Mershon gone

[Santiago]

So it seems.

CEO doing work. No worries, we are still in our historical average.

[Cooterpoot]

This is what happens when your coach doesn't know what's going to happen with the draft and only wants to take a couple roody poo small school guys. Lemonis just can't get it right

[DEDawg]

pathetic

[maroonmania]

Next year is going to be rough from all indications but I'm sure C34 and others will be here to explain how Lemo shouldn't really be expected to do any better. We won't even have ONE preseason all-SEC candidate on our entire team going into 2025. 😞

[Coach34]

Did he enter the portal? He sure hasn’t announced it yet

[preachermatt83]

This is what happens when your coach doesn't know what's going to happen with the draft and only wants to take a couple roody poo small school guys. Lemonis just can't get it right

Exactly

[Turfdawg67]

I just want a coach that'll jump in the stands and celebrate with the fans... or at least not crush them***

[Coach34]

pathetic

I know. It sux Lemon keeps recruiting all these guys that keep getting drafted

[Santiago]

I know. It sux Lemon keeps recruiting all these guys that keep getting drafted

Who are all the future draft picks on our roster for next year's positions?
We are about to see the roster that Lemonis recruited during his victory lap years.

[Cooterpoot]

I know. It sux Lemon keeps recruiting all these guys that keep getting drafted

It's an indictment on this program to lose your best returning player who had two years left and isn't projected in the top 10 rounds. Mershon would rather go pro for cheap than get paid to stay.

[confucius say]

This is what happens when your coach doesn't know what's going to happen with the draft and only wants to take a couple roody poo small school guys. Lemonis just can't get it right

How does lemonis's not knowing what is going to happen in the draft affect Mershon?

[Activated Alpha]

Isn?t the draft in 2 weeks? And what is he projected to go as?

[Coach34]

It's an indictment on this program to lose your best returning player who had two years left and isn't projected in the top 10 rounds. Mershon would rather go pro for cheap than get paid to stay.

Mershon wouldn’t be leaving if he wasn’t projected in the Top 10 rounds

[Coach34]

How does lemonis's not knowing what is going to happen in the draft affect Mershon?

If our fans are dumb enough to believe that Lemon doesn’t talk to the all the pro scouts at our practices and games then they really are the rubes we are accused of being

[Homedawg]

Did he enter the portal? He sure hasn’t announced it yet

No. He wants to sign. But if he doesn't get his number he won't. Or so he says. He won't get the number I've heard. We shall see

[Coach34]

Who are all the future draft picks on our roster for next year's positions.

You tell me Billy since you didnt believe me when I said over and over we would have 7/8/9 guys drafted this July

[Homedawg]

If our fans are dumb enough to believe that Lemon doesn’t talk to the all the pro scouts at our practices and games then they really are the rubes we are accused of being

^ this

[Homedawg]

Mershon wouldn’t be leaving if he wasn’t projected in the Top 10 rounds

He wants higher money than just top ten.

[Homedawg]

It's an indictment on this program to lose your best returning player who had two years left and isn't projected in the top 10 rounds. Mershon would rather go pro for cheap than get paid to stay.

He really wants to start his pro career. Really doesn't have anything to do w the program. He isn't in the portal. If it was the program he would be.

[Coach34]

No. He wants to sign. But if he doesn't get his number he won't. Or so he says. He won't get the number I've heard. We shall see

Exactly. He has leverage. If he goes Top 10 rounds- he will sign. Him making this move tells me he has been told he is going top 10 rounds.

As someone posted- all but 1 or 2 of the guys drafted in the Top 10 rounds last year signed

[Homedawg]

Next year is going to be rough from all indications but I'm sure C34 and others will be here to explain how Lemo shouldn't really be expected to do any better. We won't even have ONE preseason all-SEC candidate on our entire team going into 2025. ��
Well, Mershon wasn't preseason either. See how that turned out.

[EdwardDrayton]

Thinking the situation with Mershon is still playing out. Let's just hold tight. Won't be surprised to see him back in the end.

[BuckyIsAB****]

You tell me Billy since you didnt believe me when I said over and over we would have 7/8/9 guys drafted this July

This isnt the flex you think it is. Either lemonis cant recruit to a blueblood program, or he can recruit and he cant produce. Those are your options. Regional finals haha

[Ranchdawg]

Where is everyone getting this info that Mershon is gone. If he’s in the draft I don’t see him projected to be in the top ten rounds. I don’t see him as a major leaguer but a really good college player and a dirtbag.

