O?Connor NOT Bringing UVA Pitching Coach? Muscara??

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06-01-2025, 09:47 PM
No BS Dawg

O?Connor NOT Bringing UVA Pitching Coach? Muscara??

Rumors gaining legs??
06-01-2025, 09:48 PM
Coursesuper

Quote:

Originally Posted by No BS Dawg

Rumors gaining legs??

This is what I’ve been told since last Wednesday night.,
06-01-2025, 09:59 PM
civildawg

Honestly I would rather just keep Parker.
06-01-2025, 10:02 PM
BeardoMSU

Quote:

Originally Posted by civildawg

Honestly I would rather just keep Parker.

Why?
06-01-2025, 10:08 PM
StarkVegasSteve

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeardoMSU

Why?

Not civil but honestly, Muscara does not impress me. Everyone lauds him for the pitching lab stuff at Wake, we have one here.

His Wake staffs, outside of his first with players he did not recruit or develop, have finished with a worse team ERAs than us in a worse conference. He just seems like he is not very good unless he walks into a staff of finished products, of which we will not be.
06-01-2025, 10:10 PM
KB21

Muscara is a done deal, and he?s the best pitching coach in college baseball He knows how to take the biomechanical data and make it translate into the field. This is a big time addition.

We have a pitching lab, but it has never been utilized properly. It?s going to be maximized now.
06-01-2025, 10:14 PM
maroonmania

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

Not civil but honestly, Muscara does not impress me. Everyone lauds him for the pitching lab stuff at Wake, we have one here.

His Wake staffs, outside of his first with players he did not recruit or develop, have finished with a worse team ERAs than us in a worse conference. He just seems like he is not very good unless he walks into a staff of finished products, of which we will not be.

I think Parker is a good pitching coach. Last year when he had some high end talent that showed. I just don't understand why he was not WAY more aggressive in the portal over the offseason. We HAD zero proven SEC starters returning and ALL we could get from the portal was Pruitt?? That was NEVER going to cut it. We are fortunate Pico and Siary were as good as they were this year or things could have really been bad. Ligon was up and down seemingly every week but another unproven guy coming off injury. Parker actually did pretty well with what he had to work with this season but I put a lot of blame on him for not pulling in another one or two big time portal guys.
06-01-2025, 10:17 PM
StarkVegasSteve

Quote:

Originally Posted by KB21

Muscara is a done deal, and he?s the best pitching coach in college baseball He knows how to take the biomechanical data and make it translate into the field. This is a big time addition.

We have a pitching lab, but it has never been utilized properly. It?s going to be maximized now.

We shall see. I have my doubts. Not about the hire because it is apparently a done deal. About the fit and whether he will work. He just does not impress me. Biomechanics are great until a flat fastball meets an SEC barrel.
06-01-2025, 10:17 PM
Coursesuper

Quote:

Originally Posted by maroonmania

I think Parker is a good pitching coach. Last year when he had some high end talent that showed. I just don't understand why he was not WAY more aggressive in the portal over the offseason. We HAD zero proven SEC starters returning and ALL we could get from the portal was Pruitt?? That was NEVER going to cut it. We are fortunate Pico and Siary were as good as they were this year or things could have really been bad. Ligon was up and down seemingly every week but another unproven guy coming off injury. Parker actually did pretty well with what he had to work with this season but I put a lot of blame on him for not pulling in another one or two big time portal guys.

Our last head coach saw fit to sink nil money into Hines and Highfill, two of our largest earners there. So that eats up money for pitching.
06-01-2025, 10:19 PM
StarkVegasSteve

Quote:

Originally Posted by maroonmania

I think Parker is a good pitching coach. Last year when he had some high end talent that showed. I just don't understand why he was not WAY more aggressive in the portal over the offseason. We HAD zero proven SEC starters returning and ALL we could get from the portal was Pruitt?? That was NEVER going to cut it. We are fortunate Pico and Siary were as good as they were this year or things could have really been bad. Ligon was up and down seemingly every week but another unproven guy coming off injury. Parker actually did pretty well with what he had to work with this season but I put a lot of blame on him for not pulling in another one or two big time portal guys.

They would tell anyone that would listen we missed on portal pieces. We missed on Tommy LaPour, who ended up at TCU, and we missed on Zach Root, who ended up at Arkansas. We also got screwed with Travis Smith opting for pro ball after committing to us.
06-01-2025, 10:20 PM
BeardoMSU

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

We shall see. I have my doubts. Not about the hire because it is apparently a done deal. About the fit and whether he will work. He just does not impress me. Biomechanics are great until a flat fastball meets an SEC barrel.

