Collegiate Baseball Preseason Top 40 out today....
- Thread starter jramsufan
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Georgia is WAY overrated. I haven't looked at their team this year, but Perno has had them on the "CWS one year, no postseason play the next year" cycle for about 5-6 years running. This year is supposed to be their down year, and next year is the year they shock everyone and win the SEC and go to the CWS.
Also, didn't they lose Fields and that shortstop?
I choose to completely ignore any pre-season ranking of my baseball team. After what they showed me last year, I'm giving them the wait and see treatment from now on.
Also, didn't they lose Fields and that shortstop?
I choose to completely ignore any pre-season ranking of my baseball team. After what they showed me last year, I'm giving them the wait and see treatment from now on.
but i think they got one of their weekend starters back and several other position players. Mix in contributions from a highly touted recruiting class and I think they are going to be really good. Bryce Massineri and Rich Poythress will be hell in the middle of a lineup. They had some young guys playing last year too that will likely be better.
Yeah, Poythress is going to be a beast. And with Massineri, Cerione will bat around him, too. Plus outfielders Zach Cone and Chase Davidson I think turned down third-round money and will play for them (I'm looking at you, Rashun Dixon...).
was Kentucky being ranked 19th. How is that possible? I thought it was common knowledge that Cohen left that program in shambles. /rebelspin
And I feel condfident in saying that because of how bad we were statistically.
Look for Bowen to really step up next year. He's throwing 92-93 now.
Also, I think Forrest Moore is going to be very good for us, I think he could very easily win us seven games or so. I've also heard that Micheal Busby has imroved a lot. Devin Jones is going to be a freshman that definately plays right away, but I'm not sure that if he will be the Sunday starter, the midweek starter, or even the closer. Chad Crosswhite will figure in somewhere- probably as either the Sunday starter or the closer. Another freshman to watch is going to be Caleb Reed. He likely will be a middle relief guy next year.
Now, while we will be improved, I think we have a ways to go. Cohen has said that we need seven pitchers that we can really count on (I'm speculating the three weekend starters, a midweek starter, a LH relief/set-up guy, a RH relief/set-up guy, and a closer is what he's talking about.
I think at this point we only really have 1-2 definates that we can count on without question- that being Bowen and maybe Crosswhite. But I think that some more guys will emerge, but it still won't be what we need if we want to reach our goal of a NC.
I do think that we have enough to make a regional and maybe even a SR. (Yes, I typed that)
Look for Bowen to really step up next year. He's throwing 92-93 now.
Also, I think Forrest Moore is going to be very good for us, I think he could very easily win us seven games or so. I've also heard that Micheal Busby has imroved a lot. Devin Jones is going to be a freshman that definately plays right away, but I'm not sure that if he will be the Sunday starter, the midweek starter, or even the closer. Chad Crosswhite will figure in somewhere- probably as either the Sunday starter or the closer. Another freshman to watch is going to be Caleb Reed. He likely will be a middle relief guy next year.
Now, while we will be improved, I think we have a ways to go. Cohen has said that we need seven pitchers that we can really count on (I'm speculating the three weekend starters, a midweek starter, a LH relief/set-up guy, a RH relief/set-up guy, and a closer is what he's talking about.
I think at this point we only really have 1-2 definates that we can count on without question- that being Bowen and maybe Crosswhite. But I think that some more guys will emerge, but it still won't be what we need if we want to reach our goal of a NC.
I do think that we have enough to make a regional and maybe even a SR. (Yes, I typed that)
So you can possibly definately without question count on Crosswhite...maybe? If you have to throw a maybe out there I think it's safe to say he doesn't belong in that category.Todd4State said:
How you include a guy in that list that had a ten ERA last season is beyond me. This isn't a flame against MSU baseball...I love talking baseball, but Crosswhite ain't worth ****. He's just not good. I've seen him since highschool and that's JMO.
In other news, I think Grant Houge may steal 40 bases this year. Did he really hit 8 homeruns? I saw that on the stats and didn't remember him having that much power? Could be a first team all SEC type guy now that Cohen is there to give him the green light. I went to the OM MSU series and that guy can run and on top of that is a great BASERUNNER. I'm really impressed with Nappi and I think Freeman could be very good. Conner Powers should hit ten bombs.
Any idea who is going to start up the middle for yall? I would assume that Jet Butler will be at second. Will Sneed be at SS? I think that fool cost Bowen a no hitter.
