Pitching realities

Cerantola just doesn?t have it. He shouldnt be a starter.

MacLeod has had 2 bad starts where he cant control his stuff, cant get batters out, and is run off in the 4th. Right now hes a Sunday guy. Maybe he immediately goes back to his elite status of last year, but 2 identical bad starts is reason for concern.

Bednar has some injury more serious than a sore neck. Now, IF its not a serious injury, and IF hes as good as advertised, then we currently have a small pitching matchup on Saturday.

Also, Sims and Price are the only proven guys in the pen. We have a lot of talented arms so I think we?ll find him, but we do need another long reliever to chew a couple innings. Harding? Smith?

We NEED MacLeod to be himself from last year. We NEED Bednar to be what we think he is. We NEED a new Sunday guy to emerge. And we NEED a 2nd reliever for middle innings

Yeah, I’m starting to think Cerantola just has problems when the game is not intersquad anymore. But, it looked to me like he was overthrowing today. I’d like to see him throw a nice easy 93 mph fastball and see how things go.

We have a lot of young talented pitchers that will hopefully mature and improve.

We really look like an inexperienced team which we are to a certain extent. Hopefully we can just improve steadily throughout the year.

I think Cerantola should get a few more opportunities to prove that he can do it, but if he can't get it done, then yes a change will have to be made. The guy hasn't shown he can consistently throw strikes in 3 years.

I think MacLeod's problem is he just needs to calm tf down. He's started off the last two starts okay, but in both starts, he's let little mistakes snowball into disasters. Hopefully Bednar can come back and be reliable.

I'd personally give KC Hunt a start in the midweek to see how he'd do. He's looked very good in relief appearance so far. He and Frsitoe would give you options in case one of the three weekend guys gets hurt or doesn't work out. You also have Brandon Smith who has been around and can give you a start or come out of the bullpen in long relief.

The all world staff we thought we had appears right now to be smoke and mirrors

Baseball is a long season. We’ve played 6 games. Cerantola has pitched once. Let’s not jump the gun and start claiming absolutes.

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Originally Posted by somebodyshotmypaw

Baseball is a long season. We’ve played 6 games. Cerantola has pitched once. Let’s not jump the gun and start claiming absolutes.

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This

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Originally Posted by State82

The all world staff we thought we had appears right now to be smoke and mirrors

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There was a reason why I made my thread on here about how our pitchers that throw hard are also really young a few weeks ago after Lemonis made his comment about all of the hard throwing pitchers that we had.

The problem is MacLeoud has become a Konnor Pilkington his junior year clone. That's unexpected. We knew Cerentola could go either way. Of course, with us being MSU it looks like wild thing Cerentola so far. Bednar will be fine. We'll see what Jackson Fristoe gives us tomorrow. He's apparently the next man up. And if worse comes to worse Brandon Smith has looked good so far too.

It's more than just the pitching staff though- this weekend the defense has been a little sloppy- moreso in game one. Hitting with RISP has been inconsistent.

The good news is we have two easy series the next two weekends where we should go no worse than 4-2 and should go 6-0. That's going to give our pitching staff a chance to work through some things before SEC play. Among other things that we need to work on.

Ultimately we'll be fine. Our two losses have been to respectable teams. But we have to have some guys perform better on the pitching staff and at SS.

Patience is what Msu fans needs, this staff will be fine when the season moves alone. Injuries and inexperience occur and take time and each weak we will start improving with this staff.

Too many fans put to much thinking a 96-98 fastball is the answer, it's the ability to throw strikes, movement of the baseball and locations. Walks are a killer as well as errors, it puts more strain on a pitcher throwing too many pitches and his thought process is shot. Oh, how many times have I seen or heard about how great someone is at practice, and like Iverson said "It's practice man"!

Yeah, some guys are practice players and some are game players.

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Originally Posted by basedog

Patience is what Msu fans needs, this staff will be fine when the season moves alone. Injuries and inexperience occur and take time and each weak we will start improving with this staff.

Too many fans put to much thinking a 96-98 fastball is the answer, it's the ability to throw strikes, movement of the baseball and locations. Walks are a killer as well as errors, it puts more strain on a pitcher throwing too many pitches and his thought process is shot. Oh, how many times have I seen or heard about how great someone is at practice, and like Iverson said "It's practice man"!

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Amen to all you just said!

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Originally Posted by Commercecomet24

Amen to all you just said!

