Todd4State
06-14-2017, 11:54 PM
I think we came out OK as far as the draft. I expected us to lose Quenton Holmes for sure and the three JUCO guys- Rey Riveria, Troy Bacon, and Pearson McMahan were basically bonus guys that would be awesome to get but it would take them basically falling through the draft for that to happen. Hutchinson I felt like was 50/50 and then in an interview he said he was 60-40 towards pro ball and now I think he's basically probably 90/10 going to pro baseball. I thought Ryan Gridley would be drafted lower than he actually ended up being drafted- I expected around round 15-20 and he ended up going in round 11. So, that to me was the only unpleasant surprise. I've heard that he doesn't know what he wants to do yet so I'm just going to go with 50/50 but with a glass half empty attitude of going pro. Everyone else I feel pretty good about as far as coming to school unless they are using Dale Burdick's agent.
So, here are my thoughts on where we stand as of now. And I'll probably do this again after the signing deadline in July.
Ace- Pilkington. I think that him playing for Team USA will be a great experience for him and I think he could take a Stratton/Hudson type leap for his junior year and potentially be our third first round pick in a row.
After that it's pretty wide open as far as the rotation.
Saturday- Ashcraft. Needs to get healthy and hopefully will pitch somewhere this summer. Needs to show better command and hopefully will make a leap.
Sunday- McQuary. Yes, I've heard the rumors that he could play third base. But his stuff on the mound is really good. He just has to learn how to command it. I hope he does this summer.
Midweek- Billingsley. This would be awesome if he would be the midweek guy. However we're MSU and Ashcraft and McQuary will probably look like they have never seen a baseball before next year and thus Billingsley, a fifth year senior will be the Saturday guy. Because things with our pitching staff never seem to work out how we would like them to.
Noah Hughes has looked good in bullpen sessions and he will be someone to be watched over the summer and fall. Would not surprise me if he ended up in the midweek or even in the rotation. I could say the same about Parker Ford too. He got better as the season continued and I think he could have a role for us next year. I think Ethan Small could figure in to the rotation as well depending on how he looks in the fall. He could be our LOOGY that we didn't have this year. Or if he is healthy and far along enough I wouldn't rule out the rotation either. I think Gary Henderson will find at least four competent guys and this group will be much improved for us.
The Bullpen
Price, Self, and Blake Smith return. There are rumors that Ryan Rigby will leave. I think he would be crazy if he did- and he wasn't drafted so maybe he will reconsider. As of now, I'm going to assume the rumor is true and just be happy if it isn't. I know Self wants to be in the rotation and he could vey well do that but I don't think he will next year because he pitched a lot this year and he has a history of arm issues. I think with a deeper bullpen we could probably spread out his workload more than we did this year and allow him to develop his game and rest some. Price has shown that he can close. Smith is wait and see with his Tommy John surgery but he plans on being back. Jared Leibelt is a JUCO transfer that I think will pitch out of the bullpen a lot for us next year and eat innings. Cole Marsh is another JUCO that could be a long relief guy. Peyton Plumlee returns and he needs to refine his command. He has a lot of experience and he could play a role for us. I think that if Cole Gordon pitches it will be out of the bullpen and he could be another good relief option and he should be better next year. He has to eliminate the big inning. Trysten Barlow will be better and I think he will have a nice career for us. A deeper staff will allow him to focus on being a LOOGY. Chad Bryant got drafted today and I could see him being a one inning relief guy for us and he has a bright future. Jared Padgett is a wild card that will be watched closely in the fall. If he's healthy it will change our bullpen quite a bit. John Mason and Cameron Voss are wild cards. Mason has had arm injuries and I don't know how Voss will translate from his JUCO league to the SEC. Both could be huge surprises or they could also end up being sent home. This group will be much better next year and could go from one of the worst in the SEC to one of the better ones.
Catcher
This group is scary thin and is a huge question mark for us. I think it's Skelton's job to lose- and I actually think he will be better defensively than Lovelady. We'll see how much offense he gives us and how far along he comes with that. Marshall Gilbert comes from a league where guys haven't translated well to the SEC. I'm skeptical. We need another catcher because the third guy is Hunter Stovall- and if Skelton struggles at the plate and Gilbert doesn't adjust I wouldn't be shocked to see him start at catcher.
First Base
Obviously we won't be as good. But we could be solid. I really think Owen Lovell wins it, but Harrison Bragg will have a good chance to win it. I'm skeptical of Alex Pener the JUCO first baseman we're bringing in. But he'll be in the mix. Cole Gordon will also be in the mix if not the front runner and while he can hit a baseball 500 feet, he really struggled at the plate. Josh Hatcher who was drafted by the Angels is also a possibility here. Will be a lot of competition here.
