Anyone make it out this weekend, seeing if there is any updated thoughts being as fall ball is almost over?
My thoughts having seen them scrimmage several times. As it stands at this point a lineup could be something like this.......
Trenkle CF
Brown SS
McClean 3B
Doersching 1B
Bay RF
Thompson LF
Mendham DH (RHP), # of players (LHP)
Adkison C
Morrill 2B
1) Trenkle. Good CF, need him to produce at the top of the lineup.
2) Brown has primarily played SS this fall other than fill-in times at 2B. Seems like coaches are looking at him to take SS over. I think this is due to Morrill's known struggles at the plate, Brown is going to be in the lineup because of his bat, and him playing SS opens up a opportunity for several players to step up and take over 2B. This really for me is the only question mark positionally closing out the fall. Morrill has hit the ball well this fall and if his offensive production can be productive he may take SS back over or compete for 2B based on that production. Defensively a good college middle infielder. Yes, there is Roc, etc. but I think it could go this way at the start of spring.
3) McClean/Doersching seem to have solidified their spots. Potential to be good run producers. We know McClean's potential, Doersching a good addition.
4) Bay has had a great fall. Great power. Solid in right. Think he has shown a little more than the other corner OF candidates.
5) Thompson if can stay healthy fits in LF the best. Would like to see him have enough production to move up in the lineup to counter balance RH/LH.
6) Slew of DH candidates based on matchups. Mendham, Martin, Miller-Green, Brown, etc.
7) Adkison has shown his experience. Good receiver.
8) I go with Morrill at this point based on experience and what I've seen. Yes, things can change based on production.
Pitching
Still am thinking .....
1) Campbell
2) Mederos
3) Marsh
Osmond, Stone, and Ramsey are there as well for starts based on production. Plenty of quality mid-week starters which can help us to have success against many quality opponents (DBU, ORU, etc) we often have on the schedule midweek that can raise our RPI for postseason rankings.
Phansalker (increased velocity but some struggles with getting outs this fall it seems), Ramsey, Bowman vs RH, Cochran, and Davis (I assume many innings coming his way especially in close/important situations) seem to be the cog of our bullpen. Blake has had a quality fall out of SHS. Martin needs to just own the backend of the bullpen much like Standlee did recently.
Opening at Vandy gives us a good glimpse at the potential. Season ticket sales seem high. Could be a good year.