Baseball Summer League

[The Federalist Engineer]

http://necbl_newport.wttbaseball.pointstreak.com/team_stats.html?teamid=6458&seasonid=33860&view=pitching

Nolan Stevens is hitting 361 with 2HR and leading his team in RBI

Jackson MacKenzie is also on the team, not killing it at the moment

My Dude Colby Holcombe has a 0.00 ERA with 7 Ks/0 BBs in 4-innings

https://pointstreak.com/baseball/en/team_stats.html?teamid=6401&seasonid=33860&view=batting&bset=

Brett House and Jace Norton on the team, hitters. Brett has 3HRs. Neither hitting for average. Lots of Ks.

Others

Karson Ligon is playing for the Chatham Anglers, 2 innings, no runs

[Homedawg]

http://necbl_newport.wttbaseball.pointstreak.com/team_stats.html?teamid=6458&seasonid=33860&view=pitching

Nolan Stevens is hitting 361 with 2HR and leading his team in RBI

Jackson MacKenzie is also on the team, not killing it at the moment

My Dude Colby Holcombe has a 0.00 ERA with 7 Ks/0 BBs in 4-innings

https://pointstreak.com/baseball/en/team_stats.html?teamid=6401&seasonid=33860&view=batting&bset=

Brett House and Jace Norton on the team, hitters. Brett has 3HRs. Neither hitting for average. Lots of Ks.

Others

Karson Ligon is playing for the Chatham Anglers, 2 innings, no runs

Norton and Mckenzie won'g be back. Doubt Holcombe will either. Would be shocked.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Norton and Mckenzie won'g be back. Doubt Holcombe will either. Would be shocked.

Holcombe seems like a lottery ticket for MSU. His regression last season was shocking, it's like he developed Level-4 Yips. Are we expecting the draft to take him?

I see Schulke in the Cape, is he there to get professional attention? He is out-of-eligibility for college, isn't he?

[Homedawg]

Holcombe seems like a lottery ticket for MSU. His regression last season was shocking, it's like he developed Level-4 Yips. Are we expecting the draft to take him?

I see Schulke in the Cape, is he there to get professional attention? He is out-of-eligibility for college, isn't he?

yes, i expect Holcombe to be drafter. And yes Cam still has another year.

[Coach34]

If they offer Holcombe a Twix and a Pepsi he better take it

[somebodyshotmypaw]

Who has a higher ceiling at MSU, Nolan Stevens the pitcher or Nolan Stevens the hitter?

[Commercecomet24]

Who has a higher ceiling at MSU, Nolan Stevens the pitcher or Nolan Stevens the hitter?

Hitter imho.

[Coach34]

agree- hitter.

[KOdawg1]

Stevens is probably starting RF next year

[Tbonewannabe]

How did Stevens not get more at bats this year? It wasn't like we had more than 6 actual SEC hitters in our lineup. Weakest lineup we have had in a while top to bottom.

[KOdawg1]

How did Stevens not get more at bats this year? It wasn't like we had more than 6 actual SEC hitters in our lineup. Weakest lineup we have had in a while top to bottom.

Dumb decision making by our head coach

[Pancho]

that is another reason Lemo worries me. just like how huge sack hardly played the year before.

[CaptainObvious]

Dumb decision making by our head coach

The only reason Lemonis didn't get SEC Coach of the year was because there were only 9 coaches better than him. If he had won 1 or 2 more midweek games he would have been a shoe in for Coach of the year! He had an incredible improvement this year over the guy that was State's Head Coach last year!

[StarkVegasSteve]

that is another reason Lemo worries me. just like how huge sack hardly played the year before.

Well in Lem's defense, where would you have put him? LF for Dakota? CF for Ledbetter? RF for Clark? Or DH for Hines/Hancock?

[Coursesuper]

If they offer Holcombe a Twix and a Pepsi he better take it

Is that the new version of a Coke and a bag of peanuts?

[somebodyshotmypaw]

Is that the new version of a Coke and a bag of peanuts?

