Its been a while since I have been on here, but I have been to most of the games thus far. Here is my take based on what I have seen.
I look at this team and don't see a whole lot of talent. I know that some will disagree with that statement, but it is just how I see things. Our primary starting pitchers have been up and down. In one game, they will be throwing good quality strikes and getting hitters out and then the next game they can't seem to find the strike zone. That being said, even when they are struggling, they have tended to fight through it and have managed to settle down after a couple of innings and get back on track. That, in my opinion, is a combination of determination on the part of our pitchers and coaching. It seems that our bullpen is a mystery. Goff has shown a willingness to go the pen and use a lot of arms. I personally like seeing a lot of guys getting work out of the pen rather than using the same few guys over and over. It is a long season and we need a bunch of arms. I'm not quite sure who our closer is at this point. I'm not even sure that we actually have a true closer unless it is Vainer. He has looked pretty good coming out of the pen so far.
Catcher was a position that was a huge question mark coming in. We have four on the roster but only a few starts in a Bama uniform coming in. It was sort of musical chairs to begin with but it looks like we are settling in to two primary catchers at this point in Kaufman and DeVinny. I think Kaufman is a little better defensively and DeVinney is a little better offensively. Either is, I think, an improvement offensively over last year, but both are definitely drop offs defensively. That is not a knock on these guys defensive abilities, but is a tribute to Will Haynie's defensive abilities.
Hunter Alexander has taken over at first base. I can't complain about him so far. He has hit well and has one error through 15 games. The middle infield is the same as last year. Both Avant and Vance have improved offensively so far and have remained solid defensively. Connor Short seems to be locked in at third base.
In the outfield, we only had one returning full time starter in Chandler Taylor. Taylor is solid defensively and can hit the ball a mile. The problem is, it is all or nothing. Through 15 games, he has 14 hits and 15 strike outs. When we get to SEC play, those numbers will probably get worse. Gene Wood seems to have won the CF job, but has struggled at the plate. Left field, much like last year has been a revolving door.
Cody Henry has locked up the DH position but he needs to cut down on his Ks.
Overall, we just simply do not have the talent that we have had in years past. Of out primary starters, I really don't think that more than a couple of them would see significant playing time let alone be starters at most other SEC schools. In order for this team to win, they are going to have to fight, scratch and claw the whole time. That can take a lot out of a player, but it can also be a lot of fun. The comforting thing is that as I watch these guys, they seem to have the right mentality to fight. They are not afraid to get dirty diving after balls and they have been aggressive on the bases. That is what it will take for this team to have a chance at being successful.
Now, having talked about the players, on to the coaching staff. When Goff and his staff came in, I expected that there would be growing pains. We have gone from a head coach who was extremely laid back to one who is a tough taskmaster and who believes in hard work. I expected that we would lose players who weren't willing to adapt to the new philosophy. Other than the guys who went pro, we didn't lose very many at all. Most of the players have adapted and seem to enjoy the new "old school" philosophy. I have spoken to a couple of players and their parents and they like the new style of play. Of course, there will always be a player or two (or more) who simply don't want to fall in line with what a new coach wants. That happened when CNS took over the football program and it showed during the first year. Those players will move on and once they are gone, that issue will be gone as well.
One thing that I see out of this staff is in-game coaching. I have seen the entire staff during games talking to players and actually coaching them, i.e., telling them what they did wrong and how to correct it. I have mentioned pitchers struggling and fighting through it and getting back on track. That is due to the players' determination and willingness to listen to what the coaches are saying and the coaches' ability to see what is happening and knowing how to correct it. I have seen the same thing at the plate. We have made some in-game adjustments after terrible at bats that lead to better at bats the next time through. The coaches have adjusted as well. During the first few games, the lineup was constantly changing as the staff gave players opportunities before settling on who would see the bulk of the playing time. As the staff learned more and more about the players and how they would perform with the lights on and the music blaring, roles have become more defined.
My overall impression of this version of the Tide is that we will struggle when we get to SEC play. We will win a few along the way, but I don't expect a huge year. I hope I am wrong, but I think it is just a question of overall talent. I think the staff will get the most out of the players on hand and when we look back on the season this summer, we will feel pretty good about the program and the direction in which it is headed. The next question is what kind of talent the staff will bring in for future years.
Regardless of what happens, I will support this team and this staff and will be at as many games as possible and hope for the best.
