Weekend pitchers

[CajunAmos]

I still agree with Hicks as a spark. I dont agree with the numbers you show since the other 2 guys have better fielding pcts (Benz has had a lot less opportunities) and avg's

Hicks stats for reference

YEAR	AVG	GP-GS	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	SLG%	BB	HBP	SO	GDP	OB%	SF	SH	SB-ATT	PO	A	E	FLD%
2009	0.038	16-4	26	3	1	0	1	0	0	3	0.115	1	0	7	0	0.074	0	1	0-0	7	9	3	0.842
2008	0.220	53-50	182	24	40	8	0	7	28	69	0.379	15	3	25	3	0.286	3	10	1-3	70	103	15	0.920
2007	0.309	38-31	123	24	38	7	1	6	23	65	0.528	9	2	18	2	0.363	1	8	0-1	29	61	7	0.928
2006	0.214	18-10	42	3	9	1	0	0	3	10	0.238	5	1	12	0	0.313	0	0	1-2	17	29	0	1.000

[CajunConnection]

Hicks or Benzel at third. Gut feeling is to go with Hicks.

CC

[raginsaints]

I think it's time to give Osborne another shot as a starter, hopefully he can pitch a beauty on Friday. Fuselier on Saturday and JRobe on Sunday with Cook/Wilborne waiting in the pen.

[Ballfan]

_ Yea but in 07 he didnt own the position. That was one of our weakest fielding positions. I mean, he split time with Tim Santiago! He still only had a .928 fld pct that year and the other 2 were worse.

Range is a different subject. Hicks probably does have more range than Keefer, but if he's gonna make a stab on a ball, whats the point when he throws it 10 ft over the 1B head.

At this point I still think our best choice is Benzel at 3B and Keefer at C. _

[Ballfan]

"in 07 he did not own the position" "he split time with Santiago" A couple of ill-informed comments--Hicks started the last 31 games of the season and was a major reason for us getting to College Station- I think with our young team it has been a major mistake of Robe to have had such a quick hook on Hicks this year--He is without question one of the leaders on this team and he needs to be on the field--Also he adds power which this team DESPARATELY needs--With our pitching staff struggling it is very hard for our team to fall behind early in games and try to catch up with Scott Hawkins and 8 single hitters

[raginsaints]

Whipple, Smith, and Thad (lol) aren't singles hitters.

[wcd35]

_ "in 07 he did not own the position" "he split time with Santiago" A couple of ill-informed comments--Hicks started the last 31 games of the season and was a major reason for us getting to College Station- I think with our young team it has been a major mistake of Robe to have had such a quick hook on Hicks this year--He is without question one of the leaders on this team and he needs to be on the field--Also he adds power which this team DESPARATELY needs--With our pitching staff struggling it is very hard for our team to fall behind early in games and try to catch up with Scott Hawkins and 8 single hitters _

First off, when you want to quote, hit the quote button in my comment then wait for the message box to come up. Type your stuff after my quote, then hit submit reply.

Next, its true that he did take the job for the most part. I thought I had remembered more shuffling at the end of that season, but if you say so. He had a great year batting (over .300) that season, but the next year he started 50 games and dropped off the earth batting with a .220, not to mention the numerous errors he made.

Again I have no problem with him playing his way back in, but to say he should be starting 3B is not right. DH would be the best bet for him and Long, but if one will have to play at 3B, then Hicks gets it over Long. But at the same time, you have to balance Benzel's lack of bat with Hicks' errors. There's no right answer to this problem now.

