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messageboardsuperhero
09-29-2015, 10:02 PM
Here is what I have gathered from the scrimmages from a couple of different people I know who go to them often.

We will absolutely hit for more power this year. I know people get tired of hearing this every year, but I truly believe it will be better this season. We have hit about twice as many home runs in half as many scrimmages this fall as we had all last fall. Most of the players are now using Rawlings bats and prefer those to Adidas. Other extra base hits are up across the board as well. We hit for a little more power in 2015 than we did in 2014, and I expect us to continue moving in the right direction.

OF- Rooker will rake this year- remember he was cleanup in some of the earlier games last year and is maybe the best athlete on the team. Humphreys still hasn't put it together. Robson is really good as expected, and Brown and Smith are both good players. Collins may play here some or third... I hope he isn't behind the plate though.

IF- We love our freshmen Marrero, Alexander, and Stovall- all are performing well at the plate and in the field. Gordon/Lowe will be fine at first, but losing Rea defensively will hurt. Third is interesting with Reynolds, Collins, and Barfield. They can all hit pretty well, so it'll probably go to the best defender. SS and 2B will be some combo of Gridley, Stovall, Alexander, or Holland. Probably the upperclassmen to start the season. Lovelady is great at every aspect of the catcher position except hitting. Marrero is the future and will be a star eventually- maybe sooner rather than later.

On the mound, we will not be trotting out any Paxton Stover types this year. Pretty much everyone on staff (except the specialists) can throw at least 90+. Expect the juniors to carry us, and be patient with the freshmen. We have A LOT of super talented young pitchers, but it's going to take time for them to adjust. Hudson and Sexton will be a great 1-2 punch. I expect either Daniel Brown or Tatum will be the other weekend starter with the other in the pen. What we really need the freshmen to do is fill holes in the bullpen this year- that will simplify the game for them and help us out big time. The bullpen was dreadful last year and was probably the main reason we missed a regional- it has to be fixed, no excuses.

There's no way in hell we won't be way better this coming year. The schedule will make the W/L record appear worse than it really is (which is a good thing), so our RPI will be helped tremendously. With the schedule and team we have, if we aren't competing for hosting, I'll be underwhelmed to say the least.

Thick
09-29-2015, 11:01 PM
Good stuff, thanks for the update!!

Todd4State
09-30-2015, 12:29 AM
I pretty much concur with your friends.

I am OK with Lovelady not hitting all that well because he is so good defensively. If Marrero can step up as a freshman and hit- that would be a very pleasant surprise.

I agree about Rea defensively- but I think both Lowe and Gordon will hit better. My guess is Lowe will eventually win the job.

Holland is behind the freshmen and Gridley at this point simply because he has been hurt.

I think Collins will win the third base job because we need him in the lineup. That will allow Barfield time to adjust and I think Reynolds DH's. Barfield has been hitting well though- and that could make it interesting.

I agree with your friends on Rooker busting out- he could be this year's Bennatadini for Arkansas. A guy that completely rakes as a sophomore and gets drafted high. Rooker has five tool potential if he can put it all together.

Robson is the best lead off guy and best bunter in the SEC. I want to see him steal at least 20.

I wouldn't be surprised if Humphreys has to sit behind Smith and Cody Brown if performance warrants it. I have my doubts about Humphreys ever putting it together even though he has talent.

I agree about Tatum and Brown- and my guess is they will go with Tatum because he would give us a LH arm in the rotation. I think Brown and Houston will compete for the closer spot assuming Tatum is in the rotation- otherwise sub him in for Brown. Ethan Small and Noah Hughes have been looking good as far as the freshmen go. Your friends are right about being patient with the freshmen pitchers though- they just need some time to learn and fortunately we shouldn't have to rely on too many of them.

MsStateBaseball
09-30-2015, 07:28 AM
Barfield is at 1B now, he was moved. Playing 3B is Reynolds, Spruill, Collins (only in games, he does not take infield practice here), Stovall and Alexander. Reynolds is starter, Collins to play here some, I bet Stovall is late inning defense specialist.

Catcher is Collins followed by Marrero and JC Tr Jack Kruger who both are much better offensively than Lovelady.

Lowe will be starter at 1B. Solid defender and can hit. Gordon still Ks too much. Barfield who has never played 1B before struggles defensively here. Look for him to be pinch hitter in spring, he has lots of power.

Holland and Gridley will start but Zinn and Alexander will play a lot.

5 OFs will play and switch Robson, Smith and Hump are starters. Brown is backup. Rooker is DH

MsStateBaseball
09-30-2015, 07:51 AM
Pitchers

Hudson and Sexton on the weekend. The 3rd spot is very competitive. Daniel Brown, Vance Tatum are battling it out. Zac Houston and Rigby are the closers right now. But so many freshmen will play. Ford, Small and Padgett are the big ones right now. Very deep bullpen right now.

Billingsley and Gentry have yet to throw. They can still make the 35 if they do well in January but I don't know. Lots of red shirting like around 5.

bulldogcountry1
09-30-2015, 08:07 AM
The further we get away from last season, the more I think that a properly managed pitching staff would have got us above .500 at least. I would still like an explanation of why we still tried to force the small ball/pitch to contact philosophy even after it was clear that it wasn't going to work, but it really doesn't matter anymore. Moving forward, I'm not really down about having so many key guys return from last season. If they all have made positive gains, the addition of the new guys will put us right back in the mix to compete for Omaha.

RBritt
09-30-2015, 08:22 AM
Cyr is in the doghouse. He got himself a 3 letter crime.

MsStateBaseball
09-30-2015, 09:12 AM
I saw Cyr sitting in the stands and not working out. I thought he was sick.

Homedawg
09-30-2015, 09:41 AM
Cyr is in the doghouse. He got himself a 3 letter crime.

That really needed to be posted? Just because you knew that didn't mean you had to tell the world. What did you gain??