Jay Johnson gets real

#1
L

Local Yokel

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2025
Messages
204
Likes
367
#1
Searched threads and didn’t see this posted. Jay gets very candid about LSU’s struggles, specifically roster building. I think this applies here as we’ve seen powerhouse teams, including our own, having real issues.

Prior to this year you’d see Jay, Tony and a few others stacking talent. That smasher at Ole Miss transferred from Clemson. Hard to imagine that would happen if these teams were signing 50. You have to wonder how his team will respond after being bus rolled.

173K views · 1.3K reactions | LSU Baseball Coach Jay Johnson tore the scab off tonight, saying the obvious: that he and his staff made mistakes building this team, cherry picking players who had lofty power numbers at smaller schools - power that has not translated to good at-bats at the SEC level. Johnson was candid and said this would “never happen again.” | By-U Sports
 
  • Like
Reactions: bpalmer28, KptVFL, chuckiepoo and 1 other person
#2
#2
Stacking talent is great, but you still need leaders in the clubhouse who do things the way you want them done. Ushering in transfers may lead to more talented rosters, but it also impedes your ability to actually build your program. The best team on paper very rarely wins a title for numerous reasons. In regards to his desire to see more "small ball," I wholeheartedly agree. I've been patiently waiting for this moronic analytical era to finally reverse course for several years now. Been like watching men play softball essentially and the math ain't been mathin for a while. Glad Jay, and a few others, are finally starting to acknowledge such.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bpalmer28
#3
#3
The recipe for success in college ball is consistency. You can have stars with high ceilings, but baseball is still a game of averages. You have to surround them with consistent players that may not be the best, but can get on base, not commit errors, etc.

Think about our run in 2024: we had stars, but the overall team floor was really high. There were a few games in the CWS where the back half of the lineup had to get something going.
 
  • Like
Reactions: taylorvol
#4
#4
Local Yokel said:
Searched threads and didn’t see this posted. Jay gets very candid about LSU’s struggles, specifically roster building. I think this applies here as we’ve seen powerhouse teams, including our own, having real issues.

Prior to this year you’d see Jay, Tony and a few others stacking talent. That smasher at Ole Miss transferred from Clemson. Hard to imagine that would happen if these teams were signing 50. You have to wonder how his team will respond after being bus rolled.

173K views · 1.3K reactions | LSU Baseball Coach Jay Johnson tore the scab off tonight, saying the obvious: that he and his staff made mistakes building this team, cherry picking players who had lofty power numbers at smaller schools - power that has not translated to good at-bats at the SEC level. Johnson was candid and said this would “never happen again.” | By-U Sports
Click to expand...
I thought that quote sounded familiar. Internal roster building, indeed, became more difficult with the roster reductions. The external reload utilizing the portal needs to be leavening only. The critical mass will always be geared toward the guys that have been on campus and in the program for a year or two or three. It’s not absolutely required to develop the necessary leadership, but as Jay notes and a quick review of our season supports, it is certainly a critical ingredient.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Orange., KptVFL and txbo
#5
#5
I have been meaning to ask for opinions on the effect roster size reduction has had on our team and others this year. I feel like it definitely makes it difficult to 'stack talent'
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo
#6
#6
JustDave45 said:
I have been meaning to ask for opinions on the effect roster size reduction has had on our team and others this year. I feel like it definitely makes it difficult to 'stack talent'
Click to expand...
Almost zero. UT’s roster is at 39 (34 plus 5 DSAs). Covid rosters were 40 and pre COVID rosters were 35.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KptVFL and chuckiepoo
#7
#7
VolatileVol said:
Stacking talent is great, but you still need leaders in the clubhouse who do things the way you want them done. Ushering in transfers may lead to more talented rosters, but it also impedes your ability to actually build your program. The best team on paper very rarely wins a title for numerous reasons. In regards to his desire to see more "small ball," I wholeheartedly agree. I've been patiently waiting for this moronic analytical era to finally reverse course for several years now. Been like watching men play softball essentially and the math ain't been mathin for a while. Glad Jay, and a few others, are finally starting to acknowledge such.
Click to expand...
I didn't hear him say anything about playing more small ball. He said he needed more small wins.

What he did say, emphatically, was that he looked across the field at A&Ms athletes and realized that his roster had fallen behind. Said he needed to look real hard at their strength and conditioning program.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo
#8
#8
txbo said:
I didn't hear him say anything about playing more small ball. He said he needed more small wins.

