MSU vs USM Game 2 thread....

[HoopsDawg]

New batting order and new DH..

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D0GrC0XW0AAu8Gh.jpg

[TNDawg35]

I still wish Hayden would catch. I feel like Skelton can’t throw out shit if we needed him too.

[HoopsDawg]

better approach in the 1st inning. Mangum and Mac hit it hard. We got deeper into the counts.

If everyone from the berms would move to the grandstand, it would be an awesome atmosphere. The berms are crowded.

[HoopsDawg]

Foscue with a good approach, LOL. Dinger, 1-0 MSU. Man he looks good this year.

[HoopsDawg]

2 bloop singles by Skelton and Gilbert, then Jordan strikes out. Who the hell paid all that money for seats behind home plate and then gave them to USM fans?

[skadoosh14]

Looking good today boys! Beautiful unis too. Man I love baseball season.

[HoopsDawg]

3-0 MSU. A rip by Mangum and a rip by Westburg. I like Westy in that 2 hole to protect Jake.

[HoopsDawg]

4-0, Allen found the hole on a hard hit grounder. Hitting is contagious. New pitcher coming in.

[Scared_Hitless]

Still swinging first pitch but mashing the ball like the aggressiveness when the pitcher got rattled.

[CadaverDawg]

Like I said...sometimes hitting is contagious...just needed to string a few together. Good start, now need Ginn to not let up

[Scared_Hitless]

Ginn is legit his command and velo are good and that curve is nasty

[HoopsDawg]

Ginn is legit his command and velo are good and that curve is nasty

The sink he gets on his 94 mph fastball is unreal.

[skadoosh14]

Ginn is legit his command and velo are good and that curve is nasty

Ginn is special. I hope he stays past his sophomore year. I imagine he will since he turned down the 30th overall, but if he's drafted top 3 that would be a little harder to say no to.

[CJDAWG85]

Are we still batting? What did Mac do? No one is updating Twitter.

[smootness]

Ginn's command, for a freshman, is incredible.

[CadaverDawg]

Wish our score box would fix the pitch count on USM's Guy....this is the new pitcher, he hasn't thrown 48 pitches yet

[CadaverDawg]

Are we still batting? What did Mac do? No one is updating Twitter.

Mac flew out. We're in b3 now....Gilbert single with 2 outs

[HoopsDawg]

Are we still batting? What did Mac do? No one is updating Twitter.

4-0 B3. Gilbert on first with 2 down. Gilbert 2-2 with 2 bloopers. He was our top hitter in spring scrimmages.

[CadaverDawg]

I miss Rowdey's specs.

[CadaverDawg]

I think Rowdey will get it going....so we need Halter and our DH spot to produce some and we should have a good lineup

[CadaverDawg]

How do you stand there and take that pitch, Halter?

[HoopsDawg]

Halter strikes out. He's now .190 on the year. Might need to give Landon Jordan a look at 2B.

[skadoosh14]

Used Ginn to pinch hit yesterday, but won't let him hit when he's pitching. Doesn't make sense. Free his bat.

[HoopsDawg]

I think Rowdey will get it going....so we need Halter and our DH spot to produce some and we should have a good lineup

We have to ride with Rowdey b/c we really don't have a 4th outfielder. Basiel Williams has potential and hit .290 in the fall but he strikes out way too much right now.

[HoopsDawg]

Ginn still dealing. 4-0 B4. Top of the order up. Need to extend the lead so we can get Cerantola some work.

[skadoosh14]

Weird rule. Is this the first year that you can just put a batter on base?

[msstate7]

Weird rule. Is this the first year that you can just put a batter on base?

For college, yeah. Copied mlb, who started it last season

[HoopsDawg]

We put 2 on, but Mac hits into a double play. heading to the 5th, 4-0 still.

[CadaverDawg]

We have to ride with Rowdey b/c we really don't have a 4th outfielder. Basiel Williams has potential and hit .290 in the fall but he strikes out way too much right now.

