Jim French Stepstool

They did it with assistants that could develop average to moderate talent. I don't know if that's a strength of this staff (so far I don't see it). When Barry first arrived you could sell a totally new regime, then after a few years the team started winning & that made it much easier to sell, especially when you look at the success of the walkons---heck, they had walkons that wound up playing in the NFL. That sells itself. Now, you can leave w/o having to sit out so instead of those 2/3 years of development paying off, they don't want to wait & transfer to Western Illinois or wherever. Portal guys, sure, today you need that to survive. But to me it isn't quite the same thing, especially when you're bringing in kids who had a few years somewhere else. There might be bad habits that are ingrained, there's more of a 'they are what they are' sense to those guys. Most of them probably left because they weren't playing at their previous stop, and the 20 guys you lose through the portal are more-or-less replaced by 20 guys with a similar talent level. Except the chemistry is much more hit-and-miss because you're relying on vets from all over the map. Everyone is in the same boat re the new landscape, but when you were a program based largely on that development aspect the change is much greater.

Resting guys a normal amount, more than normal, not enough...........none of us msg board peeps know the answer to any of that. So let's just trust the folks making the decisions. I'm mainly concerned about Contreras. Even though it was a negative x-ray you hope there's nothing lingering. I noticed in the clubhouse after the game that Jef Quero is with the team although not activated. Stay tuned I guess.

AFA eliminating Miz from consideration is concerned.......he should have a start this week, let's see how that looks. Saying he hasn't been good in months is false. His outing in Pittsburgh was terrific. And I don't want to hear "yeah, but that was Pittsburgh". Miz is all about throwing strike one, and playing off that as opposed to being 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1............. He hasn't been doing that lately, but if he does he can be effective vs pretty much anyone.

My short answer would be with this staff, no. Past teams here had some exceptional talent, but always relied largely on those 2-3 star guys developing & performing above their recruiting stars. I see little to no evidence of that now. And with the annual turnover of rosters in CFB now, can it even happen?

Great post. As to the last paragraph, they also didn't throw the ball around when a game was in hand and it made no sense to do so, unless you wanted to endanger your chances of winning.

I'm talking about the postseason, though.

Who are your fifteen then? I'm not saying you're wrong but Two catchers, the regular INF + Monasterio & the 'extra' 1B, Yelich, Collins, Chourio, Frelick & Perkins. I think Lockridge gets a call. If you don't want Hoskins do you want Black? Seigler? I don't see them needing a twelfth pitcher. Haase & Urias aren't on the 40-man & would require them being added. I don't have Hoskins as a dog in the fight, I just don't think it's cut & dried yet.

My bad. I meant fifteen.😐.

Just to add, Tyler Black is swinging the bat well. Who the 'last guy' on the bench is, is NOT an easy call.

Today, he ran for Vaughn, has played 1B before & is a better defender than Hoskins. So leaving him in at 1B is a no-brainer. As to the playoff roster you may be right. But there is most likely going to be 16 position players on the PS roster. If you're dipping that deeply & not including Hoskins you're talking a 3rd catcher, or bringing Seigler back. I don't think it's a slam dunk at this point. If we don't see Hoskins getting at least some ABs this week, that should verify it.

Thanks for explaining that & saving me the trouble. I was about to type the same thing.

Maybe. LHH up after Herrera, then Arenado. But not having to run Mears out there tonight is a great point.

Jared Koenig gets six outs, on sixteen pitches. And faces five hitters. Just when you think you've seen it all....... X-Ray neg on Contreras is wonderful news. Despite only four runs in two games, I have no problem with the ABs the last two nights. Well, almost none. Horrible piece of work by Chourio after the leadoff double. When his game sense/feel catches up with the talent, look out. Vaughn quietly putting up really good trips to the plate again. Actually has for awhile now. I once heard from someone who said that it isn't easy to work up a sweat in Arizona because it's a 'dry heat'. I'm pretty sure it's the same guy who concocted the analytics that say Joey Ortiz isn't an elite defender. RBI hit aside, if he doesn't make that diving stop, they most likely lose. Patrick looks to me like he may be a BP piece in the postseason. As a one-time through the order guy, it seems like his stuff works really well.

When I think of Chryst & his career here I often think of Bob Schnelker, who was an OC for Green Bay & a few other teams. He had a great rep as an OC (as did Chryst), but never was a HC although I would assume he had opportunities. Some guys need to 'stay in their lanes', but it isn't easy to turn down a HC opportunity at your alma mater. Chryst was, if not a hot commodity, at least a warm one when he was an assistant. Obviously in the current state of the college game he isn't a fit as a head guy.

