Garrett Pitts is transferring

[Todd4State]

per the Swan. He was a victim of the roster cuts, and looking at the roster, the other guys that were cut or left the team were walk-ons except for Nolan Thomas who is going to Meridian CC.

I don't know where Pitts will play at next year, but I assume it will be JUCO.

The roster is down to 36, and so someone else will be cut to get the roster down to 35. I suspect it will be a pitcher that is recovering from an injury such as Paxton Pace, Tim Statz, or Micheal Dixon that the staff wants to evaluate closer to the beginning of the season. It could also be a freshman that they want to redshirt.

Now, for the inevitable question- what if all three of those players aren't able to make it back from injury? I suppose that they would "call up" one of the non-roster walk-ons with Jordan Faulkner probably being first in line and Tanner Gaines being next. I will admit that I am not 100% sure on that because all of this roster stuff is still fairly new to everyone- including me. But what I do know is that we don't have to have the final roster in until Feb. and I know that we are basically redshirting Ben Bracewell this year, but I also know that he will not be on the roster but will be back next year. So, I don't see how that wouldn't be any different for any other player on the team.


So, that's my educated guess.

 

[nemsdawg]

Did Tanner Gaines make the cuts, redshirting, or what? I was under the impression he would be headed back to Northeast to play, but I guess he is not. Also, do you think Dixon will be healthy enough to contribute this season? Seemed like the coaches were high on Dixon and I hoped he might be able to contribute this season.

 

[Todd4State]

is apparently going to stay, although he was indeed cut from the roster. He was one of the two non-roster walk-ons that are staying in school- Jordan Faulkner was the other. So, it looks like to me that at least for now he is planning on staying in school and trying out again in the fall next year. Now, he certainly could change his mind between now and the season opening game. If he went to Northeast CC, it certainly wouldn't surprise me- getting more innings against live action would certainly be beneficial to him.

I don't expect Micheal Dixon to do much next year personally. He had Tommy John surgery, which he had recovered from, and then this fall, he had some shoulder problems. The coaches were high on him because when he was healthy, he could throw in the mid-90's. He was supposed to be our closer, but now, I'm kind of skeptical if we will ever see much from him. Right now, I think he is at best a midweek middle relief guy.

Speaking of the closer role, that is actually more unsettled right now than our rotation. If it were me, I would probably give Kendall Graveman a shot at it. But, I haven't seen Andrew Busby pitch yet either. CT Bradford is getting some serious consideration for that role as well. We've tried Devin Jones as a closer, and it just didn't work.

 

[basedog]

He's has so many chances to prove himself, I'm thinking he is on a short lease. The experiment and waiting to develop should be over. Maybe a mid week guy and in what role who knows, I've seen enough of Jones and I don't see the magic working for him and Msu.

 

[Shmuley]

And it's more surprising when you consider the MSU pedigree this kid has. Cohen's got some major league nads. More proof that the polkpussy days are GONE.

I got to meet Pitts and his family some time back. My impressions were (1) Great kid, highly confident, extremely mannerable and pleasant; (2) Parents are maroon to the marrow; (3) very excited about playing for Cohen, highly complimentary of Cohen's recruiting style and effort; (4) good looking specimen, even if a little on the small side.

Hate it didn't work out.

 

[8dog]

I think scholarship players being redshirted count, walk ons being redshirted do not.

 

[ScoobaDawg]

If you get a scholarship..you are a "counter" and from the NCAA rule book we get this

17.2.8.3 Varsity Squad Size Limitation—Championship Segment. <span style="font-weight: bold;">An institution shall declare a varsity</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">squad of a maximum of 35 student-athletes by the day prior to its first scheduled contest in the championship</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">segment of the playing and practice season</span>. Only those student-athletes who are declared as varsity squad
members at that time shall be eligible to participate in countable athletically related activities with the varsity
squad during the remainder of the championship segment. Declared varsity squad members shall not participate
in countable athletically related activities with an institution’s subvarsity team (e.g., freshman, junior varsity).

<span style="font-weight: bold;">A student-athlete who is a counter (per Bylaw 15.5.1) must be included in the varsity squad limit.</span> (Adopted:
4/26/07 effective 8/1/08, Revised: 10/22/07)

 

[Todd4State]

And it's more surprising when you consider the MSU pedigree this kid has. Cohen's got some major league nads. More proof that the polkpussy days are GONE.



I got to meet Pitts and his family some time back. My impressions were (1) Great kid, highly confident, extremely mannerable and pleasant; (2) Parents are maroon to the marrow; (3) very excited about playing for Cohen, highly complimentary of Cohen's recruiting style and effort; (4) good looking specimen, even if a little on the small side.



Hate it didn't work out.

He would certainly still be on the team if they didn't have these ridiculous roster limits. Good players from all over the country are being put in the same situation.

 

[8dog]

he was absolutely terrible in fall ball. I wish him luck and hope he can prove that opinion incorrect.

 

[Todd4State]

And I might be totally wrong about this- that they probably pulled Bracewell's scholarship for the year so that they could do this.

Remember- scholarships are one year deals, and can be revoked for any reason that the coaching staff sees fit.

Now, that said, there is probably an understanding that he will get the scholarship back once he is healthy.

But yes, you are correct that the "counters" (I like that word) do count against the roster. To take it a step further, I believe 28 of the players on the roster have to be on some form of athletic scholarship and then the other seven have to be walk-ons.

 

[nemsdawg]

and the freshmen he has brought in were very impressive. Most of them seem like they are ready to play right away. They better be. I really think we see some major improvements this season.

 

[Todd4State]

He's has so many chances to prove himself, I'm thinking he is on a short lease. The experiment and waiting to develop should be over. Maybe a mid week guy and in what role who knows, I've seen enough of Jones and I don't see the magic working for him and Msu.

And you could very well be right that he ends up as a midweek guy.

That said, he did a decent job in the Cape Cod League this past year, and he had a good fall. So, there is some reason for optomism.

I also agree that waiting for him to develop is over, and that he needs to step up this year. Like I've said, unless he gets hurt, he will be drafted this year based on his raw talent alone. What he needs to understand is that the better he does, the more money he stands to make for himself. A very good season could vault him into the 11-20 round range, and a bad season could put him as low as the 40's.