Cajun Corner "Baseball 2018"

[angeleast]

I've been to quite a few practices the last few weeks. Here's a few observations I have thus far:

- Tremaine Spears looks like a beast, he's bulked up a little bit and he's been hammering balls all over the yard. I really like his approach at the plate and I think he will have a breakout campaign. Either at LF or 1B.

- Kennon Fontenot has been looking like the starting 3B the last 2 weeks. He's really made some smooth plays and looks very comfortable in the hot corner. He also has the appearance of being the leader on the offense. A do-everything approach, I think he has a big Senior season to continue his nice Junior year campaign.

- The hype around SS Hayden Cantrelle is obviously legit. He looks very confident and smooth at SS and I don't think I've seen him make any mistakes yet. I know it's practice but he's very solid. At the plate, I can't say I've seen him stand out, but I'm sure he'll be a key component in the lineup as the season goes on and he adjust to D1 pitching.

- Brennan Breaux has taken a lot of reps in CF and made some nice diving grabs and seems to have great speed. I think we see him get some good playing time out there.

- The overall feel and mojo of this team looks very solid. They compete hard in practice. The urgency and aggression at the plate and on the basepaths looks noticeably different. I have a feeling these guys are going to be putting a lot of pressure on opposing teams with old-school tactics. And I love it.

I'm going to go on record and say that I think this team will actually be better than last year's club by season's end. It's a tough stretch to start the season and it will tell us a lot about how they handle early success or even early failure. Something just feels different. In a good way. I don't see players lollygagging around like they already won something. (AKA last year's squad). These guys look determined with something to prove. I haven't been able to see any of the pitching staff, but I'm confident in the staff as I am every year. They will be fine. This offense and defense will tell the story of our season.

Last but not least, I'm pretty excited for the season to start. I think we will surprise some folks in Austin and at the Shriners classic. I'm predicting 38+ wins and a Regional berth. From there, it's anybody's ballgame.

Let's geaux boys!

Thanks for reporting, RP Style!!

[CajunAlum10]

I agree with you except for Brennan who hasn't yet been cleared to play this year as a transfer.

Yea, however I spoke to his dad at one of the practices.. he said he's pretty confident that Brennan will get cleared. Take that for what it's worth. Just saying, if he is cleared... he looks good in the field so far.

[ManAboutTown]

Yea, however I spoke to his dad at one of the practices.. he said he's pretty confident that Brennan will get cleared. Take that for what it's worth. Just saying, if he is cleared... he looks good in the field so far.

Thanks for the thoughts RC10.

I actually met BBs Godfather on the golf course last summer, and he alluded to Brennan’s growth as a ball player being stunted by LSU. Basically said once PM has his favorites (and their are many rea$on$ for that) it’s hard to crack the lineup.

We talked about BBs skill set and make up. I thought then that a kid like that would be an asset to us, and I was thrilled when he announced his transfer. I don’t think he’ll have an issue being cleared to play.

At least I hope not. He reminds me of the Cajun ballplayers that made our most successful teams so fun to watch. Scrappy, gritty, and determined.

[CajunT]

I've been to quite a few practices the last few weeks. Here's a few observations I have thus far:

- Tremaine Spears looks like a beast, he's bulked up a little bit and he's been hammering balls all over the yard. I really like his approach at the plate and I think he will have a breakout campaign. Either at LF or 1B.

- Kennon Fontenot has been looking like the starting 3B the last 2 weeks. He's really made some smooth plays and looks very comfortable in the hot corner. He also has the appearance of being the leader on the offense. A do-everything approach, I think he has a big Senior season to continue his nice Junior year campaign.

- The hype around SS Hayden Cantrelle is obviously legit. He looks very confident and smooth at SS and I don't think I've seen him make any mistakes yet. I know it's practice but he's very solid. At the plate, I can't say I've seen him stand out, but I'm sure he'll be a key component in the lineup as the season goes on and he adjust to D1 pitching.

- Brennan Breaux has taken a lot of reps in CF and made some nice diving grabs and seems to have great speed. I think we see him get some good playing time out there.

- The overall feel and mojo of this team looks very solid. They compete hard in practice. The urgency and aggression at the plate and on the basepaths looks noticeably different. I have a feeling these guys are going to be putting a lot of pressure on opposing teams with old-school tactics. And I love it.

I'm going to go on record and say that I think this team will actually be better than last year's club by season's end. It's a tough stretch to start the season and it will tell us a lot about how they handle early success or even early failure. Something just feels different. In a good way. I don't see players lollygagging around like they already won something. (AKA last year's squad). These guys look determined with something to prove. I haven't been able to see any of the pitching staff, but I'm confident in the staff as I am every year. They will be fine. This offense and defense will tell the story of our season.

