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Posted on 2/17/16 at 10:13 am to JamalSanders
Good read from @AUPPL
LINK
LINK
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On paper, here is what Auburn baseball is, according to most experts and prognosticators:
Auburn is a 2015 Regional Team that returns around 85% of their roster and is still picked to finish dead last in the SEC West.
However, when you look at it, what actually changed from 2015 to 2016?
If anything Auburn significantly upgraded in the Head Coaching department.
The loss of Keegan Thompson ( injury) is assuredly a big knock; but thankfully Auburn has a core group of returners (Lipscomb, Camp, Clements, etc) and a very impressive set of newcomers (Mize, Braymer, Klobosits, etc) to not only balance out the losses of Thompson, Rocky McCord, Dalton Rentz and others; but to possibly improve the unit.
Position-wise, it’s pretty much the same thing: A solid core group returning with a sprinkling of newcomers.
Discounting Auburn baseball this year, despite all that it achieved last year and what it (perceivably) lost, seems a bit of a disservice to me.
quote:
The Thompson method may be a bit of a culture shock for some baseball fans; especially casual baseball fans. Thompson is a Coach who uses data, metrics, and situations to better determine his course of actions during a game.
There are no "rules" when Thompson coaches and molds, and in a game of "unwritten rules" like baseball, it can take some getting used to.
Butch Thompson has no problem front loading a game with "relievers" pitching an inning a piece and leaving his "starter" in the back end of the game to finish everything up with a multi inning outing. Our normal baseball brains view this as backwards. Starters start. Relievers relieve. For Thompson, those definitions are no existent.
Posted on 2/17/16 at 10:36 am to JamalSanders
quote:
If anything Auburn significantly upgraded in the Head Coaching department
Stopped reading after this. There is no way when talking about W/L that rookie SEC manager can be an uograde over a winner. SG may be an a-hole, he may have deserved to be fired but that mofo could coach a team to victory. You can't have as many wins as SG and be that big of a douchebag by luck
Posted on 2/17/16 at 11:47 am to GenesChin
I'm not sure I agree with that on face value, but I do think that CBT can be a better coach than xCSG.
Posted on 2/17/16 at 11:55 am to JamalSanders
It isn't a knock on CBT. I think our baseball program will benefit from replacing SG and CBT seems like a solid replacement
This article was about season projection though not state of the program. When looking just at W/L, Holloway was a proven winner and outplayed perceived talent levels almost yearly. It is foolish to predict a significant upgrade over that , especially with a green coach
This article was about season projection though not state of the program. When looking just at W/L, Holloway was a proven winner and outplayed perceived talent levels almost yearly. It is foolish to predict a significant upgrade over that , especially with a green coach
Posted on 2/17/16 at 1:01 pm to GenesChin
quote:
This article was about season projection though not state of the program. When looking just at W/L, Holloway was a proven winner and outplayed perceived talent levels almost yearly. It is foolish to predict a significant upgrade over that , especially with a green coach
Agreed.
Posted on 2/17/16 at 1:43 pm to JamalSanders
Thompson believes in shortening the games as much as possible by getting to your Aces (in the bullpen) to finish out the games.
Posted on 2/18/16 at 8:12 am to WareagleKK
JUCO transfer settling in under the Green Monster
quote:
AUBURN | Joshua Palacios started preseason practice working in right field but when he was asked to move over left field last week, the junior college transfer had to get on good terms with a big green wall.
“The Green Monster swallowed me up the first day but I've been out there working with the Green Monster, working with coach and everybody,” Palacios joked. “I feel I'm getting a pretty good grasp of the Green Monster now. I'm talking to it at night. I've befriended it. Hopefully it will be nice to me this season.”
Modeled after Fenway Park, the left field wall at Plainsman Park is 30-feet high and only 315 feet from home plate down the line.
Moving Daniel Robert from first base to right field allowed first-year coach Butch Thompson to put the strong-armed Palacios in left. The Brooklyn, New York native has also been one of Auburn’s top hitters during the preseason.
“I just think he's a great left-handed bat,” Thompson said. “We think he's gotten better every day. He's got a plus arm in the outfield and we're hoping having a plus arm in left field can cut down the double or the threat of the double. The more times from a defensive standpoint you can keep the double-play in order, that makes you a better ball club. Also, with the field being shorter because of the high wall, you might have more opportunities to make plays at the plate.
