Baseball recruiting class

[msstate7]

Do we have a Friday night starter type committed?

Are we after power hitters or small speedy guys?

Does this dumpster fire this year hurt our chances of getting mlb draft guys on campus?

[Todd4State]

A few. We're going to lose at least one to MLB.

We want good hitters-both types. Anyone that suggests otherwise is an idiot.

Not as much as the millions of dollars that they can throw at players hurts us. I actually think that this is the biggest disadvantage that we have more than anything. Even more than scholarships. Vandy, LSU, etc. loses their share to MLB for the same reason. We have to find a way to start getting the MLB caliber HITTERS onto campus. The only way that is ever going to change is for MLB to change their draft rules- and they're not going to do that.

[Homedawg]

We are going to lose more than one. The one thing this class has is pitchers. And lots of them. The "second" class guys like cyr from Kansas is really strong. This offensive class is good but not elite. Meaning it's not going to jump us up offensively next year. Stovall, Alexander, Moreno, and Riley can all be very good hitters but I don't think that they can all step in and be difference makers next year. I do think Alexander can come in and start due to his glove.

[Todd4State]

We are going to lose more than one. The one thing this class has is pitchers. And lots of them. The "second" class guys like cyr from Kansas is really strong. This offensive class is good but not elite. Meaning it's not going to jump us up offensively next year. Stovall, Alexander, Moreno, and Riley can all be very good hitters but I don't think that they can all step in and be difference makers next year. I do think Alexander can come in and start due to his glove.

It's unrealistic to expect freshmen to contribute and all be difference makers. I do think a couple of them possibly can- but it's just unknown how quickly any of them will adjust.

[MsStateBaseball]

What this class is bringing in is (if you are thinking just next year) is relievers throwing around 90 or above. We should have at least 8 new pitchers to shore up the bullpen. All the starters for SEC are already on the team.

The JC guy Nate Lowe will help us at bat probably Riley, Marrero and Stovall. Pickett is likely gone to pros.

I think many on our team now will be much better next year. Remember, 95 percent of our starters will be back. Most glaring need is bullpen and we will have very good recruits to fill that.

[Vandelaydawg]

We are going to lose more than one. The one thing this class has is pitchers. And lots of them. The "second" class guys like cyr from Kansas is really strong. This offensive class is good but not elite. Meaning it's not going to jump us up offensively next year. Stovall, Alexander, Moreno, and Riley can all be very good hitters but I don't think that they can all step in and be difference makers next year. I do think Alexander can come in and start due to his glove.

Cyr on the season...: 19.1 inn pitched, 7 hits, 34 K's and 0.00 ERA...record 2-0 with 2 no decisions. Had one outing where he struck out all nine he faced. Could be a sleeper.

[Jacksondevildog]

Hopefully Cyr doesn't throw 93. If he does, we will have to drop his arm angle to get more sink so he can get "down to the string and induce ground balls". We need him throwing 83*.

Cyr on the season...: 19.1 inn pitched, 7 hits, 34 K's and 0.00 ERA...record 2-0 with 2 no decisions. Had one outing where he struck out all nine he faced. Could be a sleeper.

[ScottH]

Hopefully Cyr doesn't throw 93. If he does, we will have to drop his arm angle to get more sink so he can get "down to the string and induce ground balls". We need him throwing 83*.

That's made me laugh.

I think back to my hs coach from year's ago. When our pitcher was headed to the mound one day, coach told him "Son, it's easy, throw it past them or throw it where they can't hit it solid" Now, those were simple non technical instructions.

[Jacksondevildog]

I heard Dave Serrano speak at the ABCA convention in Dallas last year and he said that he wants guys that can throw hard. Not "Pitch to contact" guys. I agree. I think we try to get too cute at times with arm angles and using the spin analyzer machine we have to recruit guys. We need to recruit more pitchers that can come in and compete for an SEC weekend starting spot.

[dawgs]

I heard Dave Serrano speak at the ABCA convention in Dallas last year and he said that he wants guys that can throw hard. Not "Pitch to contact" guys. I agree. I think we try to get too cute at times with arm angles and using the spin analyzer machine we have to recruit guys. We need to recruit more pitchers that can come in and compete for an SEC weekend starting spot.

