Reed Stallman had a big weekend...

[Todd4State]

One of my best friends in high school played at State under Polk. When Polk was still somewhat young. Friend told me that him and other players use to make fun of Polk because at practice Polk would make all the players run drills till to the point of being maddening. Some coaches friend said would hit 20 grounders to the short stop. Not Polk he would hit 60 for example.

Now friend is a high school coach and somewhat successful coach he does same. Now that he has matured he now sees the importance of doing the little things till it become routine and cuts way down on mistakes when actual play comes.

And we would still make mistakes under Polk.

I agree 110% that reps help and that's the best way to do it. In MLB they do even more reps than 60 in spring training. But it only helps to minimize mistakes- it doesn't eliminate them.

[MStateDawg]

One of my best friends in high school played at State under Polk. When Polk was still somewhat young. Friend told me that him and other players use to make fun of Polk because at practice Polk would make all the players run drills till to the point of being maddening. Some coaches friend said would hit 20 grounders to the short stop. Not Polk he would hit 60 for example.

Now friend is a high school coach and somewhat successful coach he does same. Now that he has matured he now sees the importance of doing the little things till it become routine and cuts way down on mistakes when actual play comes.

Polk was widely know for marathon length practices, but that was in an era prior to the NCAA limiting practice times. Beginning in 1991, the NCAA instituted the 20-hour practice limit per week. Prior to that teams could practice as much as they wanted to.

[schddog72]

I about all the Lemo haters on this board.

Not a "hater" but just zero confidence based on '22, and especially '23, results. Just no excuse for winning a natty and then letting the ship totally sink. And the program still has not fully recovered. Lack of coaching of basic fundamentals rears it's ugly head in almost game.

[Coach34]

One of my best friends in high school played at State under Polk. When Polk was still somewhat young. Friend told me that him and other players use to make fun of Polk because at practice Polk would make all the players run drills till to the point of being maddening. Some coaches friend said would hit 20 grounders to the short stop. Not Polk he would hit 60 for example.

Now friend is a high school coach and somewhat successful coach he does same. Now that he has matured he now sees the importance of doing the little things till it become routine and cuts way down on mistakes when actual play comes.

I dont know any program that doesnt have their guys taking a minimum of 50 groundballs a day. Shit we did that in juco 30 years ago. My point was that we likely dont work rundowns or PFP's everyday. Guys spend their time fielding and hitting then working situations.

[Brobi-wan]

Not a "hater" but just zero confidence based on '22, and especially '23, results. Just no excuse for winning a natty and then letting the ship totally sink. And the program still has not fully recovered. Lack of coaching of basic fundamentals rears it's ugly head in almost game.

I?m not saying it?s unwarranted. I don?t love him either. I?m just not willing to bet we would get rid of him and do better.

[Coach34]

This is not hard.

We had a gap in recruiting due to some revolving doors at Head Coach- accompanied by some crippling injuries on the pitching staff. We have since righted the ship with a solid season in 24 and are now even more talented in 25. We have some serious talent among the Freshman arms.

Lemon aint perfect by any means- but things could always be worse.

Remind me how many titles Schloss has?

[PGHBulldogBG]

We appear to be in the best shape from a talent level and coaching level with Parker over Foxhall to be in the best position to succeed since 2021 and Lemonis finally being able to fully recruit his guys after all the coaching turmoil we have had. This team may not be Omaha bound but improving from last year to get to a super seems likely when you look at the overall picture

[Todd4State]

This is not hard.

We had a gap in recruiting due to some revolving doors at Head Coach- accompanied by some crippling injuries on the pitching staff. We have since righted the ship with a solid season in 24 and are now even more talented in 25. We have some serious talent among the Freshman arms.

Lemon aint perfect by any means- but things could always be worse.

Remind me how many titles Schloss has?

