Monday Morning Shortstop

I'm not doing this to replace Todd's weekly write-up. I'm more bullet point whereas Todd opines with much more depth. Just adding another good breakdown for discussion each week. Todd will still do his thing well as he should.

1. Great weekend of crawfish and my friend spending the weekend. Even tho a Mississippi Rebel chick- she endured watching State play all weekend like a champ. The seafood pasta was also a hit.

2. Sa-weep. Did what we were supposed to do. Sweep an inferior opponent and do it in a dominating way. None of the games were really ever in doubt.

3. SP's were solid. Pico got gave up some earned runs tho yet he remains a solid SP for us K'ing 9. Davis looked good. Wasnt overpowering but he PITCHED. He throws a great sinker at 92 with lots of movement. The scary part? If he remains in the rotation we will have to play defense behind him. Lots of groundballs coming. Ligon? He has really good stuff but is just a little wild. I'm still not sure where this guy ends up yet. He walked the leadoff guy on 4 pitches then picked off the guy, lazy fly ball and K to end the 1st. He has talent and hopefully settles in.

4. Catcher- Highfill has been disappointing. Hit with power his freshman year. Now has no power and doesnt hit for average. His receiving skills even look worse than 2 years ago. I'm all for giving time to get back in to it after sitting a year but he is not progressing. Thats a big problem. I get the potential aspect- but potential has got to start performing

5. Corner OF- We have a great problem here. Too many guys to play. Guys hungry for AB's. Downs is hitting 400 with 7 HR's after not even hitting one before this season (I blame GoTro for making him better). Stallman is over .300 and looks good at the plate. Stevens is at .375 with a cannon in RF. Pulliam is a solid back-up out there. Got to credit Lemon and Crew for making this such a strong area for us.

6. 1B- Hines is far and away the best guy in the field. He made a helluva play on a shot down the line he turned into a double play. 6/14 on the weekend with a definite change of driving the ball to the middle of the field. There's hope yet. Frei? Didnt start and only got 3 AB's on the weekend- going 2/3. This guy has to find a way on the field but we dont have anywhere to put him at this point. It sux for him but a good problem to have.

7. So we dont play Gatlin Sanders hardly at all to start the season and now he is our guy at 2B with 4 starts in a row? Dont get me wrong- he has payed well these 4 games. My problem is with why did it take 11 games to get him in there?

8. Reese is the guy I thought he would be but has surprised on power like Downs. 6 HR's already and on pace to hit 15-18. Another great portal grab.

9. Cupp has lived up to his HS accolades this year. Great in the field and a really good arm. You can tell he has worked hard at getting better at the plate. Tough injury Friday and I hope he is ok. My opinion is that O'Brien should have pulled off because of where it was. But it was in no man's land and a tough play. Reeves is a solid replacement if we have to go that route but hopefully Cupp is ready for Texas

10. 11-4 with 2 midweeks and Texas coming in to start the SEC season. Need a 4-1 week. I like this team. It's going to be a good one

One thing that's really offering hope for the Spring? We are at 68 XBH's in only 15 games.

For comparision- we were at 187 in 63 games last season. We are far outpacing last season

Texas is going to beat us like a red headed stepchild I'm afraid. Hope I'm wrong. We have some bright spots, but We just have too many holes in our returning starters unfortunately. Again, hope I'm wrong.

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Originally Posted by Cowbell

Texas is going to beat us like a red headed stepchild I'm afraid. Hope I'm wrong. We have some bright spots, but We just have too many holes in our returning starters unfortunately. Again, hope I'm wrong.

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I'd be shocked if that happens.

We really have no way to know how we will fare against Texas. Let's play the games and find out.

I hope we win 2/3 against Texas. I have no clue how we stack up against them but playing at home should give us an edge.

Some really good hitters are going to have to ride the pine. Good problem to have.

My questions remain in the starting rotation. Pico will be fine, but I have zero confidence that Ligon will get the job done. Davis looks like a solid Sunday guy. He throws strikes which is good.

Fri: Pico
Sat: Pruitt
Sun: Davis

is what I would go with for Texas.

Start Foster and maybe Siary in the midweek games.

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Originally Posted by KOdawg1

Some really good hitters are going to have to ride the pine. Good problem to have.

My questions remain in the starting rotation. Pico will be fine, but I have zero confidence that Ligon will get the job done. Davis looks like a solid Sunday guy. He throws strikes which is good.

Fri: Pico
Sat: Pruitt
Sun: Davis

is what I would go with for Texas.

Start Foster and maybe Siary in the midweek games.

