re: HELENIHI shaking the haters off...

I think the whole argument of our record when a guy is playing is a crap statistic. Completely worthless. But it's about the only bullet in the gun of people who go on about Nola's positive impact. Considering his other numbers, its the only stat you got. But I'm glad you agree it's a misleading number.

I think Helenihi was an a rally killer in his spot in the lineup and he did earn his benching. Hanover's been great. But Helenihi is a better defensive player and the gap between the two has not been dramatic at the plate. Helenihi took FAR too much of the blame for the early season struggles.

Helenihi has a lot of value as a right handed bat on a team that has huge problems against lefties. I think the management of Helenihi has been one of PM's biggest problems this year (which is actually a compliment, if that's your biggest problem, you're doing a good job).

Part of a coach's job is not finding out what players CAN't do, but finding out what they CAN do and using them accordingly. Nola has a great glove and an awful bat. Helenihi can hit lefties. Landry can run but gets thrown out a lot. It's a coach's job to find the best way to utilize these talents while hiding their weaknesses.

PM is an excellent coach, but he has plenty of room to improve in this area.

quote:

---

Helenihi never got a chance to get it going.

---

uhhh yeah he had all of last year and all of the beginning of this season to get it going.

sometimes a bad hitter is just a bad hitter

quote:

---

uhhh yeah he had all of last year and all of the beginning of this season to get it going.

---

He hit right around .300 last year..

quote:

---

he hit like .180 the second half though

---

Oh please!

Great Job by Helenihi. It would be nice to be able to count on him as a pinch hitter later on in the postseason. He may have had his struggles but don't you just like to say his name. Helllleeenniiihhhiiii...I like the way it rolls off the tongue.

so

quote:

---

Helenihi has a lot of value as a right handed bat on a team that has huge problems against lefties

---

A lot? come on.

i remember last year he hit lefties pretty good, or at least PM put him in the batters box in a lot of situations against LH(I dont remember exactly how he did) but now is not the time to throw him in the starting lineup over the guys that have got us to this point during this VERY successful season.

a pinch hit here or there, sure. I think he has at least earned that.

quote:

---

Part of a coach's job is not finding out what players CAN't do, but finding out what they CAN do and using them accordingly.

---

A lot of coaches get maligned for "over-managing", and with a team like this, that is what I would consider over-managing. Just my opinion.


It's fine if a player doesn't have an active role. You don't have to force it.

quote:

---

. But it's about the only bullet in the gun of people who go on about Nola's positive impact.

---

I agree, but you cannot compare our records Nola and Helenihi because Derek played against our rather pedestrian OOC schedule and Nola has played exclusively against SEC competition.

quote:

---

. That's, to use your words, horrible. Why does he get a pass?

---

Because he is a SS(a FReshman at that) with a good glove in a loaded lineup.

The same way Ceasar Izturis, Nick Punto, and a guy like Omar Vizquel are still playing in the major leagues.


if you can sacrifice defense for offense at any position, its SS or C. And we're are doing both at this point for the most part

quote:

---

Because he is a SS(a FReshman at that) with a good glove in a loaded lineup.

---

I like Nola at SS. I was one of the few if not only one who was saying DJ had a weak to average arm for a SS....

Yes, a lot of value. what's the scouting report on LSU? Throw a lefty at us. We have a lefty heavy lineup and some of our best hitters (Mitchell) are helpless against lefties. We have lots of righty hitters just sitting on the bench. not just Helenihi, but Pontiff, McGhee, and Haydel. Yes, give them spot starts against lefties because they can hit lefties.

And since when is a friggin' PLATOON over-managing? Managers have known about platoons since the 1800s. This is the most basic of roster moves.

While we're on the fielding thing, in 20 starts and 34 games, Nola's made 37 PO, 48 assists, and 4 errors for a fielding pct of 955. LeMahieu, in 56 games, has 71 PO, 129 assists, and 8 errors for a fielding pct of 962. LeMahieu makes a lot more plays and about the same number of errors. LeMahieu's defense is not substnatially inferior, if at all, to Nola's.

Nola should be a defensive late-inning sub and occassional starter to give the starters a rest. Why is Helenihi, who is also a plus defender, not getting the benefit of the doubt when he so obviously can help the team in our weakest area (hitting LHP)?

I agree with what you just said except that DJ would make routine plays very close because of his weak arm and if he had to move much to his left or right, quite often the throws were not in time...but were not counted as errors...thus not hurting the fp. We all know Nola was put into the lineup simply because we werent turning many DPs...and we somehow turned a few right after he got into the lineup..thus he hasnt been taken out. Baseball is quite often about "feelings" or "superstitions"...and often not based on reality.

That being said...I like the way Nola plays SS and want him in the lineup. I think his bat is coming around. HOwever...I sure wouldnt mind Helenihi playing for J Mitch against lefties...