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re: Baseball Preview 2025 Edition (Feb 10th - Pro Prospects & SEC Predictions)
Posted on 2/7/25 at 10:30 am to ThreeYYYz
Posted on 2/7/25 at 10:30 am to ThreeYYYz
quote:
Why would a guy (Larson) with 40 starts batting close to .300 his freshman year (first year of SEC comp) get booted from a spot in the outfield for a transfer (Stanfield) who batted .278 in his sophomore year (second year of SEC Comp)?
Stanfield is one of the best defensive OF in the SEC. I would expect stanfield to be right around the .300 mark after working with Jay and the team.
quote:
Stanfield is 100% a ball player but to pencil him in as starting CF is BOLD.
He's been there basically every scrimmage both fall and spring with the starters. I think it's safe to say he's going to be our CF unless things go wrong.
1
Posted on 2/7/25 at 10:35 am to ThreeYYYz
quote:
Why would a guy (Larson) with 40 starts batting close to .300 his freshman year (first year of SEC comp) get booted from a spot in the outfield for a transfer (Stanfield) who batted .278 in his sophomore year (second year of SEC Comp)?
Seems like they have just about equal floors with one having a much higher ceiling going into his second year.
They don't have equal floors. Stanfield can contribute in more ways than Larson. He's a premium CF and a faster runner. Their hitting isn't different enough for Larson to overcome those other facets. CF defense alone gives Stanfield a much higher floor than Larson.
Posted on 2/7/25 at 10:39 am to Datsmoneydude
Stanfield is the fastest guy on the roster, way better defensively, a 2 year starter in the SEC at a premiere defensive position, a right-handed bat in a logjam of lefties, and Jay raves about his offensive potential. How exactly is it bold that he starts in CF?
If anything, it's Curiel and Brown who knocked Larson down to the 4th outfielder. And that's more of a testament to their production in fall/spring as opposed to crapping on Larson.
If anything, it's Curiel and Brown who knocked Larson down to the 4th outfielder. And that's more of a testament to their production in fall/spring as opposed to crapping on Larson.
This post was edited on 2/7/25 at 10:43 am
Posted on 2/7/25 at 10:41 am to bradygolf98
I'm saying Jay making the decision to start Stanfield in CF is bold.
Yes, the prediction that he will start is 100% valid for sure based on how Jay has handled the scrimmages. I just don't like it. Would rather see Larson get the start and let things play out from there.
Larson is far from a weak spot defensively in this stacked outfield. And "Best Defensive Centerfielder in the SEC" is a cool thing to say but I've seen a good defensive center fielder with "untapped" hitting potential before. He transferred to Penn State.
Yes, the prediction that he will start is 100% valid for sure based on how Jay has handled the scrimmages. I just don't like it. Would rather see Larson get the start and let things play out from there.
Larson is far from a weak spot defensively in this stacked outfield. And "Best Defensive Centerfielder in the SEC" is a cool thing to say but I've seen a good defensive center fielder with "untapped" hitting potential before. He transferred to Penn State.
Posted on 2/7/25 at 10:46 am to ThreeYYYz
quote:
Larson is far from a weak spot defensively in this stacked outfield.
He's only okay defensively and doesn't really have an arm.
quote:
And "Best Defensive Centerfielder in the SEC" is a cool thing to say but I've seen a good defensive center fielder with "untapped" hitting potential before. He transferred to Penn State.
And Stanfield, in the same two years in the SEC (regular season conference stats) as Kling struck out 11% less, hit 80 points better, OPSed 80 points better. And did it in 2.5X the appearances.
Posted on 2/7/25 at 10:55 am to ThreeYYYz
quote:
Would rather see Larson get the start and let things play out from there.
It's playing out in the scrimmages. Larson had a pretty dreadful fall and the other 3 "projected starters" have simply outperformed him offensively since fall scrimmages started.
Stanfield is hitting .305 since the beginning of fall camp, Larson is hitting .230. Larson will get plenty of opportunities to hit, but DH right now is clearly his best chance to get in the lineup with the way the other 3 have been playing to this point.
