Josh Elander on Antigua: “Playing Out of His Mind”

#1
TheMookieMonster

TheMookieMonster

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#1
Elander met with the media this morning to kick off the week of Opening Day. He had quite a few interesting comments, but one that stuck out to me is his thoughts on Antigua. Ariel has been a bit of a work in progress, and mystery, since he stepped on campus. He may be the most intriguing piece to watch in the early part of the season. How he plays has kind of a cascade effect on the rest of the lineup and where guys play in the field.

 
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#4
#4
It’s an interesting conundrum, because I listened to The Porch (VQ podcast) that previews the season and Cain raised a good point that Antigua performing well actually complicate the picture for where to play people in the infield. Elander will have a tough job deciding who plays where this year.
 
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#5
#5
TheMookieMonster said:
It’s an interesting conundrum, because I listened to The Porch (VQ podcast) that previews the season and Cain raised a good point that Antigua performing well actually complicate the picture for where to play people in the infield. Elander will have a tough job deciding who plays where this year.
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That's how I would look at it, as well. If Antigua can't get bat to ball, then he's one less variable in the equation to consider.

Perhaps Elander's view is, though, if AA can hit, then I know I can play him and that locks down one spot and I can figure out the rest.
 
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#6
#6
I think Marin scrimmaging at SS shows that AA is still a question mark. If they were sold you would leave him at SS since his defense is his calling card. 2B is down the list of important defensive positions.

Personally think Newstrom or Myatt will be holding down 2B by the end of the year.
 
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#7
#7
cncchris33 said:
That's how I would look at it, as well. If Antigua can't get bat to ball, then he's one less variable in the equation to consider.

Perhaps Elander's view is, though, if AA can hit, then I know I can play him and that locks down one spot and I can figure out the rest.
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The puzzle is definitely easier to solve if Antigua doesn’t hit, because it’s then fairly straightforward that your infield is:

1B Clark
2B Newstrom
SS Marin
3B Ford

Otherwise, you’re pushing Newstrom to the outfield which’s creates a lot of (good) problems. It just makes fitting the puzzle pieces together harder.
 
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#8
#8
Antigua has big-time MLB talent with the glove. He makes plays with the glove I haven't seen since Omar Vizquel was in MLB. If he can hit .260-.300 then you have to start him because he will win you games on his glove alone but if he's hitting .150-.250 then your basically giving up a bat in the lineup.
 
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#9
#9
TheMookieMonster said:
Elander met with the media this morning to kick off the week of Opening Day. He had quite a few interesting comments, but one that stuck out to me is his thoughts on Antigua. Ariel has been a bit of a work in progress, and mystery, since he stepped on campus. He may be the most intriguing piece to watch in the early part of the season. How he plays has kind of a cascade effect on the rest of the lineup and where guys play in the field.

Click to expand...

If we get Cape league Ant-man at the plate, it’s gonna be a fun season!
 
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#10
#10
Ttucke11 said:
I think Marin scrimmaging at SS shows that AA is still a question mark. If they were sold you would leave him at SS since his defense is his calling card. 2B is down the list of important defensive positions.

Personally think Newstrom or Myatt will be holding down 2B by the end of the year.
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Fans will soon learn the name Tyler Myatt!
Blaine Brown too
 
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#16
#16
I fail to see how Antigua hitting well is a "problem". If his offense is good enough to make the starting position at shortstop then that is good for the team.
 
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#17
#17
esarmstrong said:
I fail to see how Antigua hitting well is a "problem". If he is offense good enough to make the starting position at shortstop then that is good for the team.
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There are bad problems and there are good problems. Good problems are when you have so much depth that it's challenging to get playing time for all your guys.
 
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#20
#20
volforlife15 said:
Any word on Moore? Felt like he was another big surprise that made it to campus. But haven’t heard much on him in the preseason even from Coach E
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That’s so ironic that you asked that as I was just discussing Ethan Moore. He has been so under the radar. I just don’t think he’s made the Fall or Spring impact like Eisfelder, Chance, Hankins, and Cash Williams. Perhaps, he steps it up in midweek opps but right now he seems buried on the depth chart.
 
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#22
#22
taylorvol said:
That’s so ironic that you asked that as I was just discussing Ethan Moore. He has been so under the radar. I just don’t think he’s made the Fall or Spring impact like Eisfelder, Chance, Hankins, and Cash Williams. Perhaps, he steps it up in midweek opps but right now he seems buried on the depth chart.
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Interesting. He would have been one of the first freshman I would have picked to end up starting. It will be fun to watch a lot of the young talent during the midweeks
 
#23
#23
taylorvol said:
That’s so ironic that you asked that as I was just discussing Ethan Moore. He has been so under the radar. I just don’t think he’s made the Fall or Spring impact like Eisfelder, Chance, Hankins, and Cash Williams. Perhaps, he steps it up in midweek opps but right now he seems buried on the depth chart.
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You mentioned Cash Williams instead of Grindlinger. Inetresting.
 
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#25
#25
NighthawkVol said:
You mentioned Cash Williams instead of Grindlinger. Inetresting.
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Cash has come on strong this Spring. I think Grindlinger is a stud but seems like Cash Williams is getting some play in LF. I think when healthy, it’s Lawless and Wright at C in that order. Possibly recency bias as Grindlinger was lucky to make it to campus as the #30 overall rated HS player. Perhaps with Wright out, he increases his stock and gets more play early at C and at DH but just don‘t see him surpassing Lawless or Wright. Williams is an “old“ freshman as he’s 20 yo and will be a draft eligible Soph next year.

I also inadvertently omitted Taylor Tracey as he will be super impressive in spots as well.
 
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