Summer Updates

[Big_Blue_1018]

Thought you guys would be interested in this.

http://www.aseaofblue.com/2015/7/7/8900413/kentucky-baseball-draft-signings-and-summer-league-update

 

[BluegrassBlake]

It's possible Nick Shumpert could make his way to Lexington. Detroit may not have enough money left to sign him.

 

[BluegrassBlake]

We've also added a commitment from Luke Becker, a JC infielder. He hit 12 home runs this past season. I expect him to be our 3rd baseman next year.

 

[Comebakatz3]

It's possible Nick Shumpert could make his way to Lexington. Detroit may not have enough money left to sign him.

This should be like talking about the no-no. You don't do it until it is over. Just stay quiet for 9 more days and keep your fingers crossed!

 

[BluegrassBlake]

When I heard it was even slightly possible I just had to tell someone lol. My mouth is now shut!

 

[Comebakatz3]

Haha, well, I guess it still depends on how badly he wants to go pro. They can still give him over 500,000 (with penalties), but if I am Shumpert I might feel slighted that Simcox, who went 7 rounds after I did, gets largely the same amount as I do, and he's a junior in college and his likelihood to return to UT isn't that great. So, the possibility is definitely there. I'd love to see his kid come to UK. I think he'd add a whole lot of excitement to the program.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

One thing I found interesting is Cody hasn't signed yet. I wonder what the hold up is.

 

[CloverforkCat]

Haha, well, I guess it still depends on how badly he wants to go pro. They can still give him over 500,000 (with penalties), but if I am Shumpert I might feel slighted that Simcox, who went 7 rounds after I did, gets largely the same amount as I do, and he's a junior in college and his likelihood to return to UT isn't that great. So, the possibility is definitely there. I'd love to see his kid come to UK. I think he'd add a whole lot of excitement to the program.

He would be our starting SS the 1st game of the 2016 season IMO.

 

[CatsFanGG24]

 

[CatsFanGG24]

http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/67565098/v132125983/draft-report-nick-shumpert-hs-shortstop

You'd think MLB could've gotten some better highlights!

 

[Derek Terry]

Shumpert would be a huge addition to next year's team. I know Heady doesn't hit extremely well, but he has value on defense. Shelby has been pretty solid at second base, but if you're trying to put your best lineup out there every day then moving him to the outfield has to be an option. Unless a newcomer really lights things up, an infield with White at 1B, Heady at 2B, Shumpert at SS and Mahan at 3B could be really good.

Shelby played outfield in high school and it's already a position of concern in some ways next year. Pompey will be raw but will likely get a starting position. You hope that Carson and Wilson can make some solid strides, but it remains to be seen how much better they can get.

I'm curious to see what you all think about lineups for next season if Shumpert does in fact go to UK instead of signing. I would go with:

1. Carson 8
2. Shumpert 6
3. Shelby 7
4. White 3
5. Mahan 5
6. Fettes 2
7. Pompey 9
8. Wilson/Hairston/newcomer DH
9. Heady 4

 

[Comebakatz3]

There are a lot of concerns. First off, having Fettes, Mahan, and Heady all in the lineup is really painful. Fettes and Heady both hit under .215. Mahan was the third worst hitter on the team at .232. I would like to think they improve, but I can't really hold my breath about it too much, and having 30 percent of your roster hitting that poorly is very rough. To be fair, Fettes did better, hitting .236 in the SEC. Heady hit an abysmal .174 in the SEC and Mahan hit .226.

I just haven't been overly impressed with either Heady or Mahan. That can change, but Mahan's fielding percentage was 87.2 and Heady's was 90.7. Neither are all that impressive and couple that with their hitting and they can be easily replaced. Further, it is hard for me to put them to third where they might make even more mistakes, especially throwing the ball.

Sorry... I am pretty negative. Hopefully things are better than my current feelings.

 

[CloverforkCat]

There are a lot of concerns. First off, having Fettes, Mahan, and Heady all in the lineup is really painful. Fettes and Heady both hit under .215. Mahan was the third worst hitter on the team at .232. I would like to think they improve, but I can't really hold my breath about it too much, and having 30 percent of your roster hitting that poorly is very rough. To be fair, Fettes did better, hitting .236 in the SEC. Heady hit an abysmal .174 in the SEC and Mahan hit .226.

