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Post by 56chevy on May 11, 2024 9:07:27 GMT -8
Couple of observations from last night’s game. 1. This lineup, and team, is better with Trosky playing at third over Guerra. Really sad to see how far Guerra has fallen this year. .330 plus hitter with double digit homers last year to a .230 hitter and an 0-40 slump this year, that’s about as bad a drop off as I’ve seen. Not to mention, he has become a defensive liability as well. Trosky is hands down a better defender, and he puts the ball in play. Didn’t have a hit last night, but also no K’s, and still hitting .299 on the year. Just can’t have Guerra’s bat in the lineup that is basically an automatic out and 50% chance of a K. This lineup has enough power already, we need another on base/bat to ball guy like Trosky. On the plus side, does this mean Guerra returns next year? If we can return Turley, Caraway, Guerra, Macias, Weber, Krieg, and Trosky, that’s a hell of a team coming back for 2025. 2. What a boost to this offense getting McDowell back. 3 more hits last night and a mammoth homerun. The dude has become a very skilled offensive weapon over his time at OSU. His bat behind Bazanna makes it so dangerous to just give Bazanna a free pass. 3. Macias is a stud. His bat continues to develop, and he is only going to get better. He has a beautiful lefty swing, is really good defensively, and has a canon in the outfield. He’s quickly becoming one of our best players. 4. Kasper might be finding his groove. He slumped a bit this year, especially while battling around that injury. But people forget that he is a .300 plus hitter with double digit homer talent when healthy. He is better than I remembered defensively, and a dangerous bat in the five hole. Go Beavs! Caraway has got to be a DH in waiting at this point. Can't see Turley losing a spot in the lineup. I think sitting him last night was a recognition that he has trouble tracking the ball off the bat in some conditions. Could platoon Caraway and Kasper at DH or use Caraway at first. I agree Trosky at third completely changes the performance and attitude of the infield. Still have a question...have we improved our approach at plate for the off speed stuff or are we just at a place in the schedule where the opponents are being forced to throw fast balls? |
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Post by richard44 on May 11, 2024 9:20:21 GMT -8
As we get closer to full health, we are back in a situation like the beginning of the year where it’s a tough decision to choose who to DH. You are going to have to leave a good hitter on the bench every game.
I actually think I have seen an improvement in our approach. We have been hitting offspeed much better, including homers by multiple guys on breaking balls. Smith, Macias, McDowell, and Turley are four players I can think of that mashed homers on offspeed this week.
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Post by beavaristotle on May 11, 2024 9:21:39 GMT -8
What is wrong with UCLA? Last place in the conference, and they look like it tonight. They get elite recruits. They have a lot of injuries this season? a friend of mine is close with Coach Savage. He is very disenchanted with the state of college athletics. He said the SEC has poached a lot of his talent and the kids that don’t want the Big 10 travel schedule are transferring out. He is old school and it wouldn’t surprise me if he hangs it up at the end of the season. Very sad, UCLA has been such a great program ,Savage has been a great coach and they are victims of another unintended consequence of the money grabbing bastards. The fallout from this is the gift that keeps on giving  |
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Post by chinmusic on May 11, 2024 11:25:36 GMT -8
Oregon State's decision to play independently was a no brainer. There were no other good options to consider if we wished to continue competing and recruiting at our current level. I don't think we will play independently for long because I doubt we have seen the last of conference realignment and upheaval.
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Post by beaverinsider211 on May 11, 2024 11:58:18 GMT -8
As far as our approach goes I think it’s as simple as guys just being aggressive in early counts. UCLA known for strike throwers. Seems like we game planned for that. I do think we are doing a better job of sitting on certain pitches in certain counts as well. Energy was definitely different. That was the first game since probably Arizona or Texas where I felt we were firing on all cylinders. I still feel like Guerra needs to find it if we are going to make a run. He’s a better glove at 1B. And when he’s right offensively he’s as good as anyone in the country. Krieg gets on base a lot but is not dynamic enough to do anything on the bases. I think Caraway gets put right back at 3B when he’s ready. He’s too much of a game changer both with his play and his energy to be left off the field. I think Trosky is a solid player but the bat is not there and defensively he’s got the best glove on the team but the arm looks like it’s hanging as he barely gets it to 1B on a routine ground ball. If that’s your late inning defensive replacement though I think it’s huge down the stretch. The biggest change defensively for me in the infield is Hainline has really looked good at short stop.