If Oak wants the guy, I'll trust his judgment.
06-01-2025, 10:20 PM
maroonmania

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

We shall see. I have my doubts. Not about the hire because it is apparently a done deal. About the fit and whether he will work. He just does not impress me. Biomechanics are great until a flat fastball meets an SEC barrel.

Well, I assume he is the guy BOC wants? I mean I don't think you hire a guy of that caliber and then force a pitching coach on him. If that's the guy BOC wants that's good enough for me. I trust him to know a good pitching coach when he sees one.
06-01-2025, 10:20 PM
HoopsDawg

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

Not civil but honestly, Muscara does not impress me. Everyone lauds him for the pitching lab stuff at Wake, we have one here.

His Wake staffs, outside of his first with players he did not recruit or develop, have finished with a worse team ERAs than us in a worse conference. He just seems like he is not very good unless he walks into a staff of finished products, of which we will not be.

Tell me you don't know baseball without saying it. ^^^
06-01-2025, 10:25 PM
StarkVegasSteve

[QUOTE=HoopsDawg;1657005]

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

Not civil but honestly, Muscara does not impress me. Everyone lauds him for the pitching lab stuff at Wake, we have one here.

His Wake staffs, outside of his first with players he did not recruit or develop, have finished with a worse team ERAs than us in a worse conference. He just seems like he is not very good unless he walks into a staff of finished products, of which we will not be.[/QUOTE

Tell me you don't know baseball without saying it. ^^^

What is false about it?

2023 staff (his first year): Team ERA-2.83
2024 staff: Team ERA-5.11
2025 staff: Team ERA-4.88

2023 staff at MSU(Fox last year): Team ERA-7.01
2024 staff(Parker Yr1):Team ERA-4.17
2025 staff: Team ERA-4.44

So where am I wrong? Because stats bear out our team ERA is better. Numbers do not lie. Like others have said, I will trust O Connor on this one but Muscara is not this savant who fields elite staffs.
06-01-2025, 10:27 PM
confucius say

I think Parker and Muscara are both really good. I'd be good with either.
Give me the better recruiter I guess.
06-01-2025, 10:32 PM
HoopsDawg

[QUOTE=StarkVegasSteve;1657007]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoopsDawg

What is false about it?

2023 staff (his first year): Team ERA-2.83
2024 staff: Team ERA-5.11
2025 staff: Team ERA-4.88

2023 staff at MSU(Fox last year): Team ERA-7.01
2024 staff(Parker Yr1):Team ERA-4.17
2025 staff: Team ERA-4.44

So where am I wrong? Because stats bear out our team ERA is better. Numbers do not lie. Like others have said, I will trust O Connor on this one but Muscara is not this savant who fields elite staffs.

Of course numbers lie. Some fields are much more conducive to offense than others. Some teams have much better talent than others. There's a reason Chase Burns left Tennessee to go pitch for Muscara in his draft year. There's a reason why scouts, portal players and coaches all think Muscara is the best in the country. Insane take by you but whatever.
06-01-2025, 10:32 PM
confucius say

[QUOTE=StarkVegasSteve;1657007]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoopsDawg

What is false about it?

2023 staff (his first year): Team ERA-2.83
2024 staff: Team ERA-5.11
2025 staff: Team ERA-4.88

2023 staff at MSU(Fox last year): Team ERA-7.01
2024 staff(Parker Yr1):Team ERA-4.17
2025 staff: Team ERA-4.44

So where am I wrong? Because stats bear out our team ERA is better. Numbers do not lie. Like others have said, I will trust O Connor on this one but Muscara is not this savant who fields elite staffs.

Was he not at Wake in 2022?
06-01-2025, 10:33 PM
StarkVegasSteve

Quote:

Originally Posted by confucius say

I think Parker and Muscara are both really good. I'd be good with either.
Give me the better recruiter I guess.

Well we need to hire a recruiter somewhere on staff. The hire is going to be Muscara though unless something happens at the 11th hour.
06-01-2025, 10:33 PM
Todd4State

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

We shall see. I have my doubts. Not about the hire because it is apparently a done deal. About the fit and whether he will work. He just does not impress me. Biomechanics are great until a flat fastball meets an SEC barrel.

I think there is more than meets the eye there. I have heard him speak before and Muscara is very impressive and trust me he knows his stuff.

There have been rumors of him having some sort of a falling out with Walters and perhaps it's over something like NIL funds and who to recruit or something like that.

