Lineup may be even more potent next year...

[Cat Duck]

I suspect Jordan, Westburg, Allen and Foscue will be the top 4 guys. A year older. They may not all make another huge jump (Jordan will I bet), but they will be much tougher outs than they are this year and they are already very difficult. Hatcher will probably start somewhere, and he is a talented hitter. Hancock will start too, and you see what he can do. Landon Jordan can hit. Hayden Jones can hit. I have not even mentioned Halter yet, I am sure he will start even if it's in the outfield. Who knows what Cumbest will do.

This is all assuming Skelton gets drafted and leaves.

Pitching will be the question mark but I am really not that worried with Foxhall in charge. I would love to see James come back and figure it out but he is in the Skelton boat, he may want to go ahead and try to make a little money. I expect big years from Self and Price, they will both be fully healthy.

We are in good shape, and Lemonis is recruiting well. He must look in the mirror sometimes and wonder how he walked into a situation this good. I sometimes wonder how we ended up like this after the coaching carousel of the last 3 years.

 

[57stratdawg]

The offense looks pretty good for 2019. Allen is draft eligible, but I’m assuming he returns.

Im guessing Skelton leaves.

 

[Willow Grove Dawg]

D1 Baseball says Skelton is the #5 catcher in college baseball. He probably needs to leave. We will need to find a lot of at bats for both Hayden Jones & Luke Hancock next year. Hancock will probably DH or play 2B, 3B, or even OF. We should be scary good hitting next year with Tanner Allen, Justin Foscue, Jordan Westburg, Rowdey Jordan, & Josh Hatcher all being very experienced Juniors plus Landon Jordan, Hancock & Jones. I am sure I have missed a couple of kids that we are red-shirting and have not even considered any members of this signing class. It will all be about pitching next year and we appear to at least have some options there.

 

[AlSwearengen]

Cerantola is a huge piece of the puzzle. He and Ginn both are 1st round talents. We also need the freshman (can’t think of his name) that was supposed to challenge for the Sunday spot before he got sick to live up to the hype. Pitching is going to be the wild card next year.

 

[Lildoggy]

We will not be better at the plate next year. Mangum is our table setter and that loss may be felt for a while. He makes things VERY difficult on our opponents. I don’t see a lead off guy anywhere close to him on the roster going forward so we’ll see how the offense does. I expect a step back. Mangum is the reason we’ve been able to be successful with four different coaches.

 

[kphall11]

Cerantola is a huge piece of the puzzle. He and Ginn both are 1st round talents. We also need the freshman (can’t think of his name) that was supposed to challenge for the Sunday spot before he got sick to live up to the hype. Pitching is going to be the wild card next year.

Christian Macleod

 

[Apoplectic_Objurgator]

that LJ homer was an effortless silky smooth wrist rolling thing of beauty

 

[Cat Duck]

We will not be better at the plate next year. Mangum is our table setter and that loss may be felt for a while. He makes things VERY difficult on our opponents. I don’t see a lead off guy anywhere close to him on the roster going forward so we’ll see how the offense does. I expect a step back. Mangum is the reason we’ve been able to be successful with four different coaches.

For some reason I feel like linking this thread: https://forums.sixpackspeak.com/showthread.php?183658-So-much-for-hosting&p=1456738#post1456738

Particularly interesting is your contribution to it.

 

[dickiedawg]

To be fair, last season was a work in progress. We figured it out at the right time, and I don't think many expected the "miracle" that we actually pulled off.

 

[Cat Duck]

To be fair, last season was a work in progress. We figured it out at the right time, and I don't think many expected the "miracle" that we actually pulled off.

Going to disagree. That was not a typical miracle run. That team always had the talent (it is being confirmed this year). We went 10-1 against 3 national seeds. We had numerous brain farts against lesser teams. That is the typical make up of a talented team lacking leadership and direction. I think we all know why.

 

[LovemesomeCroom]

Mangum is an extremely special hitter but he’s not an extremely special leadoff guy. He’s a really good leadoff hitter but not irreplaceable in that aspect. His bats are typically SUPER quick and his OBP isn’t much higher than his avg.

 

[thekimmer]

Mangum is an extremely special hitter but he’s not an extremely special leadoff guy. He’s a really good leadoff hitter but not irreplaceable in that aspect. His bats are typically SUPER quick and his OBP isn’t much higher than his avg.

I agree with you as far as mangum's skills as a hitter. Despite his gargantuan number of hits the other things you describe do lessen his effectiveness as a leadoff guy. Of course there is much more he brings to the table than his bat that we will miss such as his above average defense and speed. But I think the thing we will miss from mangum more than anything is his relentless drive and leadership. I think he tends to make everybody else around him play harder and I think his leadership has been key in making three consecutive supers under three different head coaches not to mention being well on our way to making a fourth under a fourth HC.

There is nobody I'd rather see get an opportunity with the game on the line to get a hit with RISP, or steal a base, or make a play on defense than Jake Mangum.