Count me among the people who think the offense is a pretty big question mark. Last year Cotrill, Hill, Enright and Cannon counted for about 75% of the team RBIs. Often times the difference between a win and a loss was that those 4 players were getting hits. We lost 3 of those 4 batts, and that's going to sting.

So the reason for the question mark is that there really is only 1 proven replacement, and that's Mac Barbara, whose batt is probably better than any of those 3. The other 2 replacements will have to be developed. Mya Perez is the most obvious candidate; she might be the best offensive recruit to sign with A&M since Tori Vidales. In her first year, though, she didn't have the kind of year Tori had. It's a bit unfair to compare her to the best batt in program history and one of the best in SEC history, but to compete for a championship someone has to be that.

What's the next step for this team? Well anything short of a WCWS appearance is a step sideways or backwards. It's going to take an offense as good or better than last year's to take that step.

Something tells me if she was moving home to the Birmingham metro she'd be suiting up in a couple of weeks

Positivelyag512 said:

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The Offense being a question is interesting. Its absolutely NOT a question. You played Tu and hung 12 on their World Series pitching staff and scored an obscene amount of runs versus Texas state.

Both of those things didn't happen in the Fall of '23 but did in '24

This team is LOADED and Hungry, and are ready for a LONG run in OKC

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I honestly can't see how anyone would say the offense isn't a question after losing that much RBI production. Putting up a bunch of runs against sip in fall ball isn't enough of a data point for me. That's not to say I think they'll be bad, but this team will be competing for a national seed and will need to be better than last year in all phases to get there.

But I like your optimism and I hope you're right. I think this team will be one of - if not the - best we've had here in the last 15 years or so. I just need to see a lot more at bats before I get comfortable with the offense.

I also tend to be an optimist. I think we will do really, really well. Maybe, just maybe, even host a super regional. But the SEC is very, very tough so we will have to be 'super' great to do so!

At the same time wondering about the offense this Spring is perfectly normal and a great question because there are a lot of unknowns. Half of our players are new. Always an unknown. Speaking of RBI's ...

Stats from: https://12thman.com/sports/softball/stats/2024

Possible 2025 starting lineup with 2024 RBI's:

DP - Various (about 30)
C - Ojo (NEW)
1B - Mac (NEW)
2B - KK (NEW)
SS - Koko (12)
3B - KP (24)
LF - Eschete (17, but did not start whole season)
CF - Allie (41)
RF - Frankie (NEW)

Total RBI's in 2024 = 323

Graduated or transferred, 2024 RBI's:

Trinity (63)
Jaz (41)
Cottrill (45)
Rylen (30)
Aiyana (18)

Also note the five players above 'took with them' 50 of the 68 HR's last year. Those are a large part of the Runs and RBI numbers.

We had multiple PH's and those counted for some but was simply looking at starters, for the most part.

With half of the position players gone, taking 197 RBI's with them, there IS a huge unknown. I think Mac will contribute a LOT but Ojo has been up and down in college and the two freshmen are unknown (but a chance to be really good). As I mentioned in previous posts, can Allie get her groove back and produce like she did early last season? Can KP produce more like she did at UCLA? Can Eschete do even better? So many questions. Unknowns.

But then I add the coaching staff - they have done an outstanding job both coaching and bringing in great players. I have a ton of respect for what they have done in Aggieland in only two years. We have a lot of studs on the current team AND we have some very, very highly rated players in the pipeline (signed and commits) and I think it will only get better in the coming years.

Sorry about the length of the post but opening day only a couple of weeks away and I am pumped !!

Average homeruns by World Series teams last year: 80

Fewest homeruns by a World Series team last year: 42 by Alabama. They were the most unlikely team to make the series

A&M hit 68 round trippers last year. 4 World Series teams were above 90. The other 4 were below A&M but close except Bama

A&M returns Enright with 10(4 SEC). No other player returning has multiple SEC homeruns

I am not saying this offense can't or won't succeed.

I am saying they will need to find power bats somewhere or be an extreme outlier if they can score runs against quality competition without the long ball.

This will be an interesting season because they are so loaded on pitching and defense but so many questions scoring runs.

Either way I will be sitting in my seats every game rooting the Ags amd hoping for a World Series run

Opening day,
two weeks from today!

Aggie*_86 said:

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I'll be looking for 2 tickets to the Aggie Classic for Thursday and Friday if anyone can't make it.

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I checked seatgeek this morning. There were $3 tickets available next to the A&M dugout

I went yesterday and had fun seeing the facilities, hearing about their nutrition/technology, and meeting some of the players. I think Coach Ford has built an amazing roster and that team culture seems incredible. The girls are happy, excited, and eager to play. Mac Barbara and Mya Perez were out there hitting absolute moon shots. I know it's BP, but those girls have some incredible power. Senior season for Koko and Lefty. I'm excited for this season!

That's awesome! I am excited to see this team play!

Thanks for the report!

Opening day is only a few days away but knowing there will be SIX games over four days is really exciting! I have mentioned before that I think we will see a lot of different looks in the lineup. This is often the case with a lot of teams early in the season but half of our team is new so almost a necessity.

Aggie Softball Rocks !!!