Double Play Machine
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Offense will be fine. Wasn't the issue last year.
The issue is we don't have an ace and we're going to have to use our bullpen a lot. Nixon and Dohm are huge additions. Pico adding velocity is encouraging. Holcombe looks promising. We have some freshmen that could help too.
The issue is Foxhall isn't very creative with how he uses the staff and he lets guys go way too long. He's going to have to channel his inner Butch Thompson to make this work.
I was there Friday. Dakota HR was the furthest ball I've seen hit there since Niko for ND. The analytics I was told was 450 ft and 113 exit velocity. It was 0-2 and pico tried to elevate a fastball. Cleared the stadium and landed at the base of the condos.
Dohm was very impressive. 96-98. Located well. Slider was 89.
Ledbetter hit two rockets for doubles to left center. That's oppo for him.
Hines hit a rocket HR to right.
Kellum tripled off the wall in center.
Highfill double off the wall in right. Oppo
Cade was sharp. KC was not.
A lot of experts in this thread.
We really need Loftin or Loo to be Paul Maholm 2.0 as freshmen where they come in and are top of the weekend rotation caliber as freshmen. We lack an ace. It is what it is. Skenes would have addressed that. We can still be good but we're going to have to be forward thinking to do it. I think we have the talent to do it. Nixon, Dohm, and Holcombe are all mid-upper 90's guys. Tyler Davis has looked good and Pico has increased his velocity. We need all of those guys and we need them to stay healthy. We're going to need them to be 2-3 inning guys right out of the gate. Stinnett needs to step up but he's a head case. I think we should just let him start midweek and leave him there unless he melts down- again. Which is possible. Need some of the freshmen to contribute right away no matter what.
Oh and Foxhall can't "save" guys only to not use them on the weekend. That was complete BS last year. Especially when he's throwing our SS out there.
The dead Arapahoes gave us what we had begged for 2 years ago and then bitch-slapped us right back in our place last year by not only letting our hated rivals win it, but win it while we finished dead last in the SEC.
After this 1-7 SEC Basketball start, I ain?t buying into any positive thoughts having to do with a ball that is completely round.
Im not sure Skenes is an ace in the sec.
Gartman had a better 2022 on the mound than Skenes when you look at their numbers and opponents. Better whip (under 1.0), strikeouts the same, innings the same, era .77 higher, but Gartman faced much better competition.
Skenes didn't pitch against a team all regular season that made the ncaa tourney. Not one. He only pitched against one power 5 team all regular season and was shelled, didn't make it through the 4th inning, and had a era of 11.
Then in the ncaa tourney he was shelled again, didn't make it past the 4th, and era was 9.00.
He didn't pitch against anybody else any good last year. Below are all his appearances.
Iowa - shelled
Navy - 19-26 record
Nevada twice - 29-26 record
Unlv three times - 36-22 record
New Mexico twice - 21-33 record
Fresno state twice - 27-28 record
Cal Baptist - 36-20 record
San Diego State - 18-38 record
San Jose State - 30-29 record
Texas - shelled
As we all know injuries last year to our pitching staff killed us. I will add, I also think we didn’t handle the off season very well with all of the celebrations, both players and fans.
Practice is one thing but games are the measuring stick. If our pitchers stay healthy, I think we have a good chance to be pretty good considering all the arms we have. I have my doubts about a couple of guys, but I think we have enough to be in another regional.
I think this team will be better prepared and way more focused. I think we have more in the lineup and we should be good on defense.
After last season, I got to see it for myself against decent opponents.
Good freshmen and transfers are going to put pressure on veterans. If a dude starts to struggle or shows no developmental growth after 3 or 4 years, you must move on.
Game-1 lineup or first weekend pitching may not last very long. I mean that as a good thing. Means strong competition. 17 SEC wins is my expectation range but there are cats on this team that I have zero faith in.
I think we're gonna mash at the plate, but I do worry if we have the horses on the mound. We don't have a legit ace, and we've still got some guys who haven't pieced it together yet.
But if Mershon ends up beating Lane out (I'll believe it when I see it) we wouldn't really have a weak spot in our lineup. I think we've got less HR or bust type guys too. We should be able to put the ball in play better than we did last year.