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People seem to forget that the reason we have a month of OOC games is to tune up. Practice means nothing - live games are how you work the kinks out. Talented teams find a way to win these tune ups when everything is going wrong. Look around at other games around the country and notice none of the teams that will probably be in Omaha are undefeated - and we are only 6 games into the season.

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Originally Posted by BrunswickDawg

People seem to forget that the reason we have a month of OOC games is to tune up. Practice means nothing - live games are how you work the kinks out. Talented teams find a way to win these tune ups when everything is going wrong. Look around at other games around the country and notice none of the teams that will probably be in Omaha are undefeated - and we are only 6 games into the season.

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Yep exactly. Baseball is not a sport for fans who want instant gratification. It's a marathon not a sprint.

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Originally Posted by somebodyshotmypaw

Baseball is a long season. We’ve played 6 games. Cerantola has pitched once. Let’s not jump the gun and start claiming absolutes.

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Its not the one game, its really more the one game coupled with his history that is the problem. He looked yesterday just like he has always looked. That is like he has no idea where the strike zone is.

Wrong thread.

If we had an SEC series net week- who would be our 1,2,3?

1-Harding
2-Macleod
3-Bednar (Fristoe if the neck is still injured)

Sims could start but we have dudes that may not make the 4th inning. We need reliable long relief

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Originally Posted by maroonmania

Its not the one game, its really more the one game coupled with his history that is the problem. He looked yesterday just like he has always looked. That is like he has no idea where the strike zone is.

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I understand. But so much of his history is old. He only pitched 17 innings last season. He’s only pitched 2.1 this season. We are now 7 games into what could be a 70 game season. If Foxhall and Lemonis think he should start, then I’m not ready to just give up on him this early. In time, we may see that he shouldn’t be a starter. But I don’t think at this moment that it is 100% fact that he shouldn’t be a starter. That’s my opinion. If he’s not a weekend starter, maybe he can be a midweek starter. Or a starter next year.

We have one of the best pitching staffs in the country.

Cerentola gets a couple more starts- but if he doesnt put it together his ass goes back to midweek. Price and Self just dont have it. Let Self be the 1st base coach and Price be the bullpen coach. Price threw 1 fastball today in his first 14 pitches as Closer. Thats not an SEC-level closer. Thats a reliever that comes in to face 1 batter or two and then is pulled. He is a match-up guy now.

Sims is not a starter yet- but is dominant for 3-4 innings. So u match him up with one of our LH'ed SP's and use them as a tandem. Macleod/Sims would be a good one
Keep running Fristoe out there. Let him learn, grow, and get better. He needs to be the #3 this year because of his talent plus what it will do to help next season.
Smith needs a good 4 inning outing every weekend- tandem him with a lefty also- Harding?

Bednar should be ready next weekend- and that will also help answer some questions. Cade Smith likely returns by the end of March and he will also bolster the staff as he is Fristoe level as well

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Originally Posted by Coach34

We have one of the best pitching staffs in the country.

Cerentola gets a couple more starts- but if he doesnt put it together his ass goes back to midweek. Price and Self just dont have it. Let Self be the 1st base coach and Price be the bullpen coach. Price threw 1 fastball today in his first 14 pitches as Closer. Thats not an SEC-level closer. Thats a reliever that comes in to face 1 batter or two and then is pulled. He is a match-up guy now.

Sims is not a starter yet- but is dominant for 3-4 innings. So u match him up with one of our LH'ed SP's and use them as a tandem. Macleod/Sims would be a good one
Keep running Fristoe out there. Let him learn, grow, and get better. He needs to be the #3 this year because of his talent plus what it will do to help next season.
Smith needs a good 4 inning outing every weekend- tandem him with a lefty also- Harding?

Bednar should be ready next weekend- and that will also help answer some questions. Cade Smith likely returns by the end of March and he will also bolster the staff as he is Fristoe level as well

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Agreed on Cerantola.

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Originally Posted by Coach34

We have one of the best pitching staffs in the country.

Cerentola gets a couple more starts- but if he doesnt put it together his ass goes back to midweek. Price and Self just dont have it. Let Self be the 1st base coach and Price be the bullpen coach. Price threw 1 fastball today in his first 14 pitches as Closer. Thats not an SEC-level closer. Thats a reliever that comes in to face 1 batter or two and then is pulled. He is a match-up guy now.

