Baseball Improvement

[Nugdawg]

Like a couple of other posters below mentioned, not just this message board, but others as well have seemed to be either blowing up that we are the worst baseball team in history as the Bad News Bulldogs, or a few times the other end of the spectrum as all is well. There IS a middle ground and that middle ground is called improvement. No...we are NOT where we as MSU Baseball fans want or expect to be in the end and no, we may not be getting there as fast as some thought we should or would. But, we are getting better and our talent level is obviously improving as FR and Sophomores are contributing in large ways. Consider this...

Last year we were swept AT HOME by Vandy while giving up double digit runs every game to the tune of 40 runs for the series. This year, we go on the road and while we struggled offensively, we gave up 22 runs on the weekend to the #2 team in the country and one a game in the series. A win that was only the second loss of the season for the Dore's.

We may not be where you want or as fast as you want us to be, but we will compete this year and that's something we can't say we have done the last two years.

 

[KurtRambis4]

What the people thatbitch at no end and only look at the final scores (and don't listen, watch, or even attend games) don't realize, is the improvement. I wish we were better, but our pitching is getting there. Our offense isn't going to be gorilla ball, by no means. Also, the talent level is getting better. Cohen's only had 2 recruiting classes in. It kills me that the same people that were defending crooms all the way to the end, are ready to fire Cohen. The guy is a winner. He's known as one of the top hitting coaches in the nation. We actually have people that think we would have been better off with Raffo, which is mind blowing. Is he perfect, no. But to expect us to be a powerhouse after his second recruiting class, is ridiculous.

 

[RonnyAtmosphere]

..this team went into Vanderbilt with only 4 loses on their record.

They leave Vanderbilt with only 6 losses on the season with 27 league games left to play &around 6 mid-week games left to play.

In most worlds, that an above average baseball team.

But since about 50% of this board thinks you should go undefeated in baseball, they take a 15-6 record as a signthis teamis an abysmal failure& we should hire the hitting coach forStetson to replace Cohen.

 

[Todd4State]

is that the players that we're bringing in- our freshmen and sophomores are the most talented on the team in terms of skill. Right now, they are not where they are going to be when they are juniors. Guys like Daryl Norris, and CT that are already playing a lot- they're going to be even better as well.

As a program we're to the point where we actually have some talent on the roster, but now we're at the point where they have to develop as players.

The second thing that people have to understand is that it took seven years for us to get to the point where we are now- to the point where we had to completely rebuild. So, we weren't torn apart overnight- this isn't going to be fixed overnight either. No, it shouldn't take seven years, but we've been rebuilding for two now going on our third season- with only Cohen's second class in at this time, and we're showing progress. We will be there soon- hopefully the next year or two. (I know, I know)

 

[Nugdawg]

It's important to remember that this time last year guys like CT, Norris, Stark, etc were getting to the plate against the ace at Podunk High. Now, we are asking them to not only play defense in the SEC but go to Vandy and hit a guy that is going to be a first rounder in the MLB draft with years of college experience. That's an adjustment.

I know it's apples and oranges, but how bad off would Mullen be if he had to depend on the same percentage of FR in his lineup as Cohen does? Again..totally different situation, but just a funny, yet scary, thought of us having to run out there with about 30-40% of newcomers in the starting lineup. The validity of this example is that the SEC is to college football what the SEC is to college baseball...the best. Thus, FR get exposed at some point.</p>

 

[shoeless joe]

in terms of a lot of little things come together to make a team a success or a failure. winning or losing one game or one series does not define a good or bad baseball team. which is why the seasons are longer than any other sport. one persons skill set is only going to bring success if others around have a solid skill set.this seems to be what a lot of people are missing. it takes a good team with good depth to be successful and sustain that success. we are building that depth and adding those skilled players. to me this win does more for the confidence of the young players than the value it has as a W. if we continue to throw quality strikes, continue to do the little things offensively, and play good defense we will have sustained success. until then we will lose a game we should win and win a game we should lose but i do think we are getting there. and we are most definitely improving with our play on the field which we are slowly beginning to see that translate into the win column.

 

[8dog]

we have Stratton and that's about it.

Whatever number anyone had on the rebuilding process, add a year b/c that class has set us back a year.

 

[basedog]

the Juco class and it's a bust. Looking back Cohen is kicking his own *** with that recruiting class which in reality is his first. I wouldn't even say Vickerson and Ogden are average in the SEC.

 

[sldrboy2002]

I was hoping for a little more improvement than what it seems like the team has made, however considering the team came back from being down four today and finished with a win was great. Just lookin forward to see how the team can improve on this win and build on it. Let's go DAWGS!

 

[Todd4State]

He has made up for some of the guys that haven't panned out with Pollerena and Busby- both are sophomores, plus Routt can possibly get a medical redshirt in a couple of years, which means that he will essentially replace Luke Bole.

