Agreed, he appears to be the type to absolutely shine in a bullpen setting. The biggest question is will he be able to be the guy come conference play

I think Gravin wants to stay at 3rd. 1st is an option instead of ss though.

He does, I got curious and DM'ed him one day asking. He played shortstop in high school, but he'd rather play third base.

Brauny has also mentioned that Gavin is willing to do what's best for the team. It sounds like Hacopian will want to stay at SS if at all possible, so if nobody steps up as 1st it may be easier to convince Gavin to move

trouble said:

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I think Gravin wants to stay at 3rd. 1st is an option instead of ss though.

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trouble said:

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I think Gravin wants to stay at 3rd. 1st is an option instead of ss though.

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So the players get to pick where they play. It's not Earley's choice on what's best for the team?

Could how good Ali was at SS in 2024 be the reason we all have the impression GG was a better fielder than WH?

What did you see from Farr to put him over Royo? I think Farr has a lot of work to do with the glove and the bat.

Wasn't his arm one of his weaker tools? Feel like I remember him bouncing a lot more throws than you want from your 3B.

I have Royo at 2B and Farr DHing. Agree Royo looked better with the glove last year. I think both of those guys are the most vulnerable to the newcomers.

Based upon Hacopian playing first base in summer ball I can see Farr, Chestnut, Partida and Royo battling for SS 2B and last outfield position

Farr didnt show me much last season and for that matter Royo taking away the 10 game hot streak wasnt a player you know will move forward for sure

Add in the player from Florida Atlantic Duer and I think we have our 11 players playing in 9 spots along with Sorrell Gavin Harrison and TK if Binderup can play spring season like fall season

if that is the case we need to stay healthy and have almost everyone improve on their previous numbers which wasnt the case last year for the Aggie team

My line up thoughts in the beginning... and i have always wanted speed and on base percentage at the top pf the order so this may differ from a lot of people's thoughts

1. TK (CF)
2. Chestnut (2B)
3. Sorrell (RF)
4. Grohovac (3B)
5. Hacopian (1B)
6. Royo (SS)
7. Harrison (C)
8. Duer (LF)
9. Farr (DH) with Partida and Binderup getting some swings and some play in the field

eventually i see Partida making the transition to the everyday lineup via injury to others or others not getting ot done

I sorta like Wicked's line-up with more speed at the top.

1. Grahovac (3B)
2. Sorrell (RF)
3. Hacopian (1B)
4. Duer (LF)
5. TK (CF)
6. Harrison (C)
7. Binderup (DH)
8. Royo (2B)
9. Partida (SS)

85AustinAg's lineup strikes me as the most sensical guess I've seen.

Grahovac, Sorrell and Hacopian will be 1-3 in some order
I say they leave Grahovac at 3rd.
Hacopian will be in the lineup no doubt but can't play SS well enough based on his fielding %. We can't have a replay of all the errors early on this season.

Biggest question to me is who plays SS. Partida seems like the best guess based on reports. I guess Royo is an option, but I'd bet they prefer to leave him at 2nd.

By SEC play

1. Duer LF
2. Hacopian 3B
3. Sorrell RF
4. Grahovac 1B
5. Jordan DH
6. Bear C
7. Royo SS
8. Farr/Partida 2B
9. Kiel CF

Friday: Bailey (think he's going to breakout, high level stuff)
Saturday: Moss
Sunday/Midweek: McCoy/Lyons/Sims

Middle relief: Darden, Bollinger, McCoy/Lyons/Sims
Back end: Stewart/Freshcorn

"All time pitcher" (Evan Aschenbeck): Shane Sdao

Probably. I'm not convinced he ends up there though

Sure not disagreeing. I've just watched enough college baseball to know a high level reliever that can shut down 2+ games a week is just as valuable as a starter (unless it's a Skenes/Kade Andersen type talent. If Sdao is that then this is a no-brainer)

It's all going to depend what the other guys give you, but if you can find 3 other solid to good starters I wouldn't be shocked to see him in a "do everything" role where he can impact multiple games rather than just one

Personally, I think Josh Stewart should be that guy this year (and really should've been it last year). I also like the idea of McCoy growing into that type of role in the future.

Wouldn't mind that either. I love McCoy but think he needs to add a tick on his heater to take that next step

When Stewie played year before last he was a come in for 1 or 2 batters guy. Then toward the end of the season he could get you an inning, maybe 2. I just don't see him as an Aschenbeck or Palisch type pitcher.

That's a big jump from where he was year before last to next year. You could be right. Agree to disagree.

I'm confused on what you are saying is a big step?

Stewie finished 2024 doing really well and 2 innings most of the time is plenty enough as a closer. He's not meant to be a long relief guy and really Aschenbeck wasn't typically that guy either. That role is either meant to stop the immediate threat and allow us to get back in the game, or to close out a tight game.

Stewart won't ever be Aschenbeck because he is one of the best to ever be on the mound for us, but he has shown the ability previously to be the guy you can trust in high leverage situations.

My recollection of Aschenbeck in high leverage situations is him going in and throwing more than just 2 innings.Sometimes as few as 2 innings but if you needed it he could finish a game and give you 4 innings if needed.