What he did say, emphatically, was that he looked across the field at A&Ms athletes and realized that his roster had fallen behind. Said he needed to look real hard at their strength and conditioning program.
Click to expand...
Just listen again. Literally first thing Jay discusses is 2 out batting and specifically hitting the ball back up the middle and to the opposite field more often. You emphatically need to listen more intently.....LOL
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo
#10
#10
txbo said:
What he did say, emphatically, was that he looked across the field at A&Ms athletes and realized that his roster had fallen behind. Said he needed to look real hard at their strength and conditioning program.
Click to expand...
As do we… seems we lost something there the last couple of months.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: vol66, txbo, KptVFL and 1 other person
#12
#12
VolatileVol said:
Just listen again. Literally first thing Jay discusses is 2 out batting and specifically hitting the ball back up the middle and to the opposite field more often. You emphatically need to listen more intently.....LOL
Click to expand...
Yeah. I didn’t hear it as “smallball” live nor the first time via the link above. Hitting up the middle, cranking a dinger, hitting oppo against the shift, they all have there place in the game… like chess pieces. ♟️

Didja ya notice what i left out? 🤣🤙🏼🧡
 
  • Like
Reactions: txbo and taylorvol
#15
#15
VolatileVol said:
Just listen again. Literally first thing Jay discusses is 2 out batting and specifically hitting the ball back up the middle and to the opposite field more often. You emphatically need to listen more intently.....LOL
Click to expand...
I would not consider that small ball. Small ball to me is bunting and slashing. Hitting backside and up the middle is just good hitting.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KptVFL, LtDansLegs, sigmundoooz and 7 others
#16
#16
preacherman20 said:
I would not consider that small ball. Small ball to me is bunting and slashing. Hitting backside and up the middle is just good hitting.
Click to expand...
I almost stated most people don't understand what small ball even entails these days and just think of it as bunting and stealing bases. Small ball is essentially scoring runs without the use of extra base hits. Hitting OUTSIDE pitches the other way is good hitting. A right handed hitter being able to take an inside pitch to 2nd base because the runner is moving requires much more practice for most. Regardless, Jay 100% is describing small ball in that scenario.
 
#17
#17
chuckiepoo said:
Yeah. I didn’t hear it as “smallball” live nor the first time via the link above. Hitting up the middle, cranking a dinger, hitting oppo against the shift, they all have there place in the game… like chess pieces. ♟️

Didja ya notice what i left out? 🤣🤙🏼🧡
Click to expand...
No, I have no idea what you are poorly attempting to imply. You gave two small ball examples along with cranking a dinger? Feel free to clarify and I'm happy to discuss further though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo
#18
#18
VolatileVol said:
Just listen again. Literally first thing Jay discusses is 2 out batting and specifically hitting the ball back up the middle and to the opposite field more often. You emphatically need to listen more intently.....LOL
Click to expand...
I look at that as a solid hitting approach. It’s a focus or concentration on hitting the ball where it’s at vs focusing on pulling the ball. Selfishly focusing solely on exit velocities and launch angles often leads to pop outs or rolling over into 6-4-3 or 4-6-3 DPs vs driving the ball up the middle or opposite field. The latter is a more mature, team focused approach IMHO. Me ball vs team ball.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KptVFL, volsagain, Tenacjim and 2 others
#19
#19
taylorvol said:
I look at that as a solid hitting approach. It’s a focus or concentration on hitting the ball where it’s at vs focusing on pulling the ball. Selfishly focusing solely on exit velocities and launch angles often leads to pop outs or rolling over into 6-4-3 or 4-6-3 DPs vs driving the ball up the middle or opposite field. The latter is a more mature, team focused approach IMHO. Me ball vs team ball.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Launch angles and ev have their place but should not be the focus by any stretch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: taylorvol
#20
#20
VolatileVol said:
No, I have no idea what you are poorly attempting to imply. You gave two small ball examples along with cranking a dinger? Feel free to clarify and I'm happy to discuss further though.
Click to expand...
Josh Reddick said it best, originally as a Dogger, but brought the philosophy to Houston during their run of AL and WS Championships:

IMG_7918.jpeg
Not to piss off @txbo, but even that is extreme, as a bunt has it’s place. Different players got different skill sets and a wise manager knows which buttons to push. The more buttons, the better opportunity for a successful outcome.
 
  • Like
Reactions: txbo
#21
#21
VolatileVol said:
Just listen again. Literally first thing Jay discusses is 2 out batting and specifically hitting the ball back up the middle and to the opposite field more often. You emphatically need to listen more intently.....LOL
Click to expand...
Hitting it where they ain't isn't small ball. That's just smart, especially in this shift era.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KptVFL, sigmundoooz, taylorvol and 2 others
#23
#23
chuckiepoo said:
Josh Reddick said it best, originally as a Dogger, but brought the philosophy to Houston during their run of AL and WS Championships:

View attachment 827569
Not to piss off @txbo, but even that is extreme, as a bunt has it’s place. Different players got different skill sets and a wise manager knows which buttons to push. The more buttons, the better opportunity for a successful outcome.
Click to expand...
Bunting absolutely has it's place..... Over at Sherri Parker Lee.:cool:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Orange. and chuckiepoo
New Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

Advertisement



Back
Top