forums

2025 Preseason

Hearing tons of concerns about the defense from people that have been at practice, including a few MLB scouts. 1B sounds atrocious, SS seems like a bad situation, Dorian is a mediocre 2B, 2nd catcher is a big question mark. Corner outfield is very average.

Going to rely on better/deeper pitching. Bizarre since we had 3 weekend starters go in the 4th round. Hoping for better results from lesser "talents". I don't think that is asking a lot for Saturday and Sunday but how many times are we going to waste a solid Friday outing with the best arm? Replacing Ziehl isn't happening.

Have heard a fair share of concerns about bats as well. Maybe improved overall from a year ago but still very inconsistent top to bottom with some major holes in the lineup... if we want to salvage our defense... because the catcher doesn't hit, the CF doesn't hit, and what would be the most ideal defensive situation at SS doesn't hit. Probably looking at a solid 1-5 in the order but overall lacking the long ball, aside from Cuvet. Not confident in how consistent they will be stringing it together without the long ball to generate runs. Need 1-2 of Galvin, Hudson, and Derek Williams to start putting the ball in the air. Hasn't translated here just yet for any of them (from what I have heard).

Have also heard JD is Jim Morris on steroids. Loves to bunt, sacrifice, hit and run, squeeze, etc.... old school **** that really doesn't work today because runs scored are just jumping off the charts. Going to try to win a small ball game only for the pitching to not be dominant enough on the backend to keep it a small ball score. Playing to go up 3-2 in a game in the 5th inning only to end up losing 10-4 when you turn it over to the pen.

I was sitting around projecting .500 overall and .500 in conference. Thinking around .500 overall and sub .500 conference record is more realistic.
 
Advertisement
JayCane20 said:
Hearing tons of concerns about the defense from people that have been at practice, including a few MLB scouts. 1B sounds atrocious, SS seems like a bad situation, Dorian is a mediocre 2B, 2nd catcher is a big question mark. Corner outfield is very average.

Going to rely on better/deeper pitching. Bizarre since we had 3 weekend starters go in the 4th round. Hoping for better results from lesser "talents". I don't think that is asking a lot for Saturday and Sunday but how many times are we going to waste a solid Friday outing with the best arm? Replacing Ziehl isn't happening.

Have heard a fair share of concerns about bats as well. Maybe improved overall from a year ago but still very inconsistent top to bottom with some major holes in the lineup... if we want to salvage our defense... because the catcher doesn't hit, the CF doesn't hit, and what would be the most ideal defensive situation at SS doesn't hit. Probably looking at a solid 1-5 in the order but overall lacking the long ball, aside from Cuvet. Not confident in how consistent they will be stringing it together without the long ball to generate runs. Need 1-2 of Galvin, Hudson, and Derek Williams to start putting the ball in the air. Hasn't translated here just yet for any of them (from what I have heard).

Have also heard JD is Jim Morris on steroids. Loves to bunt, sacrifice, hit and run, squeeze, etc.... old school **** that really doesn't work today because runs scored are just jumping off the charts. Going to try to win a small ball game only for the pitching to not be dominant enough on the backend to keep it a small ball score. Playing to go up 3-2 in a game in the 5th inning only to end up losing 10-4 when you turn it over to the pen.

I was sitting around projecting .500 overall and .500 in conference. Thinking around .500 overall and sub .500 conference record is more realistic.
Click to expand...
8446b0af-a150-46e7-9a60-b0a3e802d14b_text.gif

(I'm glad you typed it out because I was going to be doom and gloom but tried to be positive in my preseason prediction)
 
Ok so someone with more baseball knowledge correct me if this isn’t good. But why not move Cuvet to 1B since that’s his predicted spot in the pros. And move Hudson to a DH role if that’s possible.
 
JayCane20 said:
Hearing tons of concerns about the defense from people that have been at practice, including a few MLB scouts. 1B sounds atrocious, SS seems like a bad situation, Dorian is a mediocre 2B, 2nd catcher is a big question mark. Corner outfield is very average.

Going to rely on better/deeper pitching. Bizarre since we had 3 weekend starters go in the 4th round. Hoping for better results from lesser "talents". I don't think that is asking a lot for Saturday and Sunday but how many times are we going to waste a solid Friday outing with the best arm? Replacing Ziehl isn't happening.

Have heard a fair share of concerns about bats as well. Maybe improved overall from a year ago but still very inconsistent top to bottom with some major holes in the lineup... if we want to salvage our defense... because the catcher doesn't hit, the CF doesn't hit, and what would be the most ideal defensive situation at SS doesn't hit. Probably looking at a solid 1-5 in the order but overall lacking the long ball, aside from Cuvet. Not confident in how consistent they will be stringing it together without the long ball to generate runs. Need 1-2 of Galvin, Hudson, and Derek Williams to start putting the ball in the air. Hasn't translated here just yet for any of them (from what I have heard).

Have also heard JD is Jim Morris on steroids. Loves to bunt, sacrifice, hit and run, squeeze, etc.... old school **** that really doesn't work today because runs scored are just jumping off the charts. Going to try to win a small ball game only for the pitching to not be dominant enough on the backend to keep it a small ball score. Playing to go up 3-2 in a game in the 5th inning only to end up losing 10-4 when you turn it over to the pen.

I was sitting around projecting .500 overall and .500 in conference. Thinking around .500 overall and sub .500 conference record is more realistic.
Click to expand...
What’s hilarious is you can literally take the above and it would apply to the vast majority of seasons during our downfall.

