Just in from the PanolaDogs Alumni Association winter meeting. We talked baseball.....

[War Machine Dawg]

Just in from the PanolaDogs Alumni Association winter meeting. We talked baseball.....

Coach Nick Mingione (pronounced Min-G-Own, according to him) <span style="margin-left: -51px; margin-top: -57px; opacity: 0.25;" class="smarterwiki-popup-bubble smarterwiki-popup-bubble-active"><span class="smarterwiki-popup-bubble-body"><span class="smarterwiki-popup-bubble-links smarterwiki-clearfix"><span class="smarterwiki-popup-bubble-links-row smarterwiki-clearfix"> </span><span class="smarterwiki-popup-bubble-links-row smarterwiki-clearfix"> </span></span></span></span>was the featured athletic speaker. Nothing earth shattering to report. To the recap:

1. Coach Mingione loves him some Brent Brownlee. "I think he's the best defensive outfielder in the SEC. If there's one better, I haven't seen him." SPD's inference: get ready to see a lot of Brownlee and his light hitting bat this spring.

2. Devin Jones had a .50 ERA and only allowed 1 earned run this fall.

3. Nick Routt won the "pitching points" category for the fall. It's a super-secret, crazy formula cooked up by Coach Thompson. Routt averaged 4.1 points per inning pitched.

4. Luke Adkins won the "most productive swings" category from the fall. Am I the only one that thinks he could be a pleasant surprise for us this spring?

5. Connor Powers got the "We Don't Move" Award for returning for his senior season instead of leaving after being drafted.

6. I asked about Jaron Shepherd's (sp?) development. I got a very coachspeak answer. Didn't make me feel very good about his chances to help this spring, after the reports of his struggles in the fall.

That's all I can remember. I want to say it was Ryan Collins who won the "Bunting Championship Series" this fall, but my memory is failing me on that point. Todd4State, feel free to jump in here if you know the answer or have anything worth adding.

 

[Todd4State]

Just in from the PanolaDogs Alumni Association winter meeting. We talked baseball.....

Look for him to be medically RS, which may be helpful in the long run because I think he may now replace Conner Powers at first base next year. Apparently he was "goofing around" at Meridian CC when he played there and hurt himself. Dear Jarrod- leave the backflips to Ozzie Smith.

Gene's Latin Lover as I call him- Carlos Leal aka the guy from Puerto Rico- transferred to a Florida CC for playing time, which means that we are kind of thin at catcher, and means that Kolby Byrd will probably play some. He transferred because of lack of playing time. Don't know what he expected with a JUCO catcher coming in the form of Wes Thigpen and a junior in Cody Freeman.

I haven't seen either of these discussed on here, so if German's, forgive me.

Yes, the coaching staff loves Brent Brownlee. I don't know that he's the top defensive outfielder in the SEC, but maybe I'm wrong. If they have a favorite on the team, it's him. If there is a second guy on the team that they love, it's Trey Johnson. Look for those two to start.

I wouldn't get my hopes up on Jaron Shepherd at this time. If he wants to start, he's going to have to be more consistent. Although Ryan Collins didn't exactly blow anyone away either. So, don't be surpised if Luke Adkins takes an outfield from one of those two or the DH spot.

I think Devin Jones is going to be the key guy for us this year- as long as he doesn't become Ricky Bowen two. Another guy to watch out for is going to be Chris Stratton. Right now, he has the inside track on being a weekend guy amongst the freshmen. I wouldn't rule out Tyler Whitney though. Jones may also be the closer, which would mean our rotation would be Routt, Stratton, and Whitney in no particular order. In that case, we may see a "Freshman pitcher of the week" as our midweek starter- between CC Watson- who I think may end up being the closer, Luke Bole, and maybe Chad Girordo. Look for Ben Bracewell to pitch some out of the bullpen. Greg Houston and Corey Collins are going to be mainstays in the bullpen, as well as maybe Trey Johnson.