The new version is a Red Bull and some Sour Patch Kids.

[Coach34]

Well in Lem's defense, where would you have put him? LF for Dakota? CF for Ledbetter? RF for Clark? Or DH for Hines/Hancock?

2B for Larry

[The Federalist Engineer]

Well in Lem's defense, where would you have put him? LF for Dakota? CF for Ledbetter? RF for Clark? Or DH for Hines/Hancock?

Man, I would have hated to bench Hancock's 240 SEC batting average and 11 RBIs in the SEC.

Christian Moore produces more in a single game.

[Coach34]

Man, I would have hated to bench Hancock's 240 SEC batting average and 11 RBIs in the SEC.

Christian Moore produces more in a single game.

Nailed it. But you are getting to the problem in modern sports.

BECAUSE we paid Hancock to come back for another year- we had to play him over other players due to promises

[Todd4State]

How did Stevens not get more at bats this year? It wasn't like we had more than 6 actual SEC hitters in our lineup. Weakest lineup we have had in a while top to bottom.

I think part of the issue was Stevens injured himself in the fall and it affected how much the staff wanted to use him. Right or wrong.

My biggest gripe is how we used him as a pitcher. We basically used him in every major jam we got in. And he didn't do very well usually in those situations. I would have liked to have seen him start more midweek games last or maybe even a Sunday or two before Pico got healthy.

I think he has a chance to be used a dual position guy for us as his career progresses. Like how Florida used Jac Caglione. Sometimes dual position guys gravitate to hitting or pitching but I think he showed enough sustained promise at both to warrant a look at both going forward for now.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Nailed it. But you are getting to the problem in modern sports.

BECAUSE we paid Hancock to come back for another year- we had to play him over other players due to promises

Yep. We made promises. That's why we kept trying to catch him even though there were HS players who had faster pop times than him. We promised him a spot in the lineup and so many starts at C. That's the world we live in unfortunately and we made a bad promise to the wrong player.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I think part of the issue was Stevens injured himself in the fall and it affected how much the staff wanted to use him. Right or wrong.

My biggest gripe is how we used him as a pitcher. We basically used him in every major jam we got in. And he didn't do very well usually in those situations. I would have liked to have seen him start more midweek games last or maybe even a Sunday or two before Pico got healthy.

I think he has a chance to be used a dual position guy for us as his career progresses. Like how Florida used Jac Caglione. Sometimes dual position guys gravitate to hitting or pitching but I think he showed enough sustained promise at both to warrant a look at both going forward for now.

His future is at the plate. Pitching needs to be done for him.

[Todd4State]

His future is at the plate. Pitching needs to be done for him.

I disagree. I've heard scouts comp him to Hagan Smith. If that's his pitching comp we need to give a longer look at pitching.

Plus his stats for a freshman put in the spots he was weren't bad at all. 4.72 ERA, 2-3 W/L 28 K's 8 walks in 26.2 IP. Now he did allow 27 hits, 4 home runs and opponents hit .260 off of him so he definitely has some room for improvement. But as a freshman who missed a lot of the fall he was pretty solid and I think he has a chance to be really good as a pitcher with a full offseason with Parker.

[Cooterpoot]

I disagree. I've heard scouts comp him to Hagan Smith. If that's his pitching comp we need to give a longer look at pitching.

Plus his stats for a freshman put in the spots he was weren't bad at all. 4.72 ERA, 2-3 W/L 28 K's 8 walks in 26.2 IP. Now he did allow 27 hits, 4 home runs and opponents hit .260 off of him so he definitely has some room for improvement. But as a freshman who missed a lot of the fall he was pretty solid and I think he has a chance to be really good as a pitcher with a full offseason with Parker.

He's never going to be Hagan Smith but he's absolutely a two way guy. We could have a couple of those next season if Parker works some magic with our Upstate transfer.

[Leroy Jenkins]

I disagree. I've heard scouts comp him to Hagan Smith. If that's his pitching comp we need to give a longer look at pitching.

