Baseball roster is out

[Hoover Dawg]

Hitters don't concern me too much, I think we will be fine offensively. First two strings of players are relatively set. Gridley, Rooker and Mangum are the leaders, Stovall is next closest thing to a sure bet.

Padgett, James, Small and Hughes are all out with Tommy John. Safe to say the season is going to depend on if the JUCO players step up. We know we have a potential ace in Pilkington, or at minimum a solid Saturday starter. Solid 2 guy with Cyr. We have a back-end bullpen with Smith, Rigby and hopefully Billingsley. Ford is 14 months back from Tommy John and looking good so far, though I don't know what the typical healing process is. Breaux is a somewhat forgotten name who came in with hype.

From JUCO, Barton, Plumlee, Price, Marze and Jolly have the accolades. Can they produce? Really need another starter here but they all look like relief guys to me but what do I know.

That is before the freshmen.

 

[MSUDC11]

I just don't have a clue about this team. I don't expect much more than being a borderline Top 25 team and a 2 seed in someone else's Regional. But I wouldn't rule out challenging for a host spot, nor would I rule out a 2015 type year where we just aren't good.

I mean we lost a TON of production. Obviously building toward big years in 2018 and 2019, but there's a chance this season is a bit of a struggle.

 

[8dog]

Its one thing to lose productivity to draft and grad but losing 4 of our future arms is gonna be hard to overcome. Be surprised if we make a regional

 

[Hoover Dawg]

I have high hopes for those LSU-Eunice guys, Marze and Barton I think.

 

[KurtRambis4]

If we can make

a regional, I'd consider it a success, taking into account all we lost through the draft and injuries.

 

[57stratdawg]

We really need Breaux to have a solid campaign. He our Sunday guy?

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

What's the deal with people *****-footing around saying we have a catcher out with grades. I assume it's Marrero and they're trying to be Internet badasses by not telling. Any truth to him being out?

 

[Willow Grove Dawg]

He participated in the scrimmage yesterday. Marrero has to hit a little to play every day though.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

By now, probably safe to say he's caused a little bit of trouble, but since he's on the roster, I assume he got his act together.

 

[KurtRambis4]

What are

you referring to?

 

[Old Fart Dawg]

Logan Cooke LHP? who knew?

 

[Shadow34]

I'm actually the opposite. I think our arms will be ok with Pilk, Breaux, Riggs, mangum (said he looks great), Jolly, Smith etc. I'm worried about our hitters. We lost so much to the draft. I'd feel a lot better if Kruger and Lowe had stayed, but Mangum and Rooker will have to carry a lot of weight. I hope our new coach is right about the class we just signed, they are supposed to be pretty dang good. I think this team will be around .500 in the SEC and will get into a regional. Can't wait for baseball season, it's simply the best time of the year.

 

[8dog]

Breaux had a really tough fall. Hope he makes a huge jump

 

[Todd4State]

Its one thing to lose productivity to draft and grad but losing 4 of our future arms is gonna be hard to overcome. Be surprised if we make a regional

If we don't make a regional it will more than likely be because of our lack of pitching. I don't think we will be 2015 bad because of Pilkington being a solid starter and Rigby and Blake Smith already give us a better bullpen than the 2015 bunch. The way we have been pitching in the scrimmages have been concerning.

 

[Todd4State]

We really need Breaux to have a solid campaign. He our Sunday guy?

He walked a LOT of guys in the fall. We'll see how he does in the spring and I'm guessing he will throw tomorrow since he hasn't pitched yet but if I had to guess our rotation will probably be Pilkington, Cyr, and then Riley Self. I hope Breaux steps up and takes the Sunday job because it would help us tremendously.

 

[Shadow34]

Todd have you been able to watch Mangum pitch any? He's supposedly 90-93 with good stuff. That sure would be a shot in the arm.

 

[Todd4State]

Todd have you been able to watch Mangum pitch any? He's supposedly 90-93 with good stuff. That sure would be a shot in the arm.

Not since he was at Jackson Prep. I agree that he could and probably will help us out some on the mound. My guess is we will probably use him like we used CT Bradford except maybe for more than one pitch or batter at a time. I'm not sure how Henderson feels about using pitchers like that yet. If no one steps up coming out of the bullpen he could have an even bigger role on the mound than CT ever had but I'm hopeful that some other guys step up to go along with Rigby and Blake Smith. I'm eager to see how Andrew Mahoney and Jacob Billingsley do. Mahoney would be a big help from the left side. We really need Jacob Barton to step up and pitch better than the Friday scrimmage. I have a feeling that we're going to need about five guys to step up in the bullpen because outside of Pilkington I'm going to be pleased with 5 IP out of the other starters at this point on any given weekend. Parker Ford is a really good prospect too- but he's recovering from Tommy John so I'm not sure where he is and I doubt they want to push him too much.

