2025 NCAA Baseball Transfer Portal

[StateDawg44]

If your expectation is for freshmen to be immediate day one contributors you are going to be disappointed in general.

If your expectation is that they will develop into a high level player over three years which is typically what does happen then you will be a lot happier.

Funny how Nori is no longer a day one impact player all of a sudden. Or Cason wouldn't have been a contributor to our BP.

Although, Lemo probably wouldn't have put them out there regardless

[Coach34]

Be prepared to hear how we do in fact get some top 150 players to campus each year even though we typically get zero contribution from them for their freshman year. Then hear about how they have to adjust.

Freshmen just arent getting alot of playing time now in the Portal Era. Less than 20 SEC Freshmen got 50 or more AB's in 2024

[Todd4State]

Funny how Nori is no longer a day one impact player all of a sudden. Or Cason wouldn't have been a contributor to our BP.

Although, Lemo probably wouldn't have put them out there regardless

Not sure I said that Nori would be a "day one impact " player but if I did the fact that he was a first round pick would see to agree with that assessment.

Cason would have been wait and see and it would have depended on how good his command would be.

Again- if you are expecting freshmen to contribute at a high level on day one you are going to be disappointed. If it happens be pleasantly surprised because it isn't the norm.

[CaptainObvious]

Sounds like a point well missed. There are schools that are getting their early round picks to campus and there are schools getting their Top 10 round picks to return to school. How often has that happened for State? I can think of 2 or 3. Maybe a couple more. When did the culture change so much that 13-18 round guys would rather ride minor league busses than go the college route? Seems like it coincided with the open transfer rules.

[maroonmania]

When did the culture change so much that 13-18 round guys would rather ride minor league busses than go the college route?

Yea, while also making some pretty nice NIL coin in college. Its no longer make your money or go to college since now you can make some decent money while in college.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Sounds like a point well missed. There are schools that are getting their early round picks to campus and there are schools getting their Top 10 round picks to return to school. How often has that happened for State? I can think of 2 or 3. Maybe a couple more. When did the culture change so much that 13-18 round guys would rather ride minor league busses than go the college route? Seems like it coincided with the open transfer rules.

Auburn kept all their HS players (2 top-100 and 9 top-200) and had an equal-to-better portal. Ole Miss lost 1 pick, 1st rounder, and kept 4 top 100 players and 3 top 200.

I guess we are stuck with Lemons though. Enough people like him. Not me, but enough.

[SPMT]

Auburn kept all their HS players (2 top-100 and 9 top-200) and had an equal-to-better portal. Ole Miss lost 1 pick, 1st rounder, and kept 4 top 100 players and 3 top 200.

I guess we are stuck with Lemons though. Enough people like him. Not me, but enough.

I?m not a big fan of Lemonis, but we couldn?t fire him this year.

If we are in fact losing similar players while programs equal or below us are retaining them then that is a huge problem. I doubt it?s NIL related.

I doubt it?s because they think Lemonis is going to get fired because everyone knows Bianco is a lame duck??

[StateDawg44]

I doubt it?s because they think Lemonis is going to get fired because everyone knows Bianco is a lame duck??

Surely not, that would scare recruits away...

[Cooterpoot]

Water is wet,Templeton is cheap, Lemonis isn't a great recruiter

[SPMT]

Surely not, that would scare recruits away...

In the old days it would, with portal doesn?t seem to matter

[BigDawg81]

Mershon signs
0 for 2 today

[Todd4State]

Water is wet,Templeton is cheap, Lemonis isn't a great recruiter

Have to recruit players that make better financial decisions about their future

[RockyDog]

Auburn kept all their HS players (2 top-100 and 9 top-200) and had an equal-to-better portal. Ole Miss lost 1 pick, 1st rounder, and kept 4 top 100 players and 3 top 200.

I guess we are stuck with Lemons though. Enough people like him. Not me, but enough.

Stuck with a natty winning coach. You whiners are pitiful. Lemons is the 2nd best coach in the SEC behind Vitello. Book it!!

[Cooterpoot]

Have to recruit players that make better financial decisions about their future

Have to know the risks with the ones you take. Other schools in the SEC are getting those kids. We knew it with all the guys we lost.

[Pancho]

who are our 3 starting out fielders as of now?

