(03-10-2018 12:05 AM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote: Karlgaard created this firestorm himself.
Though I tend to doubt the story that Coach Graham has not been told ANYTHING about an extension or lack thereof at the end of this season (I think the more likely scenario is that OG didn’t like what was offered to him), after last season, Karlgaard should’ve said “You either come back next year and we do a nice farewell tour or if you find that unacceptable, you can choose not to come back at all.”
This team doesn’t have the weapons that last year’s did to mount a turnaround given the serious nature of its injuries and lack of depth on the mound. Say what you want about last year’s team, but they were knocking the cover off the ball by mid-April and that covered up some flaws on the mound in our 2nd half run. This season we have three good hitters and lots of dead weight otherwise.
First off, you're dead wrong on your "more likely scenario".
Second, last year's team had more than simply "some flaws on the mound". During our stretch run we did not have a single reliable starting pitcher. Canterino was great the first half of the season, but tired toward the end...and both Esquivel and Amador had sore arms by May, and had hit a wall. In the bullpen, we had Otto, and virtually nothing else.
As for this year's team, given the injuries I think it's a little unfair to judge the offense at this point. From what I hear Dunlap will hopefully be back by next weekend. (He was due back last weekend, but re-tweeked his oblique just before the HBU series began.) I'd argue that we currently have 4 good hitters (Chandler, Comeaux, Sarchet and Proctor), with two others (Cruz, Collins) who are true Freshman with significant upside and likely to see improvement as the season progresses. (Sarchet's average may currently be somewhat pedestrian, but that's largely because he has had tough luck with numerous line shot outs.) If we can get Andrew back next weekend, and Dom back by early April, our offense should be fine. BTW, last year's offense was not as great as you remember. Warren and Sarchet were disasters at the plate all season long, and Wunderlich was, as well, until the last month of the season. Chandler had a relatively poor season at the plate, and Proctor had a solid season, but a step back from his Freshman year, and with no power whatsoever. Gneiting had a solid first half at bat, but fell off dramatically in the second half. Dane, Dom and Tristan (in the second half) carried the offense, with solid contributions from Shepperd.
So far this year, I see Sarchet as a more consistent version of what Shepperd was last year (more line drives and fewer strikeouts), both Chandler and Proctor are playing at elite levels, and Comeaux may just be the most consistent hitter on the team (another guy who has hit numerous hard hit outs).
The issue is the pitching staff, especially with the injuries to our #2, #3 and #4 starters. We desperately need guys to step up. The most recent outings by Amador and Garcia were encouraging, and I thought Parthasarathy took a positive step forward last night. (Both of the runs he gave up last night I attributed to poor play by Gneiting in RF. Brad may be carrying his deep funk at he plate onto the field, and at this point, it may make sense to sit him a game or two.) It's time for Esquivel and Kravetz to do the same.