 

[III.sixpack]

Cole Gordon can hit. He will be a stud at 1B or DH. I am surprised he has not been mentioned/

 

[bulldogcountry1]

I just don't have a clue about this team. I don't expect much more than being a borderline Top 25 team and a 2 seed in someone else's Regional. But I wouldn't rule out challenging for a host spot, nor would I rule out a 2015 type year where we just aren't good.

I mean we lost a TON of production. Obviously building toward big years in 2018 and 2019, but there's a chance this season is a bit of a struggle.

While I am a bit concerned about pitching, I think the talent is at a whole different level than 2015. The bullpen was handled poorly then, and we were really just one decent arm from being above .500. The current offense is also much better, and we have good leadership.

Personally, I think a bad year is being redefined as something like a 2 or 3 seed on the road and there won't be any sub .500 embarrassments. Those years will only come after the draft thins the cupboard like last summer. There's nothing that can't be done about that, and you can't complain for losing guys to the professional ranks. With the investment we have made in the program, and the recruiting momentum, there's no reason to believe we shouldn't expect to win 32+ gammes every year like in the Polk I days...except with more hardware.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

While I am a bit concerned about pitching, I think the talent is at a whole different level than 2015. The bullpen was handled poorly then, and we were really just one decent arm from being above .500. The current offense is also much better, and we have good leadership.

Personally, I think a bad year is being redefined as something like a 2 or 3 seed on the road and there won't be any sub .500 embarrassments. Those years will only come after the draft thins the cupboard like last summer. There's nothing that can't be done about that, and you can't complain for losing guys to the professional ranks. With the investment we have made in the program, and the recruiting momentum, there's no reason to believe we shouldn't expect to win 32+ gammes every year like in the Polk I days...except with more hardware.

Agree. I mean we are at least good for a W per weekend with Pilkington and Rigby. We couldn't say that in 2015, when our ace was a weakened Real Deal Mitchell (due to the balls) with Fitts closing while gassing 87.

And we talk about injuries, but we wouldn't have signed 5 JUCOs had all those guys been healthy. We have talented arms.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

What's up with Mahoney. Looks like we signed and placed him due to injury. Is he ready to go?

This TJ crap is out of control. He totally ripped his ulnar ligament it seems.

 

[The Peeper]

Looks like I'm #21 to reply to this thread about the roster and not 1 mention of 1 new comer to it, the head coach. Im not going to knock him at all, he's got a good resume', but as far as I've heard has never even been HEAD coach of a little league team. He's got a veteran in a pitching coach and a big shadow looking over his shoulder but as far as making the spur of the moment decisions and taking the heat for it, that concerns me some.

 

[Todd4State]

Looks like I'm #21 to reply to this thread about the roster and not 1 mention of 1 new comer to it, the head coach. Im not going to knock him at all, he's got a good resume', but as far as I've heard has never even been HEAD coach of a little league team. He's got a veteran in a pitching coach and a big shadow looking over his shoulder but as far as making the spur of the moment decisions and taking the heat for it, that concerns me some.

I'm expecting some growing pains because of a lack of coaching experience here and there. But he has also been around the game his entire life and his Dad was a coach at Tulane. I'm sure he has picked up some things. Being a coach at LSU is a job where there is as much scrutiny on him as there will be here so he has dealt with that to a degree as well.

 

[8dog]

Honestly the least of my concerns. I think he is the next big thing and will be a superstar

 

[KurtRambis4]

Like 8 said,

he's the least of our worries. He'll be fine because he'll kill it with recruiting. Of course, we'll have those bandwagon fans that will proclaim him a failure after week one.

 

[bulldogcountry1]

There will be some learning on the job, but I'm sure even Cohen would tell you that you never stop learning and adjusting. I think I'd rather have a guy who's been around some of the best programs ever at the college and professional level without being a HC over a guy who's been a HC at one place for 10 years.

I really dont don't know what to expect with Henderson. Cohen hired him, so I trust his judgment. I really Coggin, and I am interested in seeing how he handles 3rd base duty.

 

[KurtRambis4]

Bump bc you still

haven't answered this. What are you referencing?

