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MSUFORLIFE

Redshirt
Sep 12, 2012
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"RHP Touki Toussaint, ranked No. 8 in 2014 recruiting class, commits to #Vanderbilt" (Via Kendall Rogers)
That's a big time recruiting pick up for them.

Now here is my preview of our team this year.

I have been to almost every fall scrimmage and Coach Cohen is giving some of the True Freshmen very good playing time. Reid Humphreys is going to be an awesome 3B for us. He has played 3rd in all of the scrimmages I have been to. He is a solid hitter and a really good fielder. He makes good plays but also boots some easy ones. He will be good though. Also Detz is as good as last year. Nothing different from him.

Catcher: I can't determine who I would catch just yet. Garner is a very good power hitter but it is hit or miss with him. He has just started getting consistent contact. He is quick behind the plate and has a good arm. Randolph has been "ok" at hitting, not just amazing. He is a blocking machine behind the plate and that could decide some SEC games. He literally can block anything in the dirt or close to the plate. It's something special to watch. I'd give him the edge just for that reason. Garner probably has a better arm though.

Middle INF: Britton, Pirtle, Seth Heck, and Kyle Hann have all split time between SS and 2B. I heard that Pirtle prefers to play SS. He can definitely make the plays there just as good as he can at 2B. You already know about him. So far through this fall, I'd say Britton is most improved. His offense has been out of this world. It's like something clicked for him. He doesn't look anything like the hitter he used to be. He has been pounding line drives to all parts of the field. He is leading the team in BA so far. Seth Heck is a JUCO transfer from Seattle, WA. He is very good also. His hitting could use some work but doesn't need much. All of these are pretty even in the field. Heck and Hann are behind Pirtle and Britton on hitting as of right now in my opinion.

1B: We all know Rea is going to play it. Detz, and Brent Rooker can also step up and play 1B. Rooker can move and he can hit pretty consistently.

Outfield: Armstrong has got to start somewhere. He has been tearing the seems off the ball all fall. He has several doubles off the wall. He is hitting with way more power and consistency than last year. Henderson I think has improved his fielding. He can still get burned sometimes but that's on oddly hit balls that seem to carry forever. Then you have Jake Vickerson who is also a JUCO transfer. He has blazing speed, can field well and is surprisingly a very good hitter already.

Pitching: Dakota Hudson. Remember the name for the future. If he keeps good command, he will be a pro. True Freshman already topping just over 95MPH with an 83MPH off-speed. Lindgren is going to be a good relief pitcher out of the pen this year i think. He is also hitting 95. Zac Houston is another very good pitcher that will come along and be good. He tops out around 90-92 but it looks more like 98.

Woodruff is who everyone wants to hear about so here goes. He has only thrown about 2 innings. He topped out at 96 twice and his off-speed looked very good. We don't need to rush him back though. His command was extremely solid too. No hits and had 3 k's I believe.

Here would be my defensive line up for opening day:

1B-Wes Rea
2B-Brett Pirtle
SS-Matt Britton (I put him here because I think he has a little more range than Pirtle)
3B-Detz
C-Garner/Randolph
LF-Vickerson
CF-Bradford
RF-Armstrong
P-Woodruff
 
M

MSUFORLIFE

Redshirt
Sep 12, 2012
185
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Yeah would've been great to get him. We will still have solid classes though. We have some good years ahead. Especially when the class from this year becomes juniors and seniors
 
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AlSwearengen

Redshirt
Aug 22, 2012
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Can you give us a rundown of each of the freshman pitchers? I haven't heard much about the kid from Tupelo, how has he looked?
 
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randystewart

Junior
Jan 14, 2009
1,181
314
83
I know this will not be the case because Cohen has a man crush on him..... but with the talent we have now, should CT really be locked in to the lineup? For most of last season, he might as well have had a broom stick at the plate and was a HUGE hole in the lineup.
 
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patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
56,821
26,218
113
His defense more than makes up for his lack of offense. I caught hell on here 2 years ago for saying he can't hit, but I've always said he belongs in the lineup. He turns extra base hits into singles in the outfield.
 
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randystewart

Junior
Jan 14, 2009
1,181
314
83
I agree that is defense is great, but he is (has been) almost an automatic out at the plate. Last year his only hits were desperation hacks that flared over the 3rd baseman. Would we really lose that much defense with Armstrong in center?
 
