So here's the single concern I have going against Texas: Our 8-hole, Derek Helenihi. He has been awesome on the field defensively. Really cannot expect anything better from him. His hitting however has been lacking. I believe he is 1-11 in the CWS. Against Texas' pitching staff I won't expect much more from him. So here's the question: should (from our unpaid coaching positions at home) Hanover start the series, and Helenihi come in late in the game for his defense? It's obviously a very difficult situation for this team.
Helenihi has tremendous talent at the plate. He has serious power. I can't see Manieri starting the frosh at the corner in the CWS. I know Tyler has played well all year, but I think Helenihi has played well defensively. Teammates and coaches have a way of getting guys to relax. He's a SR and is likely trying to do too much in his last show. I wouldn't be surprised if he has a couple of hits on Monday. FWIW, I think Helenihi would have been right up there with Schimp and Dean in HRs had be been an everyday starter. Guys pretty good at the dish.
As long as he's money at the hot corner, he can bat .000 for all I care. A good 3rd sacker can be worth 2 runs a game.
In addition to these two points, I think you simply don't rock the boat when you are winning convincingly in the CWS in a game where streakiness/hot play is key. LSU has now won 12 straight. The lineup should not and probably will not change. Gotta be careful of overanalysis and not sticking with what got you there.
This. And this again. Plus, he can hit, he just hasn't been hitting well, lately. Hell, he's a .290 hitter on the season. I like Hanover, but this is Helenihi's time.
all good points. i would leave helenisi (j/k) the line up for all of those reasons. we have bats that can make up for him. however, an error or missing a grounder allowing a run cannot be made up. bottom line is a good team balances out. (gee, balance, what have i heard that word used with before.) it has been working. as long as it isnt broken, you dont f with what has been working this late in the game.
Didn't Helenihi have some clutch hits with RBI's just when he came back in during the tournament (forgot which one) when he replaced Hanover who was having some defensive play problems and wasn't hitting? I definitely like him to remain at 3rd base. Maybe replacing him towards the end of the last game with Hanover would just break him out of the funk, similar to the time when he was benched. Saw the same thing with Landry.
It's a team sport. We have enough bats to not let his performance at the plate really affect us. Bottom line, in the big picture we ain't broke, don't try and fix us.
10 Homers, 32 total runs- and he's gone 1-11. If we need more offense than that to win, then our defense is hurting, and subs would maybe be the only fix. But we've been playing D so well that we'd have to plummet right past mediocre into horrible to possibly even see that happen, I think.
