State of baseball recruiting

[thaitopher 807]

Because I don't have a freaking clue.

[boomstick 1,315]

I believe this incoming class is a top 10 ranked class. We've recruited really well and will continue to do so, but we need to have some good fortune with the MLB draft to get some of these HS players on campus. 

[ellitor 33,082]

48 minutes ago, thaitopher said:

Because I don't have a freaking clue.

26 in the 2018 class on PerfectGame.com

[Auhud08 596]

@ellitor What are team needs?

[ellitor 33,082]

22 minutes ago, Auhud08 said:

@ellitor What are team needs?

Quality pitching depth. After that it depends on what we lose in the draft. There's not many major contributing SRs on this team. This is also a good question for @AU64, @boomstick, @PowerOfDixieland, & @Mikey to chime in on.

[boomstick 1,315]

48 minutes ago, Auhud08 said:

@ellitor What are team needs?

Catcher is a big need. Next year we will only have one catcher on the roster, Rojas, since Haecker and Logan are seniors. So we really need Williams to make it to campus. 

We need quality pitching, which we have in this class in Burns and De La Torre, but both are draft concerns. And we need some lefty pitchers. Right now, we only have Mitchell and Anderson, and there are some projections that say Mitchell has a mid draft grade.

I think we need another power bat, preferably a corner OF. If we can add another big bat to the lineup, that would be a significant help. 

And I think we need to recruit some of the current roster to hang around one more year and have a favorable draft. Probably can't hold onto Keegan, but guys like Todd, Mitchell, Ingram, Anthony, and our draftable signees really need to stay/get on campus. 

[AU64 10,122]

29 minutes ago, ellitor said:

Quality pitching depth. After that it depends on what we lose in the draft. There's not many major contributing SRs on this team. This is also a good question for @AU64, @boomstick, @PowerOfDixieland, & @Mikey to chime in on.

I think you might be underselling the value of the seniors this season.   Robert, Logan, Lipscomb, Klobo Decker to mention a few.  Far as I can remember...everyone who has played any meaningful time as Catcher or FB has been a senior. This is really important at Catcher since Butch lets the catcher call his game so we need a guy who is able to manage the game. 

No doubt, the pitching depth is a big issue and without knowing who BT is holding back this season, it's gonna get worse without a  serious infusion of talent.   I'm not sure it's possible to bring in a "ready to go pitcher"....since the pros scoop up all of them they can identify....so I'm hoping that BT can get some good prospects....the 3* type guys and then develop them SEC level pitchers....hoping that next year for example...Watson and Daniel will be much better than what we have seen this year and maybe get one surprise.   Not sure what the issue is with Keegan and Mize....will that be able to leave after this year.    . 

Need at least one (better if 2) very good middle infielder....too many errors these day and at least one vacuum cleaner ....'good field , no hit"  type guy if that is what we can find...a Chico Carosquel or someone like that. 

 

[Mikey 16,576]

Quoting @AU64 : "Chico Carosquel or someone like that." I'm not sure there's anybody here besides me that can recall the great White Sox  and Indians shortstop. Lets get three of those while we're at it. They wouldn't produce many runs but they'd save save a bunch.

[Auhud08 596]

Is glavine not part of this class or is he a draft guy that we likely won't get

[ellitor 33,082]

1 hour ago, AU64 said:

I think you might be underselling the value of the seniors this season.   Robert, Logan, Lipscomb, Klobo Decker to mention a few. 

I didn't know D-Rob, Logan, & Lipscomb were SRs. I would not have made the statement I did had I known that.

1 hour ago, AU64 said:

Not sure what the issue is with Keegan and Mize....will that be able to leave after this year.  

Keegan can leave. Casey can't.

[ellitor 33,082]

34 minutes ago, Auhud08 said:

Is glavine not part of this class or is he a draft guy that we likely won't get

 Yes he is in the class & he is not a high valued draft prospect. I would be very surprised if he is drafted high enough to go pro if he gets drafted at all.

Tanner Burns is the one we will have a very tough time of getting to AU. He is projected as a 1st round pick right now. Cody Greenhill may be tough to keep too.

[80Tiger 899]

No insight or whatever, but bats! bats! bats!. If we need a catcher he needs to have some power. Same with OF and corner positions. Middle infielders don't have to have power but they better be able to make contact, especially a curve. The only current player I enjoy watching bat is Roberts.

[ellitor 33,082]

1 minute ago, 80Tiger said:

No insight or whatever, but bats! bats! bats!. If we need a catcher he needs to have some power. Same with OF and corner positions. Middle infielders don't have to have power but they better be able to make contact, especially a curve. The only current player I enjoy watching bat is Roberts.

You don't like watching Jonah Todd, aka Joe Dirt, bat? He's 2nd in the SEC in average at .385.

[80Tiger 899]

37 minutes ago, ellitor said:

You don't like watching Jonah Todd, aka Joe Dirt, bat? He's 2nd in the SEC in average at .385.

Have to be honest. I haven't seen a lot of games, listened to more on the radio, but Roberts seems just to have a lot of pop in his bat and swing. Todd may also, he just hasn't stuck out to me as much in my limited viewing.

[Auhud08 596]

Todd is a great baseball player. Truest form of the word/phrase

[AU64 10,122]

2 hours ago, ellitor said:

I didn't know D-Rob, Logan, & Lipscomb were SRs. I would not have made the statement I did had I known that.