[maroonmania]

Have to know the risks with the ones you take. Other schools in the SEC are getting those kids. We knew it with all the guys we lost.

Yep, A&M keeps a 3rd rounder while we can't even keep guys that went late on the 3rd day.

[BigDawg81]

Isn?t the Washington transfer Arquette coming to State since Mershon signed? That was the deal right?

[KOdawg1]

Isn?t Washington transfer Arquette coming to State since Mershon signed? That was the deal the right?
I'll believe it when I see it

[Pancho]

depends on how bad A&M, LSU and Vitello want him.

[ZedFedder]

depends on how bad A&M, LSU and Vitello want him.

Unfortunately this is where we are right now in MSU Baseball. I don?t know if it?s Lemonis, NIL, or what.

[Pancho]

Arquette wants to play immediately so is his best opportunity not at MSU? his glove isn't smooth as Cupp but his bat is leagues above and beyond Cupp.

[State82]

Arquette wants to play immediately so is his best opportunity not at MSU? his glove isn't smooth as Cupp but his bat is leagues above and beyond Cupp.

I would take his .325 average and .974 fielding all day long though.

[Pancho]

Oh, I agree.

[KB21]

I would take his .325 average and .974 fielding all day long though.

Neither of which are good indicators of hitting ability or defensive ability.

[Pancho]

any smoke on Mershon's younger brother who just decommitted from USC East?

[Coach34]

Yep, A&M keeps a 3rd rounder while we can't even keep guys that went late on the 3rd day.

A&M's package for that 3rd rounder is rumored to be around 800K. The Angels were trying to pay him way under slot. Now it doesnt matter where he is drafted next year because of his NIL.

We dont have 3 players combined getting 800K

[Coach34]

Arquette wants to play immediately so is his best opportunity not at MSU? his glove isn't smooth as Cupp but his bat is leagues above and beyond Cupp.

He would start Day 1 just depends where. 2nd base most likely. It's supposedly us or Oregon St with Okla St a distant 3rd. He's a Somoan west coast guy but wants to play big boy ball in the SEC. We'll see which one he chooses

[Todd4State]

A&M's package for that 3rd rounder is rumored to be around 800K. The Angels were trying to pay him way under slot. Now it doesnt matter where he is drafted next year because of his NIL.

We dont have 3 players combined getting 800K

That's a massive overpay on A&M's part. I really doubt it's that high.

[Coach34]

That's a massive overpay on A&M's part. I really doubt it's that high.

They feel they have another good shot at a title in 24 and are spending whatever it takes is the talk

[KOdawg1]

Looking like Oregon State is going to get him.

We whiff on a top portal guy yet again. Some staff's can close. Some can't.

[BigDawg81]

Arquette to Oregon State
I think that?s a wrap guys. As usual, the Baseball Portal thread never disappoints. I appreciate everyone?s input and keeping up with the portal. Until the baseball portal opens up next year, let?s enjoy some football.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Looking like Oregon State is going to get him.

We whiff on a top portal guy yet again. Some staff's can close. Some can't.

Oregon State's NIL is probably a corrugated box of old, moldy beaver swag in XL, XXL, and YS sizes.

I guess Arquette is going to sell the stuff on Ebay to make $250

[State82]

Mershon signs
0 for 2 today
I was a little surprised that they assigned him to AA right out of the gate.

[maroonmania]

Arquette to Oregon State
I think that?s a wrap guys. As usual, the Baseball Portal thread never disappoints. I appreciate everyone?s input and keeping up with the portal. Until the baseball portal opens up next year, let?s enjoy some football.

And just like last year we will likely have plenty of left over NIL money for baseball. We should have a war chest for next year's portal class.***

[KOdawg1]

I was a little surprised that they assigned him to AA right out of the gate.
The Angels do that with college players.

[bulldogcountry1]

And just like last year we will likely have plenty of left over NIL money for baseball. We should have a war chest for next year's portal class.***

?We can?t compete with the big boy?s NIL?

[Leeshouldveflanked]

NIL is not the problem with MSU baseball. I have a buddy whose son is a top 10 recruit in Mississippi. They hear from Vandy and Duke more than they do MSU. His EBC team just won the Perfect Game World Series and the whole team was invited to Vanderbilt as the champion.
They were impressed with the MSU visit as far as facilities and campus, but not so much anything else. His family has plenty of $$$. He still may go to MSU just because it is hour and half away from home and Oxford is too close.