Sneed wouldn't have played SS if Powers hadn't been hurt at the beginning of last year. 2B is probably b/w Butler and Justin Bussy. There are a lot of question marks though so Im really speculating. And no, Hogue didn't hit 8 HRs. Im pretty sure he didn't hit any---or at least any that left the park.
Hogue, Collins, C. Powers, Adkins and Freeman is a nice core in the lineup. Im just not sure what there is after that. J. Parks had a disappointing fall, and the pitching is sketchy to say the least.
I think we can make a regional though. I doubt we can win one.
Hogue, Collins, C. Powers, Adkins and Freeman is a nice core in the lineup. Im just not sure what there is after that. J. Parks had a disappointing fall, and the pitching is sketchy to say the least.
I think we can make a regional though. I doubt we can win one.
P
PWILLIESACKMASTER
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I seem to remember hearing he would sit out this year with a hip injury. He didn't participate in the scrimmages I went too.
that ranking with Mississippi and Southern ranked ahead of us!!!!! Thats just sad!
Hope Cohen changes that quickly!
Go Dawgs!
Hope Cohen changes that quickly!
Go Dawgs!
but I think it would have to be at DH. I think Adkins and Collins will be the corner OFs. Im not as impressed with nappi. The hitch in his swing drives me nuts, but his batting .185 against the conference makes me more crazy. He's a RS soph so hopefully he'll get better and take the DH spot.
and he is 1-40. And guess who only votes in that poll? Greg Byrne.
I am sorry you hate your athletic director.
I am sorry you hate your athletic director.
but you haven't looked at their team? Well, I'll say UM is way overrated (& hope that it's true).
was hurt all of last year and Polk and McNickle pitched him anyway. That's why his ERA was so bad. You could really tell a difference between him last year and 2007. His velocity on his fastball dropped at least 5 MPH. I included him because he is without a doubt the leader of the pitching staff. Don't forget-- he also is the same guy that two years ago beat Clemson in game 1 of the SR and won a key game in the regionals in 2007. I can understand your doubt because he has a habit of pitching horribly against Ole Miss- even in 2007, which is probably when you see him. My biggest question is his health, and that's why I have all of the maybe's.
I think Justin Bussey is going to start in the middle infield for State. I really think he will be the SS. He is a "Cohen type player"- he's going to steal bases, bunt, get hit by pitches. He also could be our closer next year. I think his fastball tops out at 94. I would venture to guess that Ryan Powers will be our 2B. My hope is that Cohen can help him enough offensively, because he is vastly superior to Sneed and Butler defensively.
I think Hogue will be better because of his Cape Cod experience, and the fact that he is in better shape this year. I thought he was kind of pudgy last year. He is also going to switch hit, which I think will also make him more attractive in the draft.
I never have cared for Sneed as a player. I'm sure he's a nice person and all, but it's like he doesn't fit any positions. He doesn't have the power needed to be a corner infielder, but that's where he probably fits best, and when he plays SS, he is so tall and gangly it looks awkward. At least last year, he wasn't aggressive enough on defense, but maybe Cohen can find a spot for him. He also swings with just his arms sometimes. His bottom half doesn't even move.
I think Justin Bussey is going to start in the middle infield for State. I really think he will be the SS. He is a "Cohen type player"- he's going to steal bases, bunt, get hit by pitches. He also could be our closer next year. I think his fastball tops out at 94. I would venture to guess that Ryan Powers will be our 2B. My hope is that Cohen can help him enough offensively, because he is vastly superior to Sneed and Butler defensively.
I think Hogue will be better because of his Cape Cod experience, and the fact that he is in better shape this year. I thought he was kind of pudgy last year. He is also going to switch hit, which I think will also make him more attractive in the draft.
I never have cared for Sneed as a player. I'm sure he's a nice person and all, but it's like he doesn't fit any positions. He doesn't have the power needed to be a corner infielder, but that's where he probably fits best, and when he plays SS, he is so tall and gangly it looks awkward. At least last year, he wasn't aggressive enough on defense, but maybe Cohen can find a spot for him. He also swings with just his arms sometimes. His bottom half doesn't even move.
in being ranked in preseason polls preseason polls. we used to always be top 20 because of being msu deserved or not, we have to earn it now, hope we can get back there.
diggidydog said:
I really like what Cohen is doing with everything from the current team to recruiting and of course with attitude. There's a baseball saying from Leo Deurocheur (sp?) that "Nice guys finish last". I think we proved that right last year.
