Baseball Guys

[RockyDog]

I also think this team under Lemonis tutelage will be 3-9, maybe 4-8 going into the UGA game. There has been talent the past 2 years on this team. Some of it is still here. But the coaching staff only had one change.

Will the pitching be better? Maybe. But, has Parker removed all the bad habits in one fall? Not likely. And there is no arm that could start for all the top programs that I see.

There are going to still be a couple of holes in the batting order. I would rather see 9 guys all hitting .290 with 25 xbhs than 2 guys batting .360 and 4 guys batting .240 or less. The latter is what I fear against SEC pitching.

I say 32-24 (12-18 SEC) after that horrible 3-9 SEC start.

Oh, and if they do start 3-9 or worse in the SEC, there should be an Interim HC when State plays Georgia.

Tough road schedule for sure. Could potentially be 4-11 or 5-10 heading to SBW and if you don't sweep Auburn, the hole gets deeper and you hit the road for Vandy and finish up the road series at Arky 2 weeks later. Gonna have to pull some major upsets on the road and not slip up losing a series at home to even sniff a chance at 15-15.

[BrunswickDawg]

I said the year we won the Natty we needed to celebrate BUT put it behind us and go back to work (I told my daughter this). Instead, we didn't work hard and get prepared for what was ahead which was a target on our backs. What makes Saban so good and Skip Bertman was the drive to succeed every year and not get lazy with practice and recruiting. I'm just amazed how fast we fell after winning the Natty. Then seeing team chemistry being destroyed and letting things go was bad. Hey, it happens I know, but we had too many good ole boys and everything is ok and we can turn this around until it's too late. A few players is all it takes to destroy team chemistry, Coaches and Players have to step up and be leaders. Hey I know I'm a little critical of how we handled things, but it shouldn't have happened. We took a big step back on our tradition and things are about to really get tough in years to come with Tx and Ok coming into the league.
I like Lemonis, but he has to show some fire and emotion and not just sit on the bucket to start the year. I'm pulling for him, I hope we make a regional and do well, show me the Baseball Program I know and I love! I guess my rant is over, I hate what I saw the last two years, should not have happened.
Again, I wish Lemonis and team the best this year, I will be attending and supporting.

Not excusing it, but I think it was bound to happen to whichever MSU program won the Natty first. As a University - let alone a fan base - it was a huge albatross hanging around our necks that we had never gotten a title. And even more so with baseball because they had had so many opportunities. And you are right, we didn't get back to work for '22, and then to compound it we lost so many pitchers there was no way to fight it. I'm not as upset about '22 as I was about the '23 season. '22 you at least have the Natty hangover and the pitching injuries to point to. '23 was just down right inexplicable and inexcusable. Lemonis $!^$ or gets off the bucket this season.

[MabenMaroon]

What series do we win here:

SEC Slate
LSU
@ TAMU
@ UF
UGA
@ OM
AU
@ Vandy
UAT
@ Ark
MU

I could see winning 6 or 7 of those series with some decent pitching and then not get swept in more than 1 or 2 of the others. If that happens you have 14/15 win conference record which would put us in pretty good steed for post season. (I see series wins against TAMU, UGA, OM, AU, UAT and Mizzu maybe UF)

[Commercecomet24]

I said the year we won the Natty we needed to celebrate BUT put it behind us and go back to work (I told my daughter this). Instead, we didn't work hard and get prepared for what was ahead which was a target on our backs. What makes Saban so good and Skip Bertman was the drive to succeed every year and not get lazy with practice and recruiting. I'm just amazed how fast we fell after winning the Natty. Then seeing team chemistry being destroyed and letting things go was bad. Hey, it happens I know, but we had too many good ole boys and everything is ok and we can turn this around until it's too late. A few players is all it takes to destroy team chemistry, Coaches and Players have to step up and be leaders. Hey I know I'm a little critical of how we handled things, but it shouldn't have happened. We took a big step back on our tradition and things are about to really get tough in years to come with Tx and Ok coming into the league.
I like Lemonis, but he has to show some fire and emotion and not just sit on the bucket to start the year. I'm pulling for him, I hope we make a regional and do well, show me the Baseball Program I know and I love! I guess my rant is over, I hate what I saw the last two years, should not have happened.
Again, I wish Lemonis and team the best this year, I will be attending and supporting.