[basedog]

NIL is not the problem with MSU baseball. I have a buddy whose son is a top 10 recruit in Mississippi. They hear from Vandy and Duke more than they do MSU. His EBC team just won the Perfect Game World Series and the whole team was invited to Vanderbilt as the champion.
They were impressed with the MSU visit as far as facilities and campus, but not so much anything else. His family has plenty of $$$. He still may go to MSU just because it is hour and half away from home and Oxford is too close.

I can understand. Laziness exists.

[Pancho]

NIL is not the problem with MSU baseball. I have a buddy whose son is a top 10 recruit in Mississippi. They hear from Vandy and Duke more than they do MSU. His EBC team just won the Perfect Game World Series and the whole team was invited to Vanderbilt as the champion.
They were impressed with the MSU visit as far as facilities and campus, but not so much anything else. His family has plenty of $$$. He still may go to MSU just because it is hour and half away from home and Oxford is too close.

aren't his folks big shark fans? Did Lemo not offer this kid already, like when he was 14 yrs old? If you are referring to the player I think you are, he can't play at MSU.

[StarkVegasSteve]

NIL is not the problem with MSU baseball. I have a buddy whose son is a top 10 recruit in Mississippi. They hear from Vandy and Duke more than they do MSU. His EBC team just won the Perfect Game World Series and the whole team was invited to Vanderbilt as the champion.
They were impressed with the MSU visit as far as facilities and campus, but not so much anything else. His family has plenty of $$$. He still may go to MSU just because it is hour and half away from home and Oxford is too close.

Everyone is missing one big thing that matters. Guys I know we love Starkville, hell a lot of us love it so much we have a second residence there, but to outsiders Starkville is a boring ass town. It has 3 bars that you can fit more than 12 people in, there's no alternate forms of entertainment, and unless you want Mexican your food options are limited. Now Oxford is the same thing, albeit with more bars and more space, but because they have marketed it as somewhere people want to be for 50 years then folks just believe that. They believe that even though they may not see it, it's there. Starkville has none of that perception so recruits take it at face value.

[SPMT]

Everyone is missing one big thing that matters. Guys I know we love Starkville, hell a lot of us love it so much we have a second residence there, but to outsiders Starkville is a boring ass town. It has 3 bars that you can fit more than 12 people in, there's no alternate forms of entertainment, and unless you want Mexican your food options are limited. Now Oxford is the same thing, albeit with more bars and more space, but because they have marketed it as somewhere people want to be for 50 years then folks just believe that. They believe that even though they may not see it, it's there. Starkville has none of that perception so recruits take it at face value.

True. Most like it once they come

[StarkVegasSteve]

True. Most like it once they come

And therein lies the problem....these recruiting visits are taken at face value. They don't spend any time here and they are coming in the dead of summer where the town population is cut in half. It's all about perception though. If we started marketing Starkville better, then we may start winning some of these battles.

[bulldogcountry1]

Everyone is missing one big thing that matters. Guys I know we love Starkville, hell a lot of us love it so much we have a second residence there, but to outsiders Starkville is a boring ass town. It has 3 bars that you can fit more than 12 people in, there's no alternate forms of entertainment, and unless you want Mexican your food options are limited. Now Oxford is the same thing, albeit with more bars and more space, but because they have marketed it as somewhere people want to be for 50 years then folks just believe that. They believe that even though they may not see it, it's there. Starkville has none of that perception so recruits take it at face value.

I just don't buy the fact that the town of Starkvile is playing a major role in this. Yeah, it's dead in the summer, but I think it has more to do with the staff failing to sell the program and Starkville.

[SPMT]

I just don't buy the fact that the town of Starkvile is playing a major role in this. Yeah, it's dead in the summer, but I think it has more to do with the staff failing to sell the program and Starkville.

Truth to this as well

[Coach34]

Looking like Oregon State is going to get him.

We whiff on a top portal guy yet again. Some staff's can close. Some can't.

But we closed on what- 9 other portal guys? So why can we close on a All-Big12 Freshman but not on another "known" guy?

