DH Game Thread vs USA

[ManAboutTown]

Who are the top 3 catchers to play here? Lucroy is one, name all the others better than Julien as a Ragin Cajun.

Name the players better than Roccoforte. Remember to consider all around game. Like base running and elite defense at multiple positions.

I’ll get to Hood/Nelson in a second…

How is it too early to compare Debarge with the best Cajun SSs? Trahan is probably the standard. My comment was that Debarge may be the best by the time he’s done. It’s definitely trending that way.

Now as far as my comment about Hood and Nathan Nelson. I know Nelson is one of the most revered players in Cajun history. I loved watching the guy play. But what Heath Hood has done on the field since becoming a full time starter, well….

Nathan Nelson 2000 Omaha Season:
271 ABs
58 runs
101 hits (.373)
47 RBIs
15 doubles
2 triples
7 HRs
15 walks
3 HBP
33 SBs

Heath Hood since becoming a full time starter:
266 ABs
63 runs
100 hits (.376)
59 RBI
20 2B
7 3B
6 HRs
21 walks
9 HBP
38 SB

So tell me, you still gonna stick with “Never compare HH to NN”? I’d say those numbers are pretty darn similar. Nelson had another full season as a Cajun, and a good one, so his career numbers are better. But in the games Hood has played here, he’s been pretty much, as I said in my original post, “a Nathan Nelson clone”.

You see, this is the kind of stuff I wish we'd talk about 24/7. That's a fun comparison. Obviously, stats aren't created equally. It's easy to compare sheer numbers and make an argument, but its all we have for historical perspective, statistically speaking. Hard to argue against the results.

But Nate Nelson was revered because of his leadership on and off the field. Legendary _______ in the clubhouse. Flat out willed teams to victories. I like the comp otherwise, but I don't know enough about HH leadership. Seems more of a "do it on the field" type guy.

DeBo isn't BT. Not yet, at least. BT was the best defensive short stop we've had here. He also put up numbers (albeit it in a crowded lineup) offensively. All American. Top 3 rounder in the draft. But that's just recent memory. We've had some dudes here. DeBo needs to sure up his defense. Offensively, he's already looking like a top 5 all time Ragin Cajun SS.

The Julian convo is awesome too. Defense has slipped this year, I don't think thats a controversial stance. (He was other worldly last year) Right now he's on a heater, so it's easy to get caught up. Last year, offense was hit and miss. Hit like .303 with 30 RBI. (Which is still good from the catcher position but not all time). For me, it's Luc & Danny, and then everyone else... right now. If JB continues this type of season, he'll be an All American and high round draft pick, which obviously changes this conversation completely. He definitely projects though.

[JMV JustMyView]

Good morning. Sober now. Reread the thread. I stand by what I posted.
For the people saying we "pass the eye" test, I'd agree. There are some nights where we look really good. And there are some nights, we can't throw strikes, kick the ball around the yard and look dreadful at the plate. Which is why I said we had work to do in order to be a good ball club. If you want to lie to yourself and tell yourselves we're world beaters because we scored 22 on an awful USA staff or run ruled Grambling, that's your prerogative.

I like to live in the real world. We've seen one good ball club this year and it was a microcosm of the season. Played hard, looked good at time, looked really bad at times. Lost the series at home. We've blown leads to bad teams multiple times this year. Woefully inconsistent on the mound and on defense. And before someone brings up the record, this is by far the easiest OOC schedule we've played in 6-7 years.

I love our talent. Hoodie & Brock are two of my favorite guys to watch play ball since the 2014 team. Rocc is as clutch as we've seen in recent years. DeBo is on a big league track. I think our crop of youngster might be even better than this core we have now. There is no question we've gotten better, as a roster, year over year since Deggs has been here. By no means am I saying we're bad. I'm just not going to lie to myself with numbers we're putting up against bad teams.

The "eye test" tells me we tend to play reckless baseball, we bludgeon bad teams and we're desperately searching for consistency on the mound. We're 18-7 and we don't know much about our team yet. We're 1-3 against teams that we should consider our peers, to this point.

What MAT said.

[MWolf]

You see, this is the kind of stuff I wish we'd talk about 24/7. That's a fun comparison. Obviously, stats aren't created equally. It's easy to compare sheer numbers and make an argument, but its all we have for historical perspective, statistically speaking. Hard to argue against the results.

But Nate Nelson was revered because of his leadership on and off the field. Legendary _______ in the clubhouse. Flat out willed teams to victories. I like the comp otherwise, but I don't know enough about HH leadership. Seems more of a "do it on the field" type guy.

DeBo isn't BT. Not yet, at least. BT was the best defensive short stop we've had here. He also put up numbers (albeit it in a crowded lineup) offensively. All American. Top 3 rounder in the draft. But that's just recent memory. We've had some dudes here. DeBo needs to sure up his defense. Offensively, he's already looking like a top 5 all time Ragin Cajun SS.

The Julian convo is awesome too. Defense has slipped this year, I don't think thats a controversial stance. (He was other worldly last year) Right now he's on a heater, so it's easy to get caught up. Last year, offense was hit and miss. Hit like .303 with 30 RBI. (Which is still good from the catcher position but not all time). For me, it's Luc & Danny, and then everyone else... right now. If JB continues this type of season, he'll be an All American and high round draft pick, which obviously changes this conversation completely. He definitely projects though.

In my lifetime as a Cajuns baseball fan, Nick Thurman might be the most under appreciated player to ever do it. Brock is better, but I want to show thurm some love.

