20 rounds in the books

[Todd4State]

Some of y'all are used to the education system just gives away free grades.

It is a C+ because we lost what would have immediately gotten us better in the power department in Riley and Pickett.

Remember Woodruff was supposed to be THE GUY coming in. McCord too. Hudson too. It's great we got some "the guys" coming in but it don't mean shit until it happens. I'm tired of waiting until year 3 for anything to come about.

The one thing that would have meant something is Riley and slightly lesser extent Pickett. Everything else is hype.

Woodruff had a broken arm and is currently one of the Brewers top 30 prospects per MLB.com. McCord had a torn labrum- that's a bad injury for a pitcher to have. Hudson did OK for the most part when Butch actually used him.

The truth is Pickett would have likely had a career arc similar to Renfroe's offensively with a better freshman season in all likelihood because Hunter's was just so dreadful. Pickett is very streaky and didn't have a great senior year. Which is why he dropped from the first round to eighth.

[Todd4State]

While I agree the power dept wasn't helped much, hopefully we have some guys that can hit. And, one of the points I agree w you on is we need more punch out guys on the mound and we got them. This isn't a finesse pitching class. So with that said c+ is way low if the pitchers halfway pan out. Our pitching sucked this year. The stats bear it out, we are a regional team of we half ass pitch. Sorry it's the truth. And no, we weren't good offensively, but they were better in league games than our pitchers.

There are teams that would kill to have our pitching class even without Fenter.

[messageboardsuperhero]

Woodruff had a broken arm and is currently one of the Brewers top 30 prospects per MLB.com. McCord had a torn labrum- that's a bad injury for a pitcher to have. Hudson did OK for the most part when Butch actually used him.

The truth is Pickett would have likely had a career arc similar to Renfroe's offensively with a better freshman season in all likelihood because Hunter's was just so dreadful. Pickett is very streaky and didn't have a great senior year. Which is why he dropped from the first round to eighth.

How are we expecting McCord to come back next year?

[Homedawg]

A) I bet he would take Delvin Zinn's 25% or whatever he got.

B) The reason is because he didn't play on an elite summer league team to get noticed. I'm starting to see this happen more and more. It happened to Hunter Renfroe. It happened to Luke Reynolds who had to go to JUCO despite hitting over .600 with 8 home runs.

C) I don't think Craig would solve any problems next year either, but baseball recruiting much like football recruiting isn't so much about next year as it is three years from now. The guy is a legit 6'2", made the All-State baseball team (Zinn didn't) and Craig can play first base or third base. And he put up these numbers- which are similar to Reynolds in the same league. Is he an Austin Riley type talent? No. But unlike Riley, he would be around here in a couple of years.

http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/luke...ball-stats.htm

Burroughs would have found this kid, I guarantee you of that.

So Lane doesn't need him at his current job? It's not impossible, but rare, that a legit player is missed by so many d-1 schools this day and age. And if they miss on a kid it's usually someone who physically grows up late. Clearly, this isn't the case w him.

[Todd4State]

How are we expecting McCord to come back next year?

Personally, I'm not. That's why I haven't mentioned him when I'm talking about next year and why I haven't talked about him long term. As you know, that's a bad injury to have if you are a pitcher and likelihood of recovery is not all that good. To me, best case scenario is he has a career like Ben Bracewell did for us.

[Homedawg]

Personally, I'm not. That's why I haven't mentioned him when I'm talking about next year and why I haven't talked about him long term. As you know, that's a bad injury to have if you are a pitcher and likelihood of recovery is not all that good. To me, best case scenario is he has a career like Ben Bracewell did for us.

This is sad too, butch thought he would be a fr all American after the fall. Hope he recovers, but as you said, this is a brutal injury to overcome.

[maroonmania]

This is sad too, butch thought he would be a fr all American after the fall. Hope he recovers, but as you said, this is a brutal injury to overcome.

So did he come in injured or did he get injured after getting to MSU?

[Todd4State]

So Lane doesn't need him at his current job? It's not impossible, but rare, that a legit player is missed by so many d-1 schools this day and age. And if they miss on a kid it's usually someone who physically grows up late. Clearly, this isn't the case w him.

Or maybe he's going JUCO so that he can potentially get a SEC offer over a mid major offer? What does he really have to lose at this point? It worked out for Luke Reynolds.

You would think that with technology and everything that players like that would get noticed more- but baseball has become more and more about Perfect Game and what select team you play for. If you don't play for the elite select teams, you don't get noticed. It's not a good thing IMO. It has created an environment where more kids go under the radar.

