The Alabama Baseball Program?

[BAMASHAQ]

Where is it headed? Where do we see it in five years? What will it take to turn it around?

 

[crimsonkelly]

We are removed from 1 year of finishing 9th in the country. Got unlucky by running into a buzz saw that year called North Carolina, the best of the non seeded teams...so in essence we got screwed.

Now for my 2 cents. We have pitching. Assuming Hunter stays next year, it should be a good staff.

*In my eyes, and I didn't get to see Bama play in person this year, but we need to desperately work on our hitting and bunting. This team was far to up and down this year. When we were up we were as good as anyone, when down, well we all know.
*We need more team speed as well. Stolen bases cause havoc in a defense and put pressure on a pitcher and catcher.
*Finally, speaking of a catcher, give me one that can just make contact and hit .280, maybe even .300 and I'm happy as long as they rule the bases. Granted most teams would take that.

Now to next years players, Matthes and Smith should be leaders offensively. I have no idea who will be the leadoff guy, Emeel will be missed greatly in that capacity as well as defensively. Hopefully Cale Iorg comes back and gets into baseball shape, that should help tremendously.

RTR
CK

:BigA:

 

[gerry dorsey]

i had mentioned this once before, but the thread was locked soon thereafter, so i'm literally going to cut and paste my comment.....

i was talking to a former tide player about this season, and he said in his opinion they miss todd butler (former hitting coach/stud recruiter now at arkansas) more than anyone realizes or at least cares to admit. just wondering if anyone else had heard this or feels this way.

 

[DC1982]

got to figure this is how it's looking

C - DiFazio (all indications are he's back)
1B- Bentley
2B- Texada or May, if one doesn't transfer
SS- Iorg
3B-Smith
DH-Avila
OF-Matthes, Howell, Vargas (if they stay). Got to figure a CF would have to be signed later, or Matthes would be moved there.

There should be enough pitchers to contribute. If Robert Phares (state JUCO tourney MVP) and Jamie Manning make it here from JUCO, they should be good.

I'll .... in my pants if Rhoden and Odle keep getting at-bats that they don't deserve.

 

[Harmost]

There should be enough pitchers to contribute. If Robert Phares (state JUCO tourney MVP) and Jamie Manning make it here from JUCO, they should be good.

Not to mention the Woodall situation. I've only heard rumors of his baseball exploits, but a heat-hurling lefty is certainly intriguing to me, as was he to the Mets.

 

[Diamond Tide]

Let's also remember that Ross Wilson had a great senior year at Hoover and will battle for the third base position. We should be better next year.

RTR,

Diamond Tide :biga:

 

[crimsonkelly]

DT, is Ross good enough to come in and get playing time? Not slapping at him or Smelley, but D1 baseball is another animal from high school baseball.

Thanks and RTR,
CK

:BigA:

 

[UABaseballFan10]

This is what I think next year's line-up will be. Losing Salem, Paiml, and Belcher isn't going to hurt us too badly. As long as we get a real pitching coach and a better hitting coach we should be ok. I can't complain too much about the hitting coach because in his first year the team's avg rose 100 pts.
C-DiFazio as long as he has no injuries or Moore.
1B- Bentley
2B-Texada or May
SS- Iorg or Texada
3B- Smith or Wilson
DH- Avila
OF-Howell Odle Matthes Vargas or Moore.

Having grown up across town from Ross Wilson and played ball against him, I can honestly say that Ross is definitely good enough to come in and get playing time.

 

[BAMASHAQ]

Avila needs to be the DH. I don't know if Ross is going to move Jake at third. If all the guys come back and that means Cale too. We will have a pretty nice club next year. My question is after that. Are we going to back up after that like we did this year. We need to catch up ( if we can with the Arkansas's and the Ole miss's) and get some momentum and put some back to back season's together. We need to be on the move with the whole program get it pumped back up. Promotions, Facilities, Recruiting, and a few other things. The 02 season and last year is it for the past 6 years.

 

[BamaJama17]

It seesms like we have been sideways for a little while then we went down a little bit for this year.

 

[pcfixup]

What has caused the mid-major programs in Alabama to pass Alabama and Auburn in Baseball?

 

[Pachyderm37]

The UofA's baseball problems can be summed up in two words, Jim Wells. We've had good pitching in the past, speed, etc. Jim Wells, Like another coach at the UofA who was dismissed in December, has shown a great unwillingness to change tactics. One of the posters here mentioned seeing more bunting and speed and steeling bases. Jim Wells just isn't into playing small ball. He is a product of the Skip Bertman School of Homerun Ball. When Bertman coached at LSU he could do that because he recruited homerun hitters, period. Also, at that time, the bat walls were thinner and had more bounce to the ounce. The bats don't have the spring they used to and Jim Wells hasn't been able to pull in homerun hitters. IMHO Jim Wells couldn't coach " small ball " if his job depended on it. Coach Wells hasn't done much here lately with the tallent he's supposedly had, especially the pitching. I'm not even gonna get started on the hitting and bunting because it's pretty non-existant on a consistant basis.

We really need to look into plotting a new course with a new skipper at the helm. We can't even count on beating the little guys anymore.