No doubt. Rowdey is proven, he'll get rolling soon

[skadoosh14]

We are basically defenseless to stolen bases with Skelton catching.

[CadaverDawg]

Way to work out of a RISP and a missed strike call by the ump, JT. Love the poise.

[HoopsDawg]

Another good inning from Ginn but he's up to 62 pitches. I think the 6th inning may be his last. It will be interesting to see who we go to out of the pen. Maybe Jack Egan.

[CadaverDawg]

We are basically defenseless to stolen bases with Skelton catching.

Yep, I know he's dumping some flares and jam shots for hits, but long term it will be better for us to put Jones in

[CadaverDawg]

Another good inning from Ginn but he's up to 62 pitches. I think the 6th inning may be his last. It will be interesting to see who we go to out of the pen. Maybe Jack Egan.

If we could get 2-3 more runs this inning, it would open up options

[CadaverDawg]

Yep, I know he's dumping some flares and jam shots for hits, but long term it will be better for us to put Jones in

Hahahaha shame on me, Dustin! Haha a bomb to dead center! I'll take my crow well done.

6-0 Dawgs

[skadoosh14]

Yep, I know he's dumping some flares and jam shots for hits, but long term it will be better for us to put Jones in

HR for Skelton. Still completely agree that Jones should start.

[HoopsDawg]

Oh my gosh, I didn't think Skelton had that kind of power. He took it over the centerfield fence.

[CadaverDawg]

Rowdey double!!

[HoopsDawg]

Rowdey with a frozen rope double. Maybe that will get him going.

[CadaverDawg]

Oh my gosh, I didn't think Skelton had that kind of power. He took it over the centerfield fence.

I did a double take, thought it was Gilbert ha

[skadoosh14]

USM is going to have a very shallow bullpen tomorrow. If we can stop grounding out/popping up first pitches and make them go to their bullpen early tomorrow then it should be a good day for us.

[CadaverDawg]

Halter takes another called strike 3 down the middle. He has looked pretty bad at the plate so far.

[dantheman4248]

We should totally change our batting approach after one loss. /s

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

Halter is by far the weakest spot in the lineup. He doesn't have any one glaring weakness but he's not up to par in anything either... he seems a little late to make decisions, he fails to recognize the spin, he can't get round in time, he just missed the pitch to hit... he seems to always have some combo of these that results in him getting out

[HoopsDawg]

Halter takes another called strike 3 down the middle. He has looked pretty bad at the plate so far.

Yeah, we are going to have to roll with Landon Jordan there tomorrow.

[CadaverDawg]

Skelton can't block strike 3. Runner takes first

[skadoosh14]

That's the second pitch in 2 batters Skelton has let past him. He is the reason we have a runner on second. He should not be playing. WTF.

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

We should totally change our batting approach after one loss. /s

Lemo himself even said they needed to work the count and be more selective with what they wing at.

[skadoosh14]

Lemo himself even said they needed to work the count and be more selective with what they wing at.

Yep. Not sure what he's referring to. It seems like we've definitely changed our approach since yesterday.

[CadaverDawg]

Ginn giving it back to em! I love it

[HoopsDawg]

Ginn with a great outing. 3 K's in the 6th. 9 K's on the day. Still hitting 95 on his 78th pitch. His day is most likely done.

[CadaverDawg]

Why not let Ginn hit and DH for Halter?

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

Yep. Not sure what he's referring to. It seems like we've definitely changed our approach since yesterday.

Yeah we're taking early strikes unless it's what we're sitting on, and if it's what we're sitting on we crank it. Yesterday we took bad swings and made weak contact, looked like every pitch was a 2 strike count. Totally different approach

[HoopsDawg]

Why not let Ginn hit and DH for Halter?

Don't think you can pitch and be the DH. Not sure what you mean.

[smootness]

Holy crap, what a horrific decision to send him there.

[CadaverDawg]

There was 2 outs Mac! Why you checking up?

