Baseball thoughts

[MsStateBaseball]

At least I don't know what he or his parents are thinking on mlb, esp his parents, and until he is actually drafted high. Mlb has on occasion gone in a different direction. Mlb should be calling in next two weeks to discuss w him about his feelings. If we lose him we have a backup plan, we always do. We need extremely talented players to win sec.

[Todd4State]

You speak like you expect Vallot to make it to campus. I hope you are right.

If he makes it, it's a huge bonus. If he doesn't it's not unexpected.

He tore it up in the playoffs in Louisiana and he finished the year with 13 home runs while hitting .550.

[basedog]

Todd, I don't think Holder will be back. He is finishing strong and I just don't think he would do himself any favors by coming back.
We have three really good relievers and that will be hard to replace with some inexperienced guys. Pirtle is by for our best everyday player, not sure who steps in that role next year. Lots of unknowns for next years squad.

[Todd4State]

Todd, I don't think Holder will be back. He is finishing strong and I just don't think he would do himself any favors by coming back.
We have three really good relievers and that will be hard to replace with some inexperienced guys. Pirtle is by for our best everyday player, not sure who steps in that role next year. Lots of unknowns for next years squad.

I'm hearing that there is a very good chance that he comes back. We'll see if that's correct or not in June/July- there is certainly a chance he won't come back as well.

[basedog]

I just don't see what he would be thinking by coming back. He has dominated college hitters the last two years and as we all know there are only so many pitches in one's arm plus he will be a senior and he would have no bargaining gain.

I think we will be better in out starting pitching but not as good on relievers. I also don't see moving Heck to second base. To me he has been outstanding regardless of his arm strength, he has been steady why move?

Rea is the big mystery, I believe Cohen will encourage him to move own, but that's just me. I just don't see the potential in Rea being a major league player, I suppose if he loves the game he will try again next year but I think he is done.

[CadaverDawg]

I just don't see what he would be thinking by coming back. He has dominated college hitters the last two years and as we all know there are only so many pitches in one's arm plus he will be a senior and he would have no bargaining gain.

I think we will be better in out starting pitching but not as good on relievers. I also don't see moving Heck to second base. To me he has been outstanding regardless of his arm strength, he has been steady why move?

Rea is the big mystery, I believe Cohen will encourage him to move own, but that's just me. I just don't see the potential in Rea being a major league player, I suppose if he loves the game he will try again next year but I think he is done.

Holland should easily fill a middle infield spot IMO. Does anybody have his stats from this year, again? Dude is a beast and played for FSU as a Fresh...he should be able to step in and play.

[maroonmania]

I just don't see what he would be thinking by coming back. He has dominated college hitters the last two years and as we all know there are only so many pitches in one's arm plus he will be a senior and he would have no bargaining gain.

I think we will be better in out starting pitching but not as good on relievers. I also don't see moving Heck to second base. To me he has been outstanding regardless of his arm strength, he has been steady why move?

Rea is the big mystery, I believe Cohen will encourage him to move own, but that's just me. I just don't see the potential in Rea being a major league player, I suppose if he loves the game he will try again next year but I think he is done.

On Rea I guess I don't understand the logic in encouraging a guy who can help you on the college level but doesn't look to have much of a pro future to move on. Why would he not want to finish out his college eligibility at MSU? Rea was disappointing this year no doubt but he is a team captain and still had his moments. And I don't know that I'm ready to say we will be better next year if you take Lindgren and Holder off our pitching staff and we have to replace Pirtle in the lineup. Even Bradford and Detz both hit pretty well in the homestretch and they will be gone as well. We really don't have a proven hitter returning next year at all. I actually thought next year would be more of the rebuilding year and this year we were suppose to be loaded. It was definitely disappointing to struggle so much THIS year. Next year I could understand more.

[Todd4State]

I just don't see what he would be thinking by coming back. He has dominated college hitters the last two years and as we all know there are only so many pitches in one's arm plus he will be a senior and he would have no bargaining gain.

I think we will be better in out starting pitching but not as good on relievers. I also don't see moving Heck to second base. To me he has been outstanding regardless of his arm strength, he has been steady why move?

Rea is the big mystery, I believe Cohen will encourage him to move own, but that's just me. I just don't see the potential in Rea being a major league player, I suppose if he loves the game he will try again next year but I think he is done.

I know this may be hard to believe, but for some players it's not always just about the money. The slotting system has taken away a lot of baraining power from the players anyway. If you get drafted past the third round, you're probably going to get less than a million dollars. Holder was rated by PG around 250 or so- that's around 7th-10th round as a grade. Some players come back their senior year- see Kendall Graveman who the Marlins drafted after his junior year and then the Blue Jays drafted him after his senior year.

If Holland is better defensively than Heck as most suspect, the Seth will likely move to 2B. It's not that Heck is bad as much as it is that Holland is good.

Cohen encouraging Rea to move on just because he isn't a MLB prospect doesn't make any sense to me. We didn't do that with Ben Bracewell, Brent Brownlee or the other fifth year seniors that we have had in the past, why would we do that with Rea?