Regarding todays' game---if you are having trouble scoring points (which is obvious) you need to at least play the 'clean' football Fickell sometimes mentions that seldom happens. Take away the blocked punt & terrible INT early, and you're quite possibly looking at a 7-3 or 10-3 game going into the 4th quarter. No excuses here, just pointing out how you can't absorb mistakes when offense is so hard to come by. Muck it up, keep it close, hope the FR QB makes a critical error or two & you're in business. But......... The inability to run is killing them. Today MD had their pick--either shoot a LB or two & make O'Neil run for his life, or cover & rush four, which usually meant we had maybe an extra second to throw, if that. And usually no one could get open cuz they're covering with seven. Simmons actually looked OK on the last drive, but while he showed a little mobility you pretty much have to have O'Neil out there since his sprint draw up the middle represents at least half of your run game (Plus Simmons wasn't being pressured outside of one or two plays). On paper, you could make the argument 2-10 is a possibility. In reality, the O-line needs to get better/healthier & the defense has to somehow avoid getting worn down or else yeah, you could go winless from here on out. I feel for Ryan Cory. Unlike other OL, even casual fans can see when a center screws up. Tough spot for a RS freshman (he's struggled so much I actually assumed he was a true FR before looking it up). Having to go with your 3rd string guy there can spell big trouble. You hold out hope the staff can make the OL better week-to-week, but then you realize this is the same braintrust that decided going into week one that Davis Heinzen could play LT, and then juggled around almost the entire line since then. I dunno.

What'll be interesting to me tonight is Misiorowski as he continues down the developmental path. He dominated STL the first time he saw him, then the 2nd time they hit him hard. Now it's sort of the "I know that you know that I know that you know......" start. Need to have the discipline & woodpecker mentality vs Gray.

Too early to say, but if the Reds are out of it by next weekend they may pull the plug on SP's who might otherwise work.

Yahtzee. That said, They DO end with Miami & Minny. It might be time for some old cracker barrel philosophy that some of our announcers like to use when WE play also-rans late in the year, like "They have nothing to lose, they're playing guys who have something to prove, they're loose, etc, etc, etc."

Definitely should go 11 pitchers-15 position players as was alluded to. You don't NEED 3 1B, but you don't really NEED a 3rd catcher, 6th OF, etc. After being used to the 4-man bench all season, you choose a player or two based on specifics. That's why I think Hoskins is on the roster, and also why they recently signed Luis Urias. He may not be added, but they wouldn't have picked him up if they didn't at least want to see how he would look at Nashville & possibly be an option. Lockridge (and Seigler, for that matter) would have the edge over Urias as a PR option. I believe they were looking at Urias as someone who might come off the bench & get a knock ala Hoskins. He came out hot w/the Sounds but has cooled a little, while Lockridge is hitting well over .300 & had a 4-hit game Thursday. I'd guess he has the edge. AFA the pitchers are concerned, it's so tough now with Megill & Quintana being up in the air. I'll say this: Gasser looks to be on a heater right now & I think he edges out Zastryzny. I'll also guess Anderson makes it over one of either Patrick or Myers.

Guess I need to give them their props, then. Damn, and here I thought the Chuck E Cheese comment was so clever.🤢

That's like getting a review on fine dining ambiance from Chuck E Cheese.😛

True, and I agree it's rather unlikely. I only mention it because he looked terrific in his last outing up here, his earlier innings with Milwaukee were quite awhile ago, and he's been exceptional for Nashville. The foot placement/breaking ball adjustments he's made have been a big plus. The lack of a track record would hurt his chances. But I think he's re-established himself as a future BP possibility.

If we have zero luck regarding the health issues w/the IL guys I wonder if there's a pathway for Yoho?

During a 162-game season, I think Fedde would be a terrific guy to have in the back of the BP, mopping up or entering if a starter has to leave in the 3rd inning. And he seems like one of these low heartrate, strike-throwing vets that Murphy really appreciates. But yeah, if we get anywhere close to full strength there doesn't seem to be a postseason spot for him.

Do you really feel we have a lack of LHP in the BP? Ashby, Koenig, then we'll have at least one of Gasser, Zastryzny, Hall, Quintana (the last two health permitting of course). Quintana would almost certainly work out of the pen if available. People like Philly & the Mets would require we have many options from the left side, but I think we're covered.