It's not just Craig- there's a guy at Picayune named Peyton Lee that I saw throw 91-92 on the Trustmark Park gun this past weekend. Going to Pearl River CC. Realistically there are probably 3-4 kids that fall into this category a year.

[Todd4State]

So did he come in injured or did he get injured after getting to MSU?

Like most pitching injuries, it's a repetitive injury that built up over time.

[Homedawg]

Or maybe he's going JUCO so that he can potentially get a SEC offer over a mid major offer? What does he really have to lose at this point? It worked out for Luke Reynolds.

You would think that with technology and everything that players like that would get noticed more- but baseball has become more and more about Perfect Game and what select team you play for. If you don't play for the elite select teams, you don't get noticed. It's not a good thing IMO. It has created an environment where more kids go under the radar.

It's not just Craig- there's a guy at Picayune named Peyton Lee that I saw throw 91-92 on the Trustmark Park gun this past weekend. Going to Pearl River CC. Realistically there are probably 3-4 kids that fall into this category a year.

While I agree players get missed, it happens. But what's ironic is they found Zinn and he wasn't on a major travel team. He's not an impact guy, but he's a tools guy for sure.

[Todd4State]

While I agree players get missed, it happens. But what's ironic is they found Zinn and he wasn't on a major travel team. He's not an impact guy, but he's a tools guy for sure.

I can't remember how they found Zinn- I think it was maybe the State Legion Tournament or something like that- and he did well. I know us and Ole Miss wanted him.

My thing with him is, he's 5'10" 160 and he's a MIF when we have Stovall and Alexander committed Gridley on the team and then two corner guys that were draft risks. I don't see him hitting for power or average. I think he can run and defend. The biggest issue I have is he doesn't fill a need and overloads us in the MIF. And we don't have time to wait on him to develop into a hitter or a player, and he's going to need 3-4 years to develop. The Cubs have that kind of time to wait on him to develop. We don't.

Sounds to me like a guy that had a flash in the pan tournament at the right time and parlayed that into a scholarship. In hindsight, we should have been more patient and seen what he did his senior year and if we had lost him to Ole Miss, I wouldn't have cared to be honest with you.

[smootness]

Vandy is the only one that I really heard anything about & that was that they lost alot...maybe about half of their signing class & that was just after day 1 or so. But I don't know how many exactly though.

Vandy has 9 signees in the top 100 and are almost certainly going to end up with FIVE of them, including the #12 guy and the #40 guy. They also had a very solid class outside of those top 100 guys and will get just about all of them.

Their class is going to be insane. They're on another playing field from everybody else. It's honestly stupid.

[Dawg4Life]

Everyone on the Toddlist? will contribute hit .270 at least 3 HR and steal 5-10 bases on the ToddStats?

Luke Alexander better be a damn stud is all I'm saying. 5 years of hype and how he will start on day 1. Is there a reason we aren't seeing him looked at by the pros? Adam Frazier type?

Luke is a high end talent, especially in the field. Good athlete, gets to balls, great hands, quick release, and a 90 mph hour plus guy when he lets it go. As was stated, winning at Belmont was the product of talent and good summer coaching. He is a talented hitter as well. Can switch hit but definitely is more comfortable right handed. With coaching and experience he can/will be a .300 hitter. The adjustment will be huge and people like Smitty will hang on every strikeout but he is VERY talented. The pros aren't calling due to more physical development needed and more proven success against non-3A pitching. He loves MSU and could have went other places. He is the kind of guy that we should all pull for and be patient with as he develops as a Dawg. Be patient.

[Todd4State]

Vandy has 9 signees in the top 100 and are almost certainly going to end up with FIVE of them, including the #12 guy and the #40 guy. They also had a very solid class outside of those top 100 guys and will get just about all of them.

Their class is going to be insane. They're on another playing field from everybody else. It's honestly stupid.

I'll say this about Vanderbilt- the way that they built up was with classes like we had this year. Very pitching heavy and they've never really had a ton of power hitters outside of a couple of guys.

[Backspin]

Luke is a high end talent, especially in the field. Good athlete, gets to balls, great hands, quick release, and a 90 mph hour plus guy when he lets it go. As was stated, winning at Belmont was the product of talent and good summer coaching. He is a talented hitter as well. Can switch hit but definitely is more comfortable right handed. With coaching and experience he can/will be a .300 hitter. The adjustment will be huge and people like Smitty will hang on every strikeout but he is VERY talented. The pros aren't calling due to more physical development needed and more proven success against non-3A pitching. He loves MSU and could have went other places. He is the kind of guy that we should all pull for and be patient with as he develops as a Dawg. Be patient.