I just haven't been overly impressed with either Heady or Mahan. That can change, but Mahan's fielding percentage was 87.2 and Heady's was 90.7. Neither are all that impressive and couple that with their hitting and they can be easily replaced. Further, it is hard for me to put them to third where they might make even more mistakes, especially throwing the ball.

Sorry... I am pretty negative. Hopefully things are better than my current feelings.

I actually have more confidence that Mahan will bust out offensively than Fettes and for sure Heady. He was a true freshman, and is currently doing bvery well in summer ball. Fettes is at least a HR threat, but Heady struggles at hitting !

 

[Comebakatz3]

I do agree with you there, Clover. Mahan has a lot of room to grow and it is hard to do well as a freshman, so I am not writing him off yet. I wouldn't mind having him continue to play, but having him with Heady and Fettes kind of just exacerbates his struggles at the plate. The thing Mahan needs to change the most is his plate discipline. He drew just 7 walks last year compared to 27 strikeouts. You don't always have to get hits, but finding a way on base is huge (Carson needs to do the same). Not sure I would call Fettes a home run threat. He had 5 last year, but that isn't a real big threat to me. More like a possibility. Heady has a lot to work on.

 

[CatsFanGG24]

Heady seems like he would've been better off in D2...to be labeled a defensive specialist (who isn't very special - as noted by Comebaks post .902 fielding %) so early in his career just shows how bad of a hitter he is. And I'm sorry, you shouldn't have to play that type of one dimensional player in an SEC starting lineup.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Well, we have a whole lot of question marks next year. Anyone know if Cody has signed yet? I imagine he will. He has nothing to gain from returning, but if he comes back then at least the only question marks become our bullpen and how we fill out the defensive lineup. The bullpen is going to be huge. No one stepped up last year to really solidify themselves as being a real stopper. Some made strides, but no one really left me feeling confident. Then you have to wonder what kind of identity we'll have in terms of hitting overall. Don't see much power there, but also don't see us being a great small ball type team. Kind of some scary thoughts, but it is a long time until February.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

As of today, Cody had not signed. Not sure what the hold up is. There are a ton of questions for next year. The bullpen, how to shore up the defense, what kind of identity will this team have offensively and have we found a catcher who can throw runners out.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Well we are just two days away from the signing day deadline. A lot of things are probably going to happen in these next two days. I've heard some rumblings that Shumpert won't be here regardless of whether he goes pro and that he hasn't even applied for school. This could be smoke, but I'm inclined to believe the rumblings. That, IMO, would make our recruiting class extremely weak.

 

[CatsFanGG24]

Well we are just two days away from the signing day deadline. A lot of things are probably going to happen in these next two days. I've heard some rumblings that Shumpert won't be here regardless of whether he goes pro and that he hasn't even applied for school. This could be smoke, but I'm inclined to believe the rumblings. That, IMO, would make our recruiting class extremely weak.

Shumpert is probably unbelievably awesome and I really, really want him - but that clip that MLB used had me thinking WTF.

Very unfair of me to use that and make judgements, but just going off that - college wouldn't hurt him. I'm sure his dad knows whether he is ready or not though.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

Well we are just two days away from the signing day deadline. A lot of things are probably going to happen in these next two days. I've heard some rumblings that Shumpert won't be here regardless of whether he goes pro and that he hasn't even applied for school. This could be smoke, but I'm inclined to believe the rumblings. That, IMO, would make our recruiting class extremely weak.

I'd be curious to know why he hasn't signed, regardless of the money, if he had no intentions of coming to school. A bit of a hot head maybe?

 

[BluegrassBlake]

With or without Shumpert, this is a below average recruiting class.

 

[parrott]

With or without Shumpert, this is a below average recruiting class.

It is now after the draft given the # that have elected to sign professional contracts. Would have been a nice class if everyone had reported to UK. The one kid -- forgetting his name -- blew up the summer between his junior and senior year and had a great senior year -- of course, after he committed to UK. Oh well.

The 2016 class has some great commits but I'm sure we'll lose most of those to the draft as well.