Posted on 2/7/25 at 11:15 am to ThreeYYYz
You're acting like Larson is going to be irrelevant to the team this year, which isn't the case. Stanfield has proven over a longer period of time to be at worst a serviceable hitter in 2 years in the SEC. Larson tailed off a lot down the stretch of last year.
With Stanfield coming on board with Jay and Eddie, I would not be surprised him have a better year at the plate than Larson.
And I'm not knocking Larson, he's going to be a huge part of this team's success. Stanfield is leaps and bounds better in the field and maybe slightly behind (going off previous years) at the plate.
Project did a good job explaining this to you. Kling had untapped potential, Stanfield has proven his floor, which is about twice as good as Kling's floor.
With Stanfield coming on board with Jay and Eddie, I would not be surprised him have a better year at the plate than Larson.
And I'm not knocking Larson, he's going to be a huge part of this team's success. Stanfield is leaps and bounds better in the field and maybe slightly behind (going off previous years) at the plate.
quote:
And "Best Defensive Centerfielder in the SEC" is a cool thing to say but I've seen a good defensive center fielder with "untapped" hitting potential before. He transferred to Penn State.
Project did a good job explaining this to you. Kling had untapped potential, Stanfield has proven his floor, which is about twice as good as Kling's floor.
Posted on 2/7/25 at 11:16 am to sportsfan
Glad my first post on here got a little traction, looking forward to talking ball all year.
I know some fall/spring stats are fun to rant about good or bad but in all fairness these aren't always good gauges to go off of for in-season production.
Larson will be a daily starter at some point this year just like last year, its inevitable. He's a ball player who produces on a consistent basis. Just don't think we should wait as long as we did last year to realize that.
And sure new transfers are nice and shiny and yea its fun to think about new faces in the lineup. But don't fix what ain't broke, and Larson in left field batting .300 aint broke.
I know some fall/spring stats are fun to rant about good or bad but in all fairness these aren't always good gauges to go off of for in-season production.
Larson will be a daily starter at some point this year just like last year, its inevitable. He's a ball player who produces on a consistent basis. Just don't think we should wait as long as we did last year to realize that.
And sure new transfers are nice and shiny and yea its fun to think about new faces in the lineup. But don't fix what ain't broke, and Larson in left field batting .300 aint broke.
Posted on 2/7/25 at 11:16 am to ProjectP2294
quote:
They don't have equal floors. Stanfield can contribute in more ways than Larson. He's a premium CF and a faster runner. Their hitting isn't different enough for Larson to overcome those other facets. CF defense alone gives Stanfield a much higher floor than Larson.
Jay's MO thus far seems to be if you can hit, you play. I expect Stanfield to start in CF. But, if along the way Larson improves from say around .300 to .350 while Stanfield hovers around .300, I think it'll come down to match ups.
ETA: To Project's point, I could see where their hitting is different enough to overcome the other facets and especially so in certain matchups.
This post was edited on 2/7/25 at 11:25 am
Posted on 2/7/25 at 11:33 am to ThreeYYYz
quote:
I'm saying Jay making the decision to start Stanfield in CF is bold.
It is like Braswell last year at SS. They do not really have a secure backup to the position. Curiel (like Milam last year at SS) is probably the only other player that can play near the level you need defensively at the position. But throwing a freshman out there is a bit of a disservice to them.
Posted on 2/7/25 at 11:46 am to Lester Earl
Im trying to see the point your making but man this outfield is stacked. There are 3 guys that can all start (Curiel, Stanfield, and Brown). All of them can play CF at an All-SEC caliber.
I understand your hesitance for starting a freshman (kind of) because high school guys get a lot more attention now a days with new scouting/media outlets popping up everyday. And this can cause a lot of players to be graded well over reality.
BUT Curiel is not one of them, top OF in the country is still top OF in the country.
I understand your hesitance for starting a freshman (kind of) because high school guys get a lot more attention now a days with new scouting/media outlets popping up everyday. And this can cause a lot of players to be graded well over reality.
BUT Curiel is not one of them, top OF in the country is still top OF in the country.