Roll Tide!
I look at this team and don't see a whole lot of talent. I know that some will disagree with that statement, but it is just how I see things. Our primary starting pitchers have been up and down. In one game, they will be throwing good quality strikes and getting hitters out and then the next game they can't seem to find the strike zone. That being said, even when they are struggling, they have tended to fight through it and have managed to settle down after a couple of innings and get back on track. That, in my opinion, is a combination of determination on the part of our pitchers and coaching. It seems that our bullpen is a mystery. Goff has shown a willingness to go the pen and use a lot of arms. I personally like seeing a lot of guys getting work out of the pen rather than using the same few guys over and over. It is a long season and we need a bunch of arms. I'm not quite sure who our closer is at this point. I'm not even sure that we actually have a true closer unless it is Vainer. He has looked pretty good coming out of the pen so far.
Catcher was a position that was a huge question mark coming in. We have four on the roster but only a few starts in a Bama uniform coming in. It was sort of musical chairs to begin with but it looks like we are settling in to two primary catchers at this point in Kaufman and DeVinny. I think Kaufman is a little better defensively and DeVinney is a little better offensively. Either is, I think, an improvement offensively over last year, but both are definitely drop offs defensively. That is not a knock on these guys defensive abilities, but is a tribute to Will Haynie's defensive abilities.
Hunter Alexander has taken over at first base. I can't complain about him so far. He has hit well and has one error through 15 games. The middle infield is the same as last year. Both Avant and Vance have improved offensively so far and have remained solid defensively. Connor Short seems to be locked in at third base.
In the outfield, we only had one returning full time starter in Chandler Taylor. Taylor is solid defensively and can hit the ball a mile. The problem is, it is all or nothing. Through 15 games, he has 14 hits and 15 strike outs. When we get to SEC play, those numbers will probably get worse. Gene Wood seems to have won the CF job, but has struggled at the plate. Left field, much like last year has been a revolving door.
Cody Henry has locked up the DH position but he needs to cut down on his Ks.
Overall, we just simply do not have the talent that we have had in years past. Of out primary starters, I really don't think that more than a couple of them would see significant playing time let alone be starters at most other SEC schools. In order for this team to win, they are going to have to fight, scratch and claw the whole time. That can take a lot out of a player, but it can also be a lot of fun. The comforting thing is that as I watch these guys, they seem to have the right mentality to fight. They are not afraid to get dirty diving after balls and they have been aggressive on the bases. That is what it will take for this team to have a chance at being successful.
Now, having talked about the players, on to the coaching staff. When Goff and his staff came in, I expected that there would be growing pains. We have gone from a head coach who was extremely laid back to one who is a tough taskmaster and who believes in hard work. I expected that we would lose players who weren't willing to adapt to the new philosophy. Other than the guys who went pro, we didn't lose very many at all. Most of the players have adapted and seem to enjoy the new "old school" philosophy. I have spoken to a couple of players and their parents and they like the new style of play. Of course, there will always be a player or two (or more) who simply don't want to fall in line with what a new coach wants. That happened when CNS took over the football program and it showed during the first year. Those players will move on and once they are gone, that issue will be gone as well.
One thing that I see out of this staff is in-game coaching. I have seen the entire staff during games talking to players and actually coaching them, i.e., telling them what they did wrong and how to correct it. I have mentioned pitchers struggling and fighting through it and getting back on track. That is due to the players' determination and willingness to listen to what the coaches are saying and the coaches' ability to see what is happening and knowing how to correct it. I have seen the same thing at the plate. We have made some in-game adjustments after terrible at bats that lead to better at bats the next time through. The coaches have adjusted as well. During the first few games, the lineup was constantly changing as the staff gave players opportunities before settling on who would see the bulk of the playing time. As the staff learned more and more about the players and how they would perform with the lights on and the music blaring, roles have become more defined.
My overall impression of this version of the Tide is that we will struggle when we get to SEC play. We will win a few along the way, but I don't expect a huge year. I hope I am wrong, but I think it is just a question of overall talent. I think the staff will get the most out of the players on hand and when we look back on the season this summer, we will feel pretty good about the program and the direction in which it is headed. The next question is what kind of talent the staff will bring in for future years.
Regardless of what happens, I will support this team and this staff and will be at as many games as possible and hope for the best.
Roll Tide!
