Our rotation could change from this weekend to the SEC season depending on how people perform and how well Nick Routt heals.
Rotation:
Ace- Chris Stratton. Cohen doesn't always like to use his ace on Friday's, so that's why I'm not calling him a Friday night starter. But he is our best pitcher, and I look for him to be even better this year. It's no secret that he is a huge part of us having a successful season.
Devin Jones- He has to step his game. If he doesn't, we better hope that Nick Routt gets better soon. He throws hard, and he will be drafted this year- he is actually probably our top draft prospect for this year because of his fastball and his size. My hope is that him being in the starting rotation will help him out a lot.
Tim Statz- He is coming off of Tommy John surgery, but he appears to be healthy now. He is a left handed pitcher, and he could soften the blow of Routt not being ready if Nick is indeed not ready by the start of SEC play.
Nick Routt- It was good to see him pitch in a scrimmage. He is making progress, but he is simple not ready yet. The good news is he has four weeks to get ready. My personal prediction- which certainly could be wrong, but I'll put this out there- is that he won't be ready and we will use him as our midweek starter. Essentially this year will be a rehab year for him, and then we can use him next year. By pitching him midweek, we can limit his pitch count and put him in a situation where he can take his time and get better without hurting the team. What could happen is that one or two of the above guys doesn't work out, and then we're forced to move him to the SEC rotation. Best case scenario is that all are healthy, and all three look good, and then we have to figure out who to leave out of the weekend rotation.
Bullpen:
Closer- Hunter Renfroe- I think he is earning the job. I say earning because all that the staff needs to see is that he can perform in games. He was extremely raw as a pitcher- they would basically stick him out there on the mound and let him throw as hard as he can. He was interviewed one time and had no clue how hard he was throwing- which was 94 MPH. MSU has coached him and now he is throwing 96-97, but most importantly, he is not walking people.
Main relief pitchers:
Caleb Reed- I like Caleb, and I like him throwing submarine. I do not like him throwing both overhand and submarine. I really think Caleb will have a good year for us. Him not starting and having thrown submarine for a year should help him out.
Chad Girodo- He will start this weekend, but that's because we're playing four games. He is probably most useful out of the bullpen, and he has really good control. Definately our top left handed reliever, and someone that we can extend if a starter gets knocked out of a game.
Kendall Graveman- Very competitive pitcher who struggled at times last year, but I expect him to have a better season this year. He is also someone that we can use for a couple of innings.
Evan Mitchell- He is one of the hardest throwing guys on the team. He could be our "Nick Routt" in that he didn't pitch a whole lot in high school but he contributes a lot for us. He may get a look as a midweek starter for us as well.
Others:
Ben Bracewell- Based on how he has been throwing in scrimmages, I think he will pitch for us this year. And I think he could give us a shot in the arm late in the year, which could be valuable because Renfroe has never pitched for an entire season and we have to worry about him possibly wearing out late in the year.
Daryl Norris- One of our many dual position guys and I think he will be a very good pitcher for us, but short term, I think he is a bullpen guy. He has a good fastball and slider, but he needs to refine at least one more pitch if he wants to be a starting pitcher.
CC Watson- I do not think he will pitch much for MSU other than midweek. He had a labrum tear, and he just hasn't looked 100%. The good news is, each outing was progressively better but I'm not looking for him to be back to 100% until next year.
Taylor Stark- I've talked about him several times beause he plays so many positions. As a pitcher, he is probably going to be a relief guy for us in addition to playing multiple other positions. He throws a fastball and a slider.
CT Bradford- He definately could figure in as a left handed pitcher for us coming out of the bullpen and he may pitch a fairly good bit for us, but I expect him to be more of a CF for us than anything.
Luis Pollerena- He is a left handed pitcher that will come out of the bullpen for us next year. His father used to pitch in the Mexican League, so he has a professional background.
Micheal Dixon- Dixon is coming off of Tommy John surgery, and he is has pitched in some scrimmages. He will come out of the bullpen for us and is a one inning type of guy.
Trey Johnson- I do not expect him to play much for us next year. If he does, it will be out of the bullpen in a blowout- good or bad.
Andrew Busby- He started out as a catcher in high school, and then broke his leg on a play at the plate. Then he started pitching in JUCO, and I think he will get a long look early in the season out of the bullpen. He may be a guy that improves as he gains experience, but he needs to improve his control in the short term.
Victor Diaz- I think there is a very good possibility that he redshirts this year. He throws a fastball and a curveball, and if he stays on the team, I think he is destined for middle relief.
Ross Mitchell- His father and uncle both pitched in MLB- John for the Mets and Orioles, and Charlie for the Red Sox. His Dad also used to pitch for the Jackson Mets. He doesn't throw hard, but he is left handed and I think he is going to be a middle relief pitcher for us. I like him because I'm left handed and I've got a special place in my heart for left handed pitchers.
Rotation:
Ace- Chris Stratton. Cohen doesn't always like to use his ace on Friday's, so that's why I'm not calling him a Friday night starter. But he is our best pitcher, and I look for him to be even better this year. It's no secret that he is a huge part of us having a successful season.
Devin Jones- He has to step his game. If he doesn't, we better hope that Nick Routt gets better soon. He throws hard, and he will be drafted this year- he is actually probably our top draft prospect for this year because of his fastball and his size. My hope is that him being in the starting rotation will help him out a lot.
Tim Statz- He is coming off of Tommy John surgery, but he appears to be healthy now. He is a left handed pitcher, and he could soften the blow of Routt not being ready if Nick is indeed not ready by the start of SEC play.
Nick Routