Jack Walker to the portal

[The Federalist Engineer]

He was national HS pitcher of the year and an All American. Had multiple P5 and SEC offers.

Not good enough....

"At Barbe (La.) High School, Walker was king. He led his squad to an incredible 39-2 record, a state championship and MaxPreps National Championship. He was a First-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, the MaxPreps and Perfect Game Player of the Year nationally, the state of Louisiana Mr. Baseball and Gatorade Player of the Year in his state."

Clearly, this is not the type of player MSU needs. All he had was an LSU offer. Even I could get LSU offer. I was too proud to take it.***

[Coach34]

Not good enough....

"At Barbe (La.) High School, Walker was king. He led his squad to an incredible 39-2 record, a state championship and MaxPreps National Championship. He was a First-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, the MaxPreps and Perfect Game Player of the Year nationally, the state of Louisiana Mr. Baseball and Gatorade Player of the Year in his state."

Clearly, this is not the type of player MSU needs. All he had was an LSU offer. Even I could get LSU offer. I was too proud to take it.***

Exactly. The guy pounded the zone before he got to State. Now he cant. What changed?

[Percho]

Walker averaged 1 walk per game in High School. At MSU he averaged 1 walk per inning. How do you get that bad that quick?

Because in HS you could get by throwing strikes. In college we are scared to throw strikes.

About all other teams had to do to get ahead of MSU hitters this past year was throw an off speed ball for a strike, we would take it and be down 0 and 1. Then we would swing at something out of the strike zone, 0-2.

[Homedawg]

He was national HS pitcher of the year and an All American. Had multiple P5 and SEC offers.

Again. Great hs numbers. He wasn't an elite recruit. To say otherwise is just false.

[Homedawg]

Exactly. The guy pounded the zone before he got to State. Now he cant. What changed?

Ok I'll bite. What got him to this point was elite movement. His movement was filthy w his fastball. But he couldn't keep it in the zone at all. College guys are hitting against him they laid off. When he did throw strike he got hit. To add, as you know, you've coached, hs zones are WAY bigger and even bigger for guys who have great movement. I get it, fox didn't do a good job w this staff. But he did have major injuries and why did become a bozo after taking two teams to the series. He didn't become a dumb ass in a year.

[Cowbell]

Ok I'll bite. What got him to this point was elite movement. His movement was filthy w his fastball. But he couldn't keep it in the zone at all. College guys are hitting against him they laid off. When he did throw strike he got hit. To add, as you know, you've coached, hs zones are WAY bigger and even bigger for guys who have great movement. I get it, fox didn't do a good job w this staff. But he did have major injuries and why did become a bozo after taking two teams to the series. He didn't become a dumb ass in a year.

Yep and if you look back at Foxhalls history, this is the first time this has happened in his career. He has done nothing but put out great staffs year after year. It's not like he just lost his ability to coach overnight.

[Coach34]

Ok I'll bite. What got him to this point was elite movement. His movement was filthy w his fastball. But he couldn't keep it in the zone at all. College guys are hitting against him they laid off. When he did throw strike he got hit. To add, as you know, you've coached, hs zones are WAY bigger and even bigger for guys who have great movement. I get it, fox didn't do a good job w this staff. But he did have major injuries and why did become a bozo after taking two teams to the series. He didn't become a dumb ass in a year.

You’re my Dawg. We agree on performance in 2022. Let’s hope 2023 is better

[Hambone]

Ok I'll bite. What got him to this point was elite movement. His movement was filthy w his fastball. But he couldn't keep it in the zone at all. College guys are hitting against him they laid off. When he did throw strike he got hit..

I agree and said similar earlier

[Cooterpoot]

Again. Great hs numbers. He wasn't an elite recruit. To say otherwise is just false.

But he was a damn good recruit. To say otherwise is just false. So a kid with "elite" movement suddenly can't throw strikes? Where have we seen that? Hmmm. And if you want to say otherwise, then that takes us back to the poor recruiting subject. Fact is, Foxhall has had a lot of talent he didn't recruit. That's who took us to the CWS for the most part. He's had one great pitcher out of the guys he's brought in and a good Juco guy or two. He's run off more than he's developed. We're about to go portal to fill all those pitching holes. Again, guys he didn't recruit or develop. I expect better from the highest paid pitching coach in America.

[Saltydog]

Again. Great hs numbers. He wasn't an elite recruit. To say otherwise is just false.

Completely agree with this. I thought very early on that he didn't have an SEC arm and that at best he might end up being a mid-week guy or long reliever, somewhere along the line. Problem is, we don't have time. We have to have guys to plug/play now.

[Hot Rock]

Am I thinking of the correct player, but wasn?t the scouting report on Walker was that he wasn?t a high velocity pitcher but had serious movement on his pitches?

If so, could it be possible he was dominant in high school due to facing inferior talent and once he got to college he was facing skilled hitters?

