except for Shewmake. So our pitching, defense, and base running have to be perfect. And I wonder what our team batting average is in SEC play with risp? Damn, it seems we have had terrible at bats with runners at second and/or third.

I know the buck stops with Childress, but Bolt sure seems to be getting a pass this year. Our situational hitting is horrid. And I've never seen a team at this level that cannot bunt.

Our scoring needs to be done without the necessity of the boomstick. Situational hitting, bunting, gap shots, and good baserunning needs to be things we work on going forward. I'm all about us raking the damn ball out of the park, but keeping a run rally going can be just as devastating to the opposition. Let's see what kind of changes develop in our style later.

That first game against Mississippi State we played probably our best game offensively of the season (at least best approach) and probably best overall game as well. Since then we are 1-6. WTF happened?

Hop said:

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It's a talent issue. There is very little hitting talent on this team. Unless they can get some of these highly regarded hitters from going pro, which has been very difficult for this staff to do over the years, that talent issue isn't going away.

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How do other teams get around this issue? It sure seems we can't do it, but there are plenty of other teams (like Arkansas) that seem to know how to keep highly regarded hitters in the fold.

Wicked Good Ag said:

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Our bunting has been poorly executed but I would include all types of moving the runners over. If you have a runner on second with no outs then other than a hit back to the pitcher or third base you should advance the runner. And then the next person should be able to get a ball into the outfield to score. We haven't done those things. We have struck out which does nothing to advance the runner and usually it is done with our bat still on shoulders

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This x1000

I can't tell you how many times this year where we have failed to "do your job" and move the runners. It frustrates the hell out of me. With this lineup, we have to take advantage of every single chance we get. Get a runner on second with no outs - put the damn ball on the ground to the right side. No...we seem to go up there and go for the "big hit" and inevitably K or hit a shallow pop.

HoustonAg2106 said:

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That first game against Mississippi State we played probably our best game offensively of the season (at least best approach) and probably best overall game as well. Since then we are 1-6. WTF happened?

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I believe it's affectionately referred to as the Aggie Swoon... It happens down the stretch every single season in the three major sports. No cure's been found, so we be f'ed for the foreseeable future.

Ags76 said:

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Hop said:

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It's a talent issue. There is very little hitting talent on this team. Unless they can get some of these highly regarded hitters from going pro, which has been very difficult for this staff to do over the years, that talent issue isn't going away.

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How do other teams get around this issue? It sure seems we can't do it, but there are plenty of other teams (like Arkansas) that seem to know how to keep highly regarded hitters in the fold.

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This is a very fair question ...

Well, Arkansas also has a small population. And different demographics.

But just change the comparison to Florida. Or the Carolinas.

Quote:

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U I am not saying all their hitters are from there, but they have a larger talent pool with intentions to go t

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Seemed like half their lineup is from Texas.

I can't argue with y'all on Texas boys being in their lineup, but I would bet you would be hard pressed to find a top 100 D1 school without some Texas kids in their program, as we have a ton of baseball talent in Texas. Now, whose to say why they chose Arky? Maybe Mom/Dad/Uncle went there? Maybe they didn't come up through Perfect Game, or Houston Banditos, or 12 baseball, or one of the select organizations our coaches favor for ease of recruiting talent. Who knows... Maybe they had a half scholarship available and we didn't, or what I see alot, is, what if they are an infielder at a position we are already stacked up at? If you had a chance to start at Arkansas, or play backup 2nd or short here, to 2 guys that will get 90% of the innings, and you will get your at bats at either place, which one would you pick?

There's some science to this, and some feel. Maybe they tried out for us, and we were too busy for them. Sometimes I see the "If you aren't 6'6 and 200 as a freshman, you won't pitch/hit at the next level" mentality from coaches. Who knows....maybe some of it is that type deal? Boomer only came here because he really wanted to be an Aggie. We weren't able to recruit him successfully our of high school.

I think coaches only see 30% of the talent out there, and sometimes, that is who is best connected politically, or has the best connected select team coaches. That doesn't always mean you are the best talent in your class. But, if you recruit that way, which it seems A&M mainly does, then there are lots of kids that could potentially help out, that you don't get to see.

I think this is the baseball board post of the year. We have lots of issues (baserunning, can't get bunts down, Homan has no range), but really the bottom line is we just can't hit. Period. End of story.

The pitchers HAVE TO have the number one ERA in the SEC, the Ags can't commit an error, we can't have bad calls or bad luck, or the Ags lose.

I think the best we can hope for this year is the next couple weeks the pitching and defense is great and the calls and luck go our way. It's possible. It's also what we pretty much have to have.

the player that hit the 2-run homer in the 8th inning is from Missouri City, TX.

the player that hit the 2-run homer in the 10th inning is from Illinois.

Van Horn is simply better at recruiting, scholarship allocation, and roster management

one interesting thing there...A&M hasn't had a great juco hitter on the team since Juengel (2010-12).

haven't recruited the juco ranks as hard the last 5 years or haven't hit on a ringer

The "young" statement isn't applicable when some of the worst AB's are coming from seniors or even a second year guy like Janca. We don't attack when the count is in our favor and we aren't protective when it is a pitcher's count. Poster above made a good point about Boomer, he could protect the plate with two strikes and would at least put the ball in play. The # of strikeouts this year is mind numbing especially K's looking. Arkansas approach at plate last night was well done. 15 hits, including 4 from the kid from ridge point, and driving up Hill's pitch count by battling when they had two strikes. And it was all nine guys doing it.

W said:

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and looking ahead to 2018...and perhaps stating the obvious...

among Gutierrez, Coleman, C. Blake, and Foster...at least 2 of these guys have to make the jump to a .300 hitter in conference play with some x-base pop.

the Ags will miss Choruby. His SEC batting average is .304

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Not to derail this thread, but in addition to hitting, we need some outfield arms. We have no chance of throwing anyone out at home.