I still have hope for Ben Bracewell and CC Watson once they get 100% as well. Vickerson and Jaron are decent players, and Girodo and Graveman are decent middle relief guys- they have struggled some in part because we've had to ask them to do more than they really should be asked to do- which is about 1-2 innings at a time.

It's not as good a class as it was ranked, but it's not a horrible class either.

 

[Goat Holder II]

Stratton is good, Bracewell is good, Girodo contributes, Graveman contributes, Watson will get better. They are SOPHOMORES after all. Can't all be studs right off the bat.

Ogden and Vickerson were good pickups too. However, Shepherd, Thigpen, Johnson, Dixon.....all those guys should have been high school guys. Hindsight is 20/20.

 

[medearis]

it's not a bad class. 2nd, Cohen threw that class together without any time at all to build relationships. He's said he prefers to start building with kids as early as 7th grade. Thats what he said when he got here. That's prolly an exaggeration, but what he meant was seeing kids at camps, etc. Bottom line is that he's a tireless recruiter who is going to keep hauling in talent. Last year's class was very good, and this year's will be also.<div>
</div><div>And Vickerson is pretty good. Shepard is the the one who's bombed. The pitchers still have time to show what they are made of.</div><div>
</div><div>Anyhow, even with that class, he's going to put together a solid year this season. It is likely that we'll get better faster than others, given our youth and Routt's progress (hopefully).</div>

 

[alabamadog]

he is a defensive replacement and pinch runner at worst. He plays good defense. He got off to a terrible start hitting last year because Cohen tried to make him a slap hitter, and when Cohen realized it wasn't going to work Shepherd's hitting improved. He only hit .263 in conference play last year, which was higher than his season average, but he makes up for it with his defense. Also, he his on base percentage was around .380, and he is a good baserunner. This year he is hitting .304, has an obp of .411, and hasn't made an error. Its arguable he was an over hyped recruit, which is probably why some people are disappointed in him, but he is a decent player.

 

[Phil Wenneck.sixpack]

What I mean by that is it's pitcher vs hitter, one on one. No one else can do anything for them. By the same token, when a ball is hit to 2nd, 3rd, or where ever, then it's all on him to make the play. Baseball is the most individualized sport that relies on confidence to make plays because let's never forget that old saying that 90% of the game is played between the ears. Like you said, the confidence part will do more for this team than the W itself. Anytime young players, especially these freshmen get a chance to make real game winning plays for their team, it's a huge shot in the arm for the future.

 

[Todd4State]

where coaches are recruiting these players younger and younger. Belmont has a guy named Luke Alexander that is an 8th grader that already is being recruited by MSU, Ole Miss, and LSU. I know that MSU was recruiting him as a seventh grader.

You look at the high school juniors that are verbally commiting nowadays- that means that those guys are being recruited when they were sophomores.

Cohen was just talking about the way the trend is going.

 

[coach66]

those first two game and win that third one in the fashion they did showed me alot about our team and coaches. We were overmatched talent wise but we hung in there and got an improbable win. We are improved and that is what I was looking for and I believe we have a solid group coming in next year. I still like us to win over thirty games this year and play in a regional.

 

[chew1095]

The good that may not have been mentioned:

Statz piched pretty damn well in relief Friday night.

Renfroe threw a solid inning on Saturday.

Stark did a hell of a job holding onto a 1 run lead yesterday.

Parks is flat out stroking the ball.

And this cannot be stated enough, props to these freshmen that came through in the clutch yesterday. Cannot say enough good things about Frazier's key hityesterday and Bradford not letting down at the plate after a pretty miserable outing on the mound...

Play more:
Frazier
Stark
Freeman

Play less:
Thigpen

Never ever ever play again:
Frost

 

[8dog]

Bole and Bright were 2 of our top guys. Gone.

Graveman is a midweek guy at best. Girodo has not been good since he got here. CC has done nothing but be hurt. Bracewell showed a flash here or there, but has really proven nothing.

Matt Lane is gone. Statz was a juco in that class, but he is not good. Kolby Byrd is gone.

As of now, if Routt were healthy, we'd be starting 2 guys Cohen didn't sign on the weekend. Our number 1 option out of the pen this year (until Stark did what he did yesterday) is a juco that we signed in June 2010. That says a lot about what we are getting from the signing class of 2009.

All that said, yesterday's win was huge for this team. They needed it mentally way more than they needed something in the win column. Any team worth anything will parlay that win into something good over the next 2 weekends, which are much more winnable.

 

[Hector.sixpack]

Luke Alexander was on Team USA 14U and had the highest on base % in the tournament and was starting SS or 2nd.

 

[HumpDawgy]

All we need is for Sneed and Connor Powers to be declared eligible (5th year hitting hardship waiver?) for this season and we might have a pretty good ballclub.