If I?m wrong about that player I apologize, I was just wondering if this could be the reason?

Wow! Just Wow!

I am a believer in Foxhall because he is the only pitching coach to ever get us a national championship. How quickly everyone wants to hate on the coaches.

[Hot Rock]

But he was a damn good recruit. To say otherwise is just false. So a kid with "elite" movement suddenly can't throw strikes? Where have we seen that? Hmmm. And if you want to say otherwise, then that takes us back to the poor recruiting subject. Fact is, Foxhall has had a lot of talent he didn't recruit. That's who took us to the CWS for the most part. He's had one great pitcher out of the guys he's brought in and a good Juco guy or two. He's run off more than he's developed. We're about to go portal to fill all those pitching holes. Again, guys he didn't recruit or develop. I expect better from the highest paid pitching coach in America.

He was facing HS competition and was great. In college, the competition may have been too much for him. Blaming Foxhall after he is the guy to win us a national title the year before is just crazy to me.

[CadaverDawg]

He was facing HS competition and was great. In college, the competition may have been too much for him. Blaming Foxhall after he is the guy to win us a national title the year before is just crazy to me.

No coach is free from criticism. Not saying Foxhall got complacent after a big year, but he wouldn't be the first. If you're not moving forward you're moving backwards, so I think the criticism is valid. Doesn't mean he should be fired, but he needs to get his guys rolling.

[Cooterpoot]

He was facing HS competition and was great. In college, the competition may have been too much for him. Blaming Foxhall after he is the guy to win us a national title the year before is just crazy to me.

His wildness had nothing to do with competition. He never had it before and faced some of the best in LA, which is a damn good baseball state. Better than MS. He had no issues in travel ball either. He was thought enough of to get the early midweek start as a freshman. Now people acting like we just threw him a bone signing him and we didn't think he was good to begin with. That's a laughable take. Especially when we've seen so many pitchers struggle under Foxhall. Foxhall is coaching for his job next year. If he turns it around, great! I'd love to trot out 3 legit SEC starters. Something we've struggled to do under Foxhall. A good young midweek guy would also be great.

[ScoobaDawg]

Ok I'll bite. What got him to this point was elite movement. His movement was filthy w his fastball. But he couldn't keep it in the zone at all. College guys are hitting against him they laid off. When he did throw strike he got hit. To add, as you know, you've coached, hs zones are WAY bigger and even bigger for guys who have great movement. I get it, fox didn't do a good job w this staff. But he did have major injuries and why did become a bozo after taking two teams to the series. He didn't become a dumb ass in a year.

Thank you for one of the best posts in a month. Fox was regarded as one of the best in the business and came in managed the staff to our first National Championship. and then people dump on him as if our staff has been horrible in all his years. Short-sighted.

[Hambone]

Wow! Just Wow!

I am a believer in Foxhall because he is the only pitching coach to ever get us a national championship. How quickly everyone wants to hate on the coaches.

I’m on team Foxhall. I was just asking COULD that have been what happened. I sincerely apologize if my post inferred I was anti coaching staff. I totally agree with you, they are the only ones to ever do it.

[MaroonFlounder]

If so, could it be possible he was dominant in high school due to facing inferior talent and once he got to college he was facing skilled hitters?

Yes. Not getting the swing and miss he was getting in H.S.

Plus...all of our pitchers this year seemed to NOT get the calls on the corners of the zone. And that nibbling shit trying to get the corners will bite you....and you give up walks.

[Cooterpoot]

Thank you for one of the best posts in a month. Fox was regarded as one of the best in the business and came in managed the staff to our first National Championship. and then people dump on him as if our staff has been horrible in all his years. Short-sighted.

And three pitchers baled his ass out last year. We had one viable SEC stud in Bednar. Foxhall made our previous ace regress (changed him up). We had no real 3rd option until Hooty stepped up. Had Bednar not gone insane, we were toast. And I'll give Foxhall credit there. He managed the staff well. It's the recruiting and development that's been a struggle for him. And I'm not just now on this, I'll take my arrows because I've been saying for a couple years now.

[Cooterpoot]

Yes. Not getting the swing and miss he was getting in H.S.

Plus...all of our pitchers this year seemed to NOT get the calls on the corners of the zone. And that nibbling shit trying to get the corners will bite you....and you give up walks.

He K'd 13 in 14 innings.

[Cowbell]

And three pitchers baled his ass out last year. We had one viable SEC stud in Bednar. Foxhall made our previous ace regress (changed him up). We had no real 3rd option until Hooty stepped up. Had Bednar not gone insane, we were toast. And I'll give Foxhall credit there. He managed the staff well. It's the recruiting and development that's been a struggle for him. And I'm not just now on this, I'll take my arrows because I've been saying for a couple years now.

Why do you not give him credit for the three good pitchers? Did they just happen without development? I don't remember Bednar being a shut down guy early in the season. But maybe my memory is off?