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

Gotta hold him up there. Wasn't even that good of a throw and he was very very out

[HoopsDawg]

Holy crap, what a horrific decision to send him there.

2 outs, 6 run lead, I like the decision, Mac shouldn't have hesitated.

[CadaverDawg]

Don't think you can pitch and be the DH. Not sure what you mean.

Can't you DH for any position player you want? So let Ginn hit for himself when he's pitching, and DH for Halter. Or maybe I'm an idiot

[skadoosh14]

Why not let Ginn hit and DH for Halter?

You can only a DH for pitchers in college baseball.


SECTION 2. 
a. The designated hitter (DH) is a player designated to bat for the starting
pitcher and all subsequent pitchers.

From https://cpe-prod.usabaseball.com/documents/7/9/4/128576794/NCAA_Rulebook_2016_7nojpzr8.pdf

[smootness]

2 outs, 6 run lead, I like the decision, Mac shouldn't have hesitated.

He shouldn't have hesitated, but once he did, you can't send him. I don't care the situation, he was running into a clear out. He hadn't even reached third when the LF fielded it.

[HoopsDawg]

He shouldn't have hesitated, but once he did, you can't send him. I don't care the situation, he was running into a clear out. He hadn't even reached third when the LF fielded it.

Nice play by Halter there. I'm really surprised we are extending Ginn beyond 80 in his 2nd start of the season.

[HoopsDawg]

Nice play by Halter there. I'm really surprised we are extending Ginn beyond 80 in his 2nd start of the season.

What a nice, quick inning from Ginn.

[skadoosh14]

Nice play by Halter there. I'm really surprised we are extending Ginn beyond 80 in his 2nd start of the season.

How many pitches do we give him? Doesn't seem smart to give a freshman pitcher 100+ (if it gets to that point).

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

Can't wait to see Keegan tomorrow, i think we'll have one of the best rotations in the conference this season

[CadaverDawg]

You can only a DH for pitchers in college baseball.



From https://cpe-prod.usabaseball.com/documents/7/9/4/128576794/NCAA_Rulebook_2016_7nojpzr8.pdf

Oh ok, thanks. I shoulda known that

[CadaverDawg]

Skelton bomb number 2!!! Hahaha

[skadoosh14]

Fine, make Skelton a DH, but we still need Jones behind the plate.

[CadaverDawg]

How many pitches do we give him? Doesn't seem smart to give a freshman pitcher 100+ (if it gets to that point).

I think he should be done now

[CadaverDawg]

Fine, make Skelton a DH, but we still need Jones behind the plate.

Yep

[Scared_Hitless]

Storm clouds are rolling in

[CadaverDawg]

Can we get a stabilizer for the damn camera? I'm getting nauseous

[parabrave]

Is this game official? Weather starting to go downhill west of 55 moving E to NE fast.

[smootness]

Is this game official? Weather starting to go downhill west of 55 moving E to NE fast.

Oh yeah. We're through 7.

[EngDawg]

Two innings, can we get them in before the storms start firing up?

[skadoosh14]

Great day for Ginn. RHP freshman Brandon Smith is up.

[CadaverDawg]

Brandon Smith in. Fantastic outing by Ginn

[skadoosh14]

Smith has looked great in the innings he's played this year. Looks like he'll have a great future here.

Edit: sorry, I jinxed him.

[CadaverDawg]

Skelton just got on Smith's ass for leaving it up, haha. I love this version of Skelton, just wish he could block and throw

[CadaverDawg]

That RF corner is going to make things interesting this year...some good, some bad

[smootness]

Ginn looks awesome. It looks like we may have two legit front-end SEC starters, and they're both guys we didn't know would be on the roster. Our pitching is reeeeeeeally good.

[CadaverDawg]

7-1

[CadaverDawg]

Smith has to work down

[skadoosh14]

Double play with the freshman Landon Jordan!

[CadaverDawg]

Nice double play!