[Pancho]

he posted on his twitter,

[Coach34]

This isnt the flex you think it is. Either lemonis cant recruit to a blueblood program, or he can recruit and he cant produce. Those are your options. Regional finals haha

Now do Tim Corbin with his 2 NC's who didnt even make a Regional Final and had a losing SEC record for the 2nd time in the last 3 seasons. They have alot of draft picks too
Add Johnson at LSU who lost in a Regional Final also.
Add VH also who couldnt make a Regional Final at his own stadium

[confucius say]

Hopefully some arms will want to come be developed by Parker. He has a track record that should be appealing, but we've not gotten one arm out of the portal yet.

[BuckyIsAB****]

Now do Tim Corbin with his 2 NC's who didnt even make a Regional Final and had a losing SEC record for the 2nd time in the last 3 seasons. They have alot of draft picks too
Add Johnson at LSU who lost in a Regional Final also.
Add VH also who couldnt make a Regional Final at his own stadium

Yeah Corbin deserves to be fired too for underachieving. Im not even going to compare lemonis vs van horn. Yes lemonis won a natty but its not close. Get real. There is not one state fan/alum with a brain that would not take that trade. Throw Johnson in there too.

So your best argument is bc a coach at another school has fallen off it is ok that ours has. Got it

[BuckyIsAB****]

Again, there is no such thing as a regional final. Ever. Stop it

[BuckyIsAB****]

I dont remember Corbin or VH missing Hoover 2 years in a row or setting school records for losing streaks and losing margins.

[Turfdawg67]

Now do Tim Corbin with his 2 NC's who didnt even make a Regional Final and had a losing SEC record for the 2nd time in the last 3 seasons. They have alot of draft picks too
Add Johnson at LSU who lost in a Regional Final also.
Add VH also who couldnt make a Regional Final at his own stadium

Whataboutism... greatest way to deflect

[Turfdawg67]

I dont remember Corbin or VH missing Hoover 2 years in a row or setting school records for losing streaks and losing margins.

Ouch... forgot about that. What was that, 16 game SEC losing streak?

[Turfdawg67]

Yeah Corbin deserves to be fired too for underachieving. Im not even going to compare lemonis vs van horn. Yes lemonis won a natty but its not close. Get real. There is not one state fan/alum with a brain that would not take that trade. Throw Johnson in there too.

So your best argument is bc a coach at another school has fallen off it is ok that ours has. Got it

If he were an Auburn fan, I guess Chizik would still be there

[BuckyIsAB****]

If he were an Auburn fan, I guess Chizik would still be there

He called lemonis lemonizik, then he all of a sudden changed his tune. Quite a mystery

[Coach34]

Hopefully some arms will want to come be developed by Parker. He has a track record that should be appealing, but we've not gotten one arm out of the portal yet.

The Wichita St guy is the one to watch. We reallyyyyyy need to win that battle.

[Coach34]

Whataboutism... greatest way to deflect

Nope- just making sure perspective at least hangs around a little.

[Coach34]

Again, there is no such thing as a regional final. Ever. Stop it

Well there is to people with an IQ above orange juice

Tell that to Van Horn as he watched two other teams playing on his field to move on to a Super

[BuckyIsAB****]

Im not sure that perspective helps your case but you do you fam

[BuckyIsAB****]

Well there is to people with an IQ above orange juice

Ok. Show me. They don?t even list those on Wikipedia dude

[BuckyIsAB****]

Who gets spotted first? Bigfoot or regional final

[BuckyIsAB****]

34 I bet not once In your life have you ever said, thought or typed the words regional final till lemon beat St. John?s haha

[Thick]

Well there is to people with an IQ above orange juice

Tell that to Van Horn as he watched two other teams playing on his field to move on to a Super

Hahahaha, I?m sorry, but that was funny. Nothing against you Bucky.

[msstate7]

I have a hard time seeing Mershon get a big number. Teams want power with their high picks. Who knows though?

[maroonmania]

Well, Mershon wasn't preseason either. See how that turned out.

Problem is not so much losing Mershon
to the draft (if we do), it's not having any proven replacement players coming on. For the first time in a long time we didn't get any major contributions from any of our true freshmen and we are following that up, so far, with no major grabs from the transfer portal. The fact is we are going to need quite a few players (position and pitchers) to perform well above expectations to have a quality team in 2025. Yes, it could happen but the probabilities are not good. There looks to be no DJ, Hines, Mershon or Dohm type players returning on the 2025 team currently that are already proven at this level. Let's hope the best of the portal is still to come.

