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Started By
Message
re: Don't look now, but Paxton Kling is above the Mendoza line...
Posted on 4/10/24 at 1:28 pm to Lester Earl
Posted on 4/10/24 at 1:28 pm to Lester Earl
I do get it, though. I've found myself doing it with black QBs a lot throughout the years. I have spent so much energy defending Jamarcus, Jordan Jefferson, and oh my dear Lord, Jayden. Because that is a thing. On here anyway. I'd like to think this isn't a great representation of the real world, but I've heard too many people talk a certain way about black QBs. Especially when there's a talented white backup. But I absolutely reject the same phenomenon applies to the starting SS position. I'd think the last few years of reading Jordan Thompson hate on here would be plenty proof of that. My take(s) on why Braswell's criticism may not be quite as deserved as he's getting (but you'll have to concede at least some is deserved).
1) There is a very rich history of great LSU short-stops. It's probably the most prestigious position in the sport (due to history, brand, and position). Alex Bregman, Austin Nola, DJLemahieu (for a bit), Jason Williams, Ryan Theriot, Russ Johnson, Josh Smith, and Brandon Larson. That's a pretty fricking salty list full of long-time big leaguers. So the expectation for that position at LSU is extremely high (probably unfairly)
2) There's the perception that Jay took him too early and that he may could have gotten a better guy out of the portal if he'd had just been patient and waited a bit. That local kid who had a great freshman season out in the Pac (Arizona State?) that wound up at State or Ole Miss, I can't remember also played a big part, I believe. Why not take the local kid who hit way better as a freshman than Braswell did as a SO. I am not saying I agree with that line of thinking, just that it existed and was a factor.
3) We saw Braswell play and he wasn't all that impressive. Certainly not at the plate, and didn't SC move him off of short as well?
4) Jay sold us on "seeing something in Braswell" that he thought he could work with an unlock that would pay big dividends. And though he's certainly been hitting for a better average and getting on base a lot more, I think the impression was that he would slug more, unlock his "pop." I remember people talking about him having a low launch angle and hitting a lot of ground balls, and that Jay could tweak it and he'd have at least alley power, but that specific part of his game has been underwhelming
5) He's slow and the way he plays--really smooth--can look like he's not giving max effort at times. I think that's probably an illusion, but when he makes a couple bad plays close together, people's minds automatically go there. shite, I'm pretty sure Jay's went there.
I'm done. We agree on almost everything, and the rest just isn't worth it. I probably shouldn't have even started this post. But I hold YOU to a higher standard. Perhaps that is my biggest mistake.
1) There is a very rich history of great LSU short-stops. It's probably the most prestigious position in the sport (due to history, brand, and position). Alex Bregman, Austin Nola, DJLemahieu (for a bit), Jason Williams, Ryan Theriot, Russ Johnson, Josh Smith, and Brandon Larson. That's a pretty fricking salty list full of long-time big leaguers. So the expectation for that position at LSU is extremely high (probably unfairly)
2) There's the perception that Jay took him too early and that he may could have gotten a better guy out of the portal if he'd had just been patient and waited a bit. That local kid who had a great freshman season out in the Pac (Arizona State?) that wound up at State or Ole Miss, I can't remember also played a big part, I believe. Why not take the local kid who hit way better as a freshman than Braswell did as a SO. I am not saying I agree with that line of thinking, just that it existed and was a factor.
3) We saw Braswell play and he wasn't all that impressive. Certainly not at the plate, and didn't SC move him off of short as well?
4) Jay sold us on "seeing something in Braswell" that he thought he could work with an unlock that would pay big dividends. And though he's certainly been hitting for a better average and getting on base a lot more, I think the impression was that he would slug more, unlock his "pop." I remember people talking about him having a low launch angle and hitting a lot of ground balls, and that Jay could tweak it and he'd have at least alley power, but that specific part of his game has been underwhelming
5) He's slow and the way he plays--really smooth--can look like he's not giving max effort at times. I think that's probably an illusion, but when he makes a couple bad plays close together, people's minds automatically go there. shite, I'm pretty sure Jay's went there.
I'm done. We agree on almost everything, and the rest just isn't worth it. I probably shouldn't have even started this post. But I hold YOU to a higher standard. Perhaps that is my biggest mistake.
0
Posted on 4/10/24 at 1:43 pm to Hot Carl
quote:
You know he played like shite last weekend.
lol I never said he played good last weekend.
He made actual errors that affected the game.
Nothing to do with the plays you think were bad, that actually weren’t. Plays that 1%’ers at SS probably make. But not a guy that was already out of position & is just SEC-average. Plenty of other
Things to be mad about
Posted on 4/10/24 at 2:11 pm to Lester Earl
One ball- Milazzo misplayed one ball in game two vs Florida. Neal has been unable to catch a cold behind the plate and routinely misplaying 4-6 balls every game he catches.
