Any word on McPherson?

[DownwardDawg]

NM

[preachermatt83]

I haven’t heard anything concrete but I don’t think it’s good

[StarkVegasSteve]

Spoke to his dad last night and they did not know much other than tightness. At the time, and I stress that, they did not believe it was UCL.

[parabrave]

BOK said last night on the postgame show that he stiifend up when he went out in the 5, couldn't get loose and they took him out as a precaution and will check him out today/ Didn't say what part but when someone says stiffend to me that means back area.

[Todd4State]

Someone on Genespage said he was cramping up. If that is true then that is good news in my opinion.

[Todd4State]

Spoke to his dad last night and they did not know much other than tightness. At the time, and I stress that, they did not believe it was UCL.

And I will add that Ryan has had Tommy John before so he is probably familiar with symptoms of that and things like that.

[AlSwearengen]

BOK said last night on the postgame show that he stiifend up when he went out in the 5, couldn't get loose and they took him out as a precaution and will check him out today/ Didn't say what part but when someone says stiffend to me that means back area.


I, along with a bunch of other people noticed him shaking his hand/arm in the previous inning after I believe what was a curve ball/slider; he did make some more effective pitches after that. When everyone started talking about tightness, I thought forearm. I don’t know enough about the different injuries and how they present, but I guess best case scenario is that he strained something in his forearm. I’m sure that nerve would cause issues with the forearm though.

[msstate7]

And I will add that Ryan has had Tommy John before so he is probably familiar with symptoms of that and things like that.

Dang, didn't realize he's had it before... if it is #2, he could be done

[The Federalist Engineer]

I hope it's nothing but rest needed. The youngster obviously has a big future and will be a very high draft pick in the 2027 July Draft.

Something I hope Parker tells him is that a collegiate starter is not supposed to be max effort for 7 to 8 innings. He can do that in MLB while getting paid 7 to 9 million per season. In college we are good with easy 96 with his great movement and life. No need for 99 like he did last night. MLB knows a big frame dude like him can add 3 MPH at will.

[KOdawg1]

I'd be surprised if it's a UCL tear based on the fact he had the surgery not that long ago and he didn't really react like it was a UCL tear.

That injury usually leads to a pretty immediate reaction. He was shaking his arm for a few innings while he continued to throw (and throw well). Which indicates the tightness like what's been reported.

He'll be shut down for a few weeks & slowly ramped back up if I had to guess.

[Coach34]

I'm on the hopeful side with everybody else. Tightness in the forearm could be anything from dehydration to just needing a little break. Hopefully its temporary and we will get him back soon

[Saltydog]

I, along with a bunch of other people noticed him shaking his hand/arm in the previous inning after I believe what was a curve ball/slider; he did make some more effective pitches after that. When everyone started talking about tightness, I thought forearm. I don?t know enough about the different injuries and how they present, but I guess best case scenario is that he strained something in his forearm. I?m sure that nerve would cause issues with the forearm though.

He winced in the 4th late in the inning but threw a few more pitches to get out of the inning. He came out in the 5th and threw one warmup pitch and started shaking his arm. The shaking is never a good sign. That's something you see a lot with UCL injuries. I think the longer it takes for us to hear something the worse it is. If it's nothing major we should be hearing reports that he's o.k. and that it was just precautionary, etc. If this stays mum for a few days it's probably not going to be good.

[Todd4State]

He winced in the 4th late in the inning but threw a few more pitches to get out of the inning. He came out in the 5th and threw one warmup pitch and started shaking his arm. The shaking is never a good sign. That's something you see a lot with UCL injuries. I think the longer it takes for us to hear something the worse it is. If it's nothing major we should be hearing reports that he's o.k. and that it was just precautionary, etc. If this stays mum for a few days it's probably not going to be good.

It may be shorter just because BOC is way more transparent with injuries than Lemonis was. I'm sure we'll find out more after the game tonight.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Spoke to some people tonight. They really do not know anything, but are a bit optimistic it is nothing long term.

[Coach34]

There's alot of forearm talk which is encouraging

[The Federalist Engineer]

Spoke to some people tonight. They really do not know anything, but are a bit optimistic it is nothing long term.

This is something to feel good about. Let's rest him a bit and calm him down. This dude is a competitor. In the Arkansas game, when the He-Man kid took him deep, McP looked like he was going to kill someone. McP cares about winning and his performance.

[Todd4State]

Spoke to some people tonight. They really do not know anything, but are a bit optimistic it is nothing long term.

Have they not looked at it? That really surprises me if they haven't since we're talking about a high level athlete here.

