Opening day line up

[shock10]

This is just the way I see it so...

CF Kevin Hall Bats Right
2B Tyler Coughenour Bats Right
1B Johnny Coy Bats Right
DH Casey Gillaspie Switch Hit
RF Don Lambert Bats Left
LF Micah Green Bats Right
3B Sam Hall Bats Left
C Bob Arens Bats Right
SS Josh Halbert Bats Left
Josh Smith LHP

[xazshox]

Opening Day Lineup

I tend to agree with you although it seems highly doubtful that Gene will start 2 frosh. After the series was over, Gene talked about starting either Rea or Harbutz at 3rd base. The thing about Hall is that he hit very well in the series compared to most of the frosh. I saw the 7th game of the series and noticed that Hall made some very nice defensive plays at 3rd base, but if there is one question about anyone in in the starting lineup, I suspect it will be at 3rd. Now if Hall doesn't start there early, he may eventually work his way into the lineup as the season progresses. What I saw of him, even his outs at the plate were loud!

[shock10]

I like Mikel Mucha in Left just couldn't put him in just yet. Catcher is a crap shoot and anyone of 4 could be there. Harbutz shoulder is a ??? for third.

[shox1989]

I tend to agree with you although it seems highly doubtful that Gene will start 2 frosh. After the series was over, Gene talked about starting either Rea or Harbutz at 3rd base. The thing about Hall is that he hit very well in the series compared to most of the frosh. I saw the 7th game of the series and noticed that Hall made some very nice defensive plays at 3rd base, but if there is one question about anyone in in the starting lineup, I suspect it will be at 3rd. Now if Hall doesn't start there early, he may eventually work his way into the lineup as the season progresses. What I saw of him, even his outs at the plate were loud!

I like the potential I saw in a lot of the freshmen. I think Mikel Mucha, Sam Hall and Tyler Baker are going to get a lot of playing time. I also think that others such as Conner Knight and Taylor Doggett are really going to push the upperclassmen and are going to see some action.

Casey Gillaspie is a given.

[jhanika7]

According to people inside the program Johnny Coy is being moved to catcher so Gillaspie can play first. Also I am hearing that Don Lambert may transfer back to the bears for his senior campaign. I am excited to see the big guy behind the plate I heard his pop time is nasty.

[1972Shocker]

It's not April 1st is it?

[jhanika7]

not according to my calendar bud. I guess we'll see opening day.

[JJClamdip]

According to people inside the program Johnny Coy is being moved to catcher so Gillaspie can play first. Also I am hearing that Don Lambert may transfer back to the bears for his senior campaign. I am excited to see the big guy behind the plate I heard his pop time is nasty.

Makes a lot of sense to me, Coy would be a great catcher.

[1972Shocker]

Makes a lot of sense to me, Coy would be a great catcher.

I don't see it. Johnny's future in baseball would seem to be most likely at 1st base. Not only would Johnny be extremely tall for a catcher at 6'8" but he would be switching to the most difficult position on the field. Not sure if he has ever caught before but I don't know why he would be interested in making such a switch at this stage of his career.

Here is an interesting article on Joe Mauer who at 6'5" is one of the tallest catcher's, if not the tallest, in MLB history.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/120325784.html

[jhanika7]

I hear ya 72 I couldn't believe it when I heard it either. Supposedly they just experimented with it one day and he was a natural behind the plate.

[1972Shocker]

Well we are searching at the Catcher position this year and that would really be something to see if JC made the switch to that position at this point. I still don't see it as a good career move for JC and I would still be surprised if that actually happens. With the DH it is not necessary to move JC to get Casey's bat in the lineup.

I think the catcher position is far from locked up and maybe we end up with a catcher by committee although that doesn't appeal to me much.

As far as other positions go I would like to see Josh Halbert have an opportunity to win the SS job because I think we get a better bat in the lineup, but I get the sense that Gene has already committed to Walker Davidson. 3rd base is probably Eric Harbutz' to lose if he is healthy.

As far as the opening day pitcher I'm not sure there is a lot to chose between Josh Smith, Mitch Moormann, Albert Minnis and Zach Beringer, but Josh probably gets the nod due to his experience.

[MizzouShockerFan]

I agree with you 1972... JC has the potential with a big year offensively to be drafted in the first few rounds. Moving to a new position, especially catcher isn't something in my opinion that would add to his hitting...thus potentially hurting his draft position. No way would he be playing catcher in the pro's, so why mess with it now?

I'm not totally sold with Davidson at SS. I only saw 1 fall game, but he didn't look real comfortable there. It looked a lot of times that he was playing to not make a mistake, rather than loose and relaxed. He is nails at 2b defensively....why mess with that?

[jhanika7]

I personally think that we should try to suit up Todd Sullivan. I know that he's the equipment manager but man have you seen him in the dugout the guy is a physial specimen.He's a legend in the goddard area for his athletic prowess. I think he would be eligible to play this year and if I was Gene I would do everything I could to get this playmaker on the field.