I saw someone on BDJ say something about MSU being picked second in the West behind LSU by some guy he knows that knows a lot about SEC baseball. THAT would surprise me, but we'll see. I do think that we will be better and should at least make a regional, and maybe even host one if we have a really good season.

 

[War Machine Dawg]

Just in from the PanolaDogs Alumni Association winter meeting. We talked baseball.....

As go the freshman pitchers, so goes the season. Mingione did mention Stratton as a guy who's showed a lot of potential. I'd love to see either he or Jones in the closer role. Glad to hear you've got Whitney as a possible weekend guy. Unless his arm has fallen off from all the pitches he threw last season, I just can't see him being worse than our Sunday guy. Yeah, he doesn't have ace stuff and was easily the least talented Friday starter in the league last season. But he's a battler, and outside a couple of "didn't have it" weeks that all pitchers have, we had a chance to win every time he left the hill. Of course, our gas can bullpen promptly screwed all that up, but that's another discussion. I'd be thrilled to see Whitney as the Sunday guy. I think he'd be stellar against most SEC teams' third pitcher. And I'd rather have a senior out there than another freshman to possibly screw up mentally for the rest of his career.

 

[8dog]

Just in from the PanolaDogs Alumni Association winter meeting. We talked baseball.....

he got rave reviews from the staff and the players after the fall.

Parks' injury clears up the 3rd base situation, and as you said, will likely help all parties in the long run.

I can't pick a lineup but I think the starting 9 from what Im hearing could be:

Powers 1B
Vickerson 2B
Ogden SS
Sneed 3B
Thigpen C
Freeman/Duffy DH
Brownlee CF
Johnson LF/RF
Collins LF/RF

 

[bulldogcountry1]

Just in from the PanolaDogs Alumni Association winter meeting. We talked baseball.....

His bat is too good.

 

[8dog]

Just in from the PanolaDogs Alumni Association winter meeting. We talked baseball.....

Im just speculating based on what I've heard.

As one person put it with regard to position players--we are going to have some pretty good players sitting the bench.

We have a long way to go until the first game, and I doubt we'll trot the same 9 out there every game.

 

[dawgtalk03]

Just in from the PanolaDogs Alumni Association winter meeting. We talked baseball.....

Jarrod was not "goofing around" when he was injured at MCC during practice. He was crashing in for a bunt from 3rd base and collided with the pitcher. He ended up flipping and landing on his back. The ambulance had to come and take him to the hospital where he stayed overnight. This was a very serious injury at the time and he had a hairline fracture in his back. He has been receiving shots in his back ever since the incident. The shots have started to wear off and the doctors thought it would be best to go ahead and have the surgery so that he would be pain free. I see Jarrod starting at 3rd base next season because that is his natural position.

The catching situation is solid with Wes Thigpen starting and bringing solid defense and a decent bat to the table. Cody Freeman has a better stick and will ultimately see playing time. Since his arm surgery he has not seen the same strength return to what it was before. If we did need to get down to a 3rd catcher, they would move Duffy back behind the plate over Kolby Byrd. Byrd only hit sub .200 in the fall and will need a redshirt year and more time to get in shape and adapt to college pitching.

 

[Todd4State]

Just in from the PanolaDogs Alumni Association winter meeting. We talked baseball.....

apparently, he has trouble seeing the ball on the second base side of the infield, so he might start there with Parks injury.

 

[8dog]

Just in from the PanolaDogs Alumni Association winter meeting. We talked baseball.....

in Sneed or Freeman/Duffy.

 

[Todd4State]

Just in from the PanolaDogs Alumni Association winter meeting. We talked baseball.....

until Leal decided to transfer. I do agree that would be good for him and he needs to do that, but I'm not sure that we have that luxury now.

I don't think Duffy will ever catch in a game again unless is defense improves markedly.

We might see Jet Butler catch some, and maybe even Dallas Hannah.

But yes, Thigpen and Freeman will start, but I also believe that because of his defense that Byrd will be the third guy most likely.