David Phillips, I'm sorry.
We poked fun about your ability to mash a ball with a metal bat often leading up to the start of this season...through posts, radio, chatting with friends, Facebook, Twitter, curse-laden e-mails to Mike Bianco, etc.
But if this weekend is any indication of your abilities at the dish, we're very, very happy you're an Ole Miss Rebel.
Phillips sent three baseballs over the walls of Swayze Field this weekend – one for each game the Rebels played. He went 6 for 9 at the plate with 17 total bases, six RBI and slugged an amazing 1.889 percent. Tack onto that zero errors and only one K, and you have one HELL of a weekend.
At his current pace, Phillips will hit 56 HRs this year, but we won't hold him to that kind of standard. If nothing else, you have to hit at least 30 roundtrippers though...okay, we'll settle for 10.
The Rebels saw power output from more than just Phillips, however. Three other Ole Miss players went yard for a combined total of seven homers for the weekend.
Though the season is very, VERY young, there are a few things to note:
1.) We're going to continue to lose games that we shouldn't. The first game was an aberration, no doubt, when compared to the violating, pillaging wins over ULM on Saturday and Sunday, but they are going to happen again throughout the season.
2.) We have a great chance at averaging over one home run per game on the year. So far, we're averaging well over two per game.
3.) Our starting pitching may not be as bad as we thought in the preseason. Aaron Barrett and Trent Rothlin gave up a combined one earned run over 12 innings pitched and notched nine K's. The entire staff held ULM to a .196 batting average this weekend.
4.) Matt Tracy was the player we overlooked in the preseason thus far. He had a great weekend for a player with very limited experience before this season. His 3.2 scoreless IP showed his ability to close down a hot hitting team.
Next up, the Rebels have one mid-week game, which we will preview and recap in fine fashion, then a weekend series with Oakland University(Red Tent Rebellion most likely will NOT be in attendance).
For those of you who did stop by the tent, thanks for supporting our cause of drinking and being merry in the outfield. Bring some chips or something next time though, sheesh, some of our bloggeurs were frickin' starved to death.