Plus his stats for a freshman put in the spots he was weren't bad at all. 4.72 ERA, 2-3 W/L 28 K's 8 walks in 26.2 IP. Now he did allow 27 hits, 4 home runs and opponents hit .260 off of him so he definitely has some room for improvement. But as a freshman who missed a lot of the fall he was pretty solid and I think he has a chance to be really good as a pitcher with a full offseason with Parker.

It seemed like every time he got called in, it was a high leverage situation that just ate him up. Not his fault, it was too soon.

[Commercecomet24]

He's never going to be Hagan Smith but he's absolutely a two way guy. We could have a couple of those next season if Parker works some magic with our Upstate transfer.

I agree. Also on Stevens his future is as a hitter but he can definitely help on the mound. Hes left handed has a plus breaking ball and good enough fastball. He can definitely help as a middle inning or matchup guy.

[The Federalist Engineer]

I disagree. I've heard scouts comp him to Hagan Smith. If that's his pitching comp we need to give a longer look at pitching.

Plus his stats for a freshman put in the spots he was weren't bad at all. 4.72 ERA, 2-3 W/L 28 K's 8 walks in 26.2 IP. Now he did allow 27 hits, 4 home runs and opponents hit .260 off of him so he definitely has some room for improvement. But as a freshman who missed a lot of the fall he was pretty solid and I think he has a chance to be really good as a pitcher with a full offseason with Parker.

Sounds goofy to say, but he just needs some run and dip and his arm has a 95 mph cannon. The teams that really shelled him are CWS teams, one is in the National Championship phase. I remember when Ethan Small was a freshman, usually crushed. Same with pre-polish Dakota Hudson. Both huge freshman arms that were hit hard.

Big difference is that Stevens wasn't shelled by Florida Atlantic or Holy Cross. Those guys became 1st team All SEC

[Leeshouldveflanked]

Yep. We made promises. That's why we kept trying to catch him even though there were HS players who had faster pop times than him. We promised him a spot in the lineup and so many starts at C. That's the world we live in unfortunately and we made a bad promise to the wrong player.
Very dumb decision. He was a role player at best

[Young dawg]

I believe that Stevens has the ability to help us at the plate and on the mound. The biggest problem is he is a fastball slider guy and when the slider can?t find the zone you basically eliminate it and sit fastball. He really just needs to work on the command and possibly another off speed. I will say I haven?t seen him pitch to much this is just what I picked up the couple times I did see him.

[TALL DAWG]

On the comments above that we paid Hancock to come back?.that?s ok but?if we pay a player and want to bench him?it should be our choice. Just saying?

[BB30]

Nailed it. But you are getting to the problem in modern sports.

BECAUSE we paid Hancock to come back for another year- we had to play him over other players due to promises

If our hc is basing playing time off of "promises" or even being willing to make promises in the first place we are in trouble. I know things have changed but most of the college coaches I know aren't letting NIL dictate how many games you'll play or opportunities you'll get or if you're struggling that you'll stay in the lineup. I would be willing to bet a lot of money that our coaches simply thought Hancock was the best option at the time and went with him and that it had absolutely nothing to do with promising a certain amount of starts at C etc.

Especially to a 5th year average to below average SEC baseball player. That just doesn't add up.

[BB30]

On the comments above that we paid Hancock to come back?.that?s ok but?if we pay a player and want to bench him?it should be our choice. Just saying?

It is the coach's choice and anyone saying that we are making promises to play a player we have paid regardless of the results is out of touch.

If I have a kid that we paid 150K for and hes sucking and my job is on the line based off of wins and losses and I have a guy behind him that can play the kid behind him is playing. I'm not losing my job because of NIL "promises". Kid doesn't like it he can leave.

This isn't like pro ball where dudes that have alot of money invested in them get the majority of the reps in minor league ball regardless of the stats. Minor league records don't mean sh** its all about development. In college if you play a kid that sucks over a kid that can help you as the coach you are putting your job on the line.

