Time to Win the Whole 17ing Thing

Some thoughts:

- Give it up to John Cohen. We/me complained, but he found the right guy. Lemon is here to stay. He's the real deal. His recruiting will obviously decide things long term, but he recruited well at Indiana & I think pretty much anyone could recruit to MSU right now to play baseball. We found our long term answer.

- This is the most well rounded team MSU has sent to Omaha in my life time. Some other teams had greater MLB prospects, but they all had weaknesses. Other than an iffy defender at 3B, I'm not sure where the weakness is.

- Give it up to Plumlee. His ascension has taken this team from really good to a team that can be great & win the natty. The difference? This team can take the line drive off Gene Morgan's ankle & still win the damn game. They are just deeper.

- Unreal scene tonight with Mangum & Mac's last ABs at Dudy Noble. That's our program though. Dudy Noble is where special things happen & our program is special.

- Lastly, this team hasn't wasted any luck or emotion yet. We are primed to make a run in Omaha.

- This the most experienced team in America. We've been to Omaha, won the SEC, & been through everything. Our team is full of hardened veterans ready to take home the title.

Will we win it all? I don't know because it will take some luck, but this is the best chance we've ever had going into Omaha.

Let's do this. For goodness sakes it's time.

I’m not going to get ahead of myself, but that last inning with Jake, Mac, and Cole makes me wonder if this is part of a perfect story.

Vandy or us and I am not betting against this team. Lets 17ing do it

Could workout perfect getting Kumar in Omaha after throwing 139 pitches last outing

I?d rather have Vandy in the foursome round then play them in a 3 game series

If we can continue to show patience at the plate, we're primed to make history.

That's literally the only thing that comes to mind when nitpicking this team.

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Originally Posted by Gutter Cobreh

If we can continue to show patience at the plate, we're primed to make history.

That's literally the only thing that comes to mind when nitpicking this team.

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It has been better in the postseason SO FAR.

Great post Shotgun. One barometer on how far our program has come- the fans didn't storm the field when we made the last out. We expect Omaha and expect to do well.

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Originally Posted by Todd4State

It has been better in the postseason SO FAR.

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Agreed. We've also played only at home since it truly reared its head during the SEC tourney, so that first game in Omaha will give us a better idea. I have no data or expertise to back this up, but Macnamee being back in the line-up also seems to help provide balance and patience to everyone else in the line-up.

I don't want to diminish this team or what they've accomplished thus far, as they're as complete of a team as you'll find. It has been an awesome season and I've enjoyed watching these guys play since the first game of the season. This season feels special...

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Originally Posted by Gutter Cobreh

Agreed. We've also played only at home since it truly reared its head during the SEC tourney, so that first game in Omaha will give us a better idea. I have no data or expertise to back this up, but Macnamee being back in the line-up also seems to help provide balance and patience to everyone else in the line-up.

I don't want to diminish this team or what they've accomplished thus far, as they're as complete of a team as you'll find. It has been an awesome season and I've enjoyed watching these guys play since the first game of the season. This season feels special...

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The SEC Tournament is a such a bullshit tournament. I think we had a rivalry game with a lot of emotion that took us 17 innings to win and we were pretty much spent. And if I recall the umpire in that first game with LSU was calling pretty much anything that broke a strike. And I think that got us into a funk for a short time until we could regroup.

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Originally Posted by Gutter Cobreh

If we can continue to show patience at the plate, we're primed to make history.

That's literally the only thing that comes to mind when nitpicking this team.

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Seems like we're primed all right. I don't think any team wants to play us. We've got pitching and we've got offense. Defense is a plus too, even with a couple of early errors we showed up when it mattered.

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Originally Posted by DancingRabbit

Seems like we're primed all right. I don't think any team wants to play us. We've got pitching and we've got offense. Defense is a plus too, even with a couple of early errors we showed up when it mattered.

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I agree. The back half of the line-up has been straight fire, with the top half starting to click again.

Ginn getting rest is another huge plus. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Small, Plumlee, Ginn (in that order) rotation in Omaha.

Our guys are focused and ready. We just need the backing. Make your plane

I think we should give some to Cohen, he has his hands ALL over this team. He and his staff recruited the lions share of them. Now, w that said lemonis Andy staff have done a hell of a job. Wouldn't trade our staff for anyone's. Not one.

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Originally Posted by Homedawg

I think we should give some to Cohen, he has his hands ALL over this team. He and his staff recruited the lions share of them. Now, w that said lemonis Andy staff have done a hell of a job. Wouldn't trade our staff for anyone's. Not one.

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God bless John Cohen.

A few things: When Westburg made that play where he sold out and makes the throw to first is what sealed it for me. That kid doesnt make that play earlier this season.

I think the return of MacNamee has helped this bunch get back to who they are. Jake is Jake. What a blessing to have been able to watch Dak Prescott and Jake Mangum start and finish their careers in Maroon and White. Probably the two most influential athletes that we have ever had suit up for this university.

Dustin Skelton is the most underrated player in college baseball. He has made the biggest jump from what he was a year ago to now that I possibly have ever seen. From all accounts he is also one of the biggest leaders on the team.

We have found solid reliable bullpen arms in Liebelt, White and Gordon. The ones behind them (Self, Smith, Barlow etc.) there are other teams in Omaha that would love to have them.

The 9th inning was one of the most special moments in the history of MSU athletics and something this lifelong Dawg will never ever forget. I had some reservations about the New Dude to begin the year. I didnt like getting rid of all the old rigs in the OF and I wasnt a big fan of all the standing room but boys let me tell you. If you havent been, load up your family and go. Go as much as you can. It is truly a unique and magical place.

Most importantly, if you are in a position to have any kind of impact on some one else's life I would encourage you to point out this particular MSU baseball team to them. This team has had every reason to quit since last year and they never did. They came up short against a juggernaut and promised they would be back. They are now back right where they said they would be. This is the best baseball team in the history of this school. I dont care what 85 did, I dont care what 13, 89, or 16 did. I wouldnt trade this group for the 39 Yankees. It is time to get a ring. This is a group that can and deserves to do it.

Kumar vs JT to go 2-0 in Omaha? Sign me up. With the amount of rest JT will have, I’d have our rotation go Small, Ginn, Plumlee, Small, Ginn, And there’s your natty. :) 56-13 and that’s our first national championship folks.

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Originally Posted by MarketingBully

Kumar vs JT to go 2-0 in Omaha? Sign me up. With the amount of rest JT will have, I’d have our rotation go Small, Ginn, Plumlee, Small, Ginn, And there’s your natty. :) 56-13 and that’s our first national championship folks.

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The way Plumlee is pitching, if Ginn could get back to his early season form, we have 3 legit aces.

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Originally Posted by Todd4State

Great post Shotgun. One barometer on how far our program has come- the fans didn't storm the field when we made the last out. We expect Omaha and expect to do well.

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Have our fans, or really any baseball fans, ever stormed the field?

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Originally Posted by AlSwearengen

I’m not going to get ahead of myself, but that last inning with Jake, Mac, and Cole makes me wonder if this is part of a perfect story.

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Thought the same thing....