Had Enough

You’re right about this, but any conference that doesn’t play everybody is a shitty conference. Just get on with 4 of 16 teams. Then let’s see how baseball falls out. Since peoples objectives is more eyeballs, might as well totally mimic the NFL. The current format for baseball is quite good. The selection committee not always.

Yes but did see all those sub-200 hitters that we had that almost never played? There was Hoffart and his two ABs. OHara with 7. Ha, I didn’t realize Ace batted .111 but 7 RBIs in 18 ABs. Don’t include Cam though because he finished 3-6. And he was at the Mendoza line.

There you go making my day. Graduates that can half ass their academics make for good players.

Good to see some of you punks are SEC ready. Already on the Gator, Vol and Tiger wagon. Screw them all.

Or maybe they’re facing a guy that’s been massively extended his last two weekends and their modestly hit balls are finding the holes.

Maybe we should tell him he can play SS. Then done deal.

Money whip him HenryJames.

Borderline first round pick out of high school. Congrats to the Waco area Horn fan that was at the series this year and is friends with the family. Now your interests are fully aligned.

I did get twisted up. An elite speed “player” is different than having elite speed. And maybe EK is a plus defender, but he’s not elite. His arm is not that of a plus defender. Does range make up for it? Maybe. I did not claim that Daly was forced out. More so that if that were the case, that I don’t care for that action/trend. That goes for any player growing up in any program. So I’d hope it was a mutual parting of the ways. People make decisions in their best interests. I don’t know or claim to know what those are. Some of those decisions are how important baseball is relative to education.

I can see that being the case. Particularly given that he was benched after a bullshit strike 3 call versus KU. And it may have been the pitch before on an attempted bunt that was more the issue. And I’d rather there be a falling out than hey get lost multi year starter because we’re chasing the portal. But to insinuate that a dude is what he is particularly arguing against what’s proven to be the upside that’s already been accomplished - I’ll fight any of you punks on that. Then when presented with examples and some still stick to that. Yeah, I’ll get fired up.

Yes. I claimed he’s not an elite speed player. He’s damn fast. But elite guys are stealing more bases. DC for example averaged 20 the past two years. But I suppose our definition of elite is different. His arm is not strong. Elite brings it all. Didn’t Hodo play centerfield last year? And Antico the year prior. Another indication EK is not necessarily elite. But maybe Hodo and Antico were eliter. I probably would lean towards Campbell and Antico being elite defenders. I never said anything about high draft pick.

You’re such a little bitch. Yes, we know Dalys not the guy became he’s essentially gone. EK is not an elite speed player. He averages 11 steals per season. He’s not a plus defender. His arm is too weak. If he’s both of those, he’s drafted. His total package for college is great. But in case you didn’t know those were offensive numbers I presented. And that is where people’s issue with Daly comes.

Tucker from WVU. 5th year since entering college. His OBP was 100 points higher than any other year, which was his freshman year. His average and slugging up over 100 points from any previous year. His 4th year in college was his worst after presumably redshirting the prior year. EKs batting average dropped from year 1 to year 2 to year 3. Years 4/5 were lower but on par with year 1. Dalys OPS in year 3 is higher than EKs was in year 3. EKs slugging and OBP dropped in years 2/3 from year 1. Powell and the Stanford guy did nothing in their first two years (three for Powell) presumably because they weren’t capable. With all dudes, you need to look inside the numbers. For Daly, he had 7 homers. I don’t remember any being cheapies. He has 2 more that were about two feet from being over. Three versus KU that had the wind not been blowing in had a chance. A shot at BU that was halfway up the wall to dead center. He had a number of good swings throughout the year but missed the pitch. Quite a few of his strikeouts were looking. Many of those were borderline strikes at best and some for damn sure weren’t. I do not think hes seeing the ball that well. Too many rolling over ground balls. He’s a pretty patient hitter. Too patient at times - see strikeouts looking. His last 18 ABs (plus 3 walks, 1 or 2 sac flys), He struck out twice. I’d contend one of those was BS. He sat. And returns with an open stance. And he’s better. Why? I think he has a fair amount of upside in the power and average department. Flores seems to be the guy right. Why? Because he had 10 good ABs the whole season. It was more than that I know but not a ton. In some respects that was the worst season we’ve had in awhile. Ultimately, we’re projecting one guy to do what he’s never done and another to not improve upon what he’s already done. It’s just a little off. I do think Flores will be good, but it’s as much hope and projection as anything.