I agree 100%. Winning championships almost became like a drug to me. Win one big title and you become hungry for the next one and can't wait to get the next season started to go after another. I do think in our case, however(and this is not an excuse), we had been so close so many times, that winning it all in 2021 was almost like a release or relief. I think it was a weight off of everyones shoulders(admin, coaches, players, fans, etc..), and we RELAXED to much. The mulligans are over and its time for this staff and team to crap or get off the pot. Show me you weren't a one hit wonder, Lemonis. I want to see you and the team succeed, now git r done!

[Coursesuper]

I agree 100%. Winning championships almost became like a drug to me. Win one big title and you become hungry for the next one and can't wait to get the next season started to go after another. I do think in our case, however(and this is not an excuse), we had been so close so many times, that winning it all in 2021 was almost like a release or relief. I think it was a weight off of everyones shoulders(admin, coaches, players, fans, etc..), and we RELAXED to much. The mulligans are over and its time for this staff and team to crap or get off the pot. Show me you weren't a one hit wonder, Lemonis. I want to see you and the team succeed, now git r done!

The hard part is never getting there, even as much as you fight and scrape, it’s staying there that is the hardest part. We can get there but as of yet we have not shown the ability to remain at the top of the mountain.

[Commercecomet24]

The hard part is never getting there, even as much as you fight and scrape, it’s staying there that is the hardest part. We can get there but as of yet we have not shown the ability to remain at the top of the mountain.

Definitely hardest part is staying there and requires more work and effort than winning the first one.

[Coursesuper]

Definitely hardest part is staying there and requires more work and effort than winning the first one.

Absolutely, and in today’s world of collegiate athletics funding and support beyond what it took to get there. All the competition witnessed what you did and will replicate that to win themselves. Gotta keep on keeping on.,

[basedog]

Definitely hardest part is staying there and requires more work and effort than winning the first one.

That is my point. We should have had 2 or 3 more titles and they are very hard to come by. The Natty team had a bunch of dirtbag winners, wasn't the most talented team but maybe the most driven! 89 was the most talented but ran into a buzz saw pitching performance by NC.

[basedog]

Not excusing it, but I think it was bound to happen to whichever MSU program won the Natty first. As a University - let alone a fan base - it was a huge albatross hanging around our necks that we had never gotten a title. And even more so with baseball because they had had so many opportunities. And you are right, we didn't get back to work for '22, and then to compound it we lost so many pitchers there was no way to fight it. I'm not as upset about '22 as I was about the '23 season. '22 you at least have the Natty hangover and the pitching injuries to point to. '23 was just down right inexplicable and inexcusable. Lemonis $!^$ or gets off the bucket this season.

I agree

[Coach34]

I could see winning 6 or 7 of those series with some decent pitching and then not get swept in more than 1 or 2 of the others. If that happens you have 14/15 win conference record which would put us in pretty good steed for post season. (I see series wins against TAMU, UGA, OM, AU, UAT and Mizzu maybe UF)

With that schedule- 15-15 is a good season. Should put us around 35-36 wins headed to Hoover. A record of 35-18 or so heading into postseason is a good season that puts us in a good situation moving into June

[Todd4State]

Doesn't matter, you play every inning and every game with energy. Lemonis sat by and watched the ship sink, more went on than most know. I'm hoping all will be good this year, no doubt new pitching coach is a start, but we have to get the players in the correct positions and Lord knows, ones that are head cases and cause problems in the dugout need to go.
Nothing wrong with being positive leading the cheer squad, but potential is just a word used way too much. Give me guys that play all out with hustle and desire all day long.

The start of the season in Sec play will tell the story.

Remember last year when we started what? Like 0-7 and then 1-8 in SEC play? We ended up with 9 SEC wins the last seven weeks. So we finished a respectable 8-13 in SEC play.

I don't doubt that there were issues on the team last year but it's up to Lemonis to fix that. And whether that's running off Alford and keeping someone else I trust his judgement on that. Losing causes issues like that sometimes.

At the end of the day the question is did hiring Parker improve us by at least 3-4 SEC wins? I think the answer is yes. And if I'm wrong then I'll be the first one at the Palemeiro Center door holding the pink slip.

And if we get in the postseason with a 13-17 record we're not going to be any worse than a three seed at a regional against a team that plays a lot weaker competition than the SEC.

[Todd4State]

I agree 100%. Winning championships almost became like a drug to me. Win one big title and you become hungry for the next one and can't wait to get the next season started to go after another. I do think in our case, however(and this is not an excuse), we had been so close so many times, that winning it all in 2021 was almost like a release or relief. I think it was a weight off of everyones shoulders(admin, coaches, players, fans, etc..), and we RELAXED to much. The mulligans are over and it's time for this staff and team to crap or get off the pot. Show me you weren't a one hit wonder, Lemonis. I want to see you and the team succeed, now git r done!

