Line Up Questions

[BigOrangeCrush32]

He can't hit his way out of a wet paper bag. Is it strictly for his defense? Why not take him out and put him in the bullpen and let him concentrate on pitching and see if he does well there bc our BP definitely needs help and it couldn't be any worse.

Couldn't they move Ford to LF and put Grimmer or Newstrom at 3rd?

Just observations from my couch while I eat my feelings watching this team. They may be the most BiPolar team we've had in a long time. The talent to win it all is there and the inconsistency to miss out on playoffs entirely is there.

 

[THEONLYTENISEE]

Not sure we have anybody to put there.

 

[Local Yokel]

Not sure we have anybody to put there.

In left field? Sure we do.

Blaine absolutely tore it up last year. But man, he is struggling at both ends. As my wife says, why’s he loafing? He’s always the last guy off the field. His fielding is sus, which you tolerate if the bat is popping. It isn’t. His swing and miss stats can’t be good. I know E is keeping him out there because, well, we paid up, and you hope the light comes on.

 

[kell7517]

Though his bat has slowed down some. But he is 3rd on the team in HR’s (and that’s because Grimmer just passed him yesterday) and 2nd on the team in RBI’s.

 

[Backwards K]

Several times in the Ole Miss series the 3rd baseman was playing a deep SS and the rest of the infield was on the right side. If he can't/won't go oppo, make him bunt, especially when the Vols just need some baserunners.....like the entire game on Saturday.

 

[tn4elvis]

The hardest thing to do in any sport is hit a baseball. He’s a sophomore in a very unforgiving league. Josh has moved him way down in the order already. As long as he is swinging it better by the middle to end of May leave him in.

 

[taylorvol]

He can't hit his way out of a wet paper bag. Is it strictly for his defense? Why not take him out and put him in the bullpen and let him concentrate on pitching and see if he does well there bc our BP definitely needs help and it couldn't be any worse.

Couldn't they move Ford to LF and put Grimmer or Newstrom at 3rd?

Just observations from my couch while I eat my feelings watching this team. They may be the most BiPolar team we've had in a long time. The talent to win it all is there and the inconsistency to miss out on playoffs entirely is there.

Right now, Brown is a below average LFer but so was Dreiling his first year as a Vol. Dreiling was a plus defender during his second season as a Vol. The best OF defense would be Abernathy in CF, Wright in LF, and Chapman in RF. They moved to this lineup late in Sunday’s game. Brown has a hgh ceiling but needs to be much more selective at the plate.

 

[tn4elvis]

Right now, Brown is a below average LFer but so was Dreiling his first year as a Vol. Dreiling was a plus defender during his second season as a Vol. The best OF defense would be Abernathy in CF, Wright in LF, and Chapman in RF. They moved to this lineup late in Sunday’s game. Brown has a hgh ceiling but needs to be much more selective at the plate.

Having played at a fairly high level. I can assure you no one feels worse than BB . It really messes with your psyche when you are supposed to produce and can’t. I’ve said this multiple times. During Blake Burks sophomore year I wanted to kill him a 100 times because of him swinging at bad pitches.I had to keep reminding myself that he is a kid . Look at him now of the 7 hrs he’s hit in double A four have been opo. Kids develop at different times. Let’s support BB and pick him up.

 

[taylorvol]

Having played at a fairly high level. I can assure you no one feels worse than BB . It really messes with your psyche when you are supposed to produce and can’t. I’ve said this multiple times. During Blake Burks sophomore year I wanted to kill him a 100 times because of him swinging at bad pitches.I had to keep reminding myself that he is a kid . Look at him now of the 7 hrs he’s hit in double A four have been opo. Kids develop at different times. Let’s support BB and pick him up.

Agreed. Brown will likely take a huge jump next season. Perhaps a small reset is in order to help clear his head.

 

[VolatileVol]

Hard to jump on one player when several haven't been very disciplined at the plate. With that said, hats off to Ole Miss this past weekend. They have a lot of quality arms.

 

[landscapingvol]

The hardest thing to do in any sport is hit a baseball. He’s a sophomore in a very unforgiving league. Josh has moved him way down in the order already. As long as he is swinging it better by the middle to end of May leave him in.

The hardest thing to do in any sport isn't hitting a baseball lol that is comical and yes I played for a very good JUCO team before you ask. If your comparison is facing Randy Johnson in his prime or Roger Clemons then sure that would be extremely difficult but hitting off an average to below average pitcher isn't extremely difficult. Golf is far and away the most difficult sport and it isn't particularly close no matter how good your equipment is or how poor the golf course.

 

[tn4elvis]

The hardest thing to do in any sport isn't hitting a baseball lol that is comical and yes I played for a very good JUCO team before you ask. If your comparison is facing Randy Johnson in his prime or Roger Clemons then sure that would be extremely difficult but hitting off an average to below average pitcher isn't extremely difficult. Golf is far and away the most difficult sport and it isn't particularly close no matter how good your equipment is or how poor the golf course.

I am a 5 handicap most days and beg to differ. It’s all relative to the player not yet in his prime either hitting off below average pitchers. Hitting a moving baseball is extremely difficult no matter who you are. Golf is a different kind of difficult but I get why you would say that.

 

[Volgrandpa]

Maybe they should pitch a golf ball instead of hitting a small stationary ball.

 

[taylorvol]

The hardest thing to do in any sport isn't hitting a baseball lol that is comical and yes I played for a very good JUCO team before you ask. If your comparison is facing Randy Johnson in his prime or Roger Clemons then sure that would be extremely difficult but hitting off an average to below average pitcher isn't extremely difficult. Golf is far and away the most difficult sport and it isn't particularly close no matter how good your equipment is or how poor the golf course.

