Melvin Ray

[ZRossUA]

I did a little research to check on our 2008 signee Melvin Ray, and how he is doing in the Minor Leagues. Let me preface this by stating two things. I hope he does really well in whatever he chooses, and Im aware that things change in Minor League baseball quickly.

Melvin Ray, a late round selection by the LA Dodgers, is batting 3 for 20 (.150) in the Rookie Gulf Coast League. He has also had only 1 RBI and 11 Strikeouts in his time with the club.

This is by no means a bash of him. I am only claiming that it soon may seem to him that he made the wrong choice when he chose Minor League Baseball and a few thousand a month, over an education and eventual championship at the University of Alabama. Be on the lookout guys, if this keeps happening, he may be playing college football soon. I think that he would have a better career as a football player.

RTR

 

[RedStar]

While 11 K's in 20 AB's is pretty awful, it is only his first 20 AB's. Give him a little more time before you decide he made the wrong choice.

 

[crimson_blood]

I guess they drafted him for his speed...

I wish him the best but man he could really be helping us at WR....

 

[ZRossUA]

Let me preface this by stating two things. I hope he does really well in whatever he chooses, and Im aware that things change in Minor League baseball quickly.

Maybe you didnt see this.

 

[RedStar]

Maybe you didn't see this.

I can read.

But just because you add a caveat doesn't mean you can say whatever you want and not expect a reply.

 

[Athens-LA-Tide]

While 11 K's in 20 AB's is pretty awful, it is only his first 20 AB's. Give him a little more time before you decide he made the wrong choice.

I agree, give the man some time to develop. In baseball, 20 AB's is nothing.....Come on!!!!! Maybe next year at this time you can decide if he made the right decision for himself.

Hope he does well and I see him in Blue one day......

RTR

 

[37bamagrl]

Well Destin Hood has 7 hits in 8 games...so he is off to a pretty good start I would say....best of luck to him too. I have a feeling he will be in Washington very soon...

 

[ZRossUA]

I can read.

But just because you add a caveat doesn't mean you can say whatever you want and not expect a reply.

My preface should not be considered separate from the actual statement itself. In my original post, I said, that if this keeps happening, and I said that it may soon to seem to him that he made the wrong choice.

His batting average will probably go up, it may actually finish above .250 for the season. However, I think he would have contributed more to a depleted Tide receiving corps than to this Rookie League Baseball team. So, to repeat myself once again. If this keeps happening, it may soon seem to him that he may have made the wrong choice. I hope everything works out for him, but I BELIEVE that his career is in football.

After saying that, I would be willing to bet that he never makes AAA. I would probably put the odds at 1.5-1 that he is on a college football roster by the 2010 season.

ROLL TIDE

 

[BigEasyTider]

Just to update on these guys...

Ray is really struggling. He's hitting 5-27 at the moment (.185), but it gets worse. His plate discipline has been really bad, as evidenced by his twelve strikeouts against only one walk. Moreover, he has no extra base hits, and two of the six times he has gotten on base he ended up getting caught stealing. With his speed and athleticism, this is a kid who should be able to leg out hits, but he just hasn't been able to do it. Obviously, he's just not hitting the ball well at all, and to be quite frank if you look at 12 strikeouts in 27 at bats, he's struggling just to put the ball in play.

His struggles have also really cut into his playing time lately, too. In his first couple of weeks of ball, he had 20 at bats, but he's had only seven at bats in the past couple of weeks. I know it's early and you never know, but with that said, you almost couldn't have gotten off to a worse start (barring major injury) than Ray has.

As for Destin Hood...

He's having some struggles of his own. He got off to a good start -- six hits in his first 20 AB's (.300) -- but he has really struggled as of late. He only has four hits in his last 34 at bats, and suddenly his batting average is .185. He's drawn a few walks and stolen a few bases, both of which are good things, but he's struggling to hit the ball too.

 

[wastedmason]

Its hard to say they made a bad choice if they were needing the money. If you have been lucky enough to have lived a good life or was born with a silver spoon up your butt then you might have a point. I have no clue what their situation is, whether it be grades or money problems but if it doesn't work out I think they can still come back and play football. Don't think we will be hurt this season by their absence anyway. They probably would have redshirted, one or both.

 

[Bama1970]

I agree, give the man some time to develop. In baseball, 20 AB's is nothing.....Come on!!!!! Maybe next year at this time you can decide if he made the right decision for himself.

Hope he does well and I see him in Blue one day......

RTR

As long as it's not orange and blue