What happened to Cook?

[ManAboutTown]

_ Like I said Hawkins will cost us at 1st base, he did it again tonight on a play he should have made which lead to some runs. He needs to DH and let either Whipple, Benzel, or Keefer play 1st. I hope Robe isn't playing the guy just to improve his draft stock at the cost of the team. _

Like I stated in an earlier post; It's a respect thing for Hawkins. He's being rewarded for his years of service, and major production for Robe. He's obviously not our best option at first base, but I don't really have a big problem with this. I'm a Hawk fan, so I'm bias.

[Just1More]

_ Uncertain of the time line. It may change again depending on his treatment. _

I heard from a former (recent) ball player that stays in touch with his friends on the team that Long is looking really good. You can never tell when a kid might hit his groove. You should have seen the progress a guy by the name of Ron Guidry made from start to finish in his playing days with the Cajuns. This forum would never have let him in the rotation... because they are absolutely positive that past performance is the only indicator of future performance.

[J-Town Cajun]

_ Like I stated in an earlier post; It's a respect thing for Hawkins. He's being rewarded for his years of service, and major production for Robe. He's obviously not our best option at first base, but I don't really have a big problem with this. I'm a Hawk fan, so I'm bias. _

I am a Hawk fan too, but as the DH. No player should be getting playing time on respect. You should earn it and what is best for the team should be done. If we are better on D with someone else and Hawkins DH'ing then so be it.

[CrazyCajun]

i promise you robe isnt let hawkins play 1st out of respect. he is trying to get hawkins bat along with other younger bats in the lineup. this isnt little league or legion. its college baseball.
if hawkins doeant produce at the plate and keeps making defensive mistakes you can expect robe to try something else

igeaux.mobi

[J-Town Cajun]

_ i promise you robe isnt let hawkins play 1st out of respect. he is trying to get hawkins bat along with other younger bats in the lineup. this isnt little league or legion. its college baseball.
if hawkins doeant produce at the plate and keeps making defensive mistakes you can expect robe to try something else

igeaux.mobi _

I never questioned Hawkins' bat. I believe he has the best bat in the line up for slugging and there is not anyone else on the team I would rather have up in a clutch situation. I question is glove. So why not DH him.

[cajunbaseball1]

Wow let's breathe. There's something wrong to me about wishing bad things upon players on our team who have busted their butts for 4 years. Actually I don't think we should be wishing harm against anybody here.

at the same time, have you ever heard of a practice player? i have heard how good will long is for 3 years and have not seen squat fromhim except a butt load of errors. in my opinion he is the kind of guy that is great when there is no pressure. put him in a game and he chokes. on the other hand there are guys that are gamers,they look like crap at practice but come game day, they shine. will long tries to big league evrything like he is derek jeter which causes half his errors and he is "NOT" clutch at the plate. personally i hope his thigh bruise gets deeper b/c i think he is bad for chemistry and he is not a gamer. i have watched him time and time again blow chances to make the big play offensively and defensively




igeaux.mobi

igeaux.mobi

[cajunbaseball1]

And I'd like to see you say that to him face to face.

Wow let's breathe. There's something wrong to me about wishing bad things upon players on our team who have busted their butts for 4 years. Actually I don't think we should be wishing harm against anybody here.



igeaux.mobi

igeaux.mobi

[wcd35]

_ So what you are saying is that kids can't improve from one year to the next? I'm well aware of his short comings the past few years, but you have the head coach and hitting coach stating that he was ready to have a break out year after his performance in the fall and early spring. I have to take their word for it, I don't see these kids every day.

Based upon last years sample, Bostick should be hitting over .300, he is not. You don't sign junior college kids to sit the bench. He was signed for his bat, and he is not hitting. If you didn't need the bat at second base, then why waste a scholarship and not play Hicks? _

Not at all. I was just getting your opinion on if you think he can improve enough to get in the starting lineup for good. Obviously Fontenot has improved a good bit, so its very possible. I just didnt know how well Long did in the fall. If he was that much better, then of course he should get his shot. He should no matter what, but maybe he'll get it going and keep the job.

[cajun2bag]

_ The coaching staff tryed Micah out on the mound a few times as a closer but he was never a weekend starter... _

Check your stats!

[Dad04]

nm

[CajunT]

_ Bostick is a vacuum and why should he be hitting .300? Devon Borque was extremely solid middle infielder and did he ever hit .300?

I'll explain. Your power is in the corner position players and catcher, hopefully but not usually. Your speed, skill glove handling and agility is in your middle position players. The corner guys knock the middle guys in. This is baseball 101 stuff. _

I understand the corner positions and power. I also understand college baseball is not MLB, so it's not baseball 101 stuff. When your lineup has struggled to hit the ball consistantly from top to bottom, you are looking for sticks that can put the ball in play period. There is no Pujois or Alex Rodriguezs at the corners in this program, the coaches are looking for consistancey at the plate and are not trying hide players that are defensive specialist.

You can throw traditional baseball 101 stuff out the window if you don't have those power sticks at the corner. The roster dictates what you can do with your lineup period.

BTW, you are comparing the Texas A&M Regional team with Logan, Alexander, Lucroy, Tatford, Gisclair, Hawkins, Van De Kerre and Hatfield that hit .310 with 76 home runs on the year, to the 2009 club. This team has potential, but it doesn not hit well enough to hide someone like Bourque in the lineup. But this is baseball 101 stuff right?

[CajunRage]

A. I believe Hawkins is struggling at the plate because he is playing the 1st base position. Yes he is hitting .301, but if you have been watching his at bats, he looks a little off. He can be a much better hitter if he is able to concentrate completely on hitting. That is what gives the DH position an advantage.

B. Fontenot and Bostick are playing well up the middle. Bringing Long could lead to some lack of chemistry and that would not be good for the team. Bostick is hitting 8-hole. That spot in the order is not a power hitter spot. It is a good defensive player that can handle the bat (i.e. bunt and hit n run). There is no guarantee that Fontenot could play 2B as well as he is playing SS. The ball comes off of the bat completely different than when playing SS. It would take some time to adjust.

C. As for wasting scholarships on players that aren't getting significant playing time, that is complete BS. You put the best unit of 9 (not the 9 best players) on the field no matter if it is made up of 3 year scholarship starters or true freshman walk-ons. You play to win no matter what. It has nothing to do with respect or paying your dues.

[Dad04]

_ I understand the corner positions and power. I also understand college baseball is not MLB, so it's not baseball 101 stuff. When your lineup has struggled to hit the ball consistantly from top to bottom, you are looking for sticks that can put the ball in play period. The is no Pujois or Alex Rodriguezs at the corners in this program, the coaches are looking for consistancey at the plate and are not trying hide players that are defensive specialist.

You can throw traditional baseball 101 stuff out the window if you don't have those power sticks at the corner. The roster dictates what you can do with your lineup period.

BTW, you are comparing the Texas A&M Regional team with Logan, Alexander, Lucroy, Tatford, Gisclair, Hawkins, Van De Kerre and Hatfield that hit .310 with 76 home runs on the year, to the 2009 club. This team has potential, but it doesn not hit well enough to hide someone like Bourque in the lineup. But this is baseball 101 stuff right? _

Throw fundamental baseball out the window in D1? You mean like UALR does? Fundamental baseball applies to every level, from T-ball to MLB. You do not think it does, so we'll agree to disagree. To take your theory to the extreme, why not just recruit the biggest mashers possible regardless of what position they play, if they play one at all? What do you think that would look like? Not a pretty picture is it?

By the way Hawkins will likely leave scchool with the career home run record.

[CajunT]

_ Throw fundamental baseball out the window in D1? You mean like UALR does? Fundamental baseball applies to every level, from T-ball to MLB. You do not think it does, so we'll agree to disagree. To take your theory to the extreme, why not just recruit the biggest mashers possible regardless of what position they play, if they play one at all? What do you think that would look like? Not a pretty picture is it?

By the way Hawkins will likely leave scchool with the career home run record. _

I understand what you are saying Dad and I’m not trying to challenge your baseball knowledge. Hawkins was in that lineup, so he is the only comparable we can use from that team.

Bourque .257 BA .402 OB% and 2:1 Walk/SO Ratio
Bostick .206 BA .357 OB% and 1:1 Walk/SO Ratio

As you can see, the comparison is not close between Bourque and Bostick. If Bostick was hitting .257 and had an on base percentage of .402, we would not be having this conversation. I think most of us would be happy with that from Bostick, but we are not getting it.

Bostick hit over .300 in junior college and was recruited for his bat. According to the staff, he projected as a .280 to .300 hitter with decent speed. This is why he would be moved to the bench if Long returns. I know enough about baseball to understand on-base percentage and walk: to strike out ratios; Bostick is not getting the job done.

[raginsaints]

Is Will Long going to be any better offensively than Bostick? I haven't seen anything, maybe he's turned the corner. I think our defense would get worse with Long at SS and Greg at 2nd. Long had no range last year and Bostick is really good defensively.