Philly Dawg

Philly Dawg

All-American
Oct 6, 2012
12,292
6,840
113
The other side of the equation is who would have replaced him last year?
 
Seinfeld

Seinfeld

All-American
Nov 30, 2006
11,152
6,974
113
Any guesses on our preseason ranking? I know we lost some key guys, but it would seem that State would have to be Top 5 considering last year's finish and recruiting success.
 
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KurtRambis4

Redshirt
Aug 30, 2006
15,926
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36
I hate

to see where Reid is having a few troubles with plays at 3B, because we really need to have someone there that is a lock-down. Detz isn't a bad fielder, but his arm just cannot make the throw on above average plays. Also, it seems that in the past Cohen has preferred D over O at catcher so it seems Randolph may win the job.

I hope Woody can finally be the player everyone though he was. If he and Dakota and Lindgren step up the their potential, then we could find our way right back to Omaha this year.
 
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messageboardsuperhero

Redshirt
Sep 9, 2012
2,803
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Philly Dawg said:
The other side of the equation is who would have replaced him last year?
Click to expand...

That's a very good point, and we didn't really have anyone last year.

With the addition of Vickerson and the extra experience of Robson and Armstrong, I believe we do have players this year who will push Bradford. If CT doesn't perform, we have other players who are more than capable of producing. There really shouldn't be any weak spots in our lineup.
 
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messageboardsuperhero

Redshirt
Sep 9, 2012
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Don't forget Walker. He's right in the middle of that race at catcher.

Gavin Collins is the future at that position though. He can do it all.
 
M

MSUFORLIFE

Redshirt
Sep 12, 2012
185
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KurtRambis4 said:
to see where Reid is having a few troubles with plays at 3B, because we really need to have someone there that is a lock-down. Detz isn't a bad fielder, but his arm just cannot make the throw on above average plays. Also, it seems that in the past Cohen has preferred D over O at catcher so it seems Randolph may win the job.

I hope Woody can finally be the player everyone though he was. If he and Dakota and Lindgren step up the their potential, then we could find our way right back to Omaha this year.
Click to expand...

Reid isn't having enough trouble to worry about him. It's mainly do or die plays. Either he makes them, or he doesn't. He will learn and he is already very very solid for a freshman. Nothing to worry about with him. I still think Detz plays there though.

As for C.T., His offense has gotten better. He has raised his hands instead of resting the bat on his shoulder. He is pounding grounders through the infield. I think he has to be in the lineup because of his defense and his speed on the bases.

As for Freshman pitchers, Hudson is going to be a beast. He is Stratton 2.0 without the early command issues. Zac Houston is going to be another good one. Glen Irby is a very good left handed reliever that is more like Ross Mitchell. Austin Sexton is another guy that will come along and be good. We are set at pitcher. As long as our starters (Hudson, Woody, etc.) stay healthy and stay focused, we will be as good as last year.

As for getting back to Omaha, we will definitely be back in my opinion. Our Offense lost Renfroe, but the only hole I think that leaves is the consistent HR power. We will see some HR's from surprising guys this year. We have more people throughout the lineup that has the HR ability than we did last year. I think our Offense is going to be solid. We should keep a high team BA pretty much all year. Hudson and Woody have got to be on point but I think we make it back or at least a super.
 
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futaba.79

Redshirt
Jun 4, 2007
2,296
0
0
.307 in conference games..........

is a huge hole? So what were Frazier, Rea and Detz? Since they all hit less than .300 in the SEC.
 
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randystewart

Junior
Jan 14, 2009
1,181
314
83
Guess I'm wrong then. I watched every game last year that was played at home and all road games that were on TV. Your stats dispute my claim, but I still maintain that he was a hole in our lineup last year and often looked like Hellen Keller at the plate.
 
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godlluB

Redshirt
Sep 24, 2012
504
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MSUFORLIFE said:
Catcher: I can't determine who I would catch just yet. Garner is a very good power hitter but it is hit or miss with him. He has just started getting consistent contact. He is quick behind the plate and has a good arm. Randolph has been "ok" at hitting, not just amazing. He is a blocking machine behind the plate and that could decide some SEC games. He literally can block anything in the carpet or close to the plate. It's something special to watch. I'd give him the edge just for that reason. Garner probably has a better arm though.
Click to expand...

