Pitching Rotation Set

[BeardoMSU]

I didn't know I was on bad terms w hoops??

Sorry, lol...maybe I'm thinking of someone else's bickering.

[Homedawg]

Yet they are unranked whereas UCLA is #1 in the country

ASU. Is going to be really good.

[Homedawg]

Sorry, lol...maybe I'm thinking of someone else's bickering.

All good. If I ever had a beef w him it was brief and short lived but I don't remember it.

[Coach34]

ASU. Is going to be really good.

Yep- and throwing our #1 vs them

[Todd4State]

It's easy to read too much into things sometimes. It really probably is as simple as the coaching staff feels like this is the order that they should be in based on their performances in practice. And yes, McPherson and Valinicus are Team USA guys but Foster was a top 200 draft prospect himself out of high school and had he been healthy last year he could very well have been invited to Team USA as well.

The most interesting thing to me about it is Valinicus is an innings eater. Last year he led UVA in quality starts and he averaged more than 5 IP a start. And what makes that interesting to me is if you have a guy that you know can eat innings on Sunday more often than not I would think it would make a coach a little more aggressive with how they use the bullpen early in a series. I do think a pitcher the caliber of Valinicus pitching on Sunday's is a good insurance policy most weekends because we're probably going to have the advantage over most Sunday starters in the SEC with him. That has to make you feel confident if you are going for a sweep, trying to win a series, or trying to salvage a game in a series. Essentially on the surface to me it appears as if they are making him the stopper. Which is going to be helpful with our schedule.

I'm not too surprised that McPherson is starting opening day- I figured it would be him or Valinicus. Foster is a surprised on Saturday but it is probably a good thing because it means he is performing well. Also, I suspect we will go with Duke Stone midweek and he is going to have some pretty good opponents to face like USM, Tulane, and Troy early before SEC play starts so if someone happens to struggle I could see him getting a spot. I know William Kirk has pitched well lately and he may also be the midweek guy so we'll see what happens with that and how they manage that.

I do think this goes beyond just trying to match up to win a game against UCLA. I think that tournament field is too good to risk flipping the rotation around because Arizona State is a blueblood and Virginia Tech has been a good team lately. Both are capable of beating us.

[NWADAWG]

Unless I’m not reading you right, has Foster pitched well enough to grab the #2 spot? Maybe Valincius was just out of his mind that day against FSU but he looked like he was going to be No. 1 without much debate.

So...If a legit proven Friday starter is our #3 guy, we may be on to something.

[Coursesuper]

Friday- McPherson
Saturday- Foster
Sunday- Valinciucs

This is really interesting, not a lot of separation and Foster into Saturday. This could be strong with Valinciucs going on Sunday there may be an edge against the majority of Sunday starters.

[AlSwearengen]

If Foster can command his pitches, he will be strong. When he faced usm last year, he clearly overmatched them; it seemed like he struck out everyone he faced with some walks and one hr mixed in.

[Hot Rock]

All I know is I expect them to be good, how good is yet to be determined. This group our starters for two years and others, I like our chances.

[Coach34]

We need the pitching to offset our struggles on infield D

[Todd4State]

If Foster can command his pitches, he will be strong. When he faced usm last year, he clearly overmatched them; it seemed like he struck out everyone he faced with some walks and one hr mixed in.

That was also his first ever college appearance too. I think he has some nerves at first but he settled down and pitched pretty well that game I thought.

[WSOPdawg]

I think it's really close. ... foster was supposedly good this spring. Think it's a reward. I thought McPherson was going to be the one from the get go. Now he's got to earn it to keep it.

The only reason I was thinking McPherson would go Saturday was to split up the two southpaws. But the guy was on Team USA for a reason (b/c he's Friday night SPer material).

[AlSwearengen]

That was also his first ever college appearance too. I think he has some nerves at first but he settled down and pitched pretty well that game I thought.

Yep. They could not catch up to his high spin fastball at all; i believe he was sitting 94 with it and unless I’m misremembering, he has a really nice curve to go along with it. He showed what had the coaching staff so excited. I hope he puts it all together.

[DawgFromOxford]

We need the pitching to offset our struggles on infield D

Can't make errors if the opposing team can't put the ball in play!

[Homedawg]

We need the pitching to offset our struggles on infield D

can also go w more offensive lineup w the starter is not a ground ball guy.

[Homedawg]

Can't make errors if the opposing team can't put the ball in play!

We aren't going to avg 10 k's a game. Got to field it some

[AlSwearengen]

can also go w more offensive lineup w the starter is not a ground ball guy.

Good point. McPherson and Foster will pitch up in the zone with the FB so there should be a lot of fly balls and hopefully K’s. I’m not sure what type of FB or any other pitch that Valincius throws.

[CaptainObvious]

We aren't going to avg 10 k's a game. Got to field it some

Why not? State has averaged double digit K?s several of the past 7 years.

[Homedawg]

Why not? State has averaged double digit K?s several of the past 7 years.

overall we might. I mean in the sec still going to have to make 17-18 outs......

[EdwardDrayton]

All good. If I ever had a beef w him it was brief and short lived but I don't remember it.

I think we all forget the differences of opinion we have at times pretty quickly.