Don't see that happening regularly.

[Coach34]

Out of touch?

All coaches make promises. Wake made promises to land Burns. He left because he wasn’t promised to be a SP. Skenes went to LSU for promises made. And on and on.

[BrunswickDawg]

If our hc is basing playing time off of "promises" or even being willing to make promises in the first place we are in trouble. I know things have changed but most of the college coaches I know aren't letting NIL dictate how many games you'll play or opportunities you'll get or if you're struggling that you'll stay in the lineup. I would be willing to bet a lot of money that our coaches simply thought Hancock was the best option at the time and went with him and that it had absolutely nothing to do with promising a certain amount of starts at C etc.

Especially to a 5th year average to below average SEC baseball player. That just doesn't add up.

This is the point in thread where people need to be reminded -
Luke Hancock in 2023 batted a respectable .287 with 5 HR and 35 RBIs, with a .438 OBP. He only struck out 19 times and walked 42. He made exactly 2 errors in the field with 404 chances. He hit .300 or better until almost the end of April.
He only started 17 games at catcher.

For a career, he was a .276 hitter with 22 HR 147 RBI and a .991 Fielding %.
He may have been an average player, but ultimately no one seemed to be able to knock him out of the lineup. Those are consistent glue guys that every team needs to have.

[BB30]

Out of touch?

All coaches make promises. Wake made promises to land Burns. He left because he wasn’t promised to be a SP. Skenes went to LSU for promises made. And on and on.

Yes, out of touch. Making a promise to get opportunities is one thing. Offering a guarantee that you'll play no matter how poorly you're doing is how you lose your job...

Skenes also delivered on his end of the deal and was a hell of an arm. No doubt LSU told him if you come here and do what we think you can do you'll be our Friday night guy and here is significant cash to come here. Had Skenes showed up overweight/out of shape and was getting shelled or walking the house every start he wouldn't have continued to pitch in the weekend rotation and that is a guarantee. No coach is going to risk their job because some NIL collective paid a kid 150K that ended up being a bad sign. If he sucks he'll get benched and hit the portal again.

So what I am saying is out of touch on your post is that Hancock kept getting to play because of these "promises". Hancock was playing because Lemonis thought he was the best option at the time no doubt about it.

[BB30]

This is the point in thread where people need to be reminded -
Luke Hancock in 2023 batted a respectable .287 with 5 HR and 35 RBIs, with a .438 OBP. He only struck out 19 times and walked 42. He made exactly 2 errors in the field with 404 chances. He hit .300 or better until almost the end of April.
He only started 17 games at catcher.

For a career, he was a .276 hitter with 22 HR 147 RBI and a .991 Fielding %.
He may have been an average player, but ultimately no one seemed to be able to knock him out of the lineup. Those are consistent glue guys that every team needs to have.

Absolutely agree 100% and that is what I am saying. He was playing because he was the best we had or the coaches felt at the time he was the best option. Not because of some BS promises made. I'm not knocking Hancock, he had a pretty decent career.

[Commercecomet24]

This is the point in thread where people need to be reminded -
Luke Hancock in 2023 batted a respectable .287 with 5 HR and 35 RBIs, with a .438 OBP. He only struck out 19 times and walked 42. He made exactly 2 errors in the field with 404 chances. He hit .300 or better until almost the end of April.
He only started 17 games at catcher.

For a career, he was a .276 hitter with 22 HR 147 RBI and a .991 Fielding %.
He may have been an average player, but ultimately no one seemed to be able to knock him out of the lineup. Those are consistent glue guys that every team needs to have.

Yeah Hancock was a solid sec player, not a star but a solid player and every lineup has those. Luke was a very good catcher and could throw well before the shoulder injury, but he persevered and he did give us all he had.

[Leroy Jenkins]

And he had the C on his chest

[StarkVegasSteve]

Yeah Hancock was a solid sec player, not a star but a solid player and every lineup has those. Luke was a very good catcher and could throw well before the shoulder injury, but he persevered and he did give us all he had.

Luke was a good player when he wasn't having to catch, and he really couldn't with the shoulder issues. Unfortunately he had to catch in 23. When he started doing poorly there, it brought his game under an intense microscope to where anything he did was analyzed into a good or bad category. His numbers were as good as they were in 21, but people were looking to bench him every time he didn't hit a 500 ft HR, unfortunately myself included at times.

And then there was the Captains C thing.....I still say that was a brain dead decision by Lemonis to put even more pressure on the kid

[Coach34]

And he had the C on his chest

Yes- this was a big part of it as well. But Hancock underperformed and we had some other options. But we kept running him out there. A lot of that goes to promises made as well.

[Pancho]

Sounds like a high school program where the coaches friends kid plays over a kid with actual talent. either that or weak eval

[Cooterpoot]

The only time you run it back now is when a guy falls a little later in the draft. No point in hanging on to guys that can't compete for All Conference unless they're a solid pen guy

[StarkVegasSteve]

Colby Holcombe

7.2 IP, 15:1 K to BB ratio, 1 ER, 3 H, 1.17 ERA, and 2 saves.

CAN WE PLEASE GET THIS KID RIGHT WHEN HE'S ON CAMPUS?!?!? Kid could be an absolute weapon for us at the back end. High 90s FB with run.....sound like another fireballer reliever we had to anyone else?? Holcombe is a guy who, if he was to step up, could be a MASSIVE piece for us next year.

[Commercecomet24]

Colby Holcombe

7.2 IP, 15:1 K to BB ratio, 1 ER, 3 H, 1.17 ERA, and 2 saves.

CAN WE PLEASE GET THIS KID RIGHT WHEN HE'S ON CAMPUS?!?!? Kid could be an absolute weapon for us at the back end. High 90s FB with run.....sound like another fireballer reliever we had to anyone else?? Holcombe is a guy who, if he was to step up, could be a MASSIVE piece for us next year.

Colby has tons of talent and potential, if he can get his head right.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Colby has tons of talent and potential, if he can get his head right.

Well and we'll have to worry about the draft with him. I would imagine if he gets even a decent offer he will bolt.

[Commercecomet24]

Well and we'll have to worry about the draft with him. I would imagine if he gets even a decent offer he will bolt.

No doubt about it. I wouldn't count on him being back.

[StarkVegasSteve]

No doubt about it. I wouldn't count on him being back.

Same. Just sucks to see him tearing it up and looking to have incredible command and in two years we got, MAYBE, 5-6 quality outings out of him. And the main issue was always command. He would either pipe it dead red and it'd be hit 110 back at him or he'd walk the lot.

Speaking of tall guys with huge arms, CC what ever happened to that Johnson kid we had committed a couple of years ago that blew up and ended up getting drafted by the Braves? Is he still with them?

[Commercecomet24]

Same. Just sucks to see him tearing it up and looking to have incredible command and in two years we got, MAYBE, 5-6 quality outings out of him. And the main issue was always command. He would either pipe it dead red and it'd be hit 110 back at him or he'd walk the lot.

Speaking of tall guys with huge arms, CC what ever happened to that Johnson kid we had committed a couple of years ago that blew up and ended up getting drafted by the Braves? Is he still with them?

Jared Johnson from Smithville. He's in High A ball at Rome and they're using him as a closer. He's got 7 saves and 2.60 era. He was so raw coming out of high school with lots of arm talent. His command is still an issue but he's throwing gas. Still in A ball at 23 not a good sign though. Got a nice signing bonus though.