"It's crazy who gets immunity" for playing poor defense behind the plate in the form of the official scorer refusing to ding him on passed balls by scoring them all as wild pitches.
"It's crazy who gets immunity" for playing poor defense behind the plate in the form of the official scorer refusing to ding him on passed balls by scoring them all as wild pitches.
Posted on 4/10/24 at 2:21 pm to tiger lady
Agree with Tigerlady. While I don't feel Milazzo has played as well defensively as he did last year, he is still light years ahead of Neal defensively. As I said earlier in Vandy series in games Neal caught Tigers needed to station a 2nd catcher between Neal and the backstop.
Posted on 4/10/24 at 2:24 pm to Hold That Tiger 10
He's basing it on potential. If Neal gets going it's added power in the lineup. If millazo hits it's a couple extra singles
Posted on 4/10/24 at 2:27 pm to tiger lady
quote:
One ball- Milazzo misplayed one ball in game two vs Florida.
He was brought in last weekend late in the game & had a passed ball. Selective memory, huh
Posted on 4/10/24 at 2:31 pm to Lester Earl
quote:
Milazzo is what he is at this point. He doesn’t need reps to prove anything
You made a good point about Kling when it comes to this, but the same logic doesn’t apply to Milazzo? He just is who he is? Why doesn’t he deserve more reps but Kling does?
Posted on 4/10/24 at 2:32 pm to Tigerpride18
Neal hitting .111 in SEC play ...Milazzo hitting .500 in SEC play.
Posted on 4/10/24 at 2:32 pm to Jax-Tiger
If only they played macnesse every game
Posted on 4/10/24 at 2:34 pm to TheRouxGuru
Yes, exactly that. Milazzo is exactly what he is. His playing time has been perfect. He doesn’t need to play more.
Do you think something is untapped with him?
Do you think something is untapped with him?
Posted on 4/10/24 at 2:36 pm to TheRouxGuru
He is a 5th year senior that is a singles hitter without any future MLB potential. Meanwhile Kling is a sophomore from a state that doesn't have the most competitive baseball in high school in Pennsylvania but is ridiculously athletic and has all the tools to make it to the MLB if he can get reps and improve at the plate. Not saying you live and die by him getting reps all season. At some point Kling needs to show somethin, but that is why it doesn't apply the same to both.
Posted on 4/10/24 at 2:36 pm to Lester Earl
I mean he has developed into a decent hitter.
If Neal has turned some corner awesome, but I dont think his power advantage is enough if he can’t make any contact.
If Neal has turned some corner awesome, but I dont think his power advantage is enough if he can’t make any contact.
Posted on 4/10/24 at 2:42 pm to SammyTiger
quote:
I dont think his power advantage is enough if he can’t make any contact.
Sammy, one of them K’s 22% of the time, the other 23% of the time.
Posted on 4/10/24 at 3:30 pm to Lester Earl
quote:
lol I never said he played good last weekend.
He made actual errors that affected the game.
Ok, we agree on this.
quote:
Nothing to do with the plays you think were bad, that actually weren’t.
I think I know what you're saying, so gonna give you the benefit of the doubt and leave it alone
quote:
Plays that 1%’ers at SS probably make.
Ok, here's where I think we're just having some miscommunication and can maybe just agree to disagree. Let's take that slow roller that he threw 10 feet over Jones that was not an error, because 1) the hitter didn't advance to 2nd, and 2) they official scorer ruled that he likely would have still beaten out a good throw. Same page so far, right?
Your take--I'm making an educated guess--is that playing that deep on a ball hit that slow, only 1%'ere at SS have the speed/arm combo to make that play. I agree. Thought he was playing too deep considering his speed and arm, and it would have taken a helluva play by a helluva player to actually make throw him out starting from where he did. Still same page.
quote:
But not a guy that was already out of position & is just SEC-average
Still agree. This confirms we're on the same page about where he was positioned and what he's physically capable of. Here is where I wonder if we diverge? Are you saying that he sailed that throw because he knew he was gonna have to get it out of his glove quick and just hose it. That Jay put him in that position to where that throw was likely and therefore no big deal? Cause I can get that.
Or, are you saying that since he was going to beat it--AND the runner didn't wind up advancing--who cares if he threw it 10 feet high, in the dirt, just ate it, etc...? And seriously, who actually cares? I can't believe I'm still engaging in this. It matters so little.