[Coach34]

Problem is not so much losing Mershon
to the draft (if we do), it's not having any proven replacement players coming on. For the first time in a long time we didn't get any major contributions from any of our true freshmen and we are following that up, so far, with no major grabs from the transfer portal. The fact is we are going to need quite a few players (position and pitchers) to perform well above expectations to have a quality team in 2025. Yes, it could happen but the probabilities are not good. There looks to be no DJ, Hines, Mershon or Dohm type players returning on the 2025 team currently that are already proven at this level. Let's hope the best of the portal is still to come.

We have Cupp/Trout/Stevens/Downs/Highfill/O'Brien/Powell and added two quality bats in the portal plus a couple of quality defenders. Plus signees with 1 expected to contribute Day 1

On the mound we have Pico de Gallo/Grant/Liggs/Cam Opener/Dotson/Black/Loftin plus some others. Need some portal arms that can help with at least 1 being a weekend guy.

Lemon will get it done or lose his job. Just like this season

[SPMT]

Now do Tim Corbin with his 2 NC's who didnt even make a Regional Final and had a losing SEC record for the 2nd time in the last 3 seasons. They have alot of draft picks too
Add Johnson at LSU who lost in a Regional Final also.
Add VH also who couldnt make a Regional Final at his own stadium

Corbin no longer has the dollar advantage, so that makes sense.

I do think Lemonis got a little lazy. Think he reined it in this year. Team acted different than the last two years. Need some pop and more arms obviously.

Kind of think he overachieved this year based on player performance. Look at Tenn?.like 5 dudes with 20 bombs and they didn?t just roll through the CWS. Had to have breaks like everyone else. Like a third strike call on a clear ?went too far? swing by Burke.

[Coach34]

34 I bet not once In your life have you ever said, thought or typed the words regional final till lemon beat St. John?s haha

aGAIN- we just disagree.

Huge difference in being the last 2 teams playing for a Super as opposed to being eliminated before that. The humiliation Van Horn had to feel being emasculated as two other teams played the Regional Final on his field in front of an empty stadium because they failed to live up to being a National Seed had to be awful.

[Brobi-wan]

If Lemo doesn’t perform next year he will be gone. He did well enough to keep his job this year. If this response sounds like a broken record it’s because we’re all beating a dead horse on this topic. If he leaves we may have a bad year next year for certain, but at least we could give the new guy a pass.

[somebodyshotmypaw]

Again, there is no such thing as a regional final. Ever. Stop it

Just curious, then what would the final game of a regional be called? I would call it the regional final.

[BigDawg81]

Not so fast
https://twitter.com/BCMershon/status/1805725182906032394

[Coach34]

Just curious, then what would the final game of a regional be called? I would call it the regional final.

Got to have an IQ above orange juice

[Commercecomet24]

Just curious, then what would the final game of a regional be called? I would call it the regional final.

Correct and that's what the analysts and everyone else calls it so there's that.

[Coach34]

This thread is f'ing awesome.

Lemonhaters start thread to bash him.
Lemonhaters diidnt realize he didnt enter the portal
Dirtbag's Dad takes to X to relay that he loves State and could be back if the draft doesnt go like he hopes. Meaning he also loves playing for Lemon

As we get to the worst month for sports every year- this is good stuff.

[Santiago]

We have Cupp/Trout/Stevens/Downs/Highfill/O'Brien/Powell and added two quality bats in the portal plus a couple of quality defenders. Plus signees with 1 expected to contribute Day 1

On the mound we have Pico de Gallo/Grant/Liggs/Cam Opener/Dotson/Black/Loftin plus some others. Need some portal arms that can help with at least 1 being a weekend guy.

Lemon will get it done or lose his job. Just like this season

Hope we can fend all that talent from being poached ***

[Coach34]

Hope we can fend all that talent from being poached ***

Lemon will be fired. We dont have the talent to win anything in 2024

[Commercecomet24]

This thread is f'ing awesome.

Lemonhaters start thread to bash him.
Lemonhaters diidnt realize he didnt enter the portal
Dirtbag's Dad takes to X to relay that he loves State and could be back if the draft doesnt go like he hopes. Meaning he also loves playing for Lemon

As we get to the worst month for sports every year- this is good stuff.