[ManAboutTown]

In my lifetime as a Cajuns baseball fan, Nick Thurman might be the most under appreciated player to ever do it. Brock is better, but I want to show thurm some love.

And I almost posted something about that guy. Still see him around from time to time, he was the glue to a couple of those teams. Great defensively, iron man and got big hits when you needed them.

[sportsfanatic21]

Nm. Responded to wrong post

[sportsfanatic21]

You see, this is the kind of stuff I wish we'd talk about 24/7. That's a fun comparison. Obviously, stats aren't created equally. It's easy to compare sheer numbers and make an argument, but its all we have for historical perspective, statistically speaking. Hard to argue against the results.

But Nate Nelson was revered because of his leadership on and off the field. Legendary _______ in the clubhouse. Flat out willed teams to victories. I like the comp otherwise, but I don't know enough about HH leadership. Seems more of a "do it on the field" type guy.

DeBo isn't BT. Not yet, at least. BT was the best defensive short stop we've had here. He also put up numbers (albeit it in a crowded lineup) offensively. All American. Top 3 rounder in the draft. But that's just recent memory. We've had some dudes here. DeBo needs to sure up his defense. Offensively, he's already looking like a top 5 all time Ragin Cajun SS.

The Julian convo is awesome too. Defense has slipped this year, I don't think thats a controversial stance. (He was other worldly last year) Right now he's on a heater, so it's easy to get caught up. Last year, offense was hit and miss. Hit like .303 with 30 RBI. (Which is still good from the catcher position but not all time). For me, it's Luc & Danny, and then everyone else... right now. If JB continues this type of season, he'll be an All American and high round draft pick, which obviously changes this conversation completely. He definitely projects though.

I also love these types on convos.

And yes, in my comparison of Hood and Nelson, I specifically said “what Heath Hood has done on the field”, because I also know nothing about him off the field. I do believe he is wearing a C on his jersey though so there’s that.

And again, my comment was Debo being the best by the time he’s done. He’s not the best defensively, but the way his bat is trending, and still with another year and a half, he’s trending to be, at least arguably, the best SS that’s played here.

As for Brock, I don’t think anyone can argue against Lucroy being the best catcher. There have been others too. Ken Meyers was really good. Danny Massiate, as you mentioned, Paul Bako. Some others as well. My comment was that Julien is “among the best” that have played here. I don’t think that’s arguable at all. I agree he’s not as good defensively this season as last year, it would be almost impossible to be.

And to the Nick Thurman point, spot on. He was a DUDE.

[Dad04]

BT had range for days and days. He threw out guys at 1B from shallow RF routinely. I haven't seen here before or since. He was the first and last Cajun, I believe, to play on Team USA collegiate team.

Debo might have a better bat, and defensively he makes the plays we expect him to make. He is not close defensively tho.

[sportsfanatic21]

MAT bringing up Danny Massiate sparked my curiosity for a (offensive) comparison of him with Brock. Here it is…

Massiate (2 years as a starter)
128 games
447 ABs
136 hits (.304)
31 doubles
6 triples
16 HRs
77 RBIs
.393 OB%
.508 SLG
.901 OPS

Brock 1.5 years as a starter
84 games
278 ABs
90 hits (.324)
19 doubles
0 triples
14 HRs
74 RBIs
.405 OB%
.525 SLG
.930 OPS

[ManAboutTown]

MAT bringing up Danny Massiate sparked my curiosity for a (offensive) comparison of him with Brock. Here it is…

Massiate (2 years as a starter)
128 games
447 ABs
136 hits (.304)
31 doubles
6 triples
16 HRs
77 RBIs
.393 OB%
.508 SLG
.901 OPS

Brock 1.5 years as a starter
84 games
278 ABs
90 hits (.324)
19 doubles
0 triples
14 HRs
74 RBIs
.405 OB%
.525 SLG
.930 OPS

Thanks for posting. Danny had a feel for the moment. Always seemed to be making big time plays in big time moments. I still say, there are 3 people responsible for my love of baseball. My grandfather, Ken Griffey Jr. and Danny Massiate.

[Rainman66]

There is zero doubt that Deggs will build an effective offense. Can he find those guys that can also be more than adequate on defense is still an outstanding question, IMO.

From a pitching perspective, we don't have the arms to overpower folks, which makes defense even more important. My main complaint with the staff is I just don't see enough guys that battle. We walk WAY too many batters, 17 in 27 innings this weekend alone, which demonstrates a staff of nibblers and not pitching to contact.

[sportsfanatic21]

Just for some perspective (and some more stats), UL is currently tied for 1st in the SBC in fielding percentage.

And are 2nd in ERA by over a half a run per game. ODU is in first place nearly a full run ahead of the Cajuns.

Keep in mind that the SBC is currently the 5th best conference in the country.

It may not be as bad as some seem to think.

[MWolf]

There is zero doubt that Deggs will build an effective offense. Can he find those guys that can also be more than adequate on defense is still an outstanding question, IMO.

From a pitching perspective, we don't have the arms to overpower folks, which makes defense even more important. My main complaint with the staff is I just don't see enough guys that battle. We walk WAY too many batters, 17 in 27 innings this weekend alone, which demonstrates a staff of nibblers and not pitching to contact.

To be fair to the pitching staff, the walks problem was going away. It came back at the end of back to back 5 game weeks. I think we will perform much better against app this coming weekend on the mound.