[No BS Dawg]

Was told tonight he will have an MRI tomorrow, but more out of caution as the prevailing thought is a tightness/muscle cramping type thing.

[Brobi-wan]

Was told tonight he will have an MRI tomorrow, but more out of caution as the prevailing thought is a tightness/muscle cramping type thing.

In other words, we will know whether our season is ruined before next Friday

[EdwardDrayton]

It's baseball. Whatever the outcome somebody will have to step up. All teams have injuries.

[somebodyshotmypaw]

Have they not looked at it? That really surprises me if they haven't since we're talking about a high level athlete here.

People in the know aren’t out running their mouth. McPherson is being taken care of.

[CaptainObvious]

People in the know aren’t out running their mouth. McPherson is being taken care of.

But, But, how will we know when to panic post?

[TNDawg35]

But, But, how will we know when to panic post?

I thought that was common knowledge. You start as soon as the line up is announced and once the first pitch is thrown, we are back to being the worse team in the SEC….

[starkvegasdawg]

I thought that was common knowledge. You start as soon as the line up is announced and once the first pitch is thrown, we are back to being the worse team in the SEC….

I'll wait for a leadoff walk or hit first.

[TNDawg35]

I'll wait for a leadoff walk or hit first.

By then BOC is just not gonna work or we are overrated…

[KOdawg1]

Rumor is 3-6 weeks due to a forearm strain.

If that's true, we dodged a bullet.

I'll take that all day.

[Saltydog]

6 weeks is better than out indefinitely or the remainder of the year but it's also 6 SEC starts. If that's the case he would come back with two weeks left in league play. Plus, he'd probably be limited upon return. It's not devastating news if true but it's not great news either.

[Pancho]

Who now starts friday night at the school up north?

[Homedawg]

Who now starts friday night at the school up north?

Tico

[KOdawg1]

Who now starts friday night at the school up north?

Friday: Tico
Saturday: Stone
Sunday: Johnny Wholestaff

[Homedawg]

6 weeks is better than out indefinitely or the remainder of the year but it's also 6 SEC starts. If that's the case he would come back with two weeks left in league play. Plus, he'd probably be limited upon return. It's not devastating news if true but it's not great news either.

Correct take. First one I've seen who gets it. He's not just coming back and being full strength whenever he gets back. We are about to play a gauntlet, 8 more weeks wo, or a very limited version of our Friday night guy. It sucks. Our odds of hosting a super went straight to hell in one fast swoop in the top of the fifth Friday.

[KOdawg1]

Correct take. First one I've seen who gets it. He's not just coming back and being full strength whenever he gets back. We are about to play a gauntlet, 8 more weeks wo, or a very limited version of our Friday night guy. It sucks. Our odds of hosting a super went straight to hell in one fast swoop in the top of the fifth Friday.

I think everyone understands that. But a limited McPherson that could potentially help you in the postseason is better than no McPherson at all.

[CaptainObvious]

Friday: Tico
Saturday: Stone
Sunday: Johnny Wholestaff

I don?t really like this. State has seen this movie before. Had to move a number 2 to match up against the opposing number 1 and lost several Friday night games and lost several series as well. Stone is a home run machine. Start out Tuesday night guy on Friday and use Johnny whole staff on Tuesday night. Keep TV on the Saturday game. Keep Stone and Pitzer on Sunday.

[KOdawg1]

I don?t really like this. State has seen this movie before. Had to move a number 2 to match up against the opposing number 1 and lost several Friday night games and lost several series as well. Stone is a home run machine. Start out Tuesday night guy on Friday and use Johnny whole staff on Tuesday night. Keep TV on the Saturday game. Keep Stone and Pitzer on Sunday.

Nah. You don't give away the first game of a series and put yourself in a hole for the rest of the weekend.

Tico is arguably better than McPherson, so he'll handle Friday night's fine.

[Brobi-wan]

That’s rough no matter what. Gotta do what you gotta do though. We’ll see if we are the real deal

[The Federalist Engineer]

McP resting for 3 weeks is an outcome the season can survive. Just part of the game and having a maximized warhorse like McP.

The Ole Miss series in Oxford will have to be:

F- Valincius
S- Stone
S- Pitz (cape cod POY)

No crying in baseball. BOC will need the good Sweeney and the good Ben Davis in Oxford.

[Coach34]

This where coaching comes in.

Do you go with Sumbitch? Young and talented but hasnt been extended at all this year.
Davis? Veteran that has started and relieved.
Does Foster get another shot?
Someone else?