I’d assume Daly had a spot and would be allowed to compete. But it wouldn’t be surprising if the primary plan was for him to be on the outside looking in. I think overall we’re just in an era in which teams will hope to upgrade. Something has to give whether that offense are unstoppable or that pitchers rule the day. Or maybe you upgrade the offense and pitching, and we all end up in a similar place. I’ve seen enough of youth baseball/select baseball to gain an understanding of how some view it - from the player/parent side and the organization side. There just isn’t a ton of patience and loyalty. I’ve always been big on loyalty. I’ll never fully buy into how things go, but I get some of it.

Unlike damn near most, I’m sorry to see Daly go. That’s just me but when everyone is dogpiling on a dude, my hope is they play to their abilities rather than continue to not play well. I had wondered if he graduated. If not and he’s forced out, then the student-athlete part is officially done. 3 year starter. Played strong to solid defense at two positions. Finished this season reasonably well the last three weeks. But from here on out, guys like him and even Jack O. Actually go down the list - Flores, Galvan, JD. You can find guys in the portal that do or possibly might have greater upside. You can certainly find guys that produced more. It’ll be interesting to see if there are fewer seasons like Powell’s or Rios from Stanford. Guys that stay buried on the depth chart because teams hit the portal. Texas will be well positioned in this era, but I can see where development and coaching is less important as more guys come in who have already developed.

Is next year more of a “rebuilding” year than this year? Personally, I’m not certain you won’t be rebuilding every year. That’s a matter of timing, roster management and probably luck. Really, in my opinion, filling the roster with experienced transfers isn’t rebuilding. Obviously, we do not know the fallout of transfers and draftees for sometime. We only brought back 3 position players with good experience. I’d probably add Jack O to that as a 3rd year player. But Gordon, LBJ, Sthele, Morehouse and Harrison was a solid group of years experience and potential. The difference next year and perhaps the offset to that is NIL. Historically, Gordon, Brown, GG, Morehouse, Hurley are likely gone. Maybe they stick. I’d assume Campbell, EK and LBJ are gone. Three guys that logged a few innings - Burke, Stuart and Minchey are gone. Seems the general thought is we bring back - Thomas, Jack O and Flores with Galvan logging a little time. On the pitching side, we’ve got Sthele and bullpen guys. Maybe Whitehead can leap to starter.

On our 3rd visit to Vandy, we better be beating them by 30 or we will be struggling otherwise. At some point, Nashville will be more exciting than the anticipation of and the actual game. Maybe Lexington too. If not them, then Ole Miss, MSu. The newness will wear off at some point. I never actually made it to Kansas or Ames for games. Would have enjoyed Ames I think. ISU was not an old, unenjoyable series in my opinion.

5 more appearances but no more starts. 12 total innings. Getting another start versus mop up duty are not the same. Maybe he wanted guarantees of time; maybe he didn’t. Maybe he liked the instruction given; maybe he did not. Maybe he likes the school; maybe he doesn’t. No idea on what was communicated about his opportunity for this year. I know none of that so any thought I’d throw out would be speculative. But I would say that “hey here’s a start but don’t screw it up or you won’t get another one, well, maybe next year” is not a positive from the player’s perspective.

It could be anything and totally different from player to player. Ultimately I think most guys that want to play will want more opportunities. Damn near all of them want them tomorrow and not two years from now. And baseball is hard game that’s difficult to improve without consistent playing time. Add in that you really have a small window to make your mark. For Minchey personally, I did not like that he started OU. But I also didn’t like that it was a one and done chance after that choice was made. Then you compare to the more experienced but accomplished Witt who got half a dozen starts but only fared well once. 12 innings and one big time start opportunity was not a chance - lots of pressure. If you start a guy versus OU, you gotta give other chances even if that’s a San Jose or lesser team. It’s like shitting on Kash for his 23 ABs. It’s a small miracle if that works out well. I wish him well. Disappointed he’s in the portal but understand as to why that’d be his choice.

It’s all new and fresh but at some point many of those places will become blah. Teams have to lose. Assuming Texas and OU win at a greater than .500 clip that puts the also with more losses. Then their cycle of mediocrity or worse begins. But the SEC office will do what it can to keep the bottom of the conference in a more favorable light. Or maybe they won’t care since they can still get 4-6 in the playoff. Fewer games within driving distance won’t be favorable for a contingent of fans. Better rivalries are built stronger with proximity and history. We get some of that back but give a bit away. Places like Kentucky, MSU, Mizzou, Vandy aren’t bucket list as far as college football goes. Auburn and Ole Miss aren’t top tier either. Get to the 4 mega conferences and be done with it.

Not near enough doubles. Or walks.

Looks as though he’s hurt now. On the IL. This year his K rate is 55% and a .114 average. He’s got an uphill battle.

Believe Flores already had two strikes. They called it foul ball.

I’d be more concerned about having two left hands.

Dream away. Just don’t get your hopes up.