Crunching numbers for UK veterans....

[CloverforkCat]

I have crunched some numbers as far as career stats for UK returnees. Of course Evan White ( .318 2 HR ) and Javon Shelby (.312 9 HR ) are the 2 big guns Offensively coming into 2016.
The other veterans stack up this way..... Zack Arnold career ( .321 0 HR ), Dorian Hairston career ( .300 4 HR ), Storm Wilson career ( .265 5 HR ), Marcus Carson career ( .265 0 HR ) and Conner Heady career (.189 2 HR ).
The career averages sort of give us an example of who each player really is. While the numbers aren't exactly overpowering, they are somewhat respectful.
With newcomers arriving on the scene, whether Juco, RS, or true Freshmen, we will count on them to help complete the puzzle for this season.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Some interesting stuff. Arnold has exactly 130 at bats. He's done all right with those at bats. A couple of things that he needs to improve upon is extra base hits and RBIs. So far he has 33 hits over the past two years. 9 of those were doubles and had 18 RBIs. Those numbers are not terrible, but could be a bit better. By comparison, Hairston had just 6 more hits last year than Arnold and Hairston had 21 RBIs compared to 10 for Arnold. Part of that might be opportunity.

Connor Heady needs to sit. Hitting below .200 is inexcusable. Making it worse is that his defense has been well below average as well. 91 percent fielding percentage as a last year and 94 percent as a freshman. It is bad that Riley Mahan looks good compared to him, and Mahan only hit .232 last year and was even worse in the field. If both of these guys start this year then I may medicate through self-harm. I am kidding, but seriously, someone has to beat these two guys out and I think we will struggle greatly if these guys are roaming the middle of the infield.

Carson can certainly be a good player. We have to see exactly which Carson is going to show up. As a freshman he hit extremely well in just 33 at bats. However, as a sophomore he struggled hitting as the DH. If we get the average then it won't be too bad. Same with Wilson.

Here is the thing:

White: .318
Shelby: .283 (avg)
Arnold: .321
Hairston: .300
Wilson: .265
Carson: .265
Heady: .189

That is 7 of 10 possible hitters. If we say that each one hits for average our team batting average will be:

.277

So, we're relying on these guys to hit better than their averages in the past (which happened for Shelby), or we have to rely on the new guys to bring this average up. Seems to me that we better have some good pitching this year.

 

[CloverforkCat]

We need production from players likr Marshall Gei, Tristian Pompey, Riley Mahan and some of the other newcomers and transfers. IF our pitching is as good as advertised, starters and relievers, we can be pretty good if the hitters respond.
I have heard all the accolades about Coach Eckstein and his teaching of hitters, I really hope he gets thru to them in this his 2nd year at UK.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Yep, we will need some people to step up. One of the biggest thing is timely hitting. Louisville had a pretty poor batting average as a team last year, but they scored a lot more runs than UK. They did so because they hit the ball well when they needed to. It also didn't hurt that they had a top 10 pitching staff.

 

[CloverforkCat]

Yep, we will need some people to step up. One of the biggest thing is timely hitting. Louisville had a pretty poor batting average as a team last year, but they scored a lot more runs than UK. They did so because they hit the ball well when they needed to. It also didn't hurt that they had a top 10 pitching staff.

Yes, we must have CLUTCH hitting to win games. Agree with your point in earlier post concerning C Heady. He is experienced, yet he hits around .200 or so, that wouldn't be so bad if he was an elite defensive player, he is not. I can certainly see R Mahan winning the SS job for 2016, the 2nd base job could go to Gei, Squires, I Lewis, the Michigan transfer, Trey Miller, I believe is his name.
The Shelby move to 3rd base looks set in concrete, although Gei or Miller could play there some also.

 

[zumacat]

Yes, we must have CLUTCH hitting to win games. Agree with your point in earlier post concerning C Heady. He is experienced, yet he hits around .200 or so, that wouldn't be so bad if he was an elite defensive player, he is not. I can certainly see R Mahan winning the SS job for 2016, the 2nd base job could go to Gei, Squires, I Lewis, the Michigan transfer, Trey Miller, I believe is his name.
The Shelby move to 3rd base looks set in concrete, although Gei or Miller could play there some also.

Glad to have this forum, we have had some very interesting and good hitting teams in the past. Will be following the guys and hope they will be competitive.