I'm not defending nor downing Lemon- just not understanding why we miss on the bigger targets but pull others easily. Doesnt make alot of sense

And StarkVegas 100% affects today's recruiting. If you think our stadium affects recruiting but StarkVegas doesnt- then you are not a serious or very smart individual. All of it is a factor on some level

[basedog]

But we closed on what- 9 other portal guys? So why can we close on a All-Big12 Freshman but not on another "known" guy?

I'm not defending nor downing Lemon- just not understanding why we miss on the bigger targets but pull others easily. Doesnt make alot of sense

And StarkVegas 100% affects today's recruiting. If you think our stadium affects recruiting but StarkVegas doesnt- then you are not a serious or very smart individual. All of it is a factor on some level

I think players commit more to who will be coaching them than say the city or town. Also facilities play a big part but now days everyone except a few in SEC have nice facilities (baseball).
Lemonis is a nice guy, but he is nowhere near the top recruiters in the Sec in baseball, maybe middle of the pack at best. JMO

[maroonmania]

I think players commit more to who will be coaching them than say the city or town. Also facilities play a big part but now days everyone except a few in SEC have nice facilities (baseball).
Lemonis is a nice guy, but he is nowhere near the top recruiters in the Sec in baseball, maybe middle of the pack at best. JMO

And the strange part is Lemonis was sold to us when he came as a top notch recruiter that was key in building Louisville under McDonnell. At this point I won't ever expect us to win a big time portal battle ever again. And I just don't buy the Starkville argument. I'm sure that affects some small percentage of players but it doesn't seem to bother our HS recruiting where we still do pretty well. Starkville is way better now than it's been through most of MSUs history. Aside from the financial piece, I would think for a portal guy the bigger factors would be opportunity of playing time, development for MLB and game environment moreso than how many bars are in town. Heck, most will only be around for one year maybe two. I doubt we lost a guy to Corvallis, Oregon based on the party scene but whatever. Heck, Oregon State doesn't even have a conference to play in at the moment.

[Coach34]

I think players commit more to who will be coaching them than say the city or town. Also facilities play a big part but now days everyone except a few in SEC have nice facilities (baseball).
Lemonis is a nice guy, but he is nowhere near the top recruiters in the Sec in baseball, maybe middle of the pack at best. JMO

Lemon certainly has to be a part of that. As does StarkVegas and its location in Nowhere Mississippi. As does facilities. As does the campus.

It doesnt make sense that we have lost every "known" player battle but won others. The guy from Houston chose us over LSU and some others. So we dont lose every battle but it makes you wonder why we lose the ones we do.

[basedog]

Lemon certainly has to be a part of that. As does StarkVegas and its location in Nowhere Mississippi. As does facilities. As does the campus.

It doesnt make sense that we have lost every "known" player battle but won others. The guy from Houston chose us over LSU and some others. So we dont lose every battle but it makes you wonder why we lose the ones we do.

I think we have to work harder with recruiting the so called “stars”. I think we do ok but folks like Vitello are just driven and I think he is more involved. Lemonis is a nice guy, and does ok at recruiting but I don’t think he is a great but a decent to good recruiter. Just gotta get players that can be leaders and are motivated. I think after the Natty we lacked motivation and had clubhouse issues. This hurts your recruiting.

[No BS Dawg]

It appears our coaches have one of the same problems the team did this year, the inability to close. Especially against the better teams and with the higher profile prospects.

[Pancho]

obvious personality traits that are only overcome by strong willed and self motivated players. we gotta hope some of the incoming guys have these qualities.

[Leeshouldveflanked]

His folks are sidewalk Ole Miss fans as 80% of the people are up here. But if he wants to go to MSU I dont think the parents would have a problem. As far as ?he cant play at MSU? he is just now starting to fill out physically. He is only 16 and has 2 more years to go before he graduates and will probably be 6?8? and 240 by then. He is 86-89 on his fastball and really raw as a pitcher. I think his dad is going get him a pitching coach like Harmon has. He sure isnt going to get any coaching at school. Jared Johnson at Smithville gained 5 mph on his FB from his Junior to Senior year. I could see him hitting mid 90?s by his Senior year.

[Todd4State]

The biggest issue is we didn't meet our needs. Get ready for O'Brien in CF next year and we have no legit ace.

