D-1 ranks State baseball 8th in the country

[Coach34]

With Aaron Fitt talking about how we have definitely righted the ship after a couple of down seasons. He even talked about some guys while on his visit:

https://x.com/aaronfitt/status/1843406410098299348?s=46&t=OwYh-8ppYKXqKt8QQD9Mtw

https://x.com/aaronfitt/status/1843405633821020174?s=46&t=OwYh-8ppYKXqKt8QQD9Mtw

[mparkerfd20]

To be fair we started the year around 8 by D1 in 2022 when the wheels fell off. So forgive us if many of us are in an "OK, show me." Mindset

[basedog]

Good, the thing is with high pre ranking brings high expectations. Should be a good season so let the fun begin.

[TStationDawg]

I'm actually excited about this team for several reasons. I trust Parker. Hearing good things about our arms. I like the bats we brought in. Defense concerns me though- especially at 3rd. And I Hope Hunter can get things figured out....for his sake more than anything else tbh

[Coach34]

I'm looking forward to seeing Reese hopefully hit 3-hole in front of Hines. Altho Reese faced slightly inferior overall pitching- his numbers as a freshman vs Jordan's are very comparable

Jordan- .307/.397/10/40/20 XBH's total/46K's/25 BB's

Reese- .278/.395/7/34/19 XBH's total/37K's/29 BB's,

[Ranchdawg]

I’m beyond ready for Mississippi State baseball. Dudy Noble field is a place that is good for the soul!

[RockyDog]

I’m beyond ready for Mississippi State baseball. Dudy Noble field is a place that is good for the soul!

We got 2 real sports to be invested in before intramurals take over. Slow down and enjoy hoops ball.

[Extendedcab]

Don’t forget soccer! :D

[StateDawg44]

Defense concerns me though- especially at 3rd.

I'm shocked

[99jc]

Man, I want to believe......but!

[Patrick Tibbons]

I think some people be confused by the article. D1 baseball ranked 100 programs and we were #8. The emphasis is what programs have done in the last 10 years, specifically the last 5 years.

This is not a 2025 pre season poll, this is a program ranking.

[Coach34]

I like the bats we brought in. Defense concerns me though- especially at 3rd.

That's the trade off. Can Reese adapt? How good are his hands and footwork defensively. But he swings it so well- we have to see if it can work

[Coach34]

As I've said- we will certainly be better offensively. But we do have to fit the bats into the fielding equation as well as develop 3 consistent weekends arms

[Cooterpoot]

I thought that was their program ranking, not the preseason ranking

[MBDawg601]

I thought that was their program ranking, not the preseason ranking

It is. You are right.

[confucius say]

This isn't a preseason ranking. This is a ranking of programs over the past several years.
We won't sniff top 10 preseason. Doesn't mean we won't be good.

[Coach34]

I know it was and my bad on the misleading thread title

It's a ranking based on the last 5-10 years they said

[PMDawg]

.

[Coach34]

I would feel a lot better if we had a definite weekend starter coming back. We've had years where we had to find 2 and were still successful, but going in needing to find all 3 is a big ask. It's been said many times, but Purdue and Loo were big time inning eaters last year, and that's a big deal.

We do have one returning in Pico. He started 4 SEC games plus against Va in the Regional- 21.1 IP's/7 ER's- so basically a 3.30 ERA. He's not a Friday-type guy but he is a solid SEC SP. Pruitt has starter experience as well- and we expect him to be one of our 3. They key is finding someone that can be that Friday/Sat level type for our 3rd. We have some talent to produce that guy so we shall see. I hope Liggs can get it together and start pounding the zone. That good sinking FB can be tough if he can keep from working behind. Then of course Grant is a wildcard. Bigtime potential. Burns may pan out altho I wouldnt want two LHP SPs on the weekend

[Todd4State]

We do have one returning in Pico. He started 4 SEC games plus against Va in the Regional- 21.1 IP's/7 ER's- so basically a 3.30 ERA. He's not a Friday-type guy but he is a solid SEC SP. Pruitt has starter experience as well- and we expect him to be one of our 3. They key is finding someone that can be that Friday/Sat level type for our 3rd. We have some talent to produce that guy so we shall see. I hope Liggs can get it together and start pounding the zone. That good sinking FB can be tough if he can keep from working behind. Then of course Grant is a wildcard. Bigtime potential. Burns may pan out altho I wouldnt want two LHP SPs on the weekend

Pico also started the Governor's Cup- I'm not sure if you included that or not.

[Todd4State]

I would feel a lot better if we had a definite weekend starter coming back. We've had years where we had to find 2 and were still successful, but going in needing to find all 3 is a big ask. It's been said many times, but Purdue and Loo were big time inning eaters last year, and that's a big deal.

We're going to have to rework the rotation and bullpen every year. It's just the way it is in college baseball.

[Todd4State]

I think some people be confused by the article. D1 baseball ranked 100 programs and we were #8. The emphasis is what programs have done in the last 10 years, specifically the last 5 years.

This is not a 2025 pre season poll, this is a program ranking.

You are correct. And what it shows is what our national perception actually is. Which is a LOT better than many of our fans realize. Especially the ones that wonder why Lemonis isn't on the hot seat right now.

[PMDawg]

.

[Johnson85]

You are correct. And what it shows is what our national perception actually is. Which is a LOT better than many of our fans realize. Especially the ones that wonder why Lemonis isn't on the hot seat right now.

I think that cuts the opposite way that you're thinking?

I feel like the people that want Lemonis to be on the hotseat agree that we are a top 10 program and feel like there is no reason for us to have fallen as badly as we have and that Lemonis getting us a championship was just him being in the right place at the right time as it was inevitable that a program like ours would get one eventually.

I feel like the people that are more satisfied with Lemonis think we're a top 20 program and that with how ridiculous the SEC has gotten and NIL reducing some of the advantage we had, it's not as unforgiveable that we've dropped off a cliff for a couple of years and they are willing to give him more time to turn it around because they feel like it was a much bigger accomplishment for him to get us over the hump in getting a championship.

[schddog72]

With Aaron Fitt talking about how we have definitely righted the ship after a couple of down seasons. He even talked about some guys while on his visit:

https://x.com/aaronfitt/status/1843406410098299348?s=46&t=OwYh-8ppYKXqKt8QQD9Mtw

https://x.com/aaronfitt/status/1843405633821020174?s=46&t=OwYh-8ppYKXqKt8QQD9Mtw

Well, obviously Fitts didn't take into account the Lemonhead factor; otherwise, we would be ranked about 108.