 

[BluegrassBlake]

Nick Shumpert is no longer commited to Kentucky.
http://www.d1baseball.com/prospects/signing-deadline-primer-whos-unsigned/

 

[CatsFanGG24]

^ If you go to community college does that get you out of the 3 year waiting period?

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

Why in the world would Cody come back for his senior year?

 

[BluegrassBlake]

If Cody returns there's no reason why we shouldn't make the tournament. I wouldn't be surprised to see Shelby move to center and have JuCo signee Luke Becker take over at second.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I'm still not conviced we can make anything other than the sec tournament with our lineup. Regardless of if Cody returns. Cody has the tools but he needs to put it all together and we still need a bullpen to back up those starters. Ohh.. and Henderson is still the coach.

I think if you go Juco you only have to wait 2 years.

 

[BluegrassBlake]

You would assume the rotation will be Beggs, Brown, Cody. I imagine the line up will like something like this:
1B Evan White
2B Shelby/Luke Becker
SS Heady
3B Mahan/Becker
OF Pompey
OF Carson/Shelby??
OF Hairston/Wilson
C Fettes/Arnold/Gei
If we can find a few decent arms in the bullpen then this team can make the NCAA tournament.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

I'm still not conviced we can make anything other than the sec tournament with our lineup. Regardless of if Cody returns. Cody has the tools but he needs to put it all together and we still need a bullpen to back up those starters. Ohh.. and Henderson is still the coach.

I think if you go Juco you only have to wait 2 years.

You and I are on the same page. I just don't see why next year will be any different than this year. Unless a break out year happens, this lineup is bad outside of two or three players. If you look at last season, top 4 hitters hit .346 and the bottom 5 hit right around .220. And two of your top hitters are gone. Next year could be a very bad year.

 

[sluggercatfan]

You and I are on the same page. I just don't see why next year will be any different than this year. Unless a break out year happens, this lineup is bad outside of two or three players. If you look at last season, top 4 hitters hit .346 and the bottom 5 hit right around .220. And two of your top hitters are gone. Next year could be a very bad year.

Until changes are made we are what we are and will be...

 

[167Hike]

Per the other site Cody is coming back. He tweeted it out himself. That means the entire weekend staff returns.

 

[CloverforkCat]

You would assume the rotation will be Beggs, Brown, Cody. I imagine the line up will like something like this:
1B Evan White
2B Shelby/Luke Becker
SS Heady
3B Mahan/Becker
OF Pompey
OF Carson/Shelby??
OF Hairston/Wilson
C Fettes/Arnold/Gei
If we can find a few decent arms in the bullpen then this team can make the NCAA tournament.

We will need big time seasons from D Dwyer, Z Logue, Z Strecker, B Wilson, L Salow, and RS J Lewis. Offensively, E White, J Shelby, S Wilson, D Hairston, M Carson, R Mahan, along with players like M Gei, and T Pompey coming into their own, it could be pretty good !

 

[BluegrassBlake]

I expect Evan White to hit for quite a bit more power next year. All he needs is some time in the weight room.

 

[CloverforkCat]

I expect Evan White to hit for quite a bit more power next year. All he needs is some time in the weight room.

Agree, he should add about 12-15 lbs of good muscle weight. He could go from 2 HR's last season to 9-12 Homers this coming season. He is already the best defensive 1st baseman in the SEC.

 

[TheySoSensitive]

I have zero confidence in any team coached by Henderson. The program will not move forward without a change.

 

[CatsFanGG24]

I have zero confidence in any team coached by Henderson. The program will not move forward without a change.

That has become the consensus here, so you fit right in...we just try to analyze the games and coach the team from this forum now.

 

[Comebakatz3]

That has become the consensus here, so you fit right in...we just try to analyze the games and coach the team from this forum now.

I think we've been doing a pretty good job of it. Is it possible to have like 8-10 coaches? Maybe UK would hire us?

 

[CatsFanGG24]

I think we've been doing a pretty good job of it. Is it possible to have like 8-10 coaches? Maybe UK would hire us?

I'll take the hitters....

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

I'll take the catchers and infielders.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I'll just be the third base coach. Can I do that? Lol