[Pancho]

His folks are sidewalk Ole Miss fans as 80% of the people are up here. But if he wants to go to MSU I dont think the parents would have a problem. As far as ?he cant play at MSU? he is just now starting to fill out physically. He is only 16 and has 2 more years to go before he graduates and will probably be 6?8? and 240 by then. He is 86-89 on his fastball and really raw as a pitcher. I think his dad is going get him a pitching coach like Harmon has. He sure isnt going to get any coaching at school. Jared Johnson at Smithville gained 5 mph on his FB from his Junior to Senior year. I could see him hitting mid 90?s by his Senior year.


well, he better do something to attract Lemo and Parker other than the norm so far. So far he hasn't shown anything that says D1 and I've seen him pitch numerous times and who cares if he's 6'8"? He will not gain 50 pounds while playing basketball from september to march each year. His velo is a moot point without better control of his other 2 pitches. I thought McNickel was working on improving his mechanics to improve deficiencies to pitch and not simply throw. I'm not sure going to Billingsly accomplishes much but maybe paying more for the same thing will? I agree he is raw but if he's still raw as a junior then he's a juco project and that in itself isn't bad but right now he's not mentally in the league with Jared Johnson or Harmon(who i question ever makes it to campus). The one thing I do agree with you on is the coaching he receives at school. Harmon has high school coaches who understand and they work daily during their athletic block on these issues in the fall while this kid is playing basketball til spring break. I hope to see him in maroon one day but he'll have to improve mentally to reach such a goal.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Along with missing on all the big portal guys. And the lack of attention to in-state recruits.

It appears our HS commits are easier for MLB to pull than other colleges.

To me, it's a sign that MSU's "commitments" are fake, loose, and just for leverage. The actual recruits (kids that want to be college players) like the top-150 guys that Butch kept in Auburn, are not the players that Lemons is signing at a rate that reflects MSU tradition, facilities, and pedigree. MSU is recruiting only marginally above the average SEC school, like Auburn. Now, UGA is out recruiting MSU, joining the other leaders like Ark, Vandy, LSU, UTK, TAM, and UF. I know, I know, some folks are happy being the 7th or 8th best college baseball program in the SEC.

If SEC coaches were in the movie Glengarry Glen Ross... Lemons would be Jack Lemmon's character. The dude that 'sells' houses to crazy people that will never actually buy a house. No way that Alex Baldwin would give Chris Lemons the good leads.

https://c.tenor.com/6k-5plFLqRwAAAAC/tenor.gif

[Cooterpoot]

I just don't buy the fact that the town of Starkvile is playing a major role in this. Yeah, it's dead in the summer, but I think it has more to do with the staff failing to sell the program and Starkville.

It's not the problem at all

[SPMT]

It's not the problem at all

Then it?s money or it?s the coach/staff lacking charisma of some sort.

[bulldogcountry1]

It ain?t the money, either, when your top player and a projected weekend portal pitcher sign pro contracts at the last minute, and you still can?t buy a transfer with the NIL they left behind.

?unless the purse strings at the BI are tight.

[Cooterpoot]

We have no problem getting top commits. We can't sign them. That's on the staff for not having other guys and realizing the reality of it all. It's not money and it's not Starkville. Lemonis isn't a great recruiter overall and I've said it over and over. Is what it is now. This staff is getting handled by better recruiting coaches primarily. Leno is half-asser who thinks Dudy Noble recruits itself. Got lazy as hell after the natty too. Plus, baseball is quirky too, it's not like football.

[maroonmania]

It ain?t the money, either, when your top player and a projected weekend portal pitcher sign pro contracts at the last minute, and you still can?t buy a transfer with the NIL they left behind.

?unless the purse strings at the BI are tight.

Listened to the end of Rosebowl's podcast today and it sounds like the Oregon State staff just outworked ours at the end to get Arquette back in their boat. Not sure what OSU's final NIL offer was but I assume it was still significantly less than ours. But according to Rosie it was not big deal to lose the top rated portal recruit because he was just a luxury. Sounds like a lot of water toting to me because as Todd stated, we absolutely didn't meet all our needs with what we got out the portal given all that we lost off this year's roster. I see us being a mid-level SEC team next year at best which should hopefully get us back into the post-season but I don't really see us hosting as a Top 16 seed but I would love to be wrong. We really needed a few studs out of the portal given we lost our entire SEC rotation and our best 3 hitters and I don't think we really got that. Arquette would have gone a long way to helping to shore up our lineup. Instead, he goes to a team that doesn't even have a conference home at the moment.