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I hear ya- but if Simmons isnt hurt I would expect him to start one of the games

Pico is solid and the offense has been good enough to win most games. Bullpen looks strong. Starting rotation, base running errors, and defense behind the plate are all current issues. Middle infield may be an issue if Cupp is out long but Sanders has looked good at 2nd so that?s encouraging.

I?m optimistic but Not sure how we?ll stack up come SEC play. We?ll see if the above pros out way the cons.

Weekend:

(1) Pico
(2) Davis
(3) Opener

I don't like Ligon or Simmons to start but both would be awesome SEC Middle Relief. Pruitt is middle relief too. Maybe McPherson can start and not freak out. Konor Pilkington did this in 2016.

Hell, maybe Gavin Black can start. He needs a role.

Anyone notice there is not a closer? Is this Williams?

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Originally Posted by basedog

I hope we win 2/3 against Texas. I have no clue how we stack up against them but playing at home should give us an edge.

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They are going to be good, no doubt

But

They swept Washington, TTU (losing season) and Illinois this past weekend. That's cute but nothing hugely impressive. They also swept Dartmouth. No big deal. Took 2 of 3 from Louisville, Ole Miss, and Ok State. That was a good weekend.

MSU on the road won't be easy. They have not played a meaningful true road game thus far. Just neutral fields in Dead Environments.

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Originally Posted by Coach34

I'm not doing this to replace Todd's weekly write-up. I'm more bullet point whereas Todd opines with much more depth. Just adding another good breakdown for discussion each week. Todd will still do his thing well as he should.

1. Great weekend of crawfish and my friend spending the weekend. Even tho a Mississippi Rebel chick- she endured watching State play all weekend like a champ. The seafood pasta was also a hit.

2. Sa-weep. Did what we were supposed to do. Sweep an inferior opponent and do it in a dominating way. None of the games were really ever in doubt.

3. SP's were solid. Pico got gave up some earned runs tho yet he remains a solid SP for us K'ing 9. Davis looked good. Wasnt overpowering but he PITCHED. He throws a great sinker at 92 with lots of movement. The scary part? If he remains in the rotation we will have to play defense behind him. Lots of groundballs coming. Ligon? He has really good stuff but is just a little wild. I'm still not sure where this guy ends up yet. He walked the leadoff guy on 4 pitches then picked off the guy, lazy fly ball and K to end the 1st. He has talent and hopefully settles in.

4. Catcher- Highfill has been disappointing. Hit with power his freshman year. Now has no power and doesnt hit for average. His receiving skills even look worse than 2 years ago. I'm all for giving time to get back in to it after sitting a year but he is not progressing. Thats a big problem. I get the potential aspect- but potential has got to start performing

5. Corner OF- We have a great problem here. Too many guys to play. Guys hungry for AB's. Downs is hitting 400 with 7 HR's after not even hitting one before this season (I blame GoTro for making him better). Stallman is over .300 and looks good at the plate. Stevens is at .375 with a cannon in RF. Pulliam is a solid back-up out there. Got to credit Lemon and Crew for making this such a strong area for us.

6. 1B- Hines is far and away the best guy in the field. He made a helluva play on a shot down the line he turned into a double play. 6/14 on the weekend with a definite change of driving the ball to the middle of the field. There's hope yet. Frei? Didnt start and only got 3 AB's on the weekend- going 2/3. This guy has to find a way on the field but we dont have anywhere to put him at this point. It sux for him but a good problem to have.

7. So we dont play Gatlin Sanders hardly at all to start the season and now he is our guy at 2B with 4 starts in a row? Dont get me wrong- he has payed well these 4 games. My problem is with why did it take 11 games to get him in there?

8. Reese is the guy I thought he would be but has surprised on power like Downs. 6 HR's already and on pace to hit 15-18. Another great portal grab.

9. Cupp has lived up to his HS accolades this year. Great in the field and a really good arm. You can tell he has worked hard at getting better at the plate. Tough injury Friday and I hope he is ok. My opinion is that O'Brien should have pulled off because of where it was. But it was in no man's land and a tough play. Reeves is a solid replacement if we have to go that route but hopefully Cupp is ready for Texas

10. 11-4 with 2 midweeks and Texas coming in to start the SEC season. Need a 4-1 week. I like this team. It's going to be a good one

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Nice write up.

Heard Cupp has a hyperextension. Better than torn ligaments obviously. That?s CF ball all day and CF should call them off.


We need to settle on a lineup asap.

4. We have to make a change there or it will cost us. 6. 6/14 one of those is questionably a FC an 7 LOB. Still don't have the warm fuzzys heading into league play.

