A couple of baseball notes after one scrimmage

I found this to be interesting:

They are thinking about making Trevor Fitts into a relief pitcher. This might mean that they think that Hudson, Tatum, and Sexton are ready to be starters.

Reid Humphreys has moved to the OF to get his bat in the lineup. Not totally surprising, but certainly worth noting.

Michael Smith seems to have the early advantage on the CF position.

So, maybe the revised lineup looks like this?

Fri- Ross
Sat- Dakota Hudson
Sun- Austin Sexton

Bullpen- Fitts, Laster, Gentry, Daniel Brown, Logan Elliott, Vance Tatum and then Paul Young later in the year.

C- Gavin Collins
1B- Rea
2B- Heck
3B- Britton
SS- Holland
LF- Vickerson
CF- Michael Smith
RF- Humphreys
DH- Luke Reynolds

I feel dumb asking, but who is Michael Smith?

Thanks for the update Todd

If Fitts is never going to be allowed to pitch past the 5th, then we need to put him in the pen.

Smith is a newcomer from Walter State CC in Tennessee which is in the Smokey Mountains.

He's a lead off type guy with good speed that had offers from MSU and Vanderbilt. He's supposed to be really fast.

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Originally Posted by Todd4State

Smith is a newcomer from Walter State CC in Tennessee which is in the Smokey Mountains.

He's a lead off type guy with good speed that had offers from MSU and Vanderbilt. He's supposed to be really fast.

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Nice. Must be a player if us AND Vandy wanted him

Did Robson leave? Might have missed it.

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Originally Posted by HereComesTheSpiral

Did Robson leave? Might have missed it.

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That was my question. But after I researched it he is still in MS. Not sure if he is still on team though.

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Originally Posted by HereComesTheSpiral

Did Robson leave? Might have missed it.

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Robson will have a say in who ends up playing CF, IMO. I don't know if he wins that job or not, but some people have forgotten about how talented Robson is after he played hurt all last season. Cody Brown will also play a role in the OF, as well as the other three that Todd mentioned.

The Smith news is very encouraging to me, as is the Fitts news. Todd is right- if Fitts moves to the pen, Cohen feels good about the rising sophomores and their development. FWIW, I heard him say in an interview that he expects our rotation to be better this year.

Need to find a place for Cody Brown's bat in the lineup... Rooker and Ingram's as well for that matter...

Good problems to have...

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Originally Posted by messageboardsuperhero

Robson will have a say in who ends up playing CF, IMO. I don't know if he wins that job or not, but some people have forgotten about how talented Robson is after he played hurt all last season. Cody Brown will also play a role in the OF, as well as the other three that Todd mentioned.

The Smith news is very encouraging to me, as is the Fitts news. Todd is right- if Fitts moves to the pen, Cohen feels good about the rising sophomores and their development. FWIW, I heard him say in an interview that he expects our rotation to be better this year.

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Yes, and remember these are observations after only one scrimmage that was five innings long. I suspect that a LOT will change from now until February.

Cody Brown has to be in the every day lineup.

Todd read my mind. Great minds think a lot. Guy asked Cohen about CF and he talked up Smith a lot, Robson was last. Humphreys needs to play multiple positions BC he will play pro ball like his brother. Cohen said Hump is middle of the order bat guy-that says tons. Fitts just can't pitch long into games so turn him into reliever BC we have plenty of other arms and we are searching for closers. We will learn everything thanks to these end of practice interviews.

Can you tell how much the new ball affects movement on pitches? Ross mitchell is who I'm worried about this ball hurting

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Originally Posted by msstate7

Can you tell how much the new ball affects movement on pitches? Ross mitchell is who I'm worried about this ball hurting

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Mitchell is fine. Only movement affected is the sweeping breakers. Cohen said we are actually getting a little more movement out of 2 seams and cutters...

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Originally Posted by engie

Mitchell is fine. Only movement affected is the sweeping breakers. Cohen said we are actually getting a little more movement out of 2 seams and cutters...

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Good deal

nt

Got 7 OFs 3 bat left, some inexperience but mix and match depending on matchups. OF is where you do it. Infield is set to me. Rea, Holland, Heck, Collins, Britton.

Cody Brown has a bit of Will Clark in him. He's got intensity and that patented Nuschler face. He's going to end up being one of those guys who gets the clutch, memorable hits we remember for years.

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Originally Posted by Todd4State

Yes, and remember these are observations after only one scrimmage that was five innings long. I suspect that a LOT will change from now until February.

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The things I've heard about Smith really have nothing to do with the scrimmage. Supposedly he was one of the steals of last year's signing class and has the potential to be the best defensive CF in the conference next year.

I am telling you this team has the ingredients to go far. Those JC guys are really good.