Todd4State
08-19-2018, 12:43 AM
I usually do this around the 4th of July but then weird things started to happen with the baseball team- Carter Stewart, Cole Gordon, LA and etc. Here is how I think we look going into the fall and then we'll revisit based on who does well.
Ace- Small
Sat- Keegan James. He had a strong summer in the Cape.
Sun- JT Ginn. I think this is a good spot for him because he is likely a two way guy for us and this will allow him to rest on Monday.
Midweek- Tyler Spring. I really like him. He's a JUCO guy but he started out at Alabama and then had Tommy John.
Darkhorse- Eric Cerentola. He was a top 200 MLB draft prospect who was drafted and played for Team Canada. I think he's a weekend guy one day and is quietly a really good pickup for us.
Bullpen- I think next year will be unique in that we will have three guys that can go multiple innings for us. I'm not sure that we will be traditional because of that but we'll see how it plays out.
Closer- Self. Only because in my mind he is the most consistent guy.
Gordon. It's huge to pick him back up and yes, he could definitely emerge as the closer as he builds off of his postseason performance. Because I think he will emerge I have him as closer two and probably will move to closer one by the end of the year.
Plumlee. I know Genespage thinks that he is a starter- but I like him better out of the bullpen. He had a good summer but in a league where he was one of the older players- and at least he dominated like he should have. So there is something to be said for that. Hopefully he improves on keeping the ball in the yard.
Spencer Price is a wild card for me. We'll see how he looks coming off of Tommy John. I'm expecting him to be similar to Blake Smith next year. May look good at times but may also get worn down by the end of the year.
I think Scott Foxhall will improve our staff a lot too. We could see some surprise performances next year because of that.
Catcher- Hayden Jones is a freshman that I think will win the job over Skelton, Gilbert, Hancock, and Tucker Childers. What will be interesting to see is how much Kyle Cheesbrough can improve the veteran catchers because last year it looked like they were playing on roller skates behind the plate. If Jones struggles or needs to rest it's good that we have a couple of veteran guys that have played a lot in the SEC behind him.
First Base- Josh Hatcher. He needs to learn to hit LHP though or it could be Ginn or someone else here.
Second Base- Tanner Allen. He spent the summer playing second base so that's probably a good indication of where the staff wants him to end up.
Third Base- Justin Foscue. He had a monster summer hitting the ball. I think the light may be starting to come on for him.
Shortstop- Jordan Westburg. Also had a monster summer hitting the ball and I think his light started to come on in Omaha. I'm not expecting LA back- or if he does I expect him to miss a significant amount of the season.
Wildcard- Gunner Halter. He put up big numbers in JUCO but didn't have a great summer hitting the ball. He could also close for us as a pitcher. If one of the infielders falters like Hatcher or someone else- Halter will probably figure in somewhere.
Left Field- Rowdey Jordan. He struggled this summer but I think he will be fine. He should be better after spending a year in the outfield and he has some surprising pop given his frame and size.
Center Field- Jake Mangum. Getting him back for his senior year is huge. He may win the SEC batting title. He will also be the team leader and is IMO the best CF we have ever had at MSU.
Right Field- Elijah MacNamee. He got hot late but I hope he gets hot a lot sooner. Definitely could be a 10 home run guy for us and should be a good senior leader.
DH- Ginn. Although as usual this is pretty up in the air depending on who performs. As I said I could see Ginn at first if Hatcher struggles. Foscue's summer makes me think he stays at third. If Westburg struggles defensively we may move him here, Halter to SS, and then Ginn probably to first.
Pinch hitter- I think Tucker Childers will emerge in this role unless we redshirt him.
Pinch runner- Basiel Williams. He's a raw freshman but he can run.
Ace- Small
Sat- Keegan James. He had a strong summer in the Cape.
Sun- JT Ginn. I think this is a good spot for him because he is likely a two way guy for us and this will allow him to rest on Monday.
Midweek- Tyler Spring. I really like him. He's a JUCO guy but he started out at Alabama and then had Tommy John.
Darkhorse- Eric Cerentola. He was a top 200 MLB draft prospect who was drafted and played for Team Canada. I think he's a weekend guy one day and is quietly a really good pickup for us.
Bullpen- I think next year will be unique in that we will have three guys that can go multiple innings for us. I'm not sure that we will be traditional because of that but we'll see how it plays out.
Closer- Self. Only because in my mind he is the most consistent guy.
Gordon. It's huge to pick him back up and yes, he could definitely emerge as the closer as he builds off of his postseason performance. Because I think he will emerge I have him as closer two and probably will move to closer one by the end of the year.
Plumlee. I know Genespage thinks that he is a starter- but I like him better out of the bullpen. He had a good summer but in a league where he was one of the older players- and at least he dominated like he should have. So there is something to be said for that. Hopefully he improves on keeping the ball in the yard.
Spencer Price is a wild card for me. We'll see how he looks coming off of Tommy John. I'm expecting him to be similar to Blake Smith next year. May look good at times but may also get worn down by the end of the year.
I think Scott Foxhall will improve our staff a lot too. We could see some surprise performances next year because of that.
Catcher- Hayden Jones is a freshman that I think will win the job over Skelton, Gilbert, Hancock, and Tucker Childers. What will be interesting to see is how much Kyle Cheesbrough can improve the veteran catchers because last year it looked like they were playing on roller skates behind the plate. If Jones struggles or needs to rest it's good that we have a couple of veteran guys that have played a lot in the SEC behind him.
First Base- Josh Hatcher. He needs to learn to hit LHP though or it could be Ginn or someone else here.
Second Base- Tanner Allen. He spent the summer playing second base so that's probably a good indication of where the staff wants him to end up.
Third Base- Justin Foscue. He had a monster summer hitting the ball. I think the light may be starting to come on for him.
Shortstop- Jordan Westburg. Also had a monster summer hitting the ball and I think his light started to come on in Omaha. I'm not expecting LA back- or if he does I expect him to miss a significant amount of the season.
Wildcard- Gunner Halter. He put up big numbers in JUCO but didn't have a great summer hitting the ball. He could also close for us as a pitcher. If one of the infielders falters like Hatcher or someone else- Halter will probably figure in somewhere.
Left Field- Rowdey Jordan. He struggled this summer but I think he will be fine. He should be better after spending a year in the outfield and he has some surprising pop given his frame and size.
Center Field- Jake Mangum. Getting him back for his senior year is huge. He may win the SEC batting title. He will also be the team leader and is IMO the best CF we have ever had at MSU.
Right Field- Elijah MacNamee. He got hot late but I hope he gets hot a lot sooner. Definitely could be a 10 home run guy for us and should be a good senior leader.
DH- Ginn. Although as usual this is pretty up in the air depending on who performs. As I said I could see Ginn at first if Hatcher struggles. Foscue's summer makes me think he stays at third. If Westburg struggles defensively we may move him here, Halter to SS, and then Ginn probably to first.
Pinch hitter- I think Tucker Childers will emerge in this role unless we redshirt him.
Pinch runner- Basiel Williams. He's a raw freshman but he can run.