Good post. Has some tools, talented hitter and middle defender, heart of a champion and bleeds maroon, great attitude and strong work ethic. This is the kind of young man that, along with others like him, can form the core of a great team. As with most freshmen, don't expect too much too soon but I'm betting Luke will be a very good player for MSU at some point.

[Backspin]

I can't remember how they found Zinn- I think it was maybe the State Legion Tournament or something like that- and he did well. I know us and Ole Miss wanted him.

My thing with him is, he's 5'10" 160 and he's a MIF when we have Stovall and Alexander committed Gridley on the team and then two corner guys that were draft risks. I don't see him hitting for power or average. I think he can run and defend. The biggest issue I have is he doesn't fill a need and overloads us in the MIF. And we don't have time to wait on him to develop into a hitter or a player, and he's going to need 3-4 years to develop. The Cubs have that kind of time to wait on him to develop. We don't.

Sounds to me like a guy that had a flash in the pan tournament at the right time and parlayed that into a scholarship. In hindsight, we should have been more patient and seen what he did his senior year and if we had lost him to Ole Miss, I wouldn't have cared to be honest with you.

Agreed Todd....happy for the young man because I know what kind of effort and sacrifice these young men make to chase their dreams but we are in good shape in the MIF if he chooses to sign a contract.

[RougeDawg]

It was interesting looking at the SEC teams that made it to Omaha. Most only had two guys that hit over 10 with Vandy being the exception with three.

I thought Wes Rea had seven?

Wait? Didn't someone just post a few posts up about Vandy hardly ever signing power guys? Just trying to follow your gist here. Maybe what you are trying to say, without actually saying it, is that Vandy actually develops their hitters. Yes I believe that's the main conclusion from your posts this far in this thread.

How else can you explain them having so much offensive production, yet only signing so-so offensive talent?

These are the threads I reference during the season and explain why we are actually witnessing what we are observing.

And to the Wes Rea comment, he should never have less than double digit home runs if he had proper instruction.

[Todd4State]

Wait? Didn't someone just post a few posts up about Vandy hardly ever signing power guys? Just trying to follow your gist here. Maybe what you are trying to say, without actually saying it, is that Vandy actually develops their hitters. Yes I believe that's the main conclusion from your posts this far in this thread.

How else can you explain them having so much offensive production, yet only signing so-so offensive talent?

These are the threads I reference during the season and explain why we are actually witnessing what we are observing.

And to the Wes Rea comment, he should never have less than double digit home runs if he had proper instruction.

I'm trying to figure out what your gist is and I'm not sure what you are really asking? First of all, I don't consider three a lot of power hitters. That means that 2/3 of the lineup isn't power hitting guys. Secondly, that is the most power hitters that Vandy has had than they typically do. My point was that they built up the same way we are doing- by getting elite pitchers to school and then after a few years then they have started to get more and more power hitters. I'm saying it's a process and that we are on the right track.

How do I explain them having so much offensive production? They've had a lot of elite speed guys that could create runs for them and a pitching staff that could dominate for much of the time that Corbin has been there and only relied on a couple of power hitters. It's not that all of their hitters were "so-so" offensive talent as much as they just didn't have a ton of power but could hit for a high average- like Tony Kemp.

Wes Rea would have had more home runs if he had better talent. He had slider bat speed, and no one can fix that. I know you think that you can do something with someone's hands and that they will become Babe Ruth, but that's simply not the truth. If we want to hit more home runs, we have to RECRUIT guys that are capable of doing that and get their ass into school. Period.

[Bucky Dog]

Can we please change the whole "power hitter" mentality with an aggressive, line drive hitter? We can't just look at the number of home runs a kid hit in high school. You won't find many kids who hit double digit home runs in a year. What we need in my opinion is more aggresive, take a hard cut, hit extra base hit guys, who can also hit it out when a pitcher makes a mistake. No more taking a strike, being defensive, let me put it in play guys. Yeah we need guys that can tie it up with one swing and we have a few of those like Hump. Our coaches just need to give them the green light and confidence to freaking go for the downs when they get a pitch to hit. It's about our approach at the plate that has been hurting us IMO.