Team definitely is a work in progress. One step forward, one step back. Just a few too many lapses overall. Need to clean things up... Not as sharp as you have to be in this league.
It was a hitters zone yesterday but the pitching still struggled obviously. I think they were trying to be a bit too fine and didn't attack enough. Auburn did have a bunch of seeing eye hits, a couple homers obviously but we had some bad luck with balls finding holes. It was a true freshman battery out there also to start the game... Guys are being developed. The LaRue double late really hurt. I thought they just should've pitched around him honestly with the damage he'd already done. Britt maybe had a play on that but sort of pulled up... Could've slid/dove also but the wall was somewhat close.
I hope Claunch picks it up some. He is obviously a great player and a huge pickup but I think he's capable of more... I'm sure it'll happen also. Need guys in the bullpen to step up. It's frustrating with Menefee because the stuff is there but he's been losing the zone. Really hope he can get right. Lovett has an electric arm but just hasn't been able to harness it yet. Actually I was impressed yesterday with Zander, he has arm strength and his breaking ball looked really solid. Wonder if that earned him more opportunities.
What will keep this team in the race for the postseason though in my opinion is how they fight. Just seems like that's becoming their DNA. The SEC is always formidable but after Tennessee I'm not sure there's a huge amount of separation between everyone.... With the way we battle, we'll give ourselves a chance to win each day. Of course it won't always happen but it'll lead to having a chance to steal a couple series you maybe wouldn't have thought pre-season. Just keep that up, keep improving, guys can step up and overall I think they have a really good shot at taking 2 out of 3 @ Alabama this weekend.
It was a hitters zone yesterday but the pitching still struggled obviously. I think they were trying to be a bit too fine and didn't attack enough. Auburn did have a bunch of seeing eye hits, a couple homers obviously but we had some bad luck with balls finding holes. It was a true freshman battery out there also to start the game... Guys are being developed. The LaRue double late really hurt. I thought they just should've pitched around him honestly with the damage he'd already done. Britt maybe had a play on that but sort of pulled up... Could've slid/dove also but the wall was somewhat close.
I hope Claunch picks it up some. He is obviously a great player and a huge pickup but I think he's capable of more... I'm sure it'll happen also. Need guys in the bullpen to step up. It's frustrating with Menefee because the stuff is there but he's been losing the zone. Really hope he can get right. Lovett has an electric arm but just hasn't been able to harness it yet. Actually I was impressed yesterday with Zander, he has arm strength and his breaking ball looked really solid. Wonder if that earned him more opportunities.
What will keep this team in the race for the postseason though in my opinion is how they fight. Just seems like that's becoming their DNA. The SEC is always formidable but after Tennessee I'm not sure there's a huge amount of separation between everyone.... With the way we battle, we'll give ourselves a chance to win each day. Of course it won't always happen but it'll lead to having a chance to steal a couple series you maybe wouldn't have thought pre-season. Just keep that up, keep improving, guys can step up and overall I think they have a really good shot at taking 2 out of 3 @ Alabama this weekend.