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Post by Judge Smails on May 11, 2024 15:24:00 GMT -8
As far as our approach goes I think it’s as simple as guys just being aggressive in early counts. UCLA known for strike throwers. Seems like we game planned for that. I do think we are doing a better job of sitting on certain pitches in certain counts as well. Energy was definitely different. That was the first game since probably Arizona or Texas where I felt we were firing on all cylinders. I still feel like Guerra needs to find it if we are going to make a run. He’s a better glove at 1B. And when he’s right offensively he’s as good as anyone in the country. Krieg gets on base a lot but is not dynamic enough to do anything on the bases. I think Caraway gets put right back at 3B when he’s ready. He’s too much of a game changer both with his play and his energy to be left off the field. I think Trosky is a solid player but the bat is not there and defensively he’s got the best glove on the team but the arm looks like it’s hanging as he barely gets it to 1B on a routine ground ball. If that’s your late innings defensive replacement though I think it’s huge down the stretch. The biggest change defensively for me in the infield is Hainline has really looked good at short stop. I agree with your post except for Guerra being a better glove at first. Krieg is a much better defensive 1B. |
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Post by wilkyisdashiznit on May 11, 2024 16:23:48 GMT -8
As far as our approach goes I think it’s as simple as guys just being aggressive in early counts. UCLA known for strike throwers. Seems like we game planned for that. I do think we are doing a better job of sitting on certain pitches in certain counts as well. Energy was definitely different. That was the first game since probably Arizona or Texas where I felt we were firing on all cylinders. I still feel like Guerra needs to find it if we are going to make a run. He’s a better glove at 1B. And when he’s right offensively he’s as good as anyone in the country. Krieg gets on base a lot but is not dynamic enough to do anything on the bases. I think Caraway gets put right back at 3B when he’s ready. He’s too much of a game changer both with his play and his energy to be left off the field. I think Trosky is a solid player but the bat is not there and defensively he’s got the best glove on the team but the arm looks like it’s hanging as he barely gets it to 1B on a routine ground ball. If that’s your late innings defensive replacement though I think it’s huge down the stretch. The biggest change defensively for me in the infield is Hainline has really looked good at short stop. I agree with your post except for Guerra being a better glove at first. Krieg is a much better defensive 1B. I generally agree that Krieg is a much better fielder. But I think that Guerra has the better arm. You don't need a better arm at first most often, but it is a nice plus to have in some situations. |
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Post by Judge Smails on May 11, 2024 16:25:35 GMT -8
I agree with your post except for Guerra being a better glove at first. Krieg is a much better defensive 1B. I generally agree that Krieg is a much better fielder. But I think that Guerra has the better arm. You don't need a better arm at first most often, but it is a nice plus to have in some situations. Having a better arm at first is like one kicker having a better arm than the other in football. If you need that, you’re in trouble. |
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Post by wilkyisdashiznit on May 11, 2024 16:33:14 GMT -8
I generally agree that Krieg is a much better fielder. But I think that Guerra has the better arm. You don't need a better arm at first most often, but it is a nice plus to have in some situations. Having a better arm at first is like one kicker having a better arm than the other in football. If you need that, you’re in trouble. Except Krieg throwing a ball into the outfield, allowing three unearned runs to score in the Saturday game against Cal. Otherwise, I would generally agree with you. |
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Post by Judge Smails on May 11, 2024 16:41:03 GMT -8
Having a better arm at first is like one kicker having a better arm than the other in football. If you need that, you’re in trouble. Except Krieg throwing a ball into the outfield, allowing three unearned runs to score in the Saturday game against Cal. Otherwise, I would generally agree with you. That has nothing to do with arm strength. My 89 year old mother could have made that throw. She’s a beast by the way. Lol |
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