Is kinda funny. Mershon is only leaving if mlb money is what he wants it to be. He loves State, always has.

[Commercecomet24]

No. He wants to sign. But if he doesn't get his number he won't. Or so he says. He won't get the number I've heard. We shall see

Y'all please listen to Homedawg on this.

[Commercecomet24]

He really wants to start his pro career. Really doesn't have anything to do w the program. He isn't in the portal. If it was the program he would be.

This!

[Todd4State]

Is kinda funny. Mershon is only leaving if mlb money is what he wants it to be. He loves State, always has.

It wouldn't have made sense to me for him to just announce that he is going pro unless he got some really bad advice because he would essentially be giving up his signing leverage by announcing he is going pro no matter what.

And in that case there is no way he would get his number- and he still might not anyway.

[CaptainObvious]

If Lemo doesn’t perform next year he will be gone. He did well enough to keep his job this year. If this response sounds like a broken record it’s because we’re all beating a dead horse on this topic. If he leaves we may have a bad year next year for certain, but at least we could give the new guy a pass.

And shame on our AD and President for allowing it to get to a point where a guy has a chance to fail for the 3rd out of 4 years because he couldn't maintain a solid roster, recruit one or portal one. Hopefully next year is at least similar to this year at least. I think he should be gone anything less then a host!

[BeardoMSU]

Every thread turning into a "who has the softest dick competition" is making this place awfully tedious...

Jesus.

[Santiago]

This thread is f'ing awesome.

Lemonhaters start thread to bash him.
Lemonhaters diidnt realize he didnt enter the portal
Dirtbag's Dad takes to X to relay that he loves State and could be back if the draft doesnt go like he hopes. Meaning he also loves playing for Lemon

As we get to the worst month for sports every year- this is good stuff.

I started the thread and said "it seems he is leaving". Which is true... he seems to be , if he gets his chance in MLB.
Check it.

I don't hate anyone. Enough of the lemonhaters comment, for anyone posting about being frustrated. Otherwise this becomes the old genespage.
We have one position player returning, and have no equivalent talent replacing that, and already proven and tested in conference play. Very concerning.

[maroonmania]

We have Cupp/Trout/Stevens/Downs/Highfill/O'Brien/Powell and added two quality bats in the portal plus a couple of quality defenders. Plus signees with 1 expected to contribute Day 1

On the mound we have Pico de Gallo/Grant/Liggs/Cam Opener/Dotson/Black/Loftin plus some others. Need some portal arms that can help with at least 1 being a weekend guy.

Lemon will get it done or lose his job. Just like this season

All well and good but not one of those names has really proven anything at this level. Our entire 2025 season rides on 'potential'.

[Brobi-wan]

And shame on our AD and President for allowing it to get to a point where a guy has a chance to fail for the 3rd out of 4 years because he couldn't maintain a solid roster, recruit one or portal one. Hopefully next year is at least similar to this year at least. I think he should be gone anything less then a host!

I realistically think he SHOULD have been fired in 2023, but I did understand the case for keeping him. That being said, he did have a MASSIVE turnaround with a lot of the same pieces and some pieces that weren?t as good as the bad year. I guess the AD said he could sacrifice Fox to save his job.

[StarkVegasSteve]

All well and good but not one of those names has really proven anything at this level. Our entire 2025 season rides on 'potential'.

I mean, unless you're getting a bona fide SEC starter from the portal, almost every transfer is "potential".

[StateDawg44]

I mean, unless you're getting a bona fide SEC starter from the portal, almost every transfer is "potential".

Yeah... that's the problem with our current coach.

He can't close and hasn't been the greatest evaluator.

[maroonmania]

I mean, unless you're getting a bona fide SEC starter from the portal, almost every transfer is "potential".

The guys I named that were coming back this past season were more than just potential and I would add Loo to that list as well. Even guys like Hugesack and Chance (I know he is likely back) were contributors in 2023 and even with all that our expectations for 2024 were low. Being honest, I really don't remember any time recently where we really had nobody coming back or transferring in that we knew would be good. But whatever, the proof will be in the pudding when 2025 rolls around. I'm certainly not going to be upset though when I see others picking us to finish at the bottom of the league.

[BrunswickDawg]

All well and good but not one of those names has really proven anything at this level. Our entire 2025 season rides on 'potential'.