Our baseball program needs a makeover, and I think we're getting it. I believe that we have the coach that can bring the fans back, I believe that he will bring good players in, and that's going to bring the fans back. With the fans back, we're going to be able to renovate and expand Dudy-Noble.
One of the biggest reasons that we aren't ranked is because no one really knows what to expect and they know that we had a losing record last year. A lot of the "experts" haven't followed our situation as closely as we all have, and I imagine that they have questions as to how the team will buy into Cohen's style after the Polk debacle last year. Of course, we know that's a non-issue, but I could see how the casual outsider would have questions about it.
Also, if you pull up our stats from last year, they are UGLY. And that's what a lot of these voters look at with these teams.
Of course, it's not a big deal. We'll definately make some people notice this year.
that is my most glaring memory of Crosswhite of when he gave up (not all earned) around 10 runs in less than 3 innings I believe. However, I did watch him a couple times in JV games when I was in highschool and they would play before us when we played MRA and I was just never very impressed. I mean obviously at that level he was a stud but I never thought he would be a solid SEC pitcher. Decent freshman year terrible sohpmore...we shall see.
Good post...what is your opinion of Ole Miss (if you follow us)?
Also, Who is going to play first base for MSU now that Moore is gone?
Good post...what is your opinion of Ole Miss (if you follow us)?
Also, Who is going to play first base for MSU now that Moore is gone?
jwbigcreek said:
It was a joke based on the fact that UGA has alternated missing the NCAA tourney and going to the CWS for about the past 5 or 6 years. If they keep with their pattern, they will miss the NCAAs this year. That's all I was saying, and that's why I said I really had no clue if they were going to really be any good or not at all. Under Perno, this is what UGA has done:
2002: 2nd in a regional
2003: Missed NCAAs
2004: CWS
2005: Missed NCAAs
2006: CWS
2007: Missed NCAAs
2008: CWS
If they stick true to form, they will not make the NCAA tourney this year.
And I'd agree that we're probably overrated. I have no clue how good we'll be, but I do know that we only return one weekend starter (Pomeranz). Returning Bittle is big, but I don't feel confident in how the pitching rotation will shake out. I don't feel confident in our ability to hit consistently, and I definitely don't feel confident in our defense. We are a big question mark to me. We could have a lot of guys step up, and we could end up being a Top 10 team, but I could also see us falling apart and not even making the SEC tourney.
I have no idea who will play first. It could be anyone of Ryan Duffy, who came on strong at the end of last year, Jarrod Parks, or Conner Powers. And thanks to inthedawghouse for reminding me that Forrest Moore could see time at first. He's actually been heralded by many as one of our best position players. I don't think we'll see Cohen waste dual threats like Polk did------for example, the annual "we'll see Corley a lot on the mound this year"
As for ole miss, I think their ranking is too high, but I think that's a credit to what Bianco has done. People see ole miss and give them the benefit of the doubt.
I know Bittle has had some outstanding lengthy outings (like KY last year), but I think its still unknown if he can do that every Friday night. there is nothing etched in stone after that. Can Pomeranz return to early form? Losing Guerrero, Overbeck, and Fuller Smith hurts. Only 3 guys batted .300 in conf play last year, and 2 of them were Smith and Overbeck--that hurts a line up that wasn't that great last year. There's still no reason to think SS is shored up despite Button's return.
Basham's return is huge as was the re-emergence of Jordan Henry at the end of last year. Im not sure what new guys are expected to contribute, but I can't think they'll be able overhaul that line up.
As for ole miss, I think their ranking is too high, but I think that's a credit to what Bianco has done. People see ole miss and give them the benefit of the doubt.
I know Bittle has had some outstanding lengthy outings (like KY last year), but I think its still unknown if he can do that every Friday night. there is nothing etched in stone after that. Can Pomeranz return to early form? Losing Guerrero, Overbeck, and Fuller Smith hurts. Only 3 guys batted .300 in conf play last year, and 2 of them were Smith and Overbeck--that hurts a line up that wasn't that great last year. There's still no reason to think SS is shored up despite Button's return.
Basham's return is huge as was the re-emergence of Jordan Henry at the end of last year. Im not sure what new guys are expected to contribute, but I can't think they'll be able overhaul that line up.
Forrest Moore, Cody Freeman, and one more (Duffy?) all played first during some fall scrimmages. But like 8dog said, its probably anybody's guess right now. Also, Moore swings the bat as well as anyone on the team and looks damn good at first.