I think it was a combination of factors. I think you are right about a lot of it. I think we got away from our identity. MSU baseball has long been built on playing the game the right way. That's why we have been successful. It plays up. In 2022 we looked like an entitled Daddy Ball collegiate travel ball team. Everyone trying to hit a home run. No speed- really limited what we could do on the bases. Every pitcher trying to throw as hard as they can and trying to strike everyone out. We became a parody for everything wrong with the game at the amateur level right now.

Offense got back to our identity in 2023. Pitching did not. I believe they have now.

And I'm not saying those things are bad like creating velocity but at the end of the day you still have to play the game the right way to win.

[smootness]

Remember last year when we started what? Like 0-7 and then 1-8 in SEC play? We ended up with 9 SEC wins the last seven weeks. So we finished a respectable 8-13 in SEC play.

I don't doubt that there were issues on the team last year but it's up to Lemonis to fix that. And whether that's running off Alford and keeping someone else I trust his judgement on that. Losing causes issues like that sometimes.

At the end of the day the question is did hiring Parker improve us by at least 3-4 SEC wins? I think the answer is yes. And if I'm wrong then I'll be the first one at the Palemeiro Center door holding the pink slip.

And if we get in the postseason with a 13-17 record we're not going to be any worse than a three seed at a regional against a team that plays a lot weaker competition than the SEC.

We still had a RD of -48 in those last 21 SEC games. That is not close to a .500 team. Again, we could be good this year, but it will take a really big turnaround to get there. Acting like we were not that far off from being solid last year is just not reality.

[confucius say]

We still had a RD of -48 in those last 21 SEC games. That is not close to a .500 team. Again, we could be good this year, but it will take a really big turnaround to get there. Acting like we were not that far off from being solid last year is just not reality.

Disagree. RD is a bad metric to use for that purpose. When you're down 7-2 and save pitching so you lose 17-4 instead of 9-4, RD doesn't tell the whole story.

I do agree that we were several pieces away from being solid last year though. A clean left side of the infield (hopefully addressed), a good catcher (highfill got much better last year so hopefully that continues) and much better pitching (hopefully addressed).

[smootness]

Disagree. RD is a bad metric to use for that purpose. When you're down 7-2 and save pitching so you lose 17-4 instead of 9-4, RD doesn't tell the whole story.

I do agree that we were several pieces away from being solid last year though. A clean left side of the infield (hopefully addressed), a good catcher (highfill got much better last year so hopefully that continues) and much better pitching (hopefully addressed).

RD is a much better predictor of future results than W-L.

[Homedawg]

RD is a much better predictor of future results than W-L.

Yep.

[preachermatt83]

With that schedule- 15-15 is a good season. Should put us around 35-36 wins headed to Hoover. A record of 35-18 or so heading into postseason is a good season that puts us in a good situation moving into June

I see zero way this team gets to 15 sec wins

[confucius say]

RD is a much better predictor of future results than W-L.

Maybe in MLB or when you're not throwing off in college. But otherwise, I disagree.

When we throw off in game 1 vs Skenes and lose by 20 that has no indication of how games 2 and 3 will go. See last year when we won games 2 and 3 vs LSU.

But I'm open minded. Can you give me any college baseball analytic that supports the notion that RD is a better indicator of future results than W-L? If so, does that analytic take into account when a team throws off?

[Todd4State]

We still had a RD of -48 in those last 21 SEC games. That is not close to a .500 team. Again, we could be good this year, but it will take a really big turnaround to get there. Acting like we were not that far off from being solid last year is just not reality.

I'm sure we were run ruled a few times. And I'm sure the analytics probably say we were "lucky".

But the reality is this is a completely different team we have now. With a completely different pitching coach. If we get our team ERA in the 5's it is going to make a big difference.

I don't think you can really use stats to compare or predict the future of this team because our pitching was such an outlier.

[Coach34]

I see zero way this team gets to 15 sec wins

And I dont see how they dont. Too much talent. Scouts are gushing about Big Country's Fall. Throwing him out there with Simmons and Auger behind him will win more nights than not. Top 4 of our batting order is as good as anybody and better than most. Gonna be the most drafted we have had in awhile.

Ready for 1st pitch