A lot of people said the same thing coming off of 2015 going into 2016.

We were looking at having 1 full time starter returning in Jacob Robson.
Cody Brown, Gavin Collins, Reid Humphries, and Ryan Gridley were all sub .250 part timers
Brent Rooker looked lost and had hit .247 with 2 HR and 12 RBIs
We had a .208 hitter from Oregon coming in who had barely played named Jack Krueger
We had a .097 hitter from Mercer coming in who had barely played named Nathaniel Lowe
If we were lucky, maybe we could get something out of these two freshman named Jake Mangum and Hunter Stovall - but could you really rely on a couple punch and judy types???
We were going to suck again after missing Hoover and finishing 24-30.

[StarkVegasSteve]

A lot of people said the same thing coming off of 2015 going into 2016.

We were looking at having 1 full time starter returning in Jacob Robson.
Cody Brown, Gavin Collins, Reid Humphries, and Ryan Gridley were all sub .250 part timers
Brent Rooker looked lost and had hit .247 with 2 HR and 12 RBIs
We had a .208 hitter from Oregon coming in who had barely played named Jack Krueger
We had a .097 hitter from Mercer coming in who had barely played named Nathaniel Lowe
If we were lucky, maybe we could get something out of these two freshman named Jake Mangum and Hunter Stovall - but could you really rely on a couple punch and judy types???
We were going to suck again after missing Hoover and finishing 24-30.

Funny enough, we wanted to fire the coach the entire offseason that year too. Now I will add a caveat, we hired Wes Johnson and he brought our staff up about 4 levels.

[Pancho]

Wes Johnson is top notch in all areas of the game. That is what we currently lack

[StarkVegasSteve]

Wes Johnson is top notch in all areas of the game. That is what we currently lack

Wes got a lot better as a coach when he went to the MLB. He learned how to mesh the new school analytics with old school coaching. However, Wes wouldn't even entertain our call if we were in the market for a HC. His wife HATED Starkville. She begged him to move back to DBU after the first week.

[BrunswickDawg]

Funny enough, we wanted to fire the coach the entire offseason that year too. Now I will add a caveat, we hired Wes Johnson and he brought our staff up about 4 levels.

And blew everyone's arms out

[StarkVegasSteve]

And blew everyone's arms out

Dang Bruns.....I had almost forgotten about that haha***

[Pancho]

I know current high school coaches who still use wes's weighted ball daily training year round and haven't had any arm issues. pretty much just bunk to think otherwise or why didn't he ruin all the arms he worked in mlb and at lsu and now at uga?

[BuckyIsAB****]

Just curious, then what would the final game of a regional be called? I would call it the regional final.

I would call it the grasping at straws pixie dust bowl

[BuckyIsAB****]

And if that is the rule, we didnt even make it to the fictional regional final bc we had to beat them twice hahahahahah

[BuckyIsAB****]

That first broadcast next year Bart and Charlie gonna talk about our regional final loss

[Homedawg]

That first broadcast next year Bart and Charlie gonna talk about our regional final loss

Yes. They will. Suck up your loss and go to Washington or just admit you're wrong. Either way.

[Homedawg]

I would call it the grasping at straws pixie dust bowl

Way closer than Will Rogers never played bad it was always his wr.

[Coach34]

I've never been so excited for Washington Husky football as I am in 2024

[BuckyIsAB****]

Yes. They will. Suck up your loss and go to Washington or just admit you're wrong. Either way.

No haha they wont. And neither will anyone else. Ever. What loss??? A regional final never existed till 34 tried to defend the same dude he compared to Chizik. Look at any schools website or anything with any substance and not once will you see a damn word about a regional final. That is a load of hog wash

[BuckyIsAB****]

Way closer than Will Rogers never played bad it was always his wr.

Let it go brother. Breathe

[Todd4State]

I know current high school coaches who still use wes's weighted ball daily training year round and haven't had any arm issues. pretty much just bunk to think otherwise or why didn't he ruin all the arms he worked in mlb and at lsu and now at uga?

Probably two things:

1. He was hired in the fall so our pitchers didn't get a full year of the program. Thus to make up for time he did too much too soon.

2. Our S&C coach was probably a little overzealous as well.

[Todd4State]

A lot of people said the same thing coming off of 2015 going into 2016.

