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.
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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?
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.
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.
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.
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