Second Base
This is Hunter Stovall's to lose. He's one of the best in the SEC and if he can stay healthy he could take it to the next level. I'm more worried about having to move him to catcher. If that happens, I think Tanner Allen or LA would take over.
Third base
I think we dodged a bullet when Harrison Bragg wasn't drafted. He's had his moments- my personal favorite was his home run that made Jared Poche' cry. For some reason I think he gets his head on straight and busts out next year. Will it be at first or third? Kind of depends on what Gridley ultimately does I think. LA will obviously have a say here if Gridley returns and I think freshman Jordan Westburg could be a darkhorse that wins the job of the upperclassmen don't straighten themselves out.
Shortstop
It depends on Gridley and really the entire infield kind of hinges on his decision. If he comes back he will start obviously. If he does not, I think LA will start. And LA needs to stop expanding the zone and chasing pitches. He has some power when he does make contact and his defense and arm are without a doubt SEC worthy. LA has also dealt with some injuries but he needs to take a step forward in the Cape and we'll see if he does indeed do that. LA could end up being like Kramer Robertson for LSU who had similar struggles his sophomore year and ended up being left home while the team went to Omaha and Cann was able to straighten him out. We'll see if the same happens again. If LA does not and Gridley leaves we could also possibly see Westburg here, but I think he's a third baseman long term.
Outfield
I think Jake Mangum returning is a great decision on his part. The biggest thing is he needs to be more selective at the plate. He does need to get stronger, but the being more selective will also help a lot too. He also needs to improve his baserunning and become at least a 20 stolen base guy. He has a chance to be another All-SEC guy and has CF locked down. While I think the freshmen are very talented, I think Elijah MacNamee keeps a starting spot. He made some nice defensive plays and he is very competitive. He should be better and I could see him putting up Cody Brown type numbers potentially next year. I think Tanner Allen more than likely ends up in the corner OF or DH for us and he is the guy that Manieri was upset about us flipping. He will play a lot and start somewhere- and he will be a productive player for us. Jordan Anderson has the potential to be a All-SEC guy one day and I think Cann will really develop him into a solid hitter. He could very well start for us as well. Josh Hatcher doesn't get talked about a lot but he will compete for playing time. If Owen Lovell does not win the first base job or another option emerges there and Lovell looks good we may play him in the outfield as well. I'll be interested to see if Brant Blaylock makes a big jump and follows the same career arc as Hunter Renfroe and Brent Rooker so I'm going to watch him very closely this summer. He could be a guy that makes that kind of huge jump in a couple of years but we'll see. I think Hunter Vansau and Tanner Poole are the odd men out and will be role players for us if they make the team.
So, here are my thoughts on where we stand as of now. And I'll probably do this again after the signing deadline in July.
Ace- Pilkington. I think that him playing for Team USA will be a great experience for him and I think he could take a Stratton/Hudson type leap for his junior year and potentially be our third first round pick in a row.
After that it's pretty wide open as far as the rotation.
Saturday- Ashcraft. Needs to get healthy and hopefully will pitch somewhere this summer. Needs to show better command and hopefully will make a leap.
Sunday- McQuary. Yes, I've heard the rumors that he could play third base. But his stuff on the mound is really good. He just has to learn how to command it. I hope he does this summer.
Midweek- Billingsley. This would be awesome if he would be the midweek guy. However we're MSU and Ashcraft and McQuary will probably look like they have never seen a baseball before next year and thus Billingsley, a fifth year senior will be the Saturday guy. Because things with our pitching staff never seem to work out how we would like them to.
Noah Hughes has looked good in bullpen sessions and he will be someone to be watched over the summer and fall. Would not surprise me if he ended up in the midweek or even in the rotation. I could say the same about Parker Ford too. He got better as the season continued and I think he could have a role for us next year. I think Ethan Small could figure in to the rotation as well depending on how he looks in the fall. He could be our LOOGY that we didn't have this year. Or if he is healthy and far along enough I wouldn't rule out the rotation either. I think Gary Henderson will find at least four competent guys and this group will be much improved for us.