[Todd4State]

On Rea I guess I don't understand the logic in encouraging a guy who can help you on the college level but doesn't look to have much of a pro future to move on. Why would he not want to finish out his college eligibility at MSU? Rea was disappointing this year no doubt but he is a team captain and still had his moments. And I don't know that I'm ready to say we will be better next year if you take Lindgren and Holder off our pitching staff and we have to replace Pirtle in the lineup. Even Bradford and Detz both hit pretty well in the homestretch and they will be gone as well. We really don't have a proven hitter returning next year at all. I actually thought next year would be more of the rebuilding year and this year we were suppose to be loaded. It was definitely disappointing to struggle so much THIS year. Next year I could understand more.

Ole Miss didn't have any proven hitters coming into this year either. Experience can make a big difference.

[ClancyDawg]

I don't think Cohen would encourage him to move on as much as its a "You can come back but probably won't play a big role" situation.

[basedog]

Rea will be a 5 year player, Cohen has stated many times throughout the year as Rea being a senior although he is a redshirt junior.

I have no idea what Rea's thinking, but I just don't think he will be back, hey I may be wrong and I have no feelings whether he is back or not, but I can see him as a role player more than a star. Hope I'm wrong.

I also see next year more of a rebuilding year.

Btw, Rea chose baseball over football, that says he thinks or thought it was his best chance making the Big's. Unless he just loves the game I just don't see him coming back. Again, that's just me.

[MsStateBaseball]

We have no rebuilding years. We build a team from year to year now. Each year IMO we get more talented. Well be good next year, better than this year.

[maroonmania]

If Holland is better defensively than Heck as most suspect, the Seth will likely move to 2B. It's not that Heck is bad as much as it is that Holland is good.

Well it definitely won't be because Heck is bad because Heck, this year, was the most consistent defensive shortstop Cohen has ever had. Better than Ogden and yes, better than Frazier. Holland will have to not just have a better arm but also be very reliable to take the job away from Heck. My money would be on Heck staying at SS. Just like with Britton who has the better arm on the team now but can't handle all the plays at SS.

[Todd4State]

Rea will be a 5 year player, Cohen has stated many times throughout the year as Rea being a senior although he is a redshirt junior.

I have no idea what Rea's thinking, but I just don't think he will be back, hey I may be wrong and I have no feelings whether he is back or not, but I can see him as a role player more than a star. Hope I'm wrong.

I also see next year more of a rebuilding year.

Btw, Rea chose baseball over football, that says he thinks or thought it was his best chance making the Big's. Unless he just loves the game I just don't see him coming back. Again, that's just me.

Rea wasn't recognized at senior day this year. Demarcus was though- and they're basically in the same boat as far as eligibility.

Rea chose baseball over football because he liked playing baseball better.

[Todd4State]

Well it definitely won't be because Heck is bad because Heck, this year, was the most consistent defensive shortstop Cohen has ever had. Better than Ogden and yes, better than Frazier. Holland will have to not just have a better arm but also be very reliable to take the job away from Heck. My money would be on Heck staying at SS. Just like with Britton who has the better arm on the team now but can't handle all the plays at SS.

You want your third baseman to have a strong arm as well because it's a long throw from third to first- and on some teams the third baseman has a stronger arm than the SS. Your SS is typically your best all around athlete.

Heck > Britton.

Holland more than likely is > Heck.

[maroonmania]

Holland more than likely is > Heck.

I doubt it but we will see.

[KB21]

Read a scouting report on Johnathan Holder earlier this AM, or at least a scouting blurb from the guy over at minorleaguebaseball.com. I don't think it was John Sickles. Maybe Matt Garrioch. Anyway, the comment on Holder is that he's an upper 80s guy that can occasionally throw in the low 90s. Great curve ball. Stuff will probably get him by at the lower levels but they don't see him being a major league arm.

I think it depends on where he gets picked. High 80s right handed pitchers that don't have great command tend to not get drafted very high.

Jacob Lindgren will go high. Not only is he productive, he's a lefty that can throw mid 90s with a devastating slider. His command issues will not be a big deal because of his stuff.

Even though he hasn't been very productive to this point, Brandon Woodruff has the stuff that will likey get him drafted fairly high. I hope he comes back though, because we need one of him or Dakota Hudson to step up and be that ace guy.

[KB21]

I would also add, there is only so much a coach can do. Our line up this year was full of singles hitters. Our potential power guys, Reid Humphreys and Daniel Garner, are poor contact hitters at this point. A lot of swing and miss there. The hope is that they get a better contact rate, and with that will come more slugging.

It is hard to have big innings as far as scoring runs when you are hitting singles. We don't necessarily need someone that is going to hit 20 home runs, but we need more doubles and players with gap power.

Going forward, we have some potential sluggers coming up. Reid Humphreys, Daniel Garner, Brent Rooker, Dylan Ingram, Joey Swinarski, even Gavin Collins to an extent

[preachermatt83]

as for Pitching, If there is a guy on our staff that will mature into a true Friday night ace, it is Dakota Hudson. A year of work on getting sink and placement should have him nearing beast mode. Vance Tatum has a serious future too.. Will Cox and Shelly be ready for next year?

[Goat Holder]

Rea needs to be a graduate assistant next year.