Yep. And the truth is Cohen screwed up baseball just as much as anything else he touched. He started the massive turnover at head coach by becoming AD, hired a guy that was immature and in no way shape or form ready to be a head coach here or anywhere else for that matter, ended up having to fire Cann whose lack of recruiting because he was chasing tail and taking gym selfies instead reared it's ugly head in 2022. Henderson saved the day in 2018 but as far as recruiting goes no one that was a player in high school at that time had any idea who we would hire. Lemonis brought stability and won the NC MSU baseball deserves. We also had just as many pitching coach changes in that time period too. No idea how much that affected injuries but Wes definitely did too much too quickly IMO and Gary Henderson was past his prime when we hired him. Then Foxhall got burned out. Parker is really impressive and the best hire we have made there since we hired Wes.

Cohen left the program in really good shape though when he decided to play around being an AD. Too much talent to screw up- multiple pitchers that made MLB, future first round picks like Sims, Westburg, and Foscue and then some special All-American types in Mangum, MacNamee, and Tanner Allen as well as Rowdey. I actually think we underachieved somewhat in 2021. If we had Parker instead of Foxhall Cerentola probably reaches his ceiling and the pitching staff would have been even better.

Unfortunately, it was a matter of time before we took a step back. The thing is Lemonis is recruiting just as well as Cohen did now. Our current freshmen are really good. But if aren't killed in the draft in the next two classes- and I don't think we will be in this upcoming draft- in a couple of years we should be a NC contender.

I also think that Lemonis is starting to hit his peak as a coach. He has been at MSU for a few years now and he sounds more confident than ever. It seems like the program has a really good vibe. When we first hired him I think he was still learning to a degree and I think he mostly let the veterans take charge. Which was a good idea. I think sometime around 2022-2023 he started to really make the program his rather than Cohen's.

We're always going to have fans that complain that he isn't emotional enough. Of course if we hired Vitello they would be complaining that his antics were embarrassing and the fur coats in the dugout are over the top. MSU fans always want the opposite of whatever coach we actually have at that time.

[MStateDawg]

We're always going to have fans that complain that he isn't emotional enough. Of course if we hired Vitello they would be complaining that his antics were embarrassing

This is 1000% accurate and we have proof of it. Cohen was extremely fiery his first few seasons at State and people complained about his yelling and profanity coming from the dugout. Now people complain about the lack of that behavior from Lemonis.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Who was pitching when Reed Stallman went Babe Ruth.

Is he playing corner outfield in scrimmage

[MStateDawg]

Who was pitching when Reed Stallman went Babe Ruth.

Is he playing corner outfield in scrimmage

Not sure about who he's faced off against, but I do know he was playing RF in yesterday's scrimmage.

[Coach34]

Not sure about who he's faced off against, but I do know he was playing RF in yesterday's scrimmage.

I think there is a good chance we see some platooning going on at positions- especially to start the season

[Todd4State]

I think there is a good chance we see some platooning going on at positions- especially to start the season

Yes. In the OF alone we could see at least six guys see starting time early in the season.

[Commercecomet24]

Yep. And the truth is Cohen screwed up baseball just as much as anything else he touched. He started the massive turnover at head coach by becoming AD, hired a guy that was immature and in no way shape or form ready to be a head coach here or anywhere else for that matter, ended up having to fire Cann whose lack of recruiting because he was chasing tail and taking gym selfies instead reared it's ugly head in 2022. Henderson saved the day in 2018 but as far as recruiting goes no one that was a player in high school at that time had any idea who we would hire. Lemonis brought stability and won the NC MSU baseball deserves. We also had just as many pitching coach changes in that time period too. No idea how much that affected injuries but Wes definitely did too much too quickly IMO and Gary Henderson was past his prime when we hired him. Then Foxhall got burned out. Parker is really impressive and the best hire we have made there since we hired Wes.

Cohen left the program in really good shape though when he decided to play around being an AD. Too much talent to screw up- multiple pitchers that made MLB, future first round picks like Sims, Westburg, and Foscue and then some special All-American types in Mangum, MacNamee, and Tanner Allen as well as Rowdey. I actually think we underachieved somewhat in 2021. If we had Parker instead of Foxhall Cerentola probably reaches his ceiling and the pitching staff would have been even better.

Unfortunately, it was a matter of time before we took a step back. The thing is Lemonis is recruiting just as well as Cohen did now. Our current freshmen are really good. But if aren't killed in the draft in the next two classes- and I don't think we will be in this upcoming draft- in a couple of years we should be a NC contender.

I also think that Lemonis is starting to hit his peak as a coach. He has been at MSU for a few years now and he sounds more confident than ever. It seems like the program has a really good vibe. When we first hired him I think he was still learning to a degree and I think he mostly let the veterans take charge. Which was a good idea. I think sometime around 2022-2023 he started to really make the program his rather than Cohen's.

We're always going to have fans that complain that he isn't emotional enough. Of course if we hired Vitello they would be complaining that his antics were embarrassing and the fur coats in the dugout are over the top. MSU fans always want the opposite of whatever coach we actually have at that time.

Excellent analysis! I agree, and especially on State fans always wanting the opposite of whatever coach we have.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Todd4State again.

[Commercecomet24]

Polk was widely know for marathon length practices, but that was in an era prior to the NCAA limiting practice times. Beginning in 1991, the NCAA instituted the 20-hour practice limit per week. Prior to that teams could practice as much as they wanted to.

The limited practice time has hurt baseball at all levels. When I played high school/juco ball you could practice as much as you wanted and we did! Heck in high school we actually started in December in an old gym, then took our Christmas break and were back at it January 2nd, and we practiced hours each day. We were super sound fundamentally and especially on defense. Now I watch high school, juco and college ball and you can see where the limited practice time effects the little things and especially defensively. These kids don't take half the reps we used to and it shows. My oldest son is a high school baseball coach and it frustrates him that the time they have is so limited.

[Coach34]

In college we practiced from 2:30 to 6:30 just about everyday in the Fall from September-November. I threw more innings in the Fall than I did in the Spring

[Commercecomet24]

In college we practiced from 2:30 to 6:30 just about everyday in the Fall from September-November. I threw more innings in the Fall than I did in the Spring

Yep, times have certainly changed and i swear these high school and college kids have so many "sore arms and injuries" that its almost unbelievable. It was rare that anyone missed a game much less half or whole seasons but it happens all the time now with supposedly better training methods and kids supposedly being in better shape.

[BrunswickDawg]

The limited practice time has hurt baseball at all levels. When I played high school/juco ball you could practice as much as you wanted and we did! Heck in high school we actually started in December in an old gym, then took our Christmas break and were back at it January 2nd, and we practiced hours each day. We were super sound fundamentally and especially on defense. Now I watch high school, juco and college ball and you can see where the limited practice time effects the little things and especially defensively. These kids don't take half the reps we used to and it shows. My oldest son is a high school baseball coach and it frustrates him that the time they have is so limited.

Man, there was nothing worse then those early January practices. 3:30 - 7:00 PM, but the lights had to be on the whole time because Atlanta is just cloudy gray all month. Your feet were frozen. Your hands were frozen. The infield dirt was frozen. You dressed like a baseball version Randy in A Christmas Story, so you can't move well. Your glove was hard from the cold. Foul one off in BP and your hands sting for half an hour. Catch a hard liner - hands sting for half an hour. Get hit on your bare hand and you're done, won't feel your fingers for the rest of the day. And lets run pole to pole for the last 15 minutes so you can't breath before you go home!! Fun times. But, I could pick it at 2B by the first game in the middle of February!

[ZedFedder]

Had a friend that all he did was hunt, fish, and play baseball. He threw and long tossed all year round, no breaks. If it was 100 degrees or 10 he was out there. Never had the first arm issue.

[Commercecomet24]

Man, there was nothing worse then those early January practices. 3:30 - 7:00 PM, but the lights had to be on the whole time because Atlanta is just cloudy gray all month. Your feet were frozen. Your hands were frozen. The infield dirt was frozen. You dressed like a baseball version Randy in A Christmas Story, so you can't move well. Your glove was hard from the cold. Foul one off in BP and your hands sting for half an hour. Catch a hard liner - hands sting for half an hour. Get hit on your bare hand and you're done, won't feel your fingers for the rest of the day. And lets run pole to pole for the last 15 minutes so you can't breath before you go home!! Fun times. But, I could pick it at 2B by the first game in the middle of February!

Sounds like we had the same coach just in a different state, lol! That was exactly the way it was for us! Great memories! I'm afraid these kids now would just go home!