[Pancho]

I think this will be the nature of the SEC each year for Lemo and crew. Their head is basically on the chopping block annually. Maybe he subtly loves a challenge?

[The Federalist Engineer]

Listened to the end of Rosebowl's podcast today and it sounds like the Oregon State staff just outworked ours at the end to get Arquette back in their boat. Not sure what OSU's final NIL offer was but I assume it was still significantly less than ours. But according to Rosie it was not big deal to lose the top rated portal recruit because he was just a luxury. Sounds like a lot of water toting to me because as Todd stated, we absolutely didn't meet all our needs with what we got out the portal given all that we lost off this year's roster. I see us being a mid-level SEC team next year at best which should hopefully get us back into the post-season but I don't really see us hosting as a Top 16 seed but I would love to be wrong. We really needed a few studs out of the portal given we lost our entire SEC rotation and our best 3 hitters and I don't think we really got that. Arquette would have gone a long way to helping to shore up our lineup. Instead, he goes to a team that doesn't even have a conference home at the moment.

(1) lost the Ohio State lefty
(2) lost the Long Beach Lefty
(3) nothing with the ECU kids
(4) nothing with the better Indiana State prospects
(5) nothing with any inter SEC kids (Cade Fisher, others)
(6) nothing with Ole Miss blue chips
(7) nothing with recruits that had other major offers. Maybe Pruett did?

Got a fake UKentucky commitment. Lost a 1st team All SEC sophomore SS for 255K. Had no backup plan. Lost an 8th rounder that would be a 1st rounder in 3 years.

This offseason is a disaster. I bet if DJ were an LSU Tiger, he would be back for a Junior year to win an NC and be a 1st rounder.

Anyways, time to return to my hole until February when baseball starts again.

[StateDawg44]

I see us being a mid-level SEC team next year at best which should hopefully get us back into the post-season but I don't really see us hosting as a Top 16 seed but I would love to be wrong.

Why stop it at next year. Lemo won't get us above that level at any point.

[KOdawg1]

Listened to the end of Rosebowl's podcast today and it sounds like the Oregon State staff just outworked ours at the end to get Arquette back in their boat. Not sure what OSU's final NIL offer was but I assume it was still significantly less than ours. But according to Rosie it was not big deal to lose the top rated portal recruit because he was just a luxury. Sounds like a lot of water toting to me because as Todd stated, we absolutely didn't meet all our needs with what we got out the portal given all that we lost off this year's roster. I see us being a mid-level SEC team next year at best which should hopefully get us back into the post-season but I don't really see us hosting as a Top 16 seed but I would love to be wrong. We really needed a few studs out of the portal given we lost our entire SEC rotation and our best 3 hitters and I don't think we really got that. Arquette would have gone a long way to helping to shore up our lineup. Instead, he goes to a team that doesn't even have a conference home at the moment.
Yeah the Lemon defenders can miss me with the "Arquette was just icing on the cake" talk. A player like that is an entirely different cake with icing already on it. And we let Oregon State just outwork us and take him.

We landed some decent players. But so did everyone else. And we didn't really address our needs. Michael O'Brien is our CF and we still don't have a proven weekend starters.

[maroonmania]

Why stop it at next year. Lemo won't get us above that level at any point.

Agree, over the last 12 years the program had gotten to the point that it was all about making Omaha. Now we have regressed back to regularly questioning if we can make the post season. I will be very surprised if Lemonis ever gets us back to Omaha again and I absolutely don't see us winning the SEC with him in the NIL environment. Just too many other SEC teams that outrecruit and outspend us with proven portal players and players that are borderline with signing MLB contracts.

[Coach34]

Yeah the Lemon defenders can miss me with the "Arquette was just icing on the cake" talk. A player like that is an entirely different cake with icing already on it. And we let Oregon State just outwork us and take him.

We landed some decent players. But so did everyone else. And we didn't really address our needs. Michael O'Brien is our CF and we still don't have a proven weekend starters.

Here we go again. After being completely wrong this past season I see that some of you are doubling down.