The only way it matters is if it was an effort/focus error. And even then, it would only really matter if it came in a cluster of effort/focus errors. Which I wouldn't have accused him of if Jay hadn't pulled him and kept him out of the lineup last night. Cause that seemed like a punishment. And maybe Jay was just frustrated and just wanted to be pissed at somebody and Braswell was right there, so he had to wear it.
(My REAL take is that I think Jay didn't care as much in real time about the 9-0 error on Thursday, but as the game got closer and he realized he was gonna have to use Herring, he kept getting madder, and the better Herring threw and Jay realized we could be getting that performance following Jump on Friday instead of Thursday, the more madder he got too.
I bet he stayed up Thursday night thinking about it pissed off, worrying that what wound up happening Friday was going to happen. And when it did, I think Bras was just on his shite list for the rest of the weekend, and he was just looking for something Saturday to sit him for, and that throw was all it took. And Jay has a hard time letting shite go and was still kinda pissed yesterday, so just said frick it, and sat him again.)
I hope that's what happened, even though it kinda sucks for Bras to have to wear it a bit. But what I DON'T want it to be is Braswell not giving max effort/focus in practice or pre-game. Not preparing to the standard Jay thinks an LSU short-stop--or any every day player should--and making a bad play because he had mentally conceded the game, wasn't competing, and was just going through the motions would be much worse than simply rushing a throw on the run and sailing it a bit.
quote:
Plenty of other
Things to be mad about
That's the thing. I'm not even the slightest bit mad.
Disappointed in myself that I wasted a day of work mired in this nonsense of a nothing argument. I re-set my expectations a few weeks ago. This team can't win anything meaningful. I'll still watch every game I can and keep participating in the threads, but mostly because I just love baseball, love LSU baseball, and enjoy the dramatic ebbs and flows. But I'm not that emotionally invested in this team's success at this point. They'd have to run off a streak I don't think they're capable of to pull me back in emotionally like that. But I do like the players, so I'll be pulling for them the rest of the year no matter what. And I like Jay. No idea what to think about Yeskie. I do wonder why we've got a 6'4" dude who throws 99 and has a 1.50 ERA just sitting in the dugout spitting seeds or chewing gum while we run a bunch of JAGS out there to get run-ruled for the 3rd time in 4 weeks at home by a light-hitting team who didn't' score more than 4 in any game the previous weekend and doubled up their home run totally in 3 games at the Box that they had in the 9 prior coming in. Not sure why that dude is traveling for the 1st time this weekend. I guess we'll see.
But for you, Les, my fellow posters in this thread, the future lurkers, but mainly myself, my father, and my family name, I vow to not post in this Godforsaken thread ever again. "Don't look now, Paxton Kling is above the Mendoza line..." That's it. That's what did it. All it took. OP, you fricking bastard.
Posted on 4/10/24 at 3:56 pm to Hot Carl
And let’s note that he doesn’t decide where he is positioned. He’s made those plays all year on those slow choppers, too. The reason he didn’t on these plays is very clearly not due to ability
Posted on 4/10/24 at 4:27 pm to Lester Earl
Neal’s power isn’t translating then because he is batting .111 in conference play.
I wont do Milazzo’s because he has 6 AB, but he’s hitting 350 on the season and his BA has been better against SEC competition
in 8 plate appearances in SEC play Milazzo has 3 hits and 2 walks.
I wont do Milazzo’s because he has 6 AB, but he’s hitting 350 on the season and his BA has been better against SEC competition
in 8 plate appearances in SEC play Milazzo has 3 hits and 2 walks.
Posted on 4/10/24 at 4:35 pm to SammyTiger
I feel like you are just reciting stats now & don’t actually watch all the games. Why didn’t you look up the strikeout stats from earlier before you said he swings & misses too much?
Neal started 0-16 in SEC play. He’s swung much better in mid week & SEC since.
Neal started 0-16 in SEC play. He’s swung much better in mid week & SEC since.
Posted on 4/10/24 at 4:44 pm to SammyTiger
quote:
Neal’s power isn’t translating then because he is batting .111 in conference play.
I don't have a dog in this fight, but if you're going to say someone's power isn't translating, you should probably choose something other than batting average to say it. You know, since batting average is only a measure (on a rate basis) of how many at bats you've recorded a base hit and all base hits are weighted equally.
Posted on 4/10/24 at 4:48 pm to Jax-Tiger
I have this card
Posted on 4/10/24 at 5:00 pm to ProjectP2294
In SEC play Neal’s SLG% is the same as his BA. Milazzo’s is also the same as his BA.
just change them and the point stands.
I believe in power hitting over soft contact, but it needs to translate. Neal clearly has more power but it’s not getting him on base.
just change them and the point stands.
I believe in power hitting over soft contact, but it needs to translate. Neal clearly has more power but it’s not getting him on base.
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