re: Do we know what our baseball lineup is going to look like?

I like the idea of Morgan to be like Cody Bellinger someone that plays both positions so then you open 1B or CF to whoever the better hitter is at the time. I think that's the silver bullet. You may need Milazzo behind the plate so you get Mcmanus in at first and Morgan to CF. Or you go with Mcmanus catching, Morgan at 1B, and say Stevenson to CF.

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Then Gio would play CF and Morgan would play 1B.

If Gio struggles, then you either replace him with another OF and leave Morgan at 1B, or you choose another IF and put Morgan in CF. Plain and simple. It's a cost-benefit analysis. You value a run saving 1B. The cost to that may be a 3rd OF that doesn't hit well and leaving an IF that hits well on the bench. It's just very rare that you see a baseball team constructed in such a way to save runs with a 1B.

Merrifield and Jobert lit JUCO up, btw.

In a perfect world, we get to seem them all, they all do well, then we pick the best of the best.

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Beloso, Berry, Merrified, Jobert, and I'll even throw in Bianco. It could also be a landing spot for Travinski or McManus.

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Sure, there’s a lot of possibilities, but you aren’t going to get all of them time there in the preseason regardless of whether Leto gets some innings there or not.

We have like 5 weekend games against SWAC competition, plus Maine and a few mid week scrubs. We will be "experimenting" for a while.

ETA: I hate our non-conference schedule

We also have La Tech, Oklahoma, Texas, Baylor, McNeese, Tulane. None of those will be pushovers. But, yes, we'll see shuffling for sure...but you'd hope it's shuffling to things that they've been doing.

I've mentioned all of those reasons previously. But, you don't go into the season with a redshirt getting all of the reps. If he's going to redshirt, his reps will taper backwards now.

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Pick 2 to be in your starting lineup:

Morgan
Bianco
Drost
Pearson
Merrifield
Beloso
Stevenson
Jobert
Gio

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If it's freshman/sophomore (or better) Beloso, him and Morgan.

If it's last year's Beloso; Morgan and...well, take your pick really. Without knowing what Pearson, Merrifield, Stevenson or Jobert really bring to the table yet tough ask against Bianco, Drost and Gio.

If I had to guess, they go with Morgan and Beloso if Morgan and can play outfield and Beloso is bringing back the hitting he used to have. That gives you another strong vet in the lineup with Beloso who has been around here a while.

And those reps should taper back if he's going to redshirt. If Jay is letting him play for a spot, by all means, keep letting him have the reps.

Thoughts on a batting order? Best guess at opening night

1. Morgan 1b
2. Crews RF
3. Berry 3b
4. Doughty 2b
5. Dugas LF
6. Thompson SS
7. Gio CF
8. McManus C
9. Bianco DH