We met most of our needs in the portal. We had a better portal this cycle than last year

Offensively, we brought guys in that are going to make it tough for Chance and Downs to get AB's. We already look to be better offensively than we were this past season. Hines should get back to form. Highfill returns. I love that we got an All-B12 freshman that hit .287 with 7 HR's. This time last year you were whining that Hugesack couldnt hit- but now we are stressed he's leaving? O'Brien hit .327 this summer when he got regular AB's. I'm betting we get some growth out of him.

On the mound we dont have the SP's we had- but our bullpen is way better. We already know who most likely works the 8th and 9th for us with Virginia and Black. The overall staff should be pretty damn good.

Lastly- we had a great run from 2012-2021 but that's just what it was- a run. The SEC is not the same as it was then. College baseball is not the same as it was then. The SEC just set a record with 11 teams making a Regional. Plus we are adding Texas and OU now- which would have made 13 teams. We expect to be good in baseball and in 2024 we were. Now bring on 2025 and let's see what we get done.

[KOdawg1]

Here we go again. After being completely wrong this past season I see that some of you are doubling down.

We met most of our needs in the portal. We had a better portal this cycle than last year

Offensively, we brought guys in that are going to make it tough for Chance and Downs to get AB's. We already look to be better offensively than we were this past season. Hines should get back to form. Highfill returns. I love that we got an All-B12 freshman that hit .287 with 7 HR's. This time last year you were whining that Hugesack couldnt hit- but now we are stressed he's leaving? O'Brien hit .327 this summer when he got regular AB's. I'm betting we get some growth out of him.

On the mound we dont have the SP's we had- but our bullpen is way better. We already know who most likely works the 8th and 9th for us with Virginia and Black. The overall staff should be pretty damn good.

Lastly- we had a great run from 2012-2021 but that's just what it was- a run. The SEC is not the same as it was then. College baseball is not the same as it was then. The SEC just set a record with 11 teams making a Regional. Plus we are adding Texas and OU now- which would have made 13 teams. We expect to be good in baseball and in 2024 we were. Now bring on 2025 and let's see what we get done.
I was one of the few standing with you saying Huge Sack was gonna be good so you're completely wrong there. I can pull the posts up to back that up. Try again.

As to the rest of your long ass post, I never said we wouldn't be good next year. I think we'll be average. So again, you're arguing something I didn't say. Try again.

The point of my post was to diminish those saying Arquette wasn't a loss. He was. A big one. He's not icing on the cake. He is the cake.

I literally said we landed some good players but you didn't read and just saw it was me before spouting off some BS. Try again.

[Tripp McNeely]

Here we go again. After being completely wrong this past season I see that some of you are doubling down.

We met most of our needs in the portal. We had a better portal this cycle than last year

Offensively, we brought guys in that are going to make it tough for Chance and Downs to get AB's. We already look to be better offensively than we were this past season. Hines should get back to form. Highfill returns. I love that we got an All-B12 freshman that hit .287 with 7 HR's. This time last year you were whining that Hugesack couldnt hit- but now we are stressed he's leaving? O'Brien hit .327 this summer when he got regular AB's. I'm betting we get some growth out of him.

On the mound we dont have the SP's we had- but our bullpen is way better. We already know who most likely works the 8th and 9th for us with Virginia and Black. The overall staff should be pretty damn good.

Lastly- we had a great run from 2012-2021 but that's just what it was- a run. The SEC is not the same as it was then. College baseball is not the same as it was then. The SEC just set a record with 11 teams making a Regional. Plus we are adding Texas and OU now- which would have made 13 teams. We expect to be good in baseball and in 2024 we were. Now bring on 2025 and let's see what we get done.

There does seem to be this weird assumption that none of the players on the 2024 roster will improve at all, especially the ones that didn't play much last year...it's really weird

[KOdawg1]

There does seem to be this weird assumption that none of the players on the 2024 roster will improve at all, especially the ones that didn't play much last year...it's really weird

I think it's entirely possible to improve but we tried to land several CFs before whiffing on all of them so the coaches obviously didn't feel great about rolling with O'Brien otherwise, we wouldn't have tried to bring in the Stetson, UK, and other OFs.

Can he be good? Sure.
He's doing good in summer ball. But you go with proven over unproven every time. And we tried to do that but just didn't get it done for whatever reason.