Also- do you move Stone up to Saturday or keep him on Sunday? That's another big decision. Tico to Friday is obvious- even Tater could make that call

[AlSwearengen]

I don?t really like this. State has seen this movie before. Had to move a number 2 to match up against the opposing number 1 and lost several Friday night games and lost several series as well. Stone is a home run machine. Start out Tuesday night guy on Friday and use Johnny whole staff on Tuesday night. Keep TV on the Saturday game. Keep Stone and Pitzer on Sunday.

Tico and McPherson are 2 sides of the same coin; both are aces. If it weren’t for the Alabama kid throwing a no hitter, Tico would probably be SEC pitcher of the week 2 weeks straight. We aren’t hurt as far as Fridays go, but everything after that takes a huge hit. Teams that win it all generally have 2 stud starters; we had that part of the puzzle but just lost it. Every aspect of our game has to take it up a notch or two to make up for losing McPherson. Sucks

[99jc]

Rumor is 3-6 weeks due to a forearm strain.

If that's true, we dodged a bullet.

I'll take that all day.

I HEARD 2 WEEKS

[R2Dawg]

This where coaching comes in.

Do you go with Sumbitch? Young and talented but hasnt been extended at all this year.
Davis? Veteran that has started and relieved.
Does Foster get another shot?
Someone else?

Also- do you move Stone up to Saturday or keep him on Sunday? That's another big decision. Tico to Friday is obvious- even Tater could make that call

I think I'd leave Stone on Sunday. Davis certainly a consideration for Saturday too.

[maroonmania]

6 weeks is better than out indefinitely or the remainder of the year but it's also 6 SEC starts. If that's the case he would come back with two weeks left in league play. Plus, he'd probably be limited upon return. It's not devastating news if true but it's not great news either.

I consider it pretty devastating if you ask me. Maybe not catastrophic but given now we are down to one SEC caliber starter for a large part of what's left in the regular season, its pretty bad. We need a guy or two to step up significantly from what they've been giving so far on the mound. Will be interesting to see if we pull Davis up to be a starter now.

[Coach34]

I consider it pretty devastating if you ask me. Maybe not catastrophic but given now we are down to one SEC caliber starter for a large part of what's left in the regular season, its pretty bad. We need a guy or two to step up significantly from what they've been giving so far on the mound. Will be interesting to see if we pull Davis up to be a starter now.

Wtf? The Duke is an SEC SP and we have other candidates as well that can start. Every SEC team is worried about their 3rd SP every damn weekend. We have just gone from really good depth to guys needing to step up

[Todd4State]

People in the know aren?t out running their mouth. McPherson is being taken care of.

I'm just saying I was surprised because in that industry that is usually what happens.

[Todd4State]

I don?t really like this. State has seen this movie before. Had to move a number 2 to match up against the opposing number 1 and lost several Friday night games and lost several series as well. Stone is a home run machine. Start out Tuesday night guy on Friday and use Johnny whole staff on Tuesday night. Keep TV on the Saturday game. Keep Stone and Pitzer on Sunday.

No, we don't need to get MSU fan message board cute. We need to start Tico on Friday, then Stone who needs to keep the ball down much better than he did today, and then what I would personally do is go Maddox Miller. Foster still could only manage one clean inning today. He looked better sure but I have a feeling that it would be more of the same with him. We just need to keep him in relief for now. What we need is for Stone to start to go deeper in games even if it's one more inning it would be helpful. If we get 2-3 innings out of Miller- that's fine. It is what it is. I think we need to start using Logar more during midweek and probably need to start using Rhodes more out of the bullpen. Even with McPherson getting hurt we still got through this weekend without using Burns and Billingsley.

Theoretical weekend:

Fri- Tico for 7 and then Ben Davis for 2
Sat- Stone for 4 and then Sweeney for 2-3, Gleason for 2 and then Webb closes for 1 inning
Sun- Miller for 2-3 Burns for 1, Rhodes for 1 maybe 2, Foster for 1, Billingsley for 1, Pitzer for 2-3, and then default back to Davis or Gleason based on pitch count with the understanding that they will be shutdown midweek if they pitch twice in a weekend.


Rumor is 3-6 weeks due to a forearm strain.

If that's true, we dodged a bullet.

I'll take that all day.

You know I watched the highlights of the game and I noticed he was throwing 99 MPH fastballs and his breaking balls had a lot more tilt/shape to them. Basically, I think he just overdid it due to the environment.

[SPMT]

Wtf? The Duke is an SEC SP and we have other candidates as well that can start. Every SEC team is worried about their 3rd SP every damn weekend. We have just gone from really good depth to guys needing to step up

No kidding. Folks just go straight to catastrophe.