Last but not least, I'm pretty excited for the season to start. I think we will surprise some folks in Austin and at the Shriners classic. I'm predicting 38+ wins and a Regional berth. From there, it's anybody's ballgame.

Let's geaux boys!

Thanks for the update!

[CajunAlum10]

No problem guys! I love checking out practice and inter-squads as the season is approaching... my impatience gets the best of me and I'm just ready to watch some baseball. And while I'm confident in this bunch... don't get me wrong... I do think there will be some growing pains. But, they will be fun to watch and they look to be playing harder and have more of a grinder attitude than the past couple years. And that excites me.

MAT, I agree about BB... he's got great character and will be an asset, both on the field and in the clubhouse.

[KapCajun]

I've been to quite a few practices the last few weeks. Here's a few observations I have thus far:

- Tremaine Spears looks like a beast, he's bulked up a little bit and he's been hammering balls all over the yard. I really like his approach at the plate and I think he will have a breakout campaign. Either at LF or 1B.

- Kennon Fontenot has been looking like the starting 3B the last 2 weeks. He's really made some smooth plays and looks very comfortable in the hot corner. He also has the appearance of being the leader on the offense. A do-everything approach, I think he has a big Senior season to continue his nice Junior year campaign.

- The hype around SS Hayden Cantrelle is obviously legit. He looks very confident and smooth at SS and I don't think I've seen him make any mistakes yet. I know it's practice but he's very solid. At the plate, I can't say I've seen him stand out, but I'm sure he'll be a key component in the lineup as the season goes on and he adjust to D1 pitching.

- Brennan Breaux has taken a lot of reps in CF and made some nice diving grabs and seems to have great speed. I think we see him get some good playing time out there.

- The overall feel and mojo of this team looks very solid. They compete hard in practice. The urgency and aggression at the plate and on the basepaths looks noticeably different. I have a feeling these guys are going to be putting a lot of pressure on opposing teams with old-school tactics. And I love it.

I'm going to go on record and say that I think this team will actually be better than last year's club by season's end. It's a tough stretch to start the season and it will tell us a lot about how they handle early success or even early failure. Something just feels different. In a good way. I don't see players lollygagging around like they already won something. (AKA last year's squad). These guys look determined with something to prove. I haven't been able to see any of the pitching staff, but I'm confident in the staff as I am every year. They will be fine. This offense and defense will tell the story of our season.

Last but not least, I'm pretty excited for the season to start. I think we will surprise some folks in Austin and at the Shriners classic. I'm predicting 38+ wins and a Regional berth. From there, it's anybody's ballgame.

Let's geaux boys!

What are the practice times?

[CajunAlum10]

What are the practice times?

I'm not sure exactly when they start, but I usually get there around 3ish. I think they start at either 2:30 or 3. And they go until 5. I'm in sales and on the road a lot, so I just stop over there for an hour or so before heading back to my office to finish up my work day. Kinda been doing that instead of a lunch break lately, lol.

[KapCajun]

Thanks! May bump into you there...

[CajunAlum10]

Thanks! May bump into you there...

Haha do it.

[talktomewillis]

I think what you have right now is a lot of competition for positions with little being decided right now.

I think the only thing certain as of today is Kasuls and Cantrelle up the middle and Monica behind the plate.

Stover, Spears, Lochridge and Moll are all in the mix at 1B. I think Fontenot is the leader at 3rd but the coaches love the freshman Windham.

If Fontenot is at third, it opens up a lot of things in the OF, including Bourgeois who is being touted as the Cajuns' leadoff hitter.

DH is Lott, plus many of the above mentioned.

And, it's just my opinion, but I'd be surprised if Brennan is cleared.

[Rougarou]

I think what you have right now is a lot of competition for positions with little being decided right now.

I think the only thing certain as of today is Kasuls and Cantrelle up the middle and Monica behind the plate.

Stover, Spears, Lochridge and Moll are all in the mix at 1B. I think Fontenot is the leader at 3rd but the coaches love the freshman Windham.

If Fontenot is at third, it opens up a lot of things in the OF, including Bourgeois who is being touted as the Cajuns' leadoff hitter.

DH is Lott, plus many of the above mentioned.

And, it's just my opinion, but I'd be surprised if Brennan is cleared.

I think Bourgeois is starting somewhere in the outfield no matter what.

[talktomewillis]

I think Bourgeois is starting somewhere in the outfield no matter what.

I'm hearing the same thing.