“In saying that we've got Daniel Robert, who pitched a little bit, as a great arm from right field as well. We're not scared to put a good arm in left field because we think it plays to the 35 games at Plainsman Park, especially as many games as your playing at home early in the season.”
Palacios batted .364 with 12 doubles, nine triples, 36 RBI, 61 runs scored and 29 stolen bases as a sophomore at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas last season.
He’s ready to test himself against SEC pitchers this year.
“I feel like I'm very prepared for this level of pitching and this level of baseball,” Palacios said. “I've been moving around a lot. Last year, I kind of got used to the South so it was a little bit of a change for me because I'm from New York City but I like it. I like it down here. I feel very comfortable and welcome down here so I'm ready to get it going.”
Auburn opens the season Friday with the first of a three-game series against Sacramento State. Palacios said his goal is to help Auburn to the College World Series.
“I'm really enjoying the way our team is looking right now,” Palacios said. “I really think we have a good shot to go somewhere this year so I'm really excited to get going.”
Posted on 2/18/16 at 8:50 am to AUtigerNOLA
Not going to make it to the park until Saturday. Wish it were later than a 3pm start tomorrow
Posted on 2/18/16 at 9:17 am to Rig
Are we going to be able to get the games on SEC + now? Could have sworn there was something on that but maybe I was mistaken.
Posted on 2/18/16 at 9:41 am to AUtigerNOLA
Are we going to be able to get the games on SEC + now? Could have sworn there was something on that but maybe I was mistaken.
SEC TV Schedule
I get off in Birmingham at 3 on Fridays, but we have a job in Opelika so I'm trying to convince my boss I need to be in Opelika tomorrow.
SEC TV Schedule
I get off in Birmingham at 3 on Fridays, but we have a job in Opelika so I'm trying to convince my boss I need to be in Opelika tomorrow.
Posted on 2/18/16 at 9:53 am to JamalSanders
Thanks. I actually meant all the games on SEC+ if it isn't on the SEC Network.
Posted on 2/18/16 at 10:47 am to AUtigerNOLA
quote:
I actually meant all the games on SEC+ if it isn't on the SEC Network.
Ahh, I'm not sure on that. I know Auburn broadcasts 90% of our home games on auburntigers.com.
Posted on 2/18/16 at 11:10 am to JamalSanders
The SEC released their preseason predictions today. We were picked to finish 6th in the West ahead of only Alabama (lolololol)
Also Anfernee Grier landed Preseason 1st Team All-SEC.
Also Anfernee Grier landed Preseason 1st Team All-SEC.
This post was edited on 2/18/16 at 11:11 am
Posted on 2/18/16 at 11:52 am to GenesChin
quote:
that mofo could coach a team to victory.
He could also run you out of a W.
Posted on 2/19/16 at 7:27 am to MrAUTigers
SEASON PREVIEW: The Butch Thompson era begins
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AUBURN | Ready or not, the Butch Thompson era begins at Auburn this weekend. Thompson, who was hired in October after the Tigers completed fall drills, has had limited on-field work with his new players so the first 18 games before conference play will be a learning period for him, his coaches and players. Fortunately, Thompson inherited a veteran roster that includes eight seniors and 17 juniors. “Our older guys are going to get the first opportunity and that’s because we’ve been here a short period of time,” Thompson said. “They’ve been so receptive and open to our coaching staff, embracing us, that we’re going to give them an opportunity to lead because they’ve been there before. Then we’ll try to make the best decisions for the club going into SEC play.” Thompson has referenced 12 position players during preseason practice he feels are SEC-ready, which includes a lot of experience — 12 upperclassmen — and versatility with most having played or expected to play multiple positions. The group includes seniors Jordan Ebert (second, third, corner outfield), Cody Nulph (shortstop, third), Melvin Gray (second, DH), Bo Decker (corner outfield), and Jackson Burgreen (outfield), and juniors Anfernee Grier (centerfield), Damon Haecker (third, short, second), Daniel Robert (right field, first, DH), Niko Buentello (first, DH), Joshua Palacios (corner outfield), Blake Logan (catcher) and Ben Craft (catcher). “I don’t think I’ve made any bones about it, there’s going to be some good players on the bench,” Thompson said. “We’ll play a bunch of games early, which will provide a lot of opportunities for our guys.” Eight of those players started 35 or more games last season. Buentello and Palacios are impact junior college transfers that are expected to be in the starting lineup when Auburn hosts Sacramento State Friday. Grier was named preseason first-team All-SEC after hitting .323 with 22 doubles, three triples, 41 runs scored and nine stolen bases last season. “I’ll take our potential lineup and I wouldn’t trade that with many people in our league from a veteran standpoint and from an experience standpoint, and that’s supposed to mean something,” Thompson said. “All of this is a forecast. We’re not going to really know until we get out there.”
POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUP ORDER
1 JR RH Anfernee Grier CF
2 JR LH Joshua Palacios LF
3 SR RH Melvin Gray DH
4 JR LH Daniel Robert RF
5 JR LH Niko Buentello 1B
6 SR RH Jordan Ebert 2B
7 JR SH Damon Haecker 3B
8 JR RH Blake Logan C
9 SR RH Cody Nulph SS
Auburn’s pitching staff isn’t nearly as deep. Junior Cole Lipscomb returns after finishing 8-2 last season with a 2.53 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 92.2 innings. Lipscomb will start Friday followed by senior Justin Camp Saturday and junior Gabe Klobosits Sunday. Camp was Auburn’s closer last season with a team-high eight saves. Klobosits is one of four junior college transfers expected to have a key role on the pitching staff. Thompson likes to use two of his top five pitchers out of the bullpen and junior college transfer Ben Braymer and true freshman Casey Mize will be counted on to close out games this season. Also expected to play important roles out of the bullpen or potentially start midweek games are Tavo Rodriguez and Andrew Mitchell, both junior college transfers, junior Izaac Yarbrough and true freshman Daniel Sprinkle. “There’s just so many question marks there that make you pause,” Thompson said of a pitching staff that includes more than six newcomers. “You want to see it so I can’t wait to see some guys step up and get 10 percent better. Hopefully we see that.” Thompson said his starters will be limited to approximately 80 pitches the opening weekend. He would like for his entire staff to eventually be able to call their own games although it will take some time to get there. “I think certain pitchers, once we go through one or two outings, we’re going to see where we can help them and if we can we’ll interject more,” Thompson said. “Guys we can pull away from, we’ll pull away from more. At the end of the day when this whole team comes together as its best ball club, you hope guys can run their own show.” Sacramento State was picked second in the WAC and returns the conference pitcher of the year in left-hander Sam Long (8-2, 3.03 ERA), who will start Friday’s game. “It’s good for us to see somebody really good,” Thompson said. “I know we’re going to have our hands full with Sacramento State and our job is to make sure their hands are full with us.” Game times at Plainsman Park will be 3 p.m. CT Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Friday and Saturday’s games will be carried on Watch ESPN. Sunday’s game will not be televised. “Our guys have worked hard and done everything we’ve asked them to do,” Thompson said. “They deserve this moment and they’re going to get the beautiful weather this weekend. It’ll be a great starting point to see where we’re at. It’s time to compete against another team besides yourself.”
Posted on 2/19/16 at 7:35 am to AUtigerNOLA
So today and tomorrow he games with be on Watch ESPN. I'm guessing probably SEC + if you got it.
Posted on 2/19/16 at 8:54 am to AUtigerNOLA
I'd really like to get 2 wins this weekend. Please let this happen. Might be able to make it home in time to catch first pitch on WatchESPN.
I will say that lineup full of JRs and SRs is talented enough to win 30-35 games this year.. The pitching will hold them from it though I'm afraid
I will say that lineup full of JRs and SRs is talented enough to win 30-35 games this year.. The pitching will hold them from it though I'm afraid
Posted on 2/19/16 at 9:10 am to Rig
quote:
I will say that lineup full of JRs and SRs is talented enough to win 30-35 games this year.. The pitching will hold them from it though I'm afraid
If we had Keegz we'd be going 40+
But we don't
Posted on 2/19/16 at 9:40 am to GenesChin
quote:
If we had Keegz we'd be going 40+
Not quite sure that many but we would be a super regional team with Keegan.
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