[Todd4State]

The one saving grace we have is our offense can mash. That's going to help us out a lot. And it looks like Parker is understanding how to use his staff much better than he did last week. Based on what BOC said they had an epiphany.

Vanderbilt can hit. They're 8th in the SEC right now which isn't unreal but it's not bad. And our bullpen shut them down. The only guy they hit was Stone.

Four of our next six SEC opponents are hitting worse than Vanderbilt did right now for context. Like 12th (Tennessee) 13th (LSU) 14th (Ole Miss) and 16th (South Carolina). Then you have Georgia who is 2nd behind us but we play them in Starkville and then Texas is 4th in case you are wondering.

[The Federalist Engineer]

McP will miss:

(1) Ole Miss
(2) Georgia
(3) Tennessee
----- maybe ----
(4) South Carolina
(5) LSU
(6) Texas

Some of those Fridays you would lose with or without McP. But you will lose a minimum of 36 innings in that span, 6 to 7 per weekend. They will need to replaced with a non Team USA and All SEC type player. So it means you are also weaker in the pen because a top bullpen guy is now your starter.

The freakish loss of Kirk really hurts because Foster has gone Cerantola. The most MSU thing to happen is that Rhoads becomes 2016-Pilkington for 6 weeks. Gives BOC three quality innings every Sunday. Logar is forgiven for whatever he did. Or, Burns becomes the stud that MLB and Parker think he is.

[Saltydog]

IMO, move Davis into a starter beginning this weekend. Once McPherson is back use him as the closer. He's going to be limited anyway so just swap the two.

[tcdog70]

What about Sully?

[maroonmania]

Wtf? The Duke is an SEC SP and we have other candidates as well that can start. Every SEC team is worried about their 3rd SP every damn weekend. We have just gone from really good depth to guys needing to step up

Duke is fine as an SEC Sunday starter. Not exactly thrilled to move him up to Saturday. So far he has struggled to get past 4 innings.

[Coursesuper]

IMO, move Davis into a starter beginning this weekend. Once McPherson is back use him as the closer. He's going to be limited anyway so just swap the two.

He's not a starter that would make him an opener. Trying to get one time thru the line up with him and hope for the best, I'm not a fan of that approach. He's much more effective at the backend where he can use that 2 seam and sinker for 6 or 7 outs. Gotta find a way to piece it together to get to him.

[cheewgumm]

Tico
Stone
Davis

The end

[Coach34]

Duke is fine as an SEC Sunday starter. Not exactly thrilled to move him up to Saturday. So far he has struggled to get past 4 innings.

Only 4 SEC SP's out of 16 that started G3 this past weekend for their school went at least 5 innings. Candy's guy was making his 1st SEC start and didnt even get an out.

[Coursesuper]

Duke is fine as an SEC Sunday starter. Not exactly thrilled to move him up to Saturday. So far he has struggled to get past 4 innings.

Duke has great stuff , that change up is just gross. He has problems when he misses his spot with the fastball, his is kinda flat, so if he leaves it in the middle third it can get turned around. He is growing every time out and will get better every outing. Yesterday he got hit hard on FB middle middle, I really think that's what he was asked to do up six. The other miss was FB inside and kid smoked it, but we should have been out of that inning.

[KOdawg1]

Tico
Stone
Davis

The end
Gotta have Davis in the Bullpen.

Tico
Stone
Pitzer or Miller

[Coach34]

And another problem- who do we start tomorrow?

[maroonmania]

Only 4 SEC SP's out of 16 that started G3 this past weekend for their school went at least 5 innings. Candy's guy was making his 1st SEC start and didnt even get an out.

Yea, we only think we have problems. Vandy's pitching staff is a train wreck right now after you get past 2 or 3 guys.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Vandy simply could not get above 92 mph. That is essentially batting practice speeds based on what our dudes have seen from Arkansas. Here is to 30 more games with that type of speed.

[DawgFromOxford]

Time for Sully to start loosening the arm up again. He was serviceable last year. Let him eat a couple of innings during the midweek.

[cheewgumm]

Gotta have Davis in the Bullpen.

Tico
Stone
Pitzer or Miller



I'm torn to be honest. So, I'll be good either way. You may be right here.

[somebodyshotmypaw]

I'm not privy to what Oak and Parker are seeing every day in the lab, bullpen sessions, etc. But if Foster is coming along, I might give him another chance to start. I feel like there is a solid starter inside of him somewhere, we just have to find it.

[The Federalist Engineer]

I'm not privy to what Oak and Parker are seeing every day in the lab, bullpen sessions, etc. But if Foster is coming along, I might give him another chance to start. I feel like there is a solid starter inside of him somewhere, we just have to find it.

