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Power Infusion For Next Year

Posted on 6/4/24 at 11:06 am
Posted by Jax-Tiger
Port Saint Lucie, FL
Member since Jan 2005
26746 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 11:06 am
Last year, we had 10 double digit homer guys (Ok, 9, because Morgan came up one short) and we lost 7 of them. None of the new starters on our roster hit 10 homers or more, this year. Our only double digit guys are White, Travinski, and Jones, and we're losing at least two, if not all 3 of them.

We have depth in the outfield, but none of those guys have shown the type of plus power that strikes the fear in opposing pitchers. They are all guys who can go yard on occasion, but they aren't pure power hitters.

Look at the lineup (going worst case scenario - we lose Jones):

OF Larson
OF Pearson
OF Brown
SS Kucharek
2B Milam
1B Frey
C Neal
3B ???
DH ???

Who in that lineup scares opponents like White and Jones do?

Even if we get a stud at 3B and SS, we're not going to be a power hitting team unless we bench one or two of the outfielders for portal guys or Freshman comes in and rakes.

Jake Brown could step it up, but do you see him hitting more then 12-15 HR? Evan Frey potentially has the most juice in his bat, but he hasn't shown it consistently, yet.

We need Frey to make a huge step up and to get a couple of studs at 3B and SS. Still, that would make us an average power hitting team, unless we find the next Braden Montgomery x2 and sit Pearson/Brown/Larson.

This post was edited on 6/4/24 at 11:07 am
Posted by Tiger1988
Houston
Member since May 2016
29441 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 11:19 am to
Kling (if he learns how to hit)
Milam
Big Easy (Frey)
Neal
Posted by Dogmatagram1
Furnitureland
Member since Jan 2020
1565 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 11:20 am to
Totally agree. This looks like a team that needs to be really good at situational baseball to be successful. They are going to all have to learn how to bunt and steal bases well or add some threats.
Posted by Sofaking2
Member since Apr 2023
18301 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 11:27 am to
Neal has to get better or he is getting replaced. He struggles catching pitches that are strikes and are routine pitches.
Posted by FredbullTN
Houston
Member since Sep 2023
4508 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 11:35 am to
His possible replacement is signed for the class and is a familiar name to LSU people.
Posted by Jax-Tiger
Port Saint Lucie, FL
Member since Jan 2005
26746 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 12:01 pm to
quote:

This looks like a team that needs to be really good at situational baseball to be successful


We may need Milam to be more of a "dirtbag", and bunt to get on, steal bases, and be more of a pest to manufacture runs. He has that ability, but JJ has played it safe the last couple of years.
Posted by Tjcajun
Member since Aug 2021
578 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 12:03 pm to
I think kling hits portal.
Posted by JJ27
Member since Sep 2004
61849 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 12:03 pm to
Baby Pearson drops bombs.
Posted by Big4SALTbro
Member since Jun 2019
22349 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 12:05 pm to
Milam will go 15 plus next year.

Brown can probably up his number

A healthy Neal can be a power threat.

Frey should be one though he had none this year.

We absolutely should do anything and everything to lure the unc 3rd basemen here.
Posted by AlwysATgr
Member since Apr 2008
19912 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 12:16 pm to
I think Neal hit 9 HRs this year and didn't play in a lot of games.

He needs to improve bur the potential is there.
Posted by Jax-Tiger
Port Saint Lucie, FL
Member since Jan 2005
26746 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 12:25 pm to
quote:

Yearby Big4SALTbro
Milam will go 15 plus next year.


I hope so, but I do t think he'll go that high. He played really well, this year, and turned on a few, but doesn't have the oppo type power to take that outside pitch to the power alleys. He can get hot and pull one on you, but that's not his game. I see him as a lead off guy - hitting over .300 with a lot of walks.

He could get to double digits, though, IMO.
Posted by TigerMac81
Bossier City, LA
Member since Dec 2007
4346 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 12:29 pm to
Reaves, Schmidt and Preister have some potential for this.
Posted by JJ27
Member since Sep 2004
61849 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 12:59 pm to
Loading Twitter/X Embed...
If tweet fails to load, click here.


John Pearson in a HR derby last week with wood.
Posted by AlwysATgr
Member since Apr 2008
19912 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 1:06 pm to
How the heck do kids that young develop swings like that?
Posted by SammyTiger
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Feb 2009
77952 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 1:08 pm to
quote:

We may need Milam to be more of a "dirtbag", and bunt to get on, steal bases, and be more of a pest to manufacture runs. He has that ability, but JJ has played it safe the last couple of years.


i’m fine with Milam playing like he has lately.

Posted by Dill With It
Member since Jun 2024
247 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 1:15 pm to
Why do you have Kucherak at SS and not Braswell?

I also think we'll be looking to bring in another catcher to compete as a starter. At this point, not sure Jay would want to rely on Neal's defense and his offense against any pitcher worth a damn wasn't inspiring either. That said, I do think he'll start the season there. Hopefully, he can make strides with his defense like we saw White make last off-season.
Posted by TheRouxGuru
Member since Nov 2019
13216 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 1:55 pm to
One of my biggest gripes with the rant when it comes to baseball is how locked in people get with the ‘NOW’

Y’all act like these guys can’t progress. Y’all act like there will be zero improvements from the last out vs UNC to the first pitch of 2025… we don’t know what next year is gonna be like for our roster. Hell, we don’t even know half of the players who will be starting for us because they aren’t LSU Tigers right now.

I have all the faith in the world in Johnson when it comes to building this team. I wish yall would follow suit
Posted by Penrod
Member since Jan 2011
51461 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 2:00 pm to
quote:

We may need Milam to be more of a "dirtbag", and bunt to get on

That’s a big NO! Milam has found his power and it will probably develop more by next season. He will be a 15 HR guy. We don’t want that guy bunting unless it’s to advance a base runner.
Posted by WigSplitta22
The Bottom
Member since Apr 2014
2272 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 2:03 pm to
quote:

Y’all act like these guys can’t progress. Y’all act like there will be zero improvements from the last out vs UNC to the first pitch of 2025



This. Charlie Condon came out of nowhere for UGA. Walked on and redshirted his first year. Most players don't come out the gate that good but it shows you guys can work their arse off and get much better
Posted by UpToPar
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2008
22781 posts
Posted on 6/4/24 at 2:03 pm to
quote:

I also think we'll be looking to bring in another catcher to compete as a starter.


We have 2 coming in. One is a JUCO guy that was a former commit out of HS and the other is a talented HS kid from Houston. Both will compete for the starting C position. If Priester (the JUCO guy) doesn't C, he will compete for the DH spot.
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