments. He hurries his throws because of his lack of quickness, and that could be very costly down the road. You saw this weekend how errors can demoralize an entire team.

Don't misunderstand me, this is not a HUGE issue. Keefer has done an average job, but this is still something of concern. The coaching staff has mentioned it several times. By no means do I want his bat to be benched, thats for sure. I liked what Robe did this weekend, by moving him down to 6th and 7th in the lineup. Added some pop to that latter part, and worked out well.

[wcd35]

Broussard to start tomorrow per Bab. Fuselier, Osbourne, Wilborn weekend too.

Bab said Cook will get his chance like Osbourne did out of the pen.