We were looking at having 1 full time starter returning in Jacob Robson.
Cody Brown, Gavin Collins, Reid Humphries, and Ryan Gridley were all sub .250 part timers
Brent Rooker looked lost and had hit .247 with 2 HR and 12 RBIs
We had a .208 hitter from Oregon coming in who had barely played named Jack Krueger
We had a .097 hitter from Mercer coming in who had barely played named Nathaniel Lowe
If we were lucky, maybe we could get something out of these two freshman named Jake Mangum and Hunter Stovall - but could you really rely on a couple punch and judy types???
We were going to suck again after missing Hoover and finishing 24-30.

The problem with our fans right now is they expect our staff to build a team out of the portal out of "known" quantities.

We're not going to completely ignore the portal but we are still bringing in some really good talent and it seems like that is getting lost in the shuffle.

Which is why ultimately we will be fine again next year and hopefully improved enough to make it to a SR.

Nolan Stevens, Makhai Grant, Luke Dotson, Cade O'Leary, maybe Conrad Cason, Ryan McPherson, Charlie Foster and Braden Booth- that's a lot of young pitching talent that we have that will be with us for the next couple of years. And to me pitching is what we really need to succeed at a high level.

And as far as hitters we get Highfill back, Dylan Cupp, Henry Allen, Ethan Pulliam, maybe Dante Nori, and Stevens to go with Bryce Chance. That's a really solid group as well.

All the players I mentioned have multiple years of eligibility except for maybe Highfill.

When you add in the transfers I think 2025 is going to be a springboard year for a big 2026.

Also, our transfer philosophy is a little different in that it seems like we like to try get guys that have more than one year of eligibility. That seems like a pretty good way to maximize what we do get out of the portal and it's really paid off for us- see Tyler Davis, Conner Hujsack, Amani Larry, Nate Dohm, and etc.

[Santiago]

The problem with our fans right now is they expect our staff to build a team out of the portal out of "known" quantities.

We're not going to completely ignore the portal but we are still bringing in some really good talent and it seems like that is getting lost in the shuffle.

Which is why ultimately we will be fine again next year and hopefully improved enough to make it to a SR.

Nolan Stevens, Makhai Grant, Luke Dotson, Cade O'Leary, maybe Conrad Cason, Ryan McPherson, Charlie Foster and Braden Booth- that's a lot of young pitching talent that we have that will be with us for the next couple of years. And to me pitching is what we really need to succeed at a high level.

And as far as hitters we get Highfill back, Dylan Cupp, Henry Allen, Ethan Pulliam, maybe Dante Nori, and Stevens to go with Bryce Chance. That's a really solid group as well.

All the players I mentioned have multiple years of eligibility except for maybe Highfill.

When you add in the transfers I think 2025 is going to be a springboard year for a big 2026.

Also, our transfer philosophy is a little different in that it seems like we like to try get guys that have more than one year of eligibility. That seems like a pretty good way to maximize what we do get out of the portal and it's really paid off for us- see Tyler Davis, Conner Hujsack, Amani Larry, Nate Dohm, and etc.

There is no reason that we should not already have the talent here now, instead of 2026.
I get it on what is coming, but Lemonis really screwed up the program after the 21 season to now.
We may be down to just 1 position player returning. We cannot say "sophomore elgibility" because we knew that on Jordan, Mershon , etc when we got them on campus.
To say we will have a big year in 2 years from now is ridiculous in the days of portal players, and we have good NIL money.

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

It's about to be year 7- there's simply bo more room to play "wait and see the guys Lemo has coming in!" Games. I will also say that a lot of the names being thrown around are just that- names. They were unable to win the 3B, 2B, LF, or DH holes this year and they are not in any way reliable for next year. It's disingenuous to act like we're OK because you can read the names of who's currently on the team.

To C34 and others points, yeah college baseball has insanely high turnover rates (so there will always be a lot of new faces) and some guys can gain .080 points in an offseason so you never know.

Personally, I was wrong too much this time last year for me to make any predictions now. I was right plenty too, but I had big whiffs on Hujsak and Purdue so I'll refrain from guessing how the team will shake out next year. Ligon could be a stud, or nothing. Stevens could be a stud, or fail to hit .250.

At least we're all in agreement that Lemo has to have the team at similar results to this year

[Homedawg]

It's about to be year 7- there's simply bo more room to play "wait and see the guys Lemo has coming in!" Games. I will also say that a lot of the names being thrown around are just that- names. They were unable to win the 3B, 2B, LF, or DH holes this year and they are not in any way reliable for next year. It's disingenuous to act like we're OK because you can read the names of who's currently on the team.