Keegan can leave. Casey can't.

 That is good.

 In my view the best way Butch can earn his keep is by developing young pitching prospects.  I think Mize has come a long way this season and I look forward to seeing the development of the young pitchers I mentioned earlier. We really need quality depth . 

 Perhaps it is just BTs approach to the game but it seems that we need more general team speed. It was painful watching so many potential rallies being snuffed out by routine double-play balls. We just were not very good at advancing base runners in no out and one out situations. ... not being able to score runners from second on singles ...and things like that. Too much base to base offense.

 

[PowerOfDixieland 3,226]

2 hours ago, 80Tiger said:

The only current player I enjoy watching bat is Roberts.

He is the least aggressive 6'4" 240 lb hitter you will ever see.  Opposite field first and last and a base on balls specialist...looks at WAY too many pitches. I haven't looked at the stats, but he has got to be the leader on this team in strike outs looking.

[AU64 10,122]

13 minutes ago, PowerOfDixieland said:

He is the least aggressive 6'4" 240 lb hitter you will ever see.  Opposite field first and last and a base on balls specialist...looks at WAY too many pitches. I haven't looked at the stats, but he has got to be the leader on this team in strike outs looking.

 Gotta agree with this assessment. He bats like he is about 5' 11 and 175 #. ....just does not seem to use his size very well.. seems mostly to be an opposite field hitter.

But on the other hand, he is as clutch as anyone on the team and other than perhaps Todd, I can't think of anyone I would rather have the plate when a single is needed. 

[PowerOfDixieland 3,226]

There is a thread currently sitting at the top of page three with some good info on the class (potentially) coming in '18.  There is a really good catcher prospect coming with that group and an even better one in the '19 verbal commits.  Our most glaring need after starting pitching is thoroughbred outfielders.  I hope Jeremy Johnson can take over in center, but I don't know if we have any other true outfielders on the current roster and there is only one committed for next year.  I assume Butch will continue to improve the speed on the bases.  We are in really good shape on the infield as I don't think Luke or Josh will be taken high enough to go after this season.  Obviously, Will Holland could play anywhere and be all conference defensively.  Probably need to add another Connor Davis/Dylan Ingram type bat.

[ellitor 33,082]

21 minutes ago, PowerOfDixieland said:

He is the least aggressive 6'4" 240 lb hitter you will ever see.  Opposite field first and last and a base on balls specialist...looks at WAY too many pitches. I haven't looked at the stats, but he has got to be the leader on this team in strike outs looking.

Couldn't find a Ks looking stat but he does have the high K% on the team, 27.7% of his ABs.

[AUTigersfan89 256]

Who is the Canadian guy we could potentially get who I've heard mentioned before?

[ellitor 33,082]

12 minutes ago, AUTigersfan89 said:

Who is the Canadian guy we could potentially get who I've heard mentioned before?

Quote

Edouard Julien
Attends Cardinal-Roy Secondary school in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada ... member of the Canadian junior national team ... participated in tournaments in Florida and Cuba with Canada U18 national team during the summer of 2016 ... won gold with Team Quebec at the 18U National Championship in August ... hit .318 in the tournament with six RBI and two extra-base hits ... named top 15-year-old player in Quebec ... Named top prospect in Quebec as a 16-year-old ... Hit team-best .417 with four runs scored in Spring Training camp with Canada JNT in March, 2016 ... Had six hits in seven appearances in Cuba Series played in Havana ... Also saw national team action in the Dominican Summer League and on trip to face extended spring competition in Orlando ... won bronze with Team Quebec at the Baseball Canada Cup ... batted .381 in the event with five RBI and nine stolen bases ... Batted .273 in "Tournament 12" a high school showcase hosted by the Toronto Blue Jays

He's an infielder

[AU64 10,122]

Bama's baseball coach has been relieved immediately. Wonder what that might do for our in state recruiting ?Seems that during the recent tournament I saw that some top high school players were committed to Bama . Will those hold up? .. And any thoughts on a replacement .

 Reading what was in Al.com today sounds like a replay of Sunny's departure … Irate parents , players being pushed out , etc. 

[Mikey 16,576]

Getting off Carrasquel and back to the subject: I think the first and most crying need is for a catcher or two. It would be nice if he can hit but that's one of the few positions where hitting ability takes a back seat to what he can do on the field. Now, Butch may have one saved back but if not, we'd better sign two and hope one is SEC ready.

[AU64 10,122]

46 minutes ago, Mikey said:

Getting off Carrasquel and back to the subject: I think the first and most crying need is for a catcher or two. It would be nice if he can hit but that's one of the few positions where hitting ability takes a back seat to what he can do on the field. Now, Butch may have one saved back but if not, we'd better sign two and hope one is SEC ready.

Could be that Chico has a grandson ready to play.  Expect you recall seeing Donnie Kessinger play at OM back in the day...baseball (and basketball) ...and now his grandson is playing (or was until he was hurt)  shortstop at OM. 

Agree several hundred percent on the Catcher issue...and because Butch has his catcher call the pitches, it's not that easy to identify a guy who has the ability to think his way though a game and make the right calls...even if he has the pitcher out there to validate or suggest changes.

And just to reiterate ....we've been weak defensively in the middle of the infield for several years....really would be nice to have someone out there where every hard hit ground ball toward the 4 or 6 hole does not make my heart race.