OPENING DAY THREAD

[KOdawg1]

Lineup:

Rowdey - CF
Westy- SS
Allen - RF
Foscue - 2B
Pimentel - LF
Hancock - C
Hatcher - 1B
James - 3B
L. Jordan - DH

Ginn on the mound.

Let's roll.

[SaintDawg]

feels like Christmas Day!

[Commercecomet24]

feels like Christmas Day!

YEP! State starts today, my son starts his senior hs season tomorrow! Gonna be a great weekend!

[msbulldog]

Good luck for your son CC, we're all keeping our fingers crossed for him.

[Commercecomet24]

Good luck for your son CC, we're all keeping our fingers crossed for him.

Thank you, it's much appreciated!

[HailStateSZN19]

The fact that we have an All-SEC player hitting in the 7 hole is amazing. This is a deadly lineup.

Love Landon Jordan hitting in the 9 hole. Going Hatcher-James-Jordan to turn over the order ought to give Rowdy tons of RBI opportunities for a leadoff hitter and then we know what happens when you get to the "rolling ball of chainsaws" part of the order that is Westy-TA-Foscue.

Let's roll ladies and gentlemen!

[Lord McBuckethead]

Rowdey coming out with Jake's music. Opening at bat for a single. On pace for 265 hits for the season.

[ZedFedder]

For anyone there, what is Ginn’s velocity?

[Lord McBuckethead]

He has thrown a few around 89, but those were balls that were thrown to tail out of the zone. I will keep a look on the next few fastballs.

[Lord McBuckethead]

1-0 MSU. 2 hits, one left on base.

Rowdey: 1-1 Run
Westburg: 1-1
Allen: 0-1 (DP 4-3)
Foscue - 0-0 Walk
Pimentel - 0-1 GB3
Hancock - C
Hatcher - 1B
James - 3B
L. Jordan - DH

[Lord McBuckethead]

Ginn in the Second
Pitches 8
Total Pitches 29
1-2-3 with a K

Sitting at 2ks through 2

[HoopsDawg]

should have been a called strike anyway. I'll try not to repeat myself, but I wish we had an electronic strike zone in college baseball.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Start of the second - Upcoming to the plate

Hancock - C
Hatcher - 1B
James - 3B
L. Jordan - DH
Rowdey: 1-1 Run
Westburg: 1-1
Allen: 0-1 (DP 4-3)
Foscue - 0-0 Walk
Pimentel - 0-1 GB3

[Lord McBuckethead]

Second Inning = 1 Runs 3 Hits 2 LOB

Hancock - C FO1
Hatcher - 1B 1-1 Single to Center Run Scored
James - 3B 1-1 Infield Single
L. Jordan - DH 1-1 S7 RBI
Rowdey: 1-2 Single, K, Run
Westburg: 1-2 GO 6-3

upcoming 3rd Inning
Allen: 0-1 (DP 4-3) 1RBI
Foscue - 0-0 Walk
Pimentel - 0-1 GB

2-0 MSU Top of 3

[The Federalist Engineer]

Ginn throwing a lot of pitches today. Almost 50 pitches in less than 3 innings.

[KOdawg1]

Ginn throwing a lot of pitches today. Almost 50 pitches in less than 3 innings.
That's my biggest worry with him. Last year, you could count on Small getting you to the 7th inning. Not sure Ginn will be able to do the same.

[Johnson85]

Based on today, pretty clear Ginn is going to need another year at State to get ready for the pros.**

[Lord McBuckethead]

Top of 3 Pitching

2 Hits, 2 Walks, 1 SB, 1 WP, 2 Runs

Caught a guy trying to take home off a throw down to 2nd.

Sitting at 4ks through 3

2-2 Tied going to bottom 3.

Ginn really let them have all of that. Foscue saved a run or two.

[Lord McBuckethead]

He tries to strike everyone out instead of relying on him getting grounders with his sink motion.

[The Federalist Engineer]

That's my biggest worry with him. Last year, you could count on Small getting you to the 7th inning. Not sure Ginn will be able to do the same.

