(03-08-2018 01:08 AM)BeagleUSM Wrote:  I think they're just experimenting with the lineup before C-USA play. By the time conference plays get here, the lineup will hopefully be set for the most part.

Berry would never do this, but I'd like to see Reynolds in the 2-hole. More and more teams in the pros are starting to put their best hitter in the 2-hole. You're starting to see it some in college ball some, too (Rooker/State last year). I'd put Franklin in the leadoff spot for awhile to see what he can do. He has the highest upside of the Franklin/Keys/Montenegro/Maack group, IMO. With his speed, a walk/single for him is basically a double. If 2nd base is open, there's a good chance he's going to steal unless he's going up against an outstanding catcher.

1) Franklin - CF
2) Reynolds - 3B
3) Wallner - RF
4) Slater - 1B
5) Keating - DH
6) Guidry - 2B
7) Bowen/Donaldson - C (like it or not, both are going to play)
8) Irby/Montenegro - LF (whoever is swinging the hotter bat)
9) Boyd - SS

This weekend will be a decent barometer for us. Georgia Southern is comparable to your average C-USA team.

Historically, Berry teams that are average/bad lose a OOC guarantee series (2010, 2012, 2013 (x2), 2015). None of his good teams (2011, 2016, 2017) have dropped a head-scratching series in the non-conference. Lose this series and it might be a sign that we need time to push the panic button. Though Georgia Southern is probably a little better than most teams we play in these type of games.

Win 2/3 and we'll probably be OK. Sweep and I'll feel good heading into conference play.

Agree on Georgia Southern and the lineup.

I’m fine with Bowen and Donaldson rotating behind the plate. I just think Bowen should DH when he isn’t catching. Throw Keating in the outfield on those days.

I do like the speed Franklin gives us. We need a guy who can consistently steal a base (against decent competition). Basically, I don’t even care who it is, I just want some consistency there.

As far as rotating players, Berry was doing this well into conference play last year.

Probably the least concerning of our losses so far. Bama is a good team and their pitching just had our number last night. It happens.

The other 3 losses are much more bothersome.

That being said, we are a bubble team this year unless we win the conference tourney. Inconsistency in every facet of the game and losing to the only good opponents on our schedule ain't gonna impress no one.

Lots of moving parts here.

I think Berry is trying to do a number of things. He is trying to find the right combination of guys who can swing the bat and give us a decent defensive spot at the same time.

Every time an outfielder is getting a chance to do this, they are laying an egg. I think Jay. Keys has potential but he looks so lost in the outfield, outside of the great catch at the wall. Irby is a solid outfielder but is in a serious slump at the plate. Keating is Jekyll and Hyde at the plate; slider/change-up middle/away. Gabe is probably the most reliable of the group. IMO, he needs to work on arm strength during the offseason, though.

In a way, I am ok with Berry shaking up the line-up with a handful of players. What is starting to become unsettling is that no one is taking advantage of the opportunity.

Bottom line, we need someone to be a leader. We need some guys to step up to fill these roles.

5-4 since opening weekend.

Someone said this on BGN, but it seems that we focused all offseason on one series, and since then we’ve just sorta been going through the motions.

5-4 with two bad losses, including an inexplicable loss to one of the worst teams in the country. We've slugged out some ugly wins, but like I said before......that isn't sustainable.

Main weak link in all this?

(03-08-2018 09:43 AM)eagle04 Wrote:  Lots of moving parts here.

I think Berry is trying to do a number of things. He is trying to find the right combination of guys who can swing the bat and give us a decent defensive spot at the same time.

Every time an outfielder is getting a chance to do this, they are laying an egg. I think Jay. Keys has potential but he looks so lost in the outfield, outside of the great catch at the wall. Irby is a solid outfielder but is in a serious slump at the plate. Keating is Jekyll and Hyde at the plate; slider/change-up middle/away. Gabe is probably the most reliable of the group. IMO, he needs to work on arm strength during the offseason, though.

In a way, I am ok with Berry shaking up the line-up with a handful of players. What is starting to become unsettling is that no one is taking advantage of the opportunity.

Bottom line, we need someone to be a leader. We need some guys to step up to fill these roles.

I would say that he is shaking it up so often that NO ONE has gotten a real opportunity.

Irby probably could have gotten another weekend to work out of it. 28 at-bats isn’t THAT long for a proven senior.

Keys: Starts first two games and goes 2-For-6 with a homer and two walks and then starts one of the next eight games because Montenegro hit a garbage time triple.

So, Montenegro starts eight games. Hits really well until a 3-for-13 stretch (doesn’t even qualify as a mini-slump) in three games, and it is back to Keys.

Franklin gets one start and back to the bench.

Maack gets 3 hits against Nicholls, starts again against Bama, and then gets pinch hit for after 2 Ks. Maack, by the way, has played six positions in eight game.

That’s really all over the place, to me.

this would be my weekend lineup....

1) Franklin - CF
2) Montenegro - LF
3) Wallner - RF
4) Reynolds - 3B
5) Slater - 1B
6) Guidry - 2B
7) Keating - DH
8) Donaldson - C
9) Boyd - SS

(03-09-2018 02:38 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  this would be my weekend lineup....

1) Franklin - CF
2) Montenegro - LF
3) Wallner - RF
4) Reynolds - 3B
5) Slater - 1B
6) Guidry - 2B
7) Keating - DH
8) Donaldson - C
9) Boyd - SS

Almost started a thread earlier this week on what i thought the lineup should be. Looked almost exactly like this. Saw Franklin was batting .100 and didnt post it. But hes only had 9 abs and his obp is pretty good with 3 walks. His walks and singles are like doubles bc he steals so well. That is obviously huge. I think its worth putting him at leadoff and giving him mpre abs and see how he does.

Id keep reynolds in the 3 hole though. Though i understand putting him at 4. Wallner would at least see better pitches in the 3 spot bc they would have to pitch to him with reynolds at 4.

I MAY would switch guidry and slater but fine with either in the 5 spot. Those 2 and keating are almost interchangeable.

I think this would be a dominate, high powered offense scoring over 10 runs a game. We NEED this lineup with our pitching struggles.