The Bullpen
Price, Self, and Blake Smith return. There are rumors that Ryan Rigby will leave. I think he would be crazy if he did- and he wasn't drafted so maybe he will reconsider. As of now, I'm going to assume the rumor is true and just be happy if it isn't. I know Self wants to be in the rotation and he could vey well do that but I don't think he will next year because he pitched a lot this year and he has a history of arm issues. I think with a deeper bullpen we could probably spread out his workload more than we did this year and allow him to develop his game and rest some. Price has shown that he can close. Smith is wait and see with his Tommy John surgery but he plans on being back. Jared Leibelt is a JUCO transfer that I think will pitch out of the bullpen a lot for us next year and eat innings. Cole Marsh is another JUCO that could be a long relief guy. Peyton Plumlee returns and he needs to refine his command. He has a lot of experience and he could play a role for us. I think that if Cole Gordon pitches it will be out of the bullpen and he could be another good relief option and he should be better next year. He has to eliminate the big inning. Trysten Barlow will be better and I think he will have a nice career for us. A deeper staff will allow him to focus on being a LOOGY. Chad Bryant got drafted today and I could see him being a one inning relief guy for us and he has a bright future. Jared Padgett is a wild card that will be watched closely in the fall. If he's healthy it will change our bullpen quite a bit. John Mason and Cameron Voss are wild cards. Mason has had arm injuries and I don't know how Voss will translate from his JUCO league to the SEC. Both could be huge surprises or they could also end up being sent home. This group will be much better next year and could go from one of the worst in the SEC to one of the better ones.
Catcher
This group is scary thin and is a huge question mark for us. I think it's Skelton's job to lose- and I actually think he will be better defensively than Lovelady. We'll see how much offense he gives us and how far along he comes with that. Marshall Gilbert comes from a league where guys haven't translated well to the SEC. I'm skeptical. We need another catcher because the third guy is Hunter Stovall- and if Skelton struggles at the plate and Gilbert doesn't adjust I wouldn't be shocked to see him start at catcher.
First Base
Obviously we won't be as good. But we could be solid. I really think Owen Lovell wins it, but Harrison Bragg will have a good chance to win it. I'm skeptical of Alex Pener the JUCO first baseman we're bringing in. But he'll be in the mix. Cole Gordon will also be in the mix if not the front runner and while he can hit a baseball 500 feet, he really struggled at the plate. Josh Hatcher who was drafted by the Angels is also a possibility here. Will be a lot of competition here.
Second Base
This is Hunter Stovall's to lose. He's one of the best in the SEC and if he can stay healthy he could take it to the next level. I'm more worried about having to move him to catcher. If that happens, I think Tanner Allen or LA would take over.
Third base
I think we dodged a bullet when Harrison Bragg wasn't drafted. He's had his moments- my personal favorite was his home run that made Jared Poche' cry. For some reason I think he gets his head on straight and busts out next year. Will it be at first or third? Kind of depends on what Gridley ultimately does I think. LA will obviously have a say here if Gridley returns and I think freshman Jordan Westburg could be a darkhorse that wins the job of the upperclassmen don't straighten themselves out.
Shortstop
It depends on Gridley and really the entire infield kind of hinges on his decision. If he comes back he will start obviously. If he does not, I think LA will start. And LA needs to stop expanding the zone and chasing pitches. He has some power when he does make contact and his defense and arm are without a doubt SEC worthy. LA has also dealt with some injuries but he needs to take a step forward in the Cape and we'll see if he does indeed do that. LA could end up being like Kramer Robertson for LSU who had similar struggles his sophomore year and ended up being left home while the team went to Omaha and Cann was able to straighten him out. We'll see if the same happens again. If LA does not and Gridley leaves we could also possibly see Westburg here, but I think he's a third baseman long term.
Outfield
I think Jake Mangum returning is a great decision on his part. The biggest thing is he needs to be more selective at the plate. He does need to get stronger, but the being more selective will also help a lot too. He also needs to improve his baserunning and become at least a 20 stolen base guy. He has a chance to be another All-SEC guy and has CF locked down. While I think the freshmen are very talented, I think Elijah MacNamee keeps a starting spot. He made some nice defensive plays and he is very competitive. He should be better and I could see him putting up Cody Brown type numbers potentially next year. I think Tanner Allen more than likely ends up in the corner OF or DH for us and he is the guy that Manieri was upset about us flipping. He will play a lot and start somewhere- and he will be a productive player for us. Jordan Anderson has the potential to be a All-SEC guy one day and I think Cann will really develop him into a solid hitter. He could very well start for us as well. Josh Hatcher doesn't get talked about a lot but he will compete for playing time. If Owen Lovell does not win the first base job or another option emerges there and Lovell looks good we may play him in the outfield as well. I'll be interested to see if Brant Blaylock makes a big jump and follows the same career arc as Hunter Renfroe and Brent Rooker so I'm going to watch him very closely this summer. He could be a guy that makes that kind of huge jump in a couple of years but we'll see. I think Hunter Vansau and Tanner Poole are the odd men out and will be role players for us if they make the team.