[Coach34]

Arquette would have certainly been a good pick-up. Hate we lost that battle

I dont think we will be average. Average in college baseball means you are unranked and a 3 seed heading into Regionals. I think we will be above average and fighting for a host spot again in 25. My biggest concern is will the Committee once again steal host spots from the SEC in the name of "growing the game"

[basedog]

I will be surprised if Chance isn't in the lineup. He should be improved going into this year, he definitely got better last year.

[maroonmania]

Arquette would have certainly been a good pick-up. Hate we lost that battle.

That's a bit of an understatement. Marquette would have been our highest average hitter right out at the gate and very likely would have hit over .300 even in the SEC. He is projected to be a 1st rounder next year. Can you name one player on our roster coming back that you would have confidence in hitting over .300? Chance is our highest returning hitter for average at .286 at least for guys with 100 ABs. After that it falls all the way down to Hines at .257. Yes, our 2nd best returning hitter for average from last year's team is Hines at a whopping 257!

[basedog]

I will be surprised if Chance isn't in the lineup. He should be improved going into this year, he definitely got better last year.

[Coach34]

I will be surprised if Chance isn't in the lineup. He should be improved going into this year, he definitely got better last year.

He probably will but with Hines returning that threw playing time at DH/LF/RF into a big battle. Downs hit .300 this year he just couldnt stay healthy. Ace is going to play somewhere and hit in the middle of the order. Sullivan hit 17 HR's this past season and will be competing for AB's. Stevens was a big bat coming out of HS

We have some real competition for playing time in 25

[basedog]

He probably will but with Hines returning that threw playing time at DH/LF/RF into a big battle. Downs hit .300 this year he just couldnt stay healthy. Ace is going to play somewhere and hit in the middle of the order. Sullivan hit 17 HR's this past season and will be competing for AB's. Stevens was a big bat coming out of HS

We have some real competition for playing time in 25

Competition is always a good thing, hopefully we have some depth, last few years has been really bad in the depth department.

[Cooterpoot]

Chance will 100% be starting & it's not remotely in question.

[Coach34]

I'm wondering with the new bats coming in if he might get a shot to play 2nd. Larry played it most of the season with a terrible arm. Wouldnt be any different with Chance there

[Pancho]

wait, what about the citadel guy. ain't he a mid infielder?

[Coach34]

wait, what about the citadel guy. ain't he a mid infielder?

yes- he could play 2nd, SS, 3rd, or even CF

[schddog72]

Lemons will have MSU top 5 next year. Book it!

Meh . . . . . if we get to top 5, it will be in spite of Lemonhead and not because of him . . . . . .

[SPMT]

I'm wondering with the new bats coming in if he might get a shot to play 2nd. Larry played it most of the season with a terrible arm. Wouldnt be any different with Chance there

That would actually be his best position. He wasn?t an outfielder until he came here.

[The Federalist Engineer]

He probably will but with Hines returning that threw playing time at DH/LF/RF into a big battle. Downs hit .300 this year he just couldnt stay healthy. Ace is going to play somewhere and hit in the middle of the order. Sullivan hit 17 HR's this past season and will be competing for AB's. Stevens was a big bat coming out of HS

We have some real competition for playing time in 25

Downs is a curious case. He's a strong lad and sized for college power. He was also a big recruit. But his 29 hits last year were almost all singles. I think he got a rolling double or two. Schools like Tennessee don't have starters with sub 350 slugging percentage.

Even Polk commented that Downs hits like a small guy (paraphrasing). AD got 9 hits in the last 5 games, that took the average to 300 when it was 263 before. People do get better, if he can hit in 2025 like he did versus Virginia and St John, he's a big boost.

[Todd4State]

Downs is a curious case. He's a strong lad and sized for college power. He was also a big recruit. But his 29 hits last year were almost all singles. I think he got a rolling double or two. Schools like Tennessee don't have starters with sub 350 slugging percentage.

Even Polk commented that Downs hits like a small guy (paraphrasing). AD got 9 hits in the last 5 games, that took the average to 300 when it was 263 before. People do get better, if he can hit in 2025 like he did versus Virginia and St John, he's a big boost.

He has had some injuries. That has affected his power a lot I'm sure.

I'm not sure what we're going to get out of him this year but I wouldn't be completely shocked if he comes out of nowhere and is fairly productive for us. I also wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being a PH guy for us and just is what he is.