Trahan's first season was 2009 actually.
Trahan's first season was 2009 actually.
Guys,
Robichaux handles the pitching. Last time I checked our pitching staff has never really had a down year, but what has always been our prob when we have a down year......hitting. I know all of you HUD lovers out there think hes the best motivator but you have never seen Robe give a pregame speech before. Guy gives you goosebumps just like HUD. He has never been the problem. IMO after Wade and Szefc left we lacked a hitting system. You mix that in with poor leadership and minimal talent you get the result of last year. The problem was Trahan had no hitting system and with all due respect his recruiting was fringe average to say the least. Now we do have exceptions with Strentz, Compton, and Trahan. But the guys misses were just flat out bad. Jordan Boruque, Daniel Nicholes, Dominique Francia, Thomas Simineaux, Derrick Howell, Snowdon ......guys were just not good. Our talent pool was seriously depleted. We finally have a guy in place with a system, proven in the field of recruiting, and is just as hard on the position players as Robe is on the pitchers. You mix all that together you get a result your seeing now. I think if we keep Compton and Strenz it makes the pie sweeter but with the arms coming in next year, your talking about a super regional/Omaha run. IMO it will be the closest talent to the 2007 team (should have went to Omaha). Im not saying this years team dosent have that capability. I think were short 2 serious arms. Mix the line-up with the arms coming in and it could get scary. Scary good that is.
I think Lil Robe and Ozborne were the captains and co-captains of that team. Keefer and Kyle Olison were also a big part of that Senior class. In 2010 every position player and weekend starter was Szefc's recruit. Im not bashing Trahan I just was not a big fan of his recruiting.
I really do not think Giffit will pitch one inning this year. Pretty sure he is going to take a medical redshirt. Harrison is being brought along slowly and I watched him throw in the fall. He is like a right handed wilson on the mound. Although these guys will help there not the kind of arm I am referring to. Im speaking of a Zack Ozborne / Hunter Moody type. A true Friday night guy if you will. That's the potential type of arm we will have with the mix of these new arms.
If its close with griffit, I'd rather him take the year. Of course I'd want a moody or Osborne. Osborne didn't have this kinda run support either. I'm anxious to see Wilson against a more powerful lineup. So far it seems he has the mental make up to be a pretty Good Friday guy. We just need a guy who will battle and the team will get behind. Moody's and osborne's are hard to come by, I hope your right about the arms coming in. 2 of our 3 losses were against pretty good arms and bats didn't show up. Want to see if we can change that.
As a comparison:
2007 Team BA .310
2007 Team ERA 3.80
2013 Team BA .310
2013 Team Era 3.50
Considering the changes with bat, I'd say pitching is comparable, but hitting is even better across the board.
Pitching always seems to settle in, even when we suck. We are doing really well considering we don't have that Friday night-- lights out-- horse on the mound established (yet).
You are dead nuts on. We were missing a high caliber batting system... and quite honestly, many of the expected battng leaders have been a letdown. You have to have a couple of studs in the lineup, as much for their batting prowess, but for their mental influence on the rest of the team (including our pitching staff), and the opposing pitching staff. Our batting has been the problem... and that is exactly what is clicking right now. Not just the stats... but the mindset. Pitching has never really been the issue. Robe has the pitching system that can get it done.
It may be slightly premature to predict the season outcome... but seriously good UL baseball is back. And a batting system/attitude is what did it.
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