Fixed it for you.

17'in carpet.

I still think that Garner will be the starter. He's been much more vocal behind the plate, and seems to be a leader.
He's been hitting pretty well, and will only get more consistent.
 
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M

maroonmania

Senior
Feb 23, 2008
11,152
830
113
MSUFORLIFE said:
Reid isn't having enough trouble to worry about him. It's mainly do or die plays. Either he makes them, or he doesn't. He will learn and he is already very very solid for a freshman. Nothing to worry about with him. I still think Detz plays there though.

As for C.T., His offense has gotten better. He has raised his hands instead of resting the bat on his shoulder. He is pounding grounders through the infield. I think he has to be in the lineup because of his defense and his speed on the bases.

As for Freshman pitchers, Hudson is going to be a beast. He is Stratton 2.0 without the early command issues. Zac Houston is going to be another good one. Glen Irby is a very good left handed reliever that is more like Ross Mitchell. Austin Sexton is another guy that will come along and be good. We are set at pitcher. As long as our starters (Hudson, Woody, etc.) stay healthy and stay focused, we will be as good as last year.

As for getting back to Omaha, we will definitely be back in my opinion. Our Offense lost Renfroe, but the only hole I think that leaves is the consistent HR power. We will see some HR's from surprising guys this year. We have more people throughout the lineup that has the HR ability than we did last year. I think our Offense is going to be solid. We should keep a high team BA pretty much all year. Hudson and Woody have got to be on point but I think we make it back or at least a super.
Click to expand...

Whether we get back this year is somewhat of a crapshoot as you need to peak at the just right time and catch some breaks to get through very good competition but obviously we are more than capable of getting back and even winning the thing. Heck, Vandy last year was one of the best SEC teams ever and didn't make it to Omaha. What I would really like to see this year is more consistency during the regular season and actually compete for an SEC title, something we haven't really done in a LONG time. We tend to forget that the same team that finished national runner-ups was a team that lost a bunch of SEC series last year against good SEC competition. The schedule is much more favorable this year and it would be nice to see us use that to make an SEC title run and be a Top 10 team for the entire year.
 
K

KurtRambis4

Redshirt
Aug 30, 2006
15,926
0
36
Early

season pitching woes were what cost us in a few of those SEC series you speak. While not as experienced, I think our SP situation (and pitching overall) should be better. It. at the very least. has the potential to be.
 
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bsquared24

Sophomore
Jul 11, 2009
718
135
43
I know it doesn't go into effect until 2015 but what does the lower stiches on the ball they are moving to do to Butch and the curveball he teaches? I trust Butch, but I can't help but wonder if we are ahead or behind the game here when they change to the more live ball. Part of me thinks the fastball become even more important so reading about people hitting 96 is exciting but the Holder, et al. curve has become common for us to see.
 
GatorBaseballFan

GatorBaseballFan

Junior
Aug 22, 2012
246
201
43
KurtRambis4 said:
http://www.hailstate.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=16800&ATCLID=209292843
Click to expand...

UPDATED THROUGH THIS PAST WEEKEND

Also, we've done video interviews after all 15 scirmmages this fall that can be found at YouTube.com/HailState

Join us this weekend:
 
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missouridawg

missouridawg

Junior
Oct 6, 2009
9,389
288
83
bsquared24 said:
I know it doesn't go into effect until 2015 but what does the lower stiches on the ball they are moving to do to Butch and the curveball he teaches? I trust Butch, but I can't help but wonder if we are ahead or behind the game here when they change to the more live ball. Part of me thinks the fastball become even more important so reading about people hitting 96 is exciting but the Holder, et al. curve has become common for us to see.
Click to expand...

It will, without a doubt, effect the effectiveness of pitchers, thereby raising offensive output of the game. Cohen will recruit differently to combat this... he's already stated as much.
 
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patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
56,821
26,218
113
Exactly. He was ahead of the curve on the dead ball, recruiting all pitching and no hitting to speak of. But it looks like we've got some hitters coming in so hopefully we'll be ready in 2015.
 
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