To C34 and others points, yeah college baseball has insanely high turnover rates (so there will always be a lot of new faces) and some guys can gain .080 points in an offseason so you never know.

Personally, I was wrong too much this time last year for me to make any predictions now. I was right plenty too, but I had big whiffs on Hujsak and Purdue so I'll refrain from guessing how the team will shake out next year. Ligon could be a stud, or nothing. Stevens could be a stud, or fail to hit .250.

At least we're all in agreement that Lemo has to have the team at similar results to this year

Your last sentence being the most important.

[SPMT]

There is no reason that we should not already have the talent here now, instead of 2026.
I get it on what is coming, but Lemonis really screwed up the program after the 21 season to now.
We may be down to just 1 position player returning. We cannot say "sophomore elgibility" because we knew that on Jordan, Mershon , etc when we got them on campus.
To say we will have a big year in 2 years from now is ridiculous in the days of portal players, and we have good NIL money.

Yeah, it?s pretty pitiful when you look at 2021 until now. We lost mojo in 2022 and 2023. Got a little back this year.

Say what you want about Vitello, he built his teams through evaluating and hustling. NIL just kicked it into gear after he had momentum.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Yeah, it?s pretty pitiful when you look at 2021 until now. We lost mojo in 2022 and 2023. Got a little back this year.

Say what you want about Vitello, he built his teams through evaluating and hustling. NIL just kicked it into gear after he had momentum.

Well we were a year late to the NIL party. Damn near 2. We had Cohen and Lee Van Horn peddling signed baseballs instead of learning the ins and outs of NIL.

[Todd4State]

There is no reason that we should not already have the talent here now, instead of 2026.
I get it on what is coming, but Lemonis really screwed up the program after the 21 season to now.
We may be down to just 1 position player returning. We cannot say "sophomore elgibility" because we knew that on Jordan, Mershon , etc when we got them on campus.
To say we will have a big year in 2 years from now is ridiculous in the days of portal players, and we have good NIL money.

Who said the talent wasn't here now?

Even in the portal era high school recruiting is very important and even more important than the portal IMO. You still have to have a core group of players to build around. And that's exactly what we have in place right now.

[Todd4State]

Well we were a year late to the NIL party. Damn near 2. We had Cohen and Lee Van Horn peddling signed baseballs instead of learning the ins and outs of NIL.

Which caused us to have to play catch up in the NIL game. In all sports.

[SPMT]

Well we were a year late to the NIL party. Damn near 2. We had Cohen and Lee Van Horn peddling signed baseballs instead of learning the ins and outs of NIL.

That?s pathetic. Cohen should?ve been fired for that alone. He never had a clue an out fundraising from what I can tell.

[SPMT]

Who said the talent wasn't here now?

Even in the portal era high school recruiting is very important and even more important than the portal IMO. You still have to have a core group of players to build around. And that's exactly what we have in place right now.

True. Can?t do it with mercenaries alone.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Arkansas and LSU consistently recruit better than MSU but they win the portal too.

Tennessee has a top team and still had Major contributors like the Wichita State reliever that pitched 5 or 6 times in Omaha. Plus the 3rd baseman. They had a bust too, Peebles.

TAM had a successful season, they had Montgomery and Ivy kid.

Can't be like Coach Prime's clown show in Boulder with money grab kids, but the top teams have top portal contributors. Except UVA and not NCSU... the wolf pack donates top talent. Kudos to the NCSU coaches.

[HoopsDawg]

Well we were a year late to the NIL party. Damn near 2. We had Cohen and Lee Van Horn peddling signed baseballs instead of learning the ins and outs of NIL.

Too bad Cohen didn't stick to being a baseball coach.

[Todd4State]

Arkansas and LSU consistently recruit better than MSU but they win the portal too.

Tennessee has a top team and still had Major contributors like the Wichita State reliever that pitched 5 or 6 times in Omaha. Plus the 3rd baseman. They had a bust too, Peebles.

TAM had a successful season, they had Montgomery and Ivy kid.

Can't be like Coach Prime's clown show in Boulder with money grab kids, but the top teams have top portal contributors. Except UVA and not NCSU... the wolf pack donates top talent. Kudos to the NCSU coaches.

The thing about the portal is you only really have a handful of truly elite game changing guys in the Paul Skenes, Braden Montgomery category.