A completely dead program
 
HurricanePhilly said:
8446b0af-a150-46e7-9a60-b0a3e802d14b_text.gif

(I'm glad you typed it out because I was going to be doom and gloom but tried to be positive in my preseason prediction)
Click to expand...
I was positive and actually excited for it until the same sentiment was echoed from multiple scouts and former players that I talk to.

The lack of pop in the offense was my biggest red flag. I feel confident I know how our pitching will end up and partially expected the defense situation. I had high expectations on the offense but its going to be stagnant without Hudson, Galvin, Williams, etc. providing some power. Teams will be able to avoid Cuvet if they want to.
 
Advertisement
Canes_Blooded said:
Ok so someone with more baseball knowledge correct me if this isn’t good. But why not move Cuvet to 1B since that’s his predicted spot in the pros. And move Hudson to a DH role if that’s possible.
Click to expand...
He is likely better at 3rd than anyone else in the roster given the middle infield situation. Much easier to “hide” a bad glove at first. That being said first base defense is vastly underrated by most people. It can save so many runs.

I’m really disappointed in hearing that JD loves small ball. Game has changed. Even with elite pitching kids are gonna run into a ball every now and then for a homerun. You gotta let your hitters hit.
 
Whats funny is JD loves small ball yet 2/3's of the swings I see are not small ball swings.

Its going to create a recipe for a potential disaster. Its probably going to impact a few guys who could be 7-12 homerun guys. I can see it now. We are down 5 to FSU in the 7th get a guy on with a double then a walk and Cuvet is in a 2-2 count and 2 out and JD is yelling "hey dont do to much a single scores a run.
 
I would really love to see that change. I get "practicing small ball" in the offseason, but if that's what you're going to do it needs to be done in the fall. When Max Galvin launches a ball 400 feet and is seeing the ball like a beach ball, and you have him squeeze his next ab, it just doesn't make sense.
 
HurricanePhilly said:
Whats funny is JD loves small ball yet 2/3's of the swings I see are not small ball swings.

Its going to create a recipe for a potential disaster. Its probably going to impact a few guys who could be 7-12 homerun guys. I can see it now. We are down 5 to FSU in the 7th get a guy on with a double then a walk and Cuvet is in a 2-2 count and 2 out and JD is yelling "hey dont do to much a single scores a run.
Click to expand...
Everyone in attendance has been utterly confused with it
 
Advertisement
Sebastian Font said:
I would really love to see that change. I get "practicing small ball" in the offseason, but if that's what you're going to do it needs to be done in the fall. When Max Galvin launches a ball 400 feet and is seeing the ball like a beach ball, and you have him squeeze his next ab, it just doesn't make sense.
Click to expand...
Gotta be able to play small ball when you need it but it should not be anyone's identity. That is my outlook.

Most teams can't flip the switch and do it well when they have to. So I'm fine with practicing it but by all accounts, this isn't practice, this is JD's offensive identity like it was for Jim Morris.
 
JayCane20 said:
Gotta be able to play small ball when you need it but it should not be anyone's identity. That is my outlook.

Most teams can't flip the switch and do it well when they have to. So I'm fine with practicing it but by all accounts, this isn't practice, this is JD's offensive identity like it was for Jim Morris.
Click to expand...
this was beyond infuriating in Morris' last few years. Was hoping we'd adapt.... guess not
 
Advertisement
Advertisement
JayCane20 said:
Hearing tons of concerns about the defense from people that have been at practice, including a few MLB scouts. 1B sounds atrocious, SS seems like a bad situation, Dorian is a mediocre 2B, 2nd catcher is a big question mark. Corner outfield is very average.

Going to rely on better/deeper pitching. Bizarre since we had 3 weekend starters go in the 4th round. Hoping for better results from lesser "talents". I don't think that is asking a lot for Saturday and Sunday but how many times are we going to waste a solid Friday outing with the best arm? Replacing Ziehl isn't happening.

Have heard a fair share of concerns about bats as well. Maybe improved overall from a year ago but still very inconsistent top to bottom with some major holes in the lineup... if we want to salvage our defense... because the catcher doesn't hit, the CF doesn't hit, and what would be the most ideal defensive situation at SS doesn't hit. Probably looking at a solid 1-5 in the order but overall lacking the long ball, aside from Cuvet. Not confident in how consistent they will be stringing it together without the long ball to generate runs. Need 1-2 of Galvin, Hudson, and Derek Williams to start putting the ball in the air. Hasn't translated here just yet for any of them (from what I have heard).

Have also heard JD is Jim Morris on steroids. Loves to bunt, sacrifice, hit and run, squeeze, etc.... old school **** that really doesn't work today because runs scored are just jumping off the charts. Going to try to win a small ball game only for the pitching to not be dominant enough on the backend to keep it a small ball score. Playing to go up 3-2 in a game in the 5th inning only to end up losing 10-4 when you turn it over to the pen.

I was sitting around projecting .500 overall and .500 in conference. Thinking around .500 overall and sub .500 conference record is more realistic.
Click to expand...
If the central line in pitcher,catcher,SS,2b and cf is not good then the team is not going to be good
 
Mia305cubancane said:
If the central line in pitcher,catcher,SS,2b and cf is not good then the team is not going to be good
Click to expand...
That’s the ideology defensively. The catcher and center fielder are going to be very good defensively. 2B is middle of the road. I think we have athleticism on the mound so probably can field the position.

Coincidentally it’s everywhere other than up the middle, plus SS.. which could be fine if they play DeGoti.
 
Advertisement
Back
Top