I don't know what to think about Holcombe anymore. Lot of arm talent, no command. He could be really good as a pro or a complete bust. Hard to know with him. He needs to mature and get his head together.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Holcombe 17 K and 1 BB in 8.1 Innings 1.03 ERA

Stevens 352 Batting Average

For the Newport Gulls

[The Federalist Engineer]

Cape Cop pitchers

Gavin Black is untouched in 4 innings pitched (Wareham Gateman)

Karson Ligon is doing ok. 3 innings, 4 hits and 5 K (Chatham Anglers)

[The Federalist Engineer]

Aaron downs has 2 HRs and 2 Doubles at Danville. At MSU he had 24 singles last year. Almost zero power. In just 55 ABS

[StarkVegasSteve]

Aaron downs has 2 HRs and 2 Doubles at Danville. At MSU he had 24 singles last year. Almost zero power. In just 55 ABS

Very interesting. Hasn't hit a HR in 3 years of ABs at State and didn't hit a HR last year in summer ball, but now has 3 HRs in 60 ABs in summer ball this year.

[sandjunky]

Very interesting. Hasn't hit a HR in 3 years of ABs at State and didn't hit a HR last year in summer ball, but now has 3 HRs in 60 ABs in summer ball this year.

Got away from Gotro

[preachermatt83]

Got away from Gotro

Exactly!

[Cooterpoot]

I put little stock in summer ball except for the draft elite guys next season playing in the top league. I've seen enough bad summer ball to know it's not all the same.

[Coach34]

I put little stock in summer ball except for the draft elite guys next season playing in the top league. I've seen enough bad summer ball to know it's not all the same.

Cape guys usually perform up to expectations. Now the rest is a guess.

Downs hit really well down the stretch and is now performing this summer (i know its not Cape). Thats very encouraging. We'll see about Liggs

[confucius say]

I think Gavin black can really help you next year.

[Commercecomet24]

If you're in the Cape playing summer ball, you're playing against pretty dang good competition. The rest of the summer leagues are a crapshoot, not nearly as good a competition as the Cape or the sec.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I think Gavin black can really help you next year.

Like Ligon, consistency will be the key for him.

[smootness]

Yes- this was a big part of it as well. But Hancock underperformed and we had some other options. But we kept running him out there. A lot of that goes to promises made as well.

Hancock had a very strong senior year offensively. People are weird.

[smootness]

2B for Larry

Larry had a fantastic year in 2023.

[Commercecomet24]

Hancock had a very strong senior year offensively. People are weird.

Yep. Hancock was never a super star and he was never a player that was gonna put a team on his back, but he was a solid sec player, and he was really good catcher before the injury.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Hancock had a very strong senior year offensively. People are weird.

"Strong Senior Year" and someone said something about 500 foot home runs. I think people are mistaking Hancock with another player. Like Tommy Raffo, Cody Brown, or John Cohen. Those were pretty good senior years, hitting 300 and banging clutch HRs. Leading MSU to Omahas and/or winning a hostile Regional. Cody in Hattiesburg, unforgettable.

Hancock in 2023, hit 240 in the SEC, 3 home runs, and 11 RBIs and co-Led in grounding into double plays. Batted 7th in his last game.

[sandjunky]

"Strong Senior Year" and someone said something about 500 foot home runs. I think people are mistaking Hancock with another player. Like Tommy Raffo, Cody Brown, or John Cohen. Those were pretty good senior years, hitting 300 and banging clutch HRs. Leading MSU to Omahas and/or winning a hostile Regional. Cody in Hattiesburg, unforgettable.

Hancock in 2023, hit 240 in the SEC, 3 home runs, and 11 RBIs and co-Led in grounding into double plays. Batted 7th in his last game.

lol
Don?t bring stats into the discussion

[smootness]

"Strong Senior Year" and someone said something about 500 foot home runs. I think people are mistaking Hancock with another player. Like Tommy Raffo, Cody Brown, or John Cohen. Those were pretty good senior years, hitting 300 and banging clutch HRs. Leading MSU to Omahas and/or winning a hostile Regional. Cody in Hattiesburg, unforgettable.

Hancock in 2023, hit 240 in the SEC, 3 home runs, and 11 RBIs and co-Led in grounding into double plays. Batted 7th in his last game.

Sure, I meant that his year overall was strong. And even in SEC play, he was still better than the guys behind him.