3 more outs and then we can go win this damn series tomorrow

[skadoosh14]

Hot take: "Friends in Low Places" was the catalyst for the death of country music.

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

Smith has to work down

He can't locate for shit but once he does I think he'll be a stud

[skadoosh14]

Top 9. 3 outs and we tie the series.

[skadoosh14]

Is our gun still broken, or was that really 96 mph?

[smootness]

Ballgame

[Cooterpoot]

Other than Halter, we're going to have a really solid lineup. Halter needs a weight room and he's struggling to turn the bat or identifying pitches. Pitching is damn good and deep. Once we get completely tuned in at the plate, I believe it's going to be really fun to watch.

[ZedFedder]

We will see tmrw but I don't believe there will be much drop off with Keegan James, either. Think we have three really good starters.

[Todd4State]

Ginn looks awesome. It looks like we may have two legit front-end SEC starters, and they're both guys we didn't know would be on the roster. Our pitching is reeeeeeeally good.

May have? We do.

[Todd4State]

Other than Halter, we're going to have a really solid lineup. Halter needs a weight room and he's struggling to turn the bat or identifying pitches. Pitching is damn good and deep. Once we get completely tuned in at the plate, I believe it's going to be really fun to watch.


At some point we may have to do something about second base. I wouldn't be surprised if we at least try Landon Jordan some.


We will see tmrw but I don't believe there will be much drop off with Keegan James, either. Think we have three really good starters.

There isn't. Keegan is a four year SEC guy who has been in the fire plenty of times. Perfect guy for Sunday's in the SEC.

[HoopsDawg]

At some point we may have to do something about second base. I wouldn't be surprised if we at least try Landon Jordan some.



There isn't. Keegan is a four year SEC guy who has been in the fire plenty of times. Perfect guy for Sunday's in the SEC.

Landon looked good on that pivot at 2B. Strong arm.

[smootness]

May have? We do.

Ok bud, just saying that Ginn has still only thrown 12 total innings. I'm not going to make any statements of fact until we have more evidence.

[Todd4State]

MUCH better today. Our hard hit balls found grass, we were much more patient at the plate and we probably went through most of their bullpen while we still haven't had to use Cole Gordon or Jack Eagan. That will be a factor tomorrow because unless they have a random asshole theory guy we've probably seen most of what they have and they are throwing a TBA guy.

Dustin Skelton showed why the Blue Jays drafted him out of high school. Hopefully he keeps it up.

I think Colby White should get a look at closer. Maybe we can put him in a high leverage situation to see what he can do. If he emerges we can use Cole Gordon more like an Andrew Miller long relief type and it will help us not expose Riley Self so much. I'm really surprised at how much better the pitching has looked so far. Foxhall is looking like a home run hire about two weeks in.

[Todd4State]

Ok bud, just saying that Ginn has still only thrown 12 total innings. I'm not going to make any statements of fact until we have more evidence.

The Dodgers drafting him in the first round isn't good enough evidence for you bud?

[Todd4State]

Landon looked good on that pivot at 2B. Strong arm.

I know that the staff has worked really hard with him. I expect him to be starting soon. Which will be big because it opens up the DH spot potentially for my other two freshmen- Ginn and Cumbest.

[ZedFedder]

Who do you guys think will be first out of the pen tmrw?

[Cooterpoot]

They still have Strickland for tomorrow. He's crafty and changes speeds well.

[Todd4State]

Who do you guys think will be first out of the pen tmrw?

Eagan? Depends on the situation of course. If it's a one hitter deal and the hitter is LH I would probably go with Barlow.

[tcdog70]

Ha you Skelton haters having to eat some crow. He has looked vastly improved behind the plate and his hitting has been spot on.Alexander is gone so I guess Skelton is your boy to diss.

[AlSwearengen]

Halter looks pretty lost at the plate. I know it is still early but he doesn?t really look very close. Should he start working on pitching and be ready for next year?

