Cohen era starts in three weeks

dawgpound11

Redshirt
Jun 4, 2003
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Surely we can get some insight from one of these guys. Ordered my season tickets last week and the bus is undergoing major changes. I'm fired up, even if we aren't that good this season.
 

Brutius

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Aug 5, 2004
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we are going to suck this year regardless of the coach. Let's hope that the same players Polk almost ruined can at least win a few more games with a "slightly" more inventive game day coach and practice regiment.

I'm just trying to keep my excitement tempered so I don't get upset if MSU isn't really that good.
 

Todd4State

Redshirt
Mar 3, 2008
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Bowen is going to be our ace, and he has been throwing his fastball at 92-93. It's kind of up in the air from there. I think Forrest Moore will be in the weekend rotation, and I've heard a lot of good things about Devin Jones. Since Jones is a Fr., I doubt he might be our Sunday starter. Another candidate for Sunday, and maybe more likely is Chad Crosswhite. Cohen has said that for us to be successful, Crosswhite has to step up because he is the leader of the pitching staff. Bussy is likely going to be our closer, and probably will start at SS for us. He has a fastball that tops out in the low 90's. Yet another guy who could start for us is Micheal Busby. I've heard that he has made a lot of progress. Of course, you could say that about most all of our pitchers now that they have some coaches.

So, in summary my thoughts on what I think it will look like:

Weekend

Bowen
Moore
Crosswhite

Midweek
Jones

Set-up/long relief
Busby

Closer
Bussey

Others who may figure in- probably mostly in middle relief: Lee Swindle, Tyler Whitney, Greg Houston, Caleb Reed- probably most likely of this bunch to contribute, Shawn Marquardt, Jared Koon, and Jared Wesson. Then we have some Fr. who may contribute some, but many will likely RS- Nick Routt, Tyler Johnson, David Hayes, and possibly Caleb Reed, but I really think that Reed will play some next year.

Paxton Pace is coming off of Tommy John surgery, so if he contributes, it likely will be midweek. I'm not sure if he got a medical RS or not.
 

Todd4State

Redshirt
Mar 3, 2008
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Brutius said:
we are going to suck this year regardless of the coach. Let's hope that the same players Polk almost ruined can at least win a few more games with a
"slightly" more inventive game day coach and practice regiment.

I'm just trying to keep my excitement tempered so I don't get upset if MSU isn't really that good.

We were not that far from going to a regional- 8 wins. I think we went 22-28 or something like that, with lossed to Air Force and Ark-Little Rock that were unacceptable and wouldn't happen in most years. I really think that with a change in attitude in pretty much all aspects of the program, people are going to be surprised at how good we are. I think teams take on the personality of their HC, and I think you are going to see MSU teams that go all out just like Cohen. The only way we have a bad year is if we are racked with injuries again, which could happen.

I think we at least make a regional- which would equate to at least 9th place in the SEC- and really think that depending on our Regional draw we have a chance to make a SR.
 

patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
55,946
24,912
113
It doesn't even begin to be close to making a regional. We'll be improved just because of who's coaching us, but the sad fact is, Cohen doesn't have the talent on hand to do much this year. We might sneak into a regional as a #3 seed if we have a great year, but don't expect much.</p>
 

Xenomorph

All-American
Feb 15, 2007
15,208
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You think it's unreasonable to think there's a decent chance we're 8 games better under Cohen? I can see us being something like 19-7 in non-conf., 12-18 SEC, and 1-2 SECT. That's 32-27 overall. Probably misses a regional but still 9 games better than last year's 23-33.
 

8dog

All-American
Feb 23, 2008
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I think the only certainties are that C. Powers will play 3rd, Hogue will play CF, and that Freeman will be in the line up if healthy at C, 1B, or DH on some rotating basis.

I would guess Adkins and Collins will be the corner outfield. Bussy, R. Powers and Butler will play the middle infield but its just too unclear as to who will lock down those positions.

As for the pitching staff, I cannot even begin to project after Bowen on Fridays.
 

patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
55,946
24,912
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Hell I even specifically said that we might sneak into one. I think your 32-27 prediction is about right, except that I don't think we'll make the SECT at 12-18, which would make us 31-25. But by MSU standards, that's a bad year.
 

AssEndDawg

Freshman
Aug 1, 2007
3,183
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patdog said:
It doesn't even begin to be close to making a regional. We'll be improved just because of who's coaching us, but the sad fact is, Cohen doesn't have the talent on hand to do much this year. We might sneak into a regional as a #3 seed if we have a great year, but don't expect much.</p>
3 out of 12 Football games is 25%

8 out of 50 Baseball games is 16%

16% of our Football games is a little less than 2 games

Yes, I believe a coach change can get you a two game swing in football, and this change could get a 8 game swing in baseball. Might not happen (I am expecting us to be pretty bad this year) but I think it is reasonable.

I know several people who are part of that adopt a player program and they tell me that the players are saying they have never been worked this hard in practice, not even close. Given that change and the change in attitude I think it is entirely reasonable.
 

patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
55,946
24,912
113
In baseball ALL teams trend a lot more towards .500 than in football. Every year several teams finish with a .800 or better winning percentage and several others finish below .200. In baseball, almost nobody ever wins (or loses) that often. So comparing football and baseball records isn't as simple as just doing the math.
 

RonnyAtmosphere

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Jun 4, 2007
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Brutius said:
we are going to suck this year regardless of the coach. Let's hope that the same players Polk almost ruined can at least win a few more games with a "slightly" more inventive game day coach and practice regiment.

I'm just trying to keep my excitement tempered so I don't get upset if MSU isn't really that good.
...for the bulk of last season, 3--sometimes 4--of the best players on the team were out were injuires.

If last year's team would have stayed healthy, that would have probably made the difference in the 8 games that are being argued about in this thread.

This reminds me how this board knocks the (football team's) OL last year within doing the 10 minute research that would show you 12 of State's offensive linemen last year were either freshmen or redshirt freshmen.
 

msudawg12

Senior
Dec 9, 2008
3,863
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Healthy team = Regional.

If we get that far, I think it's impossible to attempt to predict. Once you're in the tournament it's all about what team is hot and can stay hot. Baseball is the streakiest sport there is and it is incredibly important to peak at the right time. That is how ridiculous series upsets happen all the time
 

Foronce

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Mar 26, 2008
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you think baseball is the streakiest sport... huh
I thought it baseball your streak only depends on next days starter..

I would think basketball is the streakiest sport
 

msudawg12

Senior
Dec 9, 2008
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The only part of basketball I'd say is streaky is the 3 pt shot.

baseball is incredible when it comes to streaks (hot or slumps) - as testified by the gold thong fiasco in New York.

Hitters go through points where they won't get a hit over 4-5 games. Infielders make one error and they come in bunches.
pitchers aren't as streaky but they do get that way every now and then.

I guess it just has a great deal to do with how much of baseball is mental and how long of a time goes by between at bats and everything. they have too much thinking time