2-balks, 2-Walks, 2-hits, and a wild pitch

[Lord McBuckethead]

Allen: 0-2 (DP 4-3), K 1RBI
Foscue - 0-1 Walk, G4-3
Pimentel - 0-2 G1, G4-3

1-2-3 Inning

Upcoming in the 4th
Hancock - C FO1
Hatcher - 1B 1-1 Single to Center Run Scored
James - 3B 1-1 Infield Single
L. Jordan - DH 1-1 S7 RBI
Rowdey: 1-2 Single, K, Run
Westburg: 1-2 GO 6-3

[Lord McBuckethead]

Ginn is out. Kesler in.

[CadaverDawg]

Early observations:

We took a Big step back at catcher defensively.

Ginn still throwing too many pitches by not trusting his stuff. Trying to be too fine, strike everyone out.

Swinging at too many balls out of the zone.

Nothing major though. Early season stuff, we good

[Lord McBuckethead]

Kesler - Top of 4th, Tanner in to catch.
1st pitch double.

[HoopsDawg]

Early observations:

We took a Big step back at catcher defensively.

Ginn still throwing too many pitches by not trusting his stuff. Trying to be too fine, strike everyone out.

Swinging at too many balls out of the zone.

Nothing major though. Early season stuff, we good

Logan Tanner already in the game to catch. He can hit 97 on the mound so he's got a hose. He will get every chance to win the catcher's job. Has some pop in his bat too.

[KOdawg1]

2-balks, 2-Walks, 2-hits, and a wild pitch

Self-inflicted. He's dominant when he doesn't beat himself. Not worried, but just something to keep an eye on as we move forward.

[KOdawg1]

Logan Tanner already in the game to catch. He can hit 97 on the mound so he's got a hose. He will get every chance to win the catcher's job. Has some pop in his bat too.

Could see Tanner start as C with Hancock as DH

[HoopsDawg]

Could see Tanner start as C with Hancock as DH

Yeah, some. I like Pimentel, Land and L. Jordan's bat better than Hancocks from the left side.

[KOdawg1]

Logan Tanner already in the game to catch. He can hit 97 on the mound so he's got a hose. He will get every chance to win the catcher's job. Has some pop in his bat too.

Called it. Logan just threw a guy out from his knees

[HoopsDawg]

Holy Cow, Tanner just hosed him from his knees, Benito Santiago style.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Tanner throws a dude out from his knees. 2 Down.

[HoopsDawg]

Called it. Logan just threw a guy out from his knees

That was damn impressive. Kid got a huge jump. And it got us out of a jam.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Nice K to end the inning. Like the old school windup.

[CadaverDawg]

Logan Tanner already in the game to catch. He can hit 97 on the mound so he's got a hose. He will get every chance to win the catcher's job. Has some pop in his bat too.

Boom. Hancock lost his job on day 1 I'm afraid. They were abusing him on the base paths. Tanner with the sling shot

[Lord McBuckethead]

Tanner is about to take a cut here. I can feel it.

[CadaverDawg]

Hancock was a really solid pinch hitter in late inning last year. May be a good place for him to help us, and maybe midweek at catcher to keep from wearing one guy out. But his arm is not strong, you could see it right away

[Lord McBuckethead]

That was damn impressive. Kid got a huge jump. And it got us out of a jam.

Probably didn't think the fresh catcher was going to throw it down with the runner on 3rd.

[Coursesuper]

Boom. Hancock lost his job on day 1 I'm afraid. They were abusing him on the base paths. Tanner with the sling shot

One of th best high school catchers I've seen. Kid can get it done. He is in the spot he needs to be.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Well he hasn't taken a swing looking to hit it yet.**

[Lord McBuckethead]

We need to start looking to attack the 1st pitch. This guy is getting ahead every batter.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Bet the Right Field Loungers are not going to talk shit to that guy. Also, 1st pitch.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Got to make them pay for that error.

[Lord McBuckethead]

James tattooed that ball. Too bad it was right at the guy.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Alright, dude came with two breaking balls first pitch. Now to look for the 2nd pitch.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Dude wants Rowdey to come up? Me too.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Here we go. Rowdey needs to look at the first pitch here. Coach just told that dude to throw strikes and let your d help out. Fastball outer half.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Someone thinks that dude just balked.

