Inserted my opinion. I think the Cubs will show DJ the money. I think Ochinko wants to catch. And Schimpf will find it tough to have a better season. Dean needs defensive time IMO and Gibbs is ineligible I think.
Gibbs will be back. Due to his birthday, he missed draft eligibilty by a few days. If I'm wrong, I'm blaming a full week of sleep deprivation. This week has been a blur. :hihi: (and that's a good thing!)
I updated this part based on what was said here and some info from the recruting forum: Position Players LF Leon Landry - Jr. CF Mike Mahtook - So. RF Blake Dean - Sr. 3B Grant Dozar - So. SS Austin Nola - So. 2B Tyler Hanover - So. 1B Kyle Koeneman - Jr. (JC) C Micah Gibbs - Jr. DH ????????? Any insight as to who might be best option at DH next season? I assume Chad Jones will get his shot early in the season from time to time.
Good list, I think. Two questions in my mind. Does Dean have the best wheels and arm to play in the OF? And, related to that, who among the RS freshmen and incoming freshman might step in? Just watching him, Dean looks like a fairly stereotypical first baseman to me(good hitter, lefty, not terribly fast but reliable).
It is pretty easy to have confidence in repeating next year. We have a great coach that knows how to have his team peak at the right time (see last two years) We have a great catcher coming back that knows how to control the pitchers We have 2 stud pitchers coming back with CWS experience. We have a handful of pitchers that have thrown successfully in SEC tourney, regional, super regional and CWS situations. We should have 2 stud freshman pitchers coming in. Freshman pitchers can perform very well in the college game with the right preparation. See the kid from Texas. Outfield – Leon proved he deserves to be out there next year. Mikie is solid and dependable. We have enough athletes to figure RF out. Middle infield – NOLA and Hanover – Very solid defensively We have plenty of people can play 3rd and 1st. We need to continue improving our hitting and developing our depth but should not be a problem. LSU Baseball is back to being a “Program” versus a “Team”. CPM has done a great job of rebuilding the Machine that was LSU Baseball.
Winning it once was incredible. It's going to be very, very hard to do it again next year. I'm not even going to think about that. I'm going to savor this championship. :crystal::geaux::crystal::geaux::crystal:
Potential batting lineup: LF Landry 2B Hanover (natural #2 hitter) RF Dean C Gibbs 1B Koeneman (if Ochinko leaves) CF Mahtook DH ????? 3B Dozar SS Nola Could be a better lineup than last year, with Hanover, Mahtook and Nola making strides at the plate and Koeneman filling in the power void left by Schimpf's departure.