Better than the lab, watch his Sunday stint from the Bullpen.

He had one-smooth inning with favorable counts and then he was getting in trouble and could not finish a 2nd inning.

Hit a dude, walked a dude, and then an RBI single. Then a Vandy kid bunted and made contact with the ball. That little gift kept Vandy from having a big inning. BOC pulled him before a 3-run HR was hit.

[Saltydog]

Sully can maybe give you a few mid week innings but he would get hammered in SEC play.

[CaptainObvious]

I'm not privy to what Oak and Parker are seeing every day in the lab, bullpen sessions, etc. But if Foster is coming along, I might give him another chance to start. I feel like there is a solid starter inside of him somewhere, we just have to find it.

He doesn?t trust his fastball. Apparently just not enough movement with it. He throws a lot of breaking balls out of the zone and when he gets behind, he will still throw the off speed stuff. He has got to throw the breaker and change for strikes to set up the fastball.

Last week, the Arkansas pitchers were consistently throwing first pitch breaking balls for strikes and kept getting ahead. We will need someone with similar control in the starter role #3.

[CaptainObvious]

Sully can maybe give you a few mid week innings but he would get hammered in SEC play.

This Tuesday?s midweek game is SEC level. Need to beat the Southerners!

[maroonmania]

This Tuesday?s midweek game is SEC level. Need to beat the Southerners!

Likely another start for Maddox Miller but guess we will see.

[Todd4State]

It's Chris Billingsley getting the start die MSU.

[Activated Alpha]

Likely another start for Maddox Miller but guess we will see.

Nope it's Billingsly. Looks like BOC wants to add a challenge at the start of the game tomorrow

[Todd4State]

Nope it's Billingsly. Looks like BOC wants to add a challenge at the start of the game tomorrow

Definitely risky. Hope it works out.

[WSOPdawg]

Nope it's Billingsly. Looks like BOC wants to add a challenge at the start of the game tomorrow

Billingsly has the talent and a high upside. He'll be on a short leash, but if he can gain some confidence he can push for the Sunday SPer role.

[maroonmania]

Definitely risky. Hope it works out.

Very risky. Probably will be a bullpen game anyway but we could start off in a hole if CB doesn't have his control.

[Todd4State]

Very risky. Probably will be a bullpen game anyway but we could start off in a hole if CB doesn't have his control.

If we're going to pitch a guy that we know is likely to give up runs I would much rather that happen in the first inning vs say the 7th or 8th innings.

I get why fans are like WTF? with this decision but at the same time I see Parker and BOC's perspective. Billingsley is going to pitch anyway probably so get it out of the way early.

Plus, we get to see if there is a chance he could start games for us.

[TStationDawg]

If we're going to pitch a guy that we know is likely to give up runs I would much rather that happen in the first inning vs say the 7th or 8th innings.

I get why fans are like WTF? with this decision but at the same time I see Parker and BOC's perspective. Billingsley is going to pitch anyway probably so get it out of the way early.

Plus, we get to see if there is a chance he could start games for us.

I don't get the paranoia with this move. He's a very talented kid and unlike SOME of our staff, has actually shown improvement! We've got to actually let some of our pitchers develop outside of the pen to know what we have. And we're gonna need depth as the season moves along. Get busy living or get busy dying.....but do so quickly. I like it.

[Coach34]

Guy has some talent. That's why we pay BOC/Parker- get the talent and then develop the talent. Let's hope he is getting better

[shoeless joe]

for some guys starting is how they can be successful. just like some can't start and need that extra jolt from joggin in from the pen later in a game. this is also an example of this staff playing the long game with a guy with a huge upside. they know he will be needed in some capacity at some point. and if he can go out and give 4 solid innings it helps in this game and will prolly pay off in the future as well.

[Hot Rock]

This where coaching comes in.

Do you go with Sumbitch? Young and talented but hasnt been extended at all this year.
Davis? Veteran that has started and relieved.
Does Foster get another shot?
Someone else?

Also- do you move Stone up to Saturday or keep him on Sunday? That's another big decision. Tico to Friday is obvious- even Tater could make that call

Tomas threw a lot of pitches last weekend and hard. Moving him this weekend would require him to move up this week and again next week as the GA series starts on Thursday. Two weeks on short rest. It's not cut and dried he will be moved to the Friday guy at least not right away. He may end up there by the 3rd series after the GA series or we may find a another guy as there is talent on this roster. Sure, most would move him and justifiably but this decision has some nuance to it.