Let's look at the positives (WAIT TIL NEXT YEAR)....

[Russ Wheeler]

Baseline Lineup:

1) McDonald - CF
2) James - 3B
3) Clark - 1B
4) Hancock - DH
5) Tanner - C
6) Meche - 2B
7) Cumbest - LF
8)8) McGowan - RF
9) Forsythe - SS

Pitching Rotation:
1) Sims
2) Fristoe
3) C. Smith

Other pitchers:
1) Tepper
2) Carmouche
3) B. Smith
4) Lovett
5) Simmons
6) Hunt

This takes into account no freshmen or JUCOs/transfers, and assuming that a bunch of the juniors/seniors move on (many are borderline, like Stinnett, Tullar, Johnson, etc.). That's a lineup that can get back to Omaha. Because of the talent level, I expect many to make a forward progression.

I know nothing about the incoming class so I don't know what to expect there as far as day 1 starters.

 

[DoggieDaddy13]

(Let's see if I can do this in typical SPS fan-fashion....)

"There is no next year!!! After we get destroyed tonight and the fans complain enough, after having taken out loans and sold limbs to get to Omaha, the entire team is going to quit on Lemonis and transfer to USM or Middle Tennessee State. And any existing recruits will flip to Ole Miss. Cohen and Keenum will be fired. A 35-year rebuild will then commence."

****
(Is that how you do it?)

 

[mcdawg22]

Or. There is no next year because we are coming out the next two games and taking care of business because that’s what this team does. Next year we’ll be working on a back to back championship.

 

[DoggieDaddy13]

Or. There is no next year because we are coming out the next two games and taking care of business because that’s what this team does. Next year we’ll be working on a back to back championship.

That is what I feel certain is about to happen. Go Dawgs!

 

[Seinfeld]

I won't worry too much about the batting order because it's pretty much an every year thing where we're telling ourselves that players A, B, and C really need to step up the following year, and like clockwork... at least 2-3 of them do. That said, barring some kind of comic book transformation, I am going to have serious anxiety is Forsythe is still our best option at SS next year. With a full off season to work the JUCO system and transfer portal, we just can't go through another year with someone that inept at the plate.

Pitching is where I have major concerns. I mean, Sims in a starting role seems like a logical move but with the way he slings a fast ball, are we sure he can even go 6-7 innings? I just know that we've now seen a couple times where his velocity starts to dip once he gets to 35+ pitches, and it's at least a question mark for me. Then once you get past Sims, ugh... a whole lot of inconsistent and/or unproven talent.

I think next year's squad has a chance to be really good, but this is a year that Lemonis really needs to be working the portal if I've ever seen one

 

[Russ Wheeler]

I won't worry too much about the batting order because it's pretty much an every year thing where we're telling ourselves that players A, B, and C really need to step up the following year, and like clockwork... at least 2-3 of them do. That said, barring some kind of comic book transformation, I am going to have serious anxiety is Forsythe is still our best option at SS next year. With a full off season to work the JUCO system and transfer portal, we just can't go through another year with someone that inept at the plate.

Pitching is where I have major concerns. I mean, Sims in a starting role seems like a logical move but with the way he slings a fast ball, are we sure he can even go 6-7 innings? I just know that we've now seen a couple times where his velocity starts to dip once he gets to 35+ pitches, and it's at least a question mark for me. Then once you get past Sims, ugh... a whole lot of inconsistent and/or unproven talent.

I think next year's squad has a chance to be really good, but this is a year that Lemonis really needs to be working the portal if I've ever seen one

The only thing that matters to me is that Sims is on the team. They'll find the best way to use him.

And of course, there are some potential holes, and of course, some need to get better. But that is a HELL of a good position to start. Ready made starters everywhere who have a good bit of experience, who have just finished up back/back/back CWS appearances. If someone beats them out, good for everyone.

We are creating quite the culture.

 

[messageboardsuperhero]

On paper I feel better about the 2022 team now than I did the 2021 team this time last year.

This coming group of position players is the best group we’ve had since TA, Rowdey, Westburg, Foscue, etc. Slate Alford, Aaron Downs, Trey Higgins, and Hunter Hines all have plus power and have a chance to help us next year at corner IF/corner OF. Von Seibert from JUCO could be a 1B/DH candidate too.

It has a chance to be our best power lineup from top to bottom in a long time. I wish we could get some help at CF and MIF from the portal, but I think the timeline set up by the NCAA really screws us in that regard.

On the mound I actually expect us to be better. Our starting rotation should be really good, and Sims will probably be the Friday night starter. Some combination of Fristoe, Cade Smith, Tepper, Carmouche, and Harding will compete for Saturday/Sunday. I expect the rotation to be really good.

The bullpen will be good too, depending on what happens with guys like Preston Johnson and Stinnett in the draft. It would be great if someone could step up and have a Sims type of year, but we will see. Jack Walker and Pico Kohn could help us next year too.

 

[Dawg_4_lifes]

(Let's see if I can do this in typical SPS fan-fashion....)

"There is no next year!!! After we get destroyed tonight and the fans complain enough, after having taken out loans and sold limbs to get to Omaha, the entire team is going to quit on Lemonis and transfer to USM or Middle Tennessee State. And any existing recruits will flip to Ole Miss. Cohen and Keenum will be fired. A 35-year rebuild will then commence."

****
(Is that how you do it?)

That damn Nelle

 

[Russ Wheeler]

On paper I feel better about the 2022 team now than I did the 2021 team this time last year.

This coming group of position players is the best group we’ve had since TA, Rowdey, Westburg, Foscue, etc. Slate Alford, Aaron Downs, Trey Higgins, and Hunter Hines all have plus power and have a chance to help us next year at corner IF/corner OF. Von Seibert from JUCO could be a 1B/DH candidate too.

It has a chance to be our best power lineup from top to bottom in a long time. I wish we could get some help at CF and MIF from the portal, but I think the timeline set up by the NCAA really screws us in that regard.

On the mound I actually expect us to be better. Our starting rotation should be really good, and Sims will probably be the Friday night starter. Some combination of Fristoe, Cade Smith, Tepper, Carmouche, and Harding will compete for Saturday/Sunday. I expect the rotation to be really good.

The bullpen will be good too, depending on what happens with guys like Preston Johnson and Stinnett in the draft. It would be great if someone could step up and have a Sims type of year, but we will see. Jack Walker and Pico Kohn could help us next year too.

Agreed, the talent is there, and it's a lot easier to do things when talent is present. 2021 was supposed to be a rebuild, but Rowdy and TA have really carried us, along with a good 1-2 punch of Macleod and Bednar.

 

[Miketice]

Baseline Lineup:

1) McDonald - CF
2) James - 3B
3) Clark - 1B
4) Hancock - DH
5) Tanner - C
6) Meche - 2B
7) Cumbest - LF
8)8) McGowan - RF
9) Forsythe - SS

Pitching Rotation:
1) Sims
2) Fristoe
3) C. Smith

Other pitchers:
1) Tepper
2) Carmouche
3) B. Smith
4) Lovett
5) Simmons
6) Hunt

This takes into account no freshmen or JUCOs/transfers, and assuming that a bunch of the juniors/seniors move on (many are borderline, like Stinnett, Tullar, Johnson, etc.). That's a lineup that can get back to Omaha. Because of the talent level, I expect many to make a forward progression.

I know nothing about the incoming class so I don't know what to expect there as far as day 1 starters.

17 that

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

bump