Holbrook in John Jones' corner
Photo Gallery from last night's game
South Carolina’s offense has been struggling to put up runs the past three games. After putting up 10 runs Friday night against Kentucky, the Gamecocks were shutout Saturday and scored only four runs on 14 hits Sunday.
The offense then failed to put up many runs against Presbyterian Tuesday, putting up three behind two Alex Destino home runs to win the game 3-1.
After the game, head coach Chad Holbrook said he’s not going to put much stock in last night’s offensive performance since the Blue Hose pitcher was throwing 65 mile-per-hour off-speed pitches. He did say, though, maybe a few lineup shifts could be on the horizon.
Holbrook did say there are about 10 to 11 guys he wants to play every game, but can’t based on the guys he wants to have in the lineup every day. And he thinks the players who started the season off well can be the ones to get the offense back to where it was a week ago.
“We have a lot of talent; we can do it,” Holbrook said. “Maybe there’s one or two more on the bench that can do it. I got to put some other guys other there. We’re sitting there at 37-11 and our team ain’t broke. I’m not going to throw kids over the bus who’ve gotten us in this position. That’s one thing I am; a loyal guy.”
One big piece of the puzzle who started off hot and has cooled since has been John Jones. Jones burst onto the scene early in SEC play and was hitting close to .500 during the season but has dipped down to .291 after Tuesday’s game.
Over the past month, Jones is hitting 8-for-46 (.173) with 20 strikeouts, six walks, four RBIs and three runs scored. After a slump like this, Holbrook is still putting him in the lineup. He’s only not started twice since April 12 and has primarily played as the designated hitter high-up in the lineup.
Holbrook has reiterated his confidence in Jones and said he thinks Jones could be a guy who carries the team down the stretch this year.
“People want me to be outside of John Jones’ corner, I can assure you I’m in his corner,” Holbrook said. “And I’m going to be in his corner until the last pitch is thrown, because we wouldn’t be sitting here at 37-and-11 without John Jones. People don’t want me to play him, I’m at practice everyday and I know how hard that kid works. If I lose with John Jones in the lineup, I’ll lose with John Jones in the lineup and feel good about it.”
Even with the offense struggling to put up runs the past three games, Alex Destino has been putting up his own offense including two home runs Tuesday night. Over the past three games, the sophomore is 6-for-13 (.461) with two RBIs and two runs scored.
If the Gamecocks can couple that with a few more guys hitting around him, Holbrook thinks this team could be dangerous.
“If we can get one more guy or two more guys that are hitting around him, we’ll score some runs and we’ll score some runs in bunches,” he said. “Right now we don’t have that guy around him that’s wearing it out. We got to step up.