Sims is not a starter yet- but is dominant for 3-4 innings. So u match him up with one of our LH'ed SP's and use them as a tandem. Macleod/Sims would be a good one
Keep running Fristoe out there. Let him learn, grow, and get better. He needs to be the #3 this year because of his talent plus what it will do to help next season.
Smith needs a good 4 inning outing every weekend- tandem him with a lefty also- Harding?

Bednar should be ready next weekend- and that will also help answer some questions. Cade Smith likely returns by the end of March and he will also bolster the staff as he is Fristoe level as well

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Seems cruel to start Cerantola. The “starter” pressure could be a factor. Why not let a guy like Koestler start and get to the 3rd and then bring on Cerantola in a clean inning with another guy already stretched and maybe throwing.

I recall Daniel Brown struggle as a starter in 2016, he moved to the pen and became a key bullpen stud.

In fact, I recall Pilk then got to open the games. He did great in the role, no complete games. But good service.

That all bought time for Zac Houston to find his way in high-end performance and starting

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Originally Posted by Coach34

We have one of the best pitching staffs in the country.

Cerentola gets a couple more starts- but if he doesnt put it together his ass goes back to midweek. Price and Self just dont have it. Let Self be the 1st base coach and Price be the bullpen coach. Price threw 1 fastball today in his first 14 pitches as Closer. Thats not an SEC-level closer. Thats a reliever that comes in to face 1 batter or two and then is pulled. He is a match-up guy now.

Sims is not a starter yet- but is dominant for 3-4 innings. So u match him up with one of our LH'ed SP's and use them as a tandem. Macleod/Sims would be a good one
Keep running Fristoe out there. Let him learn, grow, and get better. He needs to be the #3 this year because of his talent plus what it will do to help next season.
Smith needs a good 4 inning outing every weekend- tandem him with a lefty also- Harding?

Bednar should be ready next weekend- and that will also help answer some questions. Cade Smith likely returns by the end of March and he will also bolster the staff as he is Fristoe level as well

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We have one of the best staffs in the country... yet have no closer, no clue about our Saturday guy, no Sunday guy, and need true Fr to develop fast to fill in holes? That?s not an elite staff. If might be if things all break our way, but right now there?s no way you can say we have a great staff

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Originally Posted by State82

The all world staff we thought we had appears right now to be smoke and mirrors

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It's most certainly not smoke & mirrors. Once we get healthy, guys will be in the right rolls

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Originally Posted by the_real_MSU_is_us

We have one of the best staffs in the country... yet have no closer, no clue about our Saturday guy, no Sunday guy, and need true Fr to develop fast to fill in holes? That?s not an elite staff. If might be if things all break our way, but right now there?s no way you can say we have a great staff

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It'll be an elite staff by the time we get to Omaha

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Originally Posted by basedog

Patience is what Msu fans needs, this staff will be fine when the season moves alone. Injuries and inexperience occur and take time and each weak we will start improving with this staff.

Too many fans put to much thinking a 96-98 fastball is the answer, it's the ability to throw strikes, movement of the baseball and locations. Walks are a killer as well as errors, it puts more strain on a pitcher throwing too many pitches and his thought process is shot. Oh, how many times have I seen or heard about how great someone is at practice, and like Iverson said "It's practice man"!

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A Well Appreciated Moment of Reason. What folks don't understand is all it takes is for a couple of arms and bats to ignite fueling more confidence throughout the team. We've GOT that kinda SWAG potential on this team. Rep Given Basedog.

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Originally Posted by ShotgunDawg

It's most certainly not smoke & mirrors. Once we get healthy, guys will be in the right rolls

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I don't know about that. Foxhall hasn't shown me that he is willing to go with Colby White over Riley Self and Trysten Barlow because of experience. At least not yet.

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Originally Posted by Todd4State

I don't know about that. Foxhall hasn't shown me that he is willing to go with Colby White over Riley Self and Trysten Barlow because of experience. At least not yet.

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Maybe this will be true, but for this year it hasn't been. Riley has had 2 mop up appearances. While he's gone w younger, more talented guys in the tighter games. Sat, case and point.

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Originally Posted by OLJWales

A Well Appreciated Moment of Reason. What folks don't understand is all it takes is for a couple of arms and bats to ignite fueling more confidence throughout the team. We've GOT that kinda SWAG potential on this team. Rep Given Basedog.

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So true. We have the pieces. We are just hitting on about 4 cylinders right now. Enjoy the ride.