The vast majority are guys that are good college players that can fill roles in the bullpen like the guy for Tennessee you are referring to and are basically four year college guys like Conner Hujsack to fill in holes in the roster.

That's why I don't think LSU's strategy in the portal is really going to work. Even if they land Laviolette most of their team are just going to be made up of mostly four year college guys. I don't think that's what most LSU fans are thinking of when they think of LSU baseball.

[maroonmania]

The problem with our fans right now is they expect our staff to build a team out of the portal out of "known" quantities.



No, that is not the problem. I don't know any fans expecting to BUILD a team out of "known" quantities in the portal. I think a lot of fans, including myself, would like to get A 'known' quantity added to the team out of the portal because currently we really have no truly proven players on the 2025 team returning (unless Mershon comes back). This is the weakest returning roster I can remember since the early Cohen years coming off of Polk II. And I say that based on proven performance returning. From a talent perspective, we definitely have some significant potential for next year but looking at what we have returning, who would be our best returning proven position player without Mershon? Bryce Chance? Highfill if healthy?

[Cooterpoot]

The thing about the portal is you only really have a handful of truly elite game changing guys in the Paul Skenes, Braden Montgomery category.

The vast majority are guys that are good college players that can fill roles in the bullpen like the guy for Tennessee you are referring to and are basically four year college guys like Conner Hujsack to fill in holes in the roster.

That's why I don't think LSU's strategy in the portal is really going to work. Even if they land Laviolette most of their team are just going to be made up of mostly four year college guys. I don't think that's what most LSU fans are thinking of when they think of LSU baseball.

We've generally hit on one a year really. Yeager, Stephen, Ledbetter. If you want to say Hujsak that's fine but he sat a year first so we wasted money on a season. We just haven't done well in the portal era. We need to hit on several this year and it's been an embarrassing effort really.

[maroonmania]

We've generally hit on one a year really. Yeager, Stephen, Ledbetter. If you want to say Hujsak that's fine but he sat a year first so we wasted money on a season. We just haven't done well in the portal era. We need to hit on several this year and it's been an embarrassing effort really.

Yea, I agree with that. I would say though that we have much more of a need for a proven portal player or two this year than any time recently. Certainly way more than any other time under Lemonis. Yeager and Ledbetter were proven, even if not coming from a power league team, but we also got them early in the NIL era before things have ramped up like they are now. Stephen was a hidden gem that likely is a product of Parker's tutelage.

[Pancho]

I'm afraid the portal will be shades of sherrill and the juco guys he brought in. it worked for a bit but when it was bad, it was real bad.

[Todd4State]

No, that is not the problem. I don't know any fans expecting to BUILD a team out of "known" quantities in the portal. I think a lot of fans, including myself, would like to get A 'known' quantity added to the team out of the portal because currently we really have no truly proven players on the 2025 team returning (unless Mershon comes back). This is the weakest returning roster I can remember since the early Cohen years coming off of Polk II. And I say that based on proven performance returning. From a talent perspective, we definitely have some significant potential for next year but looking at what we have returning, who would be our best returning proven position player without Mershon? Bryce Chance? Highfill if healthy?

So you're saying that one "known" guy would make you feel better when all of the others are unknown?

That doesn't make any sense to me because it's going to take more than one guy and that would be the next talking point if we landed that one "known" guy.

[Todd4State]

We've generally hit on one a year really. Yeager, Stephen, Ledbetter. If you want to say Hujsak that's fine but he sat a year first so we wasted money on a season. We just haven't done well in the portal era. We need to hit on several this year and it's been an embarrassing effort really.

Did you forget about Dohm and Tyler Davis? Logan Kohler was a solid pick up and would have been better had he not gotten hurt.

Most teams are getting one year out of their portal guys so that's kind to a weird criticism.

[maroonmania]

So you're saying that one "known" guy would make you feel better when all of the others are unknown?

That doesn't make any sense to me because it's going to take more than one guy and that would be the next talking point if we landed that one "known" guy.

Sure, one big stick in the middle of our lineup could make a big difference. Look what difference one big stick made in the middle of the Georgia and Florida lineups this year. Plus, its not realistic to expect Lemonis, who has never been great at portal recruiting, to 'build a team' out of the portal. I don't see why anyone would expect that. But it should be realistic to pull at least one difference maker given our needs. So yes, it would make me feel better, but either way I'm not really expecting for next year to be anything special.