[CadaverDawg]

Ha you Skelton haters having to eat some crow. He has looked vastly improved behind the plate and his hitting has been spot on.Alexander is gone so I guess Skelton is your boy to diss.

Hitting well, but he has not looked good behind the plate. Allowed at least 2-3 passed balls today, and wasn't close to throwing out their runner. So I agree with the hitting part, but not the rest. DH him if you want, but put Jones at Catcher for his D and arm

[smootness]

Hitting well, but he has not looked good behind the plate. Allowed at least 2-3 passed balls today, and wasn't close to throwing out their runner. So I agree with the hitting part, but not the rest. DH him if you want, but put Jones at Catcher for his D and arm

If he wasn't close to getting the runner, then it's probably on the pitcher.

[CadaverDawg]

If he wasn't close to getting the runner, then it's probably on the pitcher.

Fair enough, many times, yes...but there's no debating the arms of Jones vs Skelton. Skelton rarely throws out anyone...Jones has a MLB arm. And Skelton isn't a good blocker, but we haven't seen enough of Jones to compare that aspect. Can't imagine Jones is worse at blocking.

[smootness]

The Dodgers drafting him in the first round isn't good enough evidence for you bud?

For whether or not he's a top-end guy day 1? Honestly, no. Look at Beede's freshman year at Vandy.

We both think similarly good things about him and want the best for him and State so let's just leave it at that. It doesn't really matter, we look really good there so far.

[Todd4State]

For whether or not he's a top-end guy day 1? Honestly, no. Look at Beede's freshman year at Vandy.

We both think similarly good things about him and want the best for him and State so let's just leave it at that. It doesn't really matter, we look really good there so far.

He's not Tyler Beede. If you don't think Ginn is a day one guy then you aren't going to think anyone is a day one guy for us.

[msstate7]

Fair enough, many times, yes...but there's no debating the arms of Jones vs Skelton. Skelton rarely throws out anyone...Jones has a MLB arm. And Skelton isn't a good blocker, but we haven't seen enough of Jones to compare that aspect. Can't imagine Jones is worse at blocking.

I have taken a hiatus from watching baseball so far this season, so I have no idea which one frames better. With that said, framing is my preferred catcher skill. I want the one that gets the most strikes called

[HoopsDawg]

Who do you guys think will be first out of the pen tmrw?

Gordon would be my best guess.

[tcdog70]

If he wasn't close to getting the runner, then it's probably on the pitcher.

Beat me too it, Smoot. The steal was on the pitcher. One of the passed balls was on Him the other was just too wild, can't really blame Him. I said he is improved, I didn't say He was a plus defender.

[I seen it dawg]

Didn't get to watch much yesterday. The little I did see...

Ginn is absolutely legit.

Skelton showed me something...after last pitch of the game as White was about to head to position players to shake hands Skelton grabbed him and made him hit dugout guys first which he should then position guys. That's a good leadership sign and if he will do those things and get on pitchers asses I can live with his weaker throwing and occasional passed ball, as long as he's working on those things and not clowning and being lazy like it looked last year. Light bulb may have gone off.
Him hitting is a nice bonus.

Halter may not be ready for prime time.

[CadaverDawg]

Didn't get to watch much yesterday. The little I did see...

Ginn is absolutely legit.

Skelton showed me something...after last pitch of the game as White was about to head to position players to shake hands Skelton grabbed him and made him hit dugout guys first which he should then position guys. That's a good leadership sign and if he will do those things and get on pitchers asses I can live with his weaker throwing and occasional passed ball, as long as he's working on those things and not clowning and being lazy like it looked last year. Light bulb may have gone off.
Him hitting is a nice bonus.

Halter may not be ready for prime time.

I loved when Brandon Smith was up in the zone twice when Skelton wanted it down, so Skelton pointed down and slammed his mitt in the dirt, like "get the damn ball down in the zone like I called it so you don't get rocked, Rookie!". I love that shit