[Ballfan]

One more thing that I would like to throw out for everyone's thoughts: I am seeing more and more people quote fielding pct- VERY VERY few college teams are going to be able to pitch very well,hit very well and field very well as a team during a season--I happen to think as a matter of importance the order should be: 1.Pitching 2.Hitting 3.Fielding I think you can have a very good team if you can pitch and hit above avg. with a below avg. fielding team-- A prime example is our 05 team which was one of our better teams(48-19)-- Our infield: Dallas Morris-3b- 25 errors with a .886 fielding ; Cockrall/Parker--SS-combined 27 errors .918 Fielding ; Merendino 2b-11 errors .960 fielding % I loved that team, we had above avg. pitching above avg. hitting and below avg. fielding and a great record-- And another thing,no fans were quoting fielding % back then because we were winning

[wcd35]

_ One more thing that I would like to throw out for everyone's thoughts: I am seeing more and more people quote fielding pct- VERY VERY few college teams are going to be able to pitch very well,hit very well and field very well as a team during a season--I happen to think as a matter of importance the order should be: 1.Pitching 2.Hitting 3.Fielding I think you can have a very good team if you can pitch and hit above avg. with a below avg. fielding team-- A prime example is our 05 team which was one of our better teams(48-19)-- Our infield: Dallas Morris-3b- 25 errors with a .886 fielding ; Cockrall/Parker--SS-combined 27 errors .918 Fielding ; Merendino 2b-11 errors .960 fielding % I loved that team, we had above avg. pitching above avg. hitting and below avg. fielding and a great record-- And another thing,no fans were quoting fielding % back then because we were winning _

Absolutely, but we dont have all the pieces, so you have to compensate for bad pitching at times with a mediocre hitter who can field his position near perfectly. Other times, you can afford to have a guy like Will Long in there giving up an error now and then when you know that your pitcher and other teammates can bail you out. Last weekend, we couldn't afford Long's back to back errors and our pitching didn't bail him out so it cost us 5 runs. Its striking that balance that is key, in my opinion.

[CajunAmos]

One more thing that I would like to throw out for everyone's thoughts: I am seeing more and more people quote fielding pct- VERY VERY few college teams are going to be able to pitch very well,hit very well and field very well as a team during a season--I happen to think as a matter of importance the order should be: 1.Pitching 2.Hitting 3.Fielding I think you can have a very good team if you can pitch and hit above avg. with a below avg. fielding team-- A prime example is our 05 team which was one of our better teams(48-19)-- Our infield: Dallas Morris-3b- 25 errors with a .886 fielding ; Cockrall/Parker--SS-combined 27 errors .918 Fielding ; Merendino 2b-11 errors .960 fielding % I loved that team, we had above avg. pitching above avg. hitting and below avg. fielding and a great record-- And another thing,no fans were quoting fielding % back then because we were winning

I agree with you on the issue that our hitting and pitching overcame our fielding, and Tony's mentioned that a number of times this year. The issue is that you can't be a poor fielder and a poor hitter. If Bostic wasn't fielding well, he would be on the bench. The reason Matt was replaced earlier this year was because he wasn't hitting or fielding. You may see Hawkins back as DH since Smith can now play the field again, and Whipple may be at first. This will help defensively without hurting the offense. You'll probably see Keefer catching and Benzel at third, as that's our best combination of hitting and fielding. If Fontenot can't go because of his foot, you may see Bostic move to SS and Hicks at second base. It's been a difficult year with injuries, as well as the inconsistant hitting and pitching.

[2 ul 0105]

_ Other times, you can afford to have a guy like Will Long in there giving up an error now and then

Man you are kind.....you mean you can afford an error EVERY OTHER GROUND BALL HIT TO HIM. I think I may be giving him the benefit of the doubt there as well.

Sorry, I have just had enough of him.

[CajunProud]

_ Absolutely, but we dont have all the pieces, so you have to compensate for bad pitching at times with a mediocre hitter who can field his position near perfectly. Other times, you can afford to have a guy like Will Long in there giving up an error now and then when you know that your pitcher and other teammates can bail you out. Last weekend, we couldn't afford Long's back to back errors and our pitching didn't bail him out so it cost us 5 runs. Its striking that balance that is key, in my opinion. _

I tend to agree with you. The sad thing though, is that the program has sunk to the level that this is one of the options we have to serously consider.