[Mr.Kimball]

again I appoligize for the delay in responce but I just signed up..However in responce to Mr. Kimball

I think that if you try to compare JD to Dp...there is no comparison..I agree
However, I don't think that either one of these players is a prototype ss ..Dp is a great player and I'm sure his new coach would agree..but his best position is not ss...and jd's best position is also not ss but for lack of a better one he should be the starter there this year...and he does have surprising depth and range there despite slow feet he seems to gravitate toward the ball better from that side of the field and I would bet that he will put up just as good defensive stats as dp did...Maybe better....I personally hope that he can find what's missing with his arm and have a good year on the mound...he has always had a lot of potiential there as well...

I respect your opinion. You have made a couple of good points in both of your posts, but some parts I will respectfully disagree with you on.

One thing that you will not see on the stat sheet is the ability of a fielder to get to a ball that might get through the hole or up the middle. Sometimes just knocking the ball down can be considered a vital play even if the runner happens to be able to still get on base by way of an infield single. It sometimes keeps an existing runner from maybe scoring on a hit up the middle or one hit in the gap. There is a reason why middle infielders are required at the next level to be able to run in the 6.7 to 6.8 range. A 7.0 flat at the worst. With just a wild guess, I am going to say that VanHoose is in the 7.4 to 7.5 range. You cant even play 1st base at the next level with those numbers unless you are Mark McGuire. You have to have speed and quickness to potentialy make those plays. I guess what I am trying to say is that perhaps even though one player may have statictical numbers better than another may not be a great indicator of whom the better choice to play the position is. To be honest I dont think there was the first player in the 15th region able to play shortstop at the next level to begin with. Considering the fact of the required ability of speed and quickness, the only two with a remote possibility was either Blanton or Pugh. And in my opinion, neither one had the glove , but they did possess the speed and quickness factor. VanHoose may in deed be Paintsville's best option to play the position this year, but the original debate was the statement that VanHoose should have been the starting short stop the last several years over Pugh. No way. I think it is very evident that Pugh is a much better outfielder than infielder, especially at the next level. However, IMO, Paintsville's staff had the right people in the right spot last season at that position.