It’s def hitting a baseball. Golf is playing against yourself. Cmon man.

 

[volfan411]

Right now, Brown is a below average LFer but so was Dreiling his first year as a Vol. Dreiling was a plus defender during his second season as a Vol. The best OF defense would be Abernathy in CF, Wright in LF, and Chapman in RF. They moved to this lineup late in Sunday’s game. Brown has a hgh ceiling but needs to be much more selective at the plate.

I agree and at this point I think we have to play our best defense the remainder of the SEC games. Maybe Brown figures it out in the mid-week games or he gets a shot at DH but until he can put some competitive swings together I am not sure he sees the field again.

 

[WallyBalls]

Eh.

We had this same discussion about Blake Burke in 2023. I mean almost exact same. Couldn't play defense reliably, swung at too much slop.

Its college ball. You hope they grow but there's a TON of playing through it.

 

[KptVFL]

Agreed. Brown will likely take a huge jump next season. Perhaps a small reset is in order to help clear his head.

You know what the best reset button is, right?

Made me think of a Bobbly Knight clip.

 

[chuckiepoo]

You know what the best reset button is, right?

Made me think of a Bobbly Knight clip.

One of them pine splinters…

 

[tennrich1]

BB, IMO, is struggling to pick up pitch spin like so many people. Most pitch him inside low or outside high and he seems to chase both. I think his swing looks fluid without any hitches so I’d agree, especially at this point, to stay the course. His defense is adequate with CLEARLY a strong arm. As far as hitting a baseball vs golf…the range with video/proper instruction can, for most people, be simple mechanics. Baseball, IMO, has another person figured in the equation. Hitting a middle/middle fast ball isn’t extremely difficult…unless you’re sitting on a slider/change up…then…all bets are off.

 

[tn4elvis]

BB, IMO, is struggling to pick up pitch spin like so many people. Most pitch him inside low or outside high and he seems to chase both. I think his swing looks fluid without any hitches so I’d agree, especially at this point, to stay the course. His defense is adequate with CLEARLY a strong arm. As far as hitting a baseball vs golf…the range with video/proper instruction can, for most people, be simple mechanics. Baseball, IMO, has another person figured in the equation. Hitting a middle/middle fast ball isn’t extremely difficult…unless you’re sitting on a slider/change up…then…all bets are off.

I always taught set fastball adjust for off speed

 

[a vol n tears]

He can't hit his way out of a wet paper bag. Is it strictly for his defense? Why not take him out and put him in the bullpen and let him concentrate on pitching and see if he does well there bc our BP definitely needs help and it couldn't be any worse.

Couldn't they move Ford to LF and put Grimmer or Newstrom at 3rd?

Just observations from my couch while I eat my feelings watching this team. They may be the most BiPolar team we've had in a long time. The talent to win it all is there and the inconsistency to miss out on playoffs entirely is there.

Can’t understand unless coach has to play him because of paying him. Ignore his HRs and RBIs because his conference stats are pitiful. Abernathy can play LF just as good, has better speed, and can actually bat in several different spots in the lineup.

 

[Local Yokel]

Right now, Brown is a below average LFer but so was Dreiling his first year as a Vol. Dreiling was a plus defender during his second season as a Vol. The best OF defense would be Abernathy in CF, Wright in LF, and Chapman in RF. They moved to this lineup late in Sunday’s game. Brown has a hgh ceiling but needs to be much more selective at the plate.

Dreiling didn’t play nearly as much as a freshman. BB has started every game I believe. Dreiling exploded as a draft eligible sophomore. BB is a sophomore and had a stellar freshman campaign. The regress seems to be more related to joining this team. Zero question he needs pine time.

BB, IMO, is struggling to pick up pitch spin like so many people. Most pitch him inside low or outside high and he seems to chase both. I think his swing looks fluid without any hitches so I’d agree, especially at this point, to stay the course. His defense is adequate with CLEARLY a strong arm. As far as hitting a baseball vs golf…the range with video/proper instruction can, for most people, be simple mechanics. Baseball, IMO, has another person figured in the equation. Hitting a middle/middle fast ball isn’t extremely difficult…unless you’re sitting on a slider/change up…then…all bets are off.

opening his shoulder. Has a looping, slow swing. Chases bad pitches. Easy out.

 

[MiramarVol]

He's one dimensional. Needs to learn how to push to the opposite field.

 

[tennrich1]

Dreiling didn’t play nearly as much as a freshman. BB has started every game I believe. Dreiling exploded as a draft eligible sophomore. BB is a sophomore and had a stellar freshman campaign. The regress seems to be more related to joining this team. Zero question he needs pine time.

opening his shoulder. Has a looping, slow swing. Chases bad pitches. Easy out.

I actually heard he’s working hard with E on shortening his swing. As a pro golfer told me once …”it’s NEVER too early to shorten your backswing swing”. Even touring pros have to work on this as well. Same applies to baseball. Hopefully he’ll get it worked out.

 

[taylorvol]

Dreiling didn’t play nearly as much as a freshman. BB has started every game I believe. Dreiling exploded as a draft eligible sophomore. BB is a sophomore and had a stellar freshman campaign. The regress seems to be more related to joining this team. Zero question he needs pine time.

opening his shoulder. Has a looping, slow swing. Chases bad pitches. Easy out.

The regress for Brown is due to facing SEC caliber pitching plus a season to expose his weaknesses as a hitter in the American Athletic Conference. Point was Dreiling couldn’t start as a freshman LFer as he was a liability in the field. Dreiling was relegated to an occasional DH and PH against RHP. In one season, he became a plus LFer. Same will likely happen for Brown if he’s dedicated to the work required and change needed from his free swinging approach.