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Originally Posted by Coach34

4. Catcher- Highfill has been disappointing.

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If you have 2 catchers and both are weak offensively, you play the better defender. Hands down.

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Originally Posted by Coach34

6. 1B- Hines is far and away the best guy in the field. He made a helluva play on a shot down the line he turned into a double play. 6/14 on the weekend with a definite change of driving the ball to the middle of the field.

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He barreled up several outs too. The hardest hit he had all weekend was a line drive out directly to the right fielder.

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Originally Posted by Coach34

Frei? Didnt start and only got 3 AB's on the weekend- going 2/3. This guy has to find a way on the field but we dont have anywhere to put him at this point.

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I'd play him at 2nd. I know he's not great defensively but I think his bat out weighs his defensive inefficiencies.

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Originally Posted by Coach34

Tough injury Friday and I hope he is ok. My opinion is that O'Brien should have pulled off because of where it was. But it was in no man's land and a tough play. Reeves is a solid replacement if we have to go that route but hopefully Cupp is ready for Texas

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Watching that replay, it seems O'Brien called for the ball as you can see Cupp stops running and turns around and looks at O'brien. Cupp then seems to decide that O'brien can't get there and Cupp re-engages. That is 1000% the center fielders ball. If he calls for it, get the hell out of his way and let him attempt to catch it. Luckily, both Lemonis and the guys on Saturday's pregame radio broadcast said it was just a bruise and he was day to day.

Our pitching will keep us in it on the weekends.

We have to figure it out at catcher. Sigh.

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Originally Posted by MStateDawg

If you have 2 catchers and both are weak offensively, you play the better defender. Hands down.


He barreled up several outs too. The hardest hit he had all weekend was a line drive out directly to the right fielder.


I'd play him at 2nd. I know he's not great defensively but I think his bat out weighs his defensive inefficiencies.



Watching that replay, it seems O'Brien called for the ball as you can see Cupp stops running and turns around and looks at O'brien. Cupp then seems to decide that O'brien can't get there and Cupp re-engages. That is 1000% the center fielders ball. If he calls for it, get the hell out of his way and let him attempt to catch it. Luckily, both Lemonis and the guys on Saturday's pregame radio broadcast said it was just a bruise and he was day to day.

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Putting Frei at 2nd puts Sanders on the bench and he seems to be better defensively and is hitting around.500. It is a great problem to have.

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Originally Posted by Tbonewannabe

Putting Frei at 2nd puts Sanders on the bench and he seems to be better defensively and is hitting around.500. It is a great problem to have.

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Gatlin had 1 AB prior to last week. I'd like to see more of him before I put much stock into his average.

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Originally Posted by The Federalist Engineer

Weekend:

(1) Pico
(2) Davis
(3) Opener

I don't like Ligon or Simmons to start but both would be awesome SEC Middle Relief. Pruitt is middle relief too. Maybe McPherson can start and not freak out. Konor Pilkington did this in 2016.

Hell, maybe Gavin Black can start. He needs a role.

Anyone notice there is not a closer? Is this Williams?

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Right now he'd be my guy. He got some filthy stuff and good control. He has a quiet confidence too. You can just see it coming from him. I haven't seen anyone better yet.

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Originally Posted by R2Dawg

Right now he'd be my guy. He got some filthy stuff and good control. He has a quiet confidence too. You can just see it coming from him. I haven't seen anyone better yet.

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Yeah. He looks like a closer right now. That would be my choice right now for that role.

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Originally Posted by confucius say

Our pitching will keep us in it on the weekends.

We have to figure it out at catcher. Sigh.

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The good news about catcher is we know that Powell can do the job. Highfill missed a lot of time rehabbing and just started throwing I think in December. It has definitely put him behind developmentally. He seems to grab at the ball sometimes and that would be where a lot of his passed balls come from if I had to guess. Not sure what his future path is with MSU but I could definitely see him switching positions next year (OF? 1B?) when some guys graduate. We have some elite catching prospects coming in if we can get them through the draft plus there is also the portal of course if we need a catcher. I think recovering has also affected him offensively some- we know he has power but it hasn't shown this year which is kind of similar to Aaron Downs last year who also wasn't 100%.

My hope is we are playing Highfill as much as possible to catch up on lost development and then go with Powell mostly during SEC play.

My fear is we are going with the more talented player and won't make a change until he costs us a game because of catching mistakes. Which is likely what will happen.

If I were in the coach's shoes, I would start Powell on Fri and Sat and then use Ross on Sun when we're likely going to need more offense.

The coach's really like Ross a lot though. So, I expect him to start the lion's share at least early on.