Worst case scenario he shows us how to maximize our pitching lab.
06-01-2025, 10:33 PM
confucius say

[QUOTE=HoopsDawg;1657014]

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

Of course numbers lie. Some fields are much more conducive to offense than others. Some teams have much better talent than others. There's a reason Chase Burns left Tennessee to go pitch for Muscara in his draft year. There's a reason why scouts, portal players and coaches all think Muscara is the best in the country. Insane take by you but whatever.

He did beat us head to head for Burns.
06-01-2025, 10:35 PM
Todd4State

[QUOTE=StarkVegasSteve;1657007]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoopsDawg

What is false about it?

2023 staff (his first year): Team ERA-2.83
2024 staff: Team ERA-5.11
2025 staff: Team ERA-4.88

2023 staff at MSU(Fox last year): Team ERA-7.01
2024 staff(Parker Yr1):Team ERA-4.17
2025 staff: Team ERA-4.44

So where am I wrong? Because stats bear out our team ERA is better. Numbers do not lie. Like others have said, I will trust O Connor on this one but Muscara is not this savant who fields elite staffs.

The 2025 numbers aren't too far off between the two of us.
06-01-2025, 10:36 PM
HoopsDawg

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd4State

I think there is more than meets the eye there. I have heard him speak before and Muscara is very impressive and trust me he knows his stuff.

There have been rumors of him having some sort of a falling out with Walters and perhaps it's over something like NIL funds and who to recruit or something like that.

Worst case scenario he shows us how to maximize our pitching lab.

Not trying to get personal with SVS, but he doesn't really know baseball. He wanted us to pull Siary today after 60 pitches so he could pitch again tomorrow, lol.

Muscara is almost as impressive a hire as BOC. This will be the best staff in the country bar none. We will be hosting regularly in the near future.
06-01-2025, 10:36 PM
StarkVegasSteve

[QUOTE=confucius say;1657015]

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

Was he not at Wake in 2022?

You are right. That is my bad. Team ERA that year was 4.50. Good but still not better than Parker here. Again, Muscara is a fine PC and he will field some good staffs but to act like we are not letting a HELL OF A PC walk out the door is laughable. Parker is looked at just as high, if not higher, than Muscara.
06-01-2025, 10:37 PM
StarkVegasSteve

[QUOTE=Todd4State;1657020]

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

The 2025 numbers aren't too far off between the two of us.

They are not. Just a lower level of competition. Like I said, he will be fine.
06-01-2025, 10:38 PM
HoopsDawg

[QUOTE=StarkVegasSteve;1657023]

Quote:

Originally Posted by confucius say

You are right. That is my bad. Team ERA that year was 4.50. Good but still not better than Parker here. Again, Muscara is a fine PC and he will field some good staffs but to act like we are not letting a HELL OF A PC walk out the door is laughable. Parker is looked at just as high, if not higher, than Muscara.

What?!? LOL. Ok, I have to disengage. You are out of your depth's here.
06-01-2025, 10:39 PM
Todd4State

[QUOTE=StarkVegasSteve;1657023]

Quote:

Originally Posted by confucius say

You are right. That is my bad. Team ERA that year was 4.50. Good but still not better than Parker here. Again, Muscara is a fine PC and he will field some good staffs but to act like we are not letting a HELL OF A PC walk out the door is laughable. Parker is looked at just as high, if not higher, than Muscara.

If you ask MLB scouts and front office personnel all of them would have Muscara over Parker.
06-01-2025, 10:39 PM
StarkVegasSteve

[QUOTE=HoopsDawg;1657025]

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

What?!? LOL. Ok, I have to disengage. You are out of your depth's here.

I am just fine. Thanks for disengaging and your concern though. Mostly disengaging.
06-01-2025, 10:40 PM
Todd4State

Also, O'Connor has a pitching background. If there are issues with Muscara I suspect he could mitigate them pretty easily.
06-01-2025, 10:42 PM
BeardoMSU

[QUOTE=Todd4State;1657026]

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

If you ask MLB scouts and front office personnel all of them would have Muscara over Parker.

This. And if we pull it off, you can expect the baseball media (such as it is), former players, etc, to say the same.
06-01-2025, 10:43 PM
StarkVegasSteve

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd4State

Also, O'Connor has a pitching background. If there are issues with Muscara I suspect he could mitigate them pretty easily.