 

[Todd4State]

There will be some learning on the job, but I'm sure even Cohen would tell you that you never stop learning and adjusting. I think I'd rather have a guy who's been around some of the best programs ever at the college and professional level without being a HC over a guy who's been a HC at one place for 10 years.

I really dont don't know what to expect with Henderson. Cohen hired him, so I trust his judgment. I really Coggin, and I am interested in seeing how he handles 3rd base duty.

The only thing that worries me is Cannizaro didn't pick anyone on our current staff and Henderson and Cohen are pretty close. I think Cannizaro and Coggin will be fine together.

I think experience is just like any other job- it's preferred. Of course, everyone that has experience also has to start somewhere too. I think the biggest adjustment for him will be handling the pitching staff including allowing the pitching coach to manage the pitching staff. That could be especially difficult this year with all of the injuries. Breaux and Barton pitched better today, so that's encouraging to me given the small sample size. Handling the pitching staff is something he has never had to do as a hitting coach or obviously as a scout. Cohen was very good about letting Butch and Wes handle the staff and not meddling too much unless he felt like he absolutely had to as a last resort.

 

[Todd4State]

What's up with Mahoney. Looks like we signed and placed him due to injury. Is he ready to go?

This TJ crap is out of control. He totally ripped his ulnar ligament it seems.

Mahoney pitched today but struggled. But Breaux looked better although he struggled some during his last inning. Hopefully he just needs to be stretched out. Jacob Barton pitched well for two innings- I would like for him to be the closer or at least in the bullpen so I'm not too concerned about his rough third inning. Spencer Price a JUCO transfer pitched very well today. He played at Desoto Central with Austin Riley, Brant Blaylock, and all of those other guys. He closed out their state title and he pitched at Meridian CC. Maybe he will emerge out of the bullpen.

Everyone is going to get their second appearance on the mound this coming week and I'm eager to see how they improve.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

Price is my pick for the guy that comes out of nowhere.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

I think we all have thought about that, at least a little bit. I'm curious how Henderson sees it all.....I'm sure he and Cohen have to have had some pretty in-depth conversations about it. Maybe the thought is that Henderson will take another job in a year or two, and he's fine with working under Cannizaro for now. Or, maybe he is happy to have a job? I mean he did get fired (unjustly IMO but still).

All you can do is hope Cohen has it well-handled.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

Logan Cooke LHP? who knew?

Yeah. This still boggles my mind ever since Steve just randomly dropped that little bit of info in his show.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Todd4State:

You've always given solid insight on baseball. Every season has a breakout/wild card player that surprises everyone. I doubt we have another breakout as big as Magnum was last season (those don't come along often), but do you see any potential breakout players on the mound and at the plate?

Thanks for the posts in the thread.

 

[bulldogcountry1]

Mahoney pitched today but struggled. But Breaux looked better although he struggled some during his last inning. Hopefully he just needs to be stretched out. Jacob Barton pitched well for two innings- I would like for him to be the closer or at least in the bullpen so I'm not too concerned about his rough third inning. Spencer Price a JUCO transfer pitched very well today. He played at Desoto Central with Austin Riley, Brant Blaylock, and all of those other guys. He closed out their state title and he pitched at Meridian CC. Maybe he will emerge out of the bullpen.

Everyone is going to get their second appearance on the mound this coming week and I'm eager to see how they improve.

I'm hoping that the pitchers were told to hold back a bit at first to protect against injury. It is January, after all. Perhaps that could explain the offense being so far ahead of the pitching. I doubt we just got that bad that quickly.

 

[Cary Hudson's little bro]

Todd4State:

You've always given solid insight on baseball. Every season has a breakout/wild card player that surprises everyone. I doubt we have another breakout as big as Magnum was last season (those don't come along often), but do you see any potential breakout players on the mound and at the plate?

Thanks for the posts in the thread.

Not Todd, but if MacNamee can get some AB's early I would tab him as a breakout candidate

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Made up message board rumors to get clicks. Nothing more.

 

[The Peeper]

I don't think "3rd base duty" can be anything but an improvement over what it was last year

 

[Hoover Dawg]

No crap. I'm still laughing that the idiots in Kentucky replaced Gary Henderson with that nimrod.

What worries me worse than that was that Cohen loved him so much.

 

[KurtRambis4]

I've asked

it twice, and he hasn't responded to it yet, while still responding to others. I'm guessing it's just some random ******** he made up, which doesn't suprise me.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

What are you babbling about? Is it that difficult to read the posts I responded to and figure out that I'm talking about Marrero? Who else would I be talking about? Dontae Walker??

It's not a secret. It's obvious (to all but you).