Posted on 2/7/25 at 11:46 am to ThreeYYYz
quote:
I know some fall/spring stats are fun to rant about good or bad but in all fairness these aren't always good gauges to go off of for in-season production.
And also this. Larson's play last year as a Freshmen and in the Cape Cod League trump anything done in the offseason. He will get a shot based on those things.
I would say the spring has not granted too many new unexpected opportunities outside of Tanner Reeves showing some power of late here. Playing time will have to be earned for here on out in real games.
Posted on 2/7/25 at 11:59 am to ProjectP2294
I love Larson, but he’s gotta hit for more power to see more playing time.
Posted on 2/7/25 at 11:59 am to Lester Earl
Getting hung up on who starts is fun for us to do before the season starts but it boils down to how much playing time each player gets. That's the real decision Jay has to make.
Playing time early on is an opportunity. Playing time when SEC rolls around is the real deal. Playing time in the post season is your team.
Playing time early on is an opportunity. Playing time when SEC rolls around is the real deal. Playing time in the post season is your team.
Posted on 2/7/25 at 12:00 pm to BayTiger13
I'm not really worried about Milam or the other infielders being tired. I just think it's a stretch to think you're putting your best defender where the ball is going to be hit. Even in shifts, they don't always or even usually hit into the shift in college. The pitcher has to make the pitch and the hitter has to bite on it. Now, you're introducing more variables to what you're predicting. The pitcher has to make the pitch, the hitter has to bite, the guy that you just moved has to make the play at a different spot than he was just at, and if they hit it elsewhere in the infield then a guy that you just moved and believe to be an inferior defender has to make the play at a different spot than he was just at.
Again, I'm just nervous about it. Not too high and not too low on it yet.
Again, I'm just nervous about it. Not too high and not too low on it yet.
Posted on 2/7/25 at 12:02 pm to DRock88
quote:
The pitcher has to make the pitch, the hitter has to bite, the guy that you just moved has to make the play at a different spot than he was just at, and if they hit it elsewhere in the infield then a guy that you just moved and believe to be an inferior defender has to make the play at a different spot than he was just at.
I'm not really in love with it, but I definitely don't hate it. These are some good points. We'll see how it works out this year.
But the first time it doesn't work out there will be pitchforks in the game thread
Posted on 2/7/25 at 12:09 pm to ThreeYYYz
quote:
. There are 3 guys that can all start (Curiel, Stanfield, and Brown). All of them can play CF at an All-SEC caliber.
Jake Brown is a league-average defensive SEC OF. Couple that with how he was used this offseason, and I don't think he will play a ton of CF unless someone gets hurt.
Stanfield is above league average.
Curiel looks to have much better OF instincts than Jake Brown.
quote:
I understand your hesitance for starting a freshman (kind of)
Noy my hesitance. Coaches, naturally, shy away from throwing freshmen into positions like that. I think Curiel can handle it. But Stanfield is the guy unless he bombs at the plate.
Posted on 2/7/25 at 12:12 pm to Lester Earl
People saying Jake Brown can play All-SEC defense are forgetting what eliminated us last year.
Posted on 2/7/25 at 12:16 pm to Lester Earl
Has Jake Brown pitched at all this Spring?
It seems like Ashton’s spot in the field depends on whether or not Jake is needed on the mound.
Ashton isn’t a great outfielder. At times it was a liability last season. That said, Jake Brown made the season ending mistake out there. Ashton will continue to grow into his power and be the 1B next year.
It wasn’t just cape cod. There was a good stretch in the middle of last season that he was LSU’s best hitter.
It seems like Ashton’s spot in the field depends on whether or not Jake is needed on the mound.
Ashton isn’t a great outfielder. At times it was a liability last season. That said, Jake Brown made the season ending mistake out there. Ashton will continue to grow into his power and be the 1B next year.
It wasn’t just cape cod. There was a good stretch in the middle of last season that he was LSU’s best hitter.
Posted on 2/7/25 at 12:30 pm to Broski
So one play defines his career? Give me a break
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