Yea that is why it does not bother me and I do not put a whole lot of stock in the PC hire. It looks good on paper but O Connor will handle things if they get sideways. He was a great PC for Mainieri back in the day.
06-01-2025, 10:45 PM
confucius say

Good interview with muscara from earlier this year.

https://www.justbaseball.com/mlb-dra...corey-muscara/
06-01-2025, 10:52 PM
Todd4State

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

Yea that is why it does not bother me and I do not put a whole lot of stock in the PC hire. It looks good on paper but O Connor will handle things if they get sideways. He was a great PC for Mainieri back in the day.

Also, we're going to give these guys resources to recruit with that they simply didn't have before.

As a coach, you are really only as good as your players.

Elite coaches with elite talent are going to always win at a high level.
06-01-2025, 10:54 PM
StarkVegasSteve

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd4State

Also, we're going to give these guys resources to recruit with that they simply didn't have before.

As a coach, you are really only as good as your players.

Elite coaches with elite talent are going to always win at a high level.

Yea we just learned that one.

And as I have said since O’Connor came into focus, I want to believe the lack of success in the portal was solely lack of NIL. We are about to put that statement to the test.
06-01-2025, 11:01 PM
Todd4State

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

Yea we just learned that one.

And as I have said since O’Connor came into focus, I want to believe the lack of success in the portal was solely lack of NIL. We are about to put that statement to the test.

I think Muscara will do well with the portal. The thing about Virginia when you watch them is they really don't ever seem to have a lot of holes in their lineup. So some of it might be from recruiting and developing really well.
06-01-2025, 11:06 PM
StarkVegasSteve

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd4State

I think Muscara will do well with the portal. The thing about Virginia when you watch them is they really don't ever seem to have a lot of holes in their lineup. So some of it might be from recruiting and developing really well.

Maybe so. I am in a wait and see mode with this staff and the portal. They are going to HAVE to embrace it for these next two years or we will suck. No way around it. I think Muscara probably is the most adept to embracing it because he and Walter at least tried to embrace it at Wake. Like I said, I hope OAK’s unwillingness to embrace it was NIL related and not he did not like it related.
06-02-2025, 04:42 AM
PGHBulldogBG

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

Maybe so. I am in a wait and see mode with this staff and the portal. They are going to HAVE to embrace it for these next two years or we will suck. No way around it. I think Muscara probably is the most adept to embracing it because he and Walter at least tried to embrace it at Wake. Like I said, I hope OAK’s unwillingness to embrace it was NIL related and not he did not like it related.

I don?t think UVA has a good NIL situation overall, especially since it sounds like their AD doesn?t focus much on it and is not very good. I don?t think it?s like a Dabo situation because as far as I know BOC has never been vocal about not using the portal
06-02-2025, 07:13 AM
TheLostDawg

[QUOTE=HoopsDawg;1657014]

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

Of course numbers lie. Some fields are much more conducive to offense than others. Some teams have much better talent than others. There's a reason Chase Burns left Tennessee to go pitch for Muscara in his draft year. There's a reason why scouts, portal players and coaches all think Muscara is the best in the country. Insane take by you but whatever.

This. How many people have we missed on not because of money
06-02-2025, 07:17 AM
TheLostDawg

[QUOTE=Todd4State;1657026]

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

If you ask MLB scouts and front office personnel all of them would have Muscara over Parker.

Hasn't everyone said the people conducting our search knew baseball. If so then trust the process and be excited about this.
06-02-2025, 07:48 AM
StarkVegasSteve

[QUOTE=TheLostDawg;1657072]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd4State

Hasn't everyone said the people conducting our search knew baseball. If so then trust the process and be excited about this.

Well I mean Muscara is not being hired by the people running the search. It will be an O’Connor hire. As it should be. That way the failure or success will be solely on O’Connor’s shoulders.
06-02-2025, 08:24 AM
Hot Rock

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

We shall see. I have my doubts. Not about the hire because it is apparently a done deal. About the fit and whether he will work. He just does not impress me. Biomechanics are great until a flat fastball meets an SEC barrel.

You have your doubts over the best possible hires we could make? Of course you do. This is the biggest blockbuster hire that anyone at Mississippi State has ever made in any sport. Nothing compares and you hating, typical.

Sure, it can fail but so could any other hire and I trust O'Connor to not only pick the best Pitching coach available today, I expect he will do whatever it takes to make sure we have the best we can get for the duration he is our HC.

Bottom Line: This is the best group of coaches I have ever seen headed to Starkville in any sport and of that I have no doubt. Sure, others have come here and done well but this group are the most accomplished and that is not close. Let's support them please.

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