[Lord McBuckethead]

1st pitch down the pipe. Not sure what our approach is here.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Is that 1st basemen just sitting on the bag. That is the 3rd one where he grabbed it off the chaulk.

[bulldawg989]

1st pitch down the pipe. Not sure what our approach is here.

Whatever the approach is its consistent, every batter has watched strike 1 go by then proceeded to swing at a shit pitch.

[KOdawg1]

Bases loaded. No outs.

We're out here sleep walking

[The Federalist Engineer]

Koestler:

7 batters faced, 4 hits

[Mobile Bay]

What's the deal with the radio streams? In years past I have gone to radio station's websites back in Mississippi, Usually WFCA. Then listened to the streams on there. Either the stream is down or playing something else on all the ones I try now.

[Irondawg]

Well the first two hits this inning were not well hit balls

[KOdawg1]

lol

[mparkerfd20]

GD it. Koestler sux

[Leeshouldveflanked]

We look like a Mississippi 1A Baseball team so far....

[HoopsDawg]

GD it. Koestler sux

pop fly hit, weak ground ball hit, error from Westy. He's had some tough luck.

[KOdawg1]

Bats are gonna have to dig us out of this one. Surely, Wright State's bullpen can't be worth a shit. Let's get into it and stop dicking around

[mparkerfd20]

pop fly hit, weak ground ball hit, error from Westy. He's had some tough luck.

Whatever the error had no effect on the single, single, single, out, double.

[KOdawg1]

Leadoff walk on 4 pitches. Keep chipping away

[Lord McBuckethead]

top of 5th was rough.

Leadoff walk. Time to start jumping on this guy. We could get him out of the game right here if we put some pressure on Wright St.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Pop out. Dude made a good play right there.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Foscue needs to give this a ride.

[mparkerfd20]

Terrible ABs the last 3 innings.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Interesting that our first two guys from the pen are transfers.

[HoopsDawg]

Interesting that our first two guys from the pen are transfers.

Koestler is a vet. Patrick is a guy who pitched well this spring. His ball is moving all over the place.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Well when we are in the field for 35 pitches, hard to get in a groove.
Hitting coach needs to get the guys up and ready to swing.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Also, we are trying to make a comeback with the shadow. Just like they just said.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Nice double for Hatch. 1 foot from clearing it.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Dude is leaving some balls high. May want to look for it.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Sun helps us there. 1st and 3rd, 1 out. Let's get keep swinging.
Got to send the guy at 1st.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Work the count, son. Work it.

[Lord McBuckethead]

17n low strike. This Ump is all over the place. Not too bad, but maybe like 5 pitches crazy town.

[ScoobaDawg]

Good job Landon. Be smart get your pitch Rowdy.

[KOdawg1]

Bases loaded for Rowdey. Please, just don't ground into two. Put the ball in the air or strike out.

[KOdawg1]

ROWDY, ROWDY, ROWDY

[Lord McBuckethead]

Big time hit, Rowdey.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Alright Westy. Let's keep it going.

[Lord McBuckethead]

PO4 for westburg.
Need to get these two across the plate Allen. Time to start your season.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Work the count. Let's go.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Loaded for Foscue. Allen took 4 to get on first.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Ball 1 to foscue. This guy is pitching away, away, away.

[Lord McBuckethead]

2-0 count bases loaded. tie game two outs.

[Lord McBuckethead]

3-0 count. Got to think we take two here. 7 straight balls.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Wow, that ball was 6 inches inside. The catcher flipping missed it.

[The Federalist Engineer]

WSU reliever melting down - that's baseball

[ScoobaDawg]

FOSSCCCCCCC with the "double" 7-5

[Lord McBuckethead]

unbelievable little floater for a double. MSU up 7-5 with runner on 2nd and 3rd.

[KOdawg1]

9-5. Well that got out of hand quickly

[Lord McBuckethead]

Error throw to 1st. two more score. 9-5

[ScoobaDawg]

ss pulled over to 2b and he throws it away from 1b. 2 more score. 9-5.

[The Federalist Engineer]

FOSSCCCCCCC with the "double" 7-5

Over the season, he will get robbed on line-drives many times. So this just balances the cosmic justice a bit.

[Lord McBuckethead]

end of 6.
6 Runs in the inning. MSU 9-5

[ScoobaDawg]

I'll take a 6 spot in any inning any day.
Can't say there were all great hits but it got the job done. now go shut them down boys

[KOdawg1]

I'll take a 6 spot in any inning any day.
Can't say there were all great hits but it got the job done. now go shut them down boys

To be fair, none of their hits have been great hits either. Just a weird, cold day.

[The Federalist Engineer]

I'll take a 6 spot in any inning any day.
Can't say there were all great hits but it got the job done. now go shut them down boys

Teams still celebrate victory, even on cheap ones.

last time out, the Louisville Turds needed an umpire changing his strike zone, they still celebrated like they earned it.

[KOdawg1]

Stretch time. 9-5 good guys

[Cloak]

Delete

[The Federalist Engineer]

Sims scares us today, we gave him a clean inning but walks the bases loaded. Big time prospect, though. Has to be developed.

[Coursesuper]

Sims scares us today, we gave him a clean inning but walks the bases loaded. Big time prospect, though. Has to be developed.

He couldn't throw it in the ocean today.

[BeardoMSU]

I almost wish we would've lost just to witness the Wrath of Khan level hot-takes after 1 game. They would've been epic, lol.

https://media2.giphy.com/media/gPYrgi7qQ1M6k/giphy.gif

[The Federalist Engineer]

I almost wish we would've lost just to witness the Wrath of Khan level hot-takes after 1 game. They would've been epic, lol.

https://media2.giphy.com/media/gPYrgi7qQ1M6k/giphy.gif

It's was coming. We are ready to become complete bastards when we need to.

I can't already predict the first scapegoat or mean nickname. But I see the candidate list.

[Todd4State]

The good news is we have offense and we have a lot of upperclassmen position players who have been there and done that. They showed up today. And that takes some pressure off of the Kamren James and Logan Tanner's. And even the Landon Jordan's.

Obviously the problem is though we have big time question marks on the mound. It's two fold. We don't have any starters that can go deep. That means our bullpen which has almost no experience is going to be exposed a lot. Now we may and probably will find some people but the only to find them is to run people out there and see who can perform and who can't. That means that we're going to risk dropping some games OOC that we shouldn't because our schedule isn't exactly full of cupcakes. And it probably will happen. What happened today on the mound will probably get us beat against Oregon State next week.

Ginn is not an Ethan Small/Dakota Hudson type of guy that can maybe be stretched out to 110 pitches later in the year. He's going to be 100 max. And it's going to take him a minute to get there.
MacLeoud is making his debut tomorrow. Who knows what happens there? But I'll say this- I won't be surprised if he becomes the Friday night guy later in the year if Ginn can't build up his endurance because our bullpen may or may not hold up on Friday nights.
Cerentola is not going to be a guy that can go deep unless he majorly surprises me and everyone else.

The good news is Chase Patrick pitched well. If he can consistently do that- there's one. Hopefully we'll find some more soon. Forrester and Shemper- maybe. Everyone is going to get more chances to prove themselves.

[The Federalist Engineer]

JT is a luxury good and will be a top pick but I am not sure what we should expect this season, what is reasonable expectation?

Vandy’s Rocker is a top pick that performs like a dominant top pick and seems to have a NFL presence on the mound. Basically people are gonna be happy to score a run and not be no-hit by Kumar Rocker.

JT will be in a multi millionaire in 4 months.

[Todd4State]

JT is a luxury good and will be a top pick but I am not sure what we should expect this season, what is reasonable expectation?

Vandy’s Rocker is a top pick that performs like a dominant top pick and seems to have a NFL presence on the mound. Basically people are gonna be happy to score a run and not be no-hit by Kumar Rocker.

JT will be in a multi millionaire in 4 months.

At this point I just want him to build up his pitch count. I'm not too interested on comparing him to anyone at this point. Right now he's basically an opener.

[CadaverDawg]

We need JT Ginn to become an Ace. Right now he's Trevor Fitts

[KOdawg1]

We need JT Ginn to become an Ace.
Either him or MacLeod.

[OLJWales]

Does anyone know if JT is 100%? Is he still battling a nagging injury?