Well strike outs always play. Pitching to contact opens up the possibilities. Even regularly inducing weak contact can catch up to you with a few bad breaks, like errors, productive outs, bloop hits, etc. if you have 2 pitchers with similar surface numbers (IP, era, whip), you almost always want the guy that gets more Ks because he's less succetible to bad luck.

[Bully13]

what are some of the things some schools have over others in regards to getting the top notch players to come play college baseball for a few years vs signing pro and playing in the minors?

how does MSU rate in that area vs other elite programs?

[Todd4State]

what are some of the things some schools have over others in regards to getting the top notch players to come play college baseball for a few years vs signing pro and playing in the minors?

how does MSU rate in that area vs other elite programs?

We've only lost three the past four years- DuPont, Vallot, and Burdick- ALL were power hitters. We've kept Robson, Humphreys, Hudson, Woodruff, Lindgren as far as guys that were actually drafted. So, not too bad when compared to others. Pitchers are more likely to go to college than power hitters.

When you are talking SEC only, each school has it's own individual situation as far as advantages and disadvantages. Texas, Florida, and Georgia are three of the top producing states of baseball talent in the country right now. Advantage Texas A&M, Florida, and Georgia. Louisiana is very strong as far as baseball talent and they have the baseball fan base that is equal to ours. A lot of kids in Louisiana will happily turn down millions and go play for LSU- even though they knew that Bertman was going to blow their arms out and cost them millions. My guess is there is a lot of pressure locally for kids to go to LSU whereas MSU fans are "you're stupid if you don't take the money." Not real sure why that is. Vanderbilt has an advantage because of how they can work the scholarship rules.

MSU has an advantage with a strong fan base that cares about the sport and history of winning. (Going to Omaha roughly every 5-6 years on average since Polk became the head coach in 1976) That goes a long way and has helped us out a lot in the past. The new facility will help us out and already has in recruiting currently. The biggest disadvantage we have at MSU is not scholarship restrictions. It's the fact that we are a small state that doesn't produce enough talent to stock a NC caliber team with Mississippi talent alone. We HAVE to recruit out of state in the major baseball states and we have to combine that with local talent. The other thing that is a big disadvantage is Mississippi HS baseball players have a reputation for being extremely raw and normally it takes a couple of years to develop them into a "MLB" talent. See Stratton, Renfroe, and Lindgren among others. Look at how all three of those guys did their freshman and sophomore years and then look at how they did their junior year.

To take it a step further- look at Clark (New Orleans), Palmeiro (Miami), and Thigpen (Florida)- those guys were instant impact type guys and you see where they are from. A more current example- look at Gridley (Georgia) and Collins (California) and compare them to Reid Humphreys his freshman year.

That's why Ron Polk spent a LOT of time trying to develop baseball in Mississippi at the lower levels and reached out to a lot of coaches through camps and books and etc.

[Coursesuper]

Bobby Thigpen was a Juco player Chipola JC.

[Todd4State]

Bobby Thigpen was a Juco player Chipola JC.

True, but he was still an instant impact guy for us.

[Coursesuper]

Isn't that what Juco guys are supposed be. If you are looking for project Jucos you are up shat creek without TP.

[msstate7]

Isn't that what Juco guys are supposed be. If you are looking for project Jucos you are up shat creek without TP.

You mean like spruill and Reynolds?

[Coursesuper]

You get it!

[Todd4State]

Isn't that what Juco guys are supposed be. If you are looking for project Jucos you are up shat creek without TP.

I totally agree about what JUCO's are supposed to be. My point was that because he was from Florida he wasn't as raw as a player from Mississippi. May be a bad example on my part. There are many others like Adam Frazier that are better examples.

[Coursesuper]

I totally agree about what JUCO's are supposed to be. My point was that because he was from Florida he wasn't as raw as a player from Mississippi. May be a bad example on my part. There are many others like Adam Frazier that are better examples.

Quick question, What position was Bobby recruited to play?

[engie]

I'm past giving a dang about ratings. I want to get back to recruiting hard-nosed players that never, ever quit and fight to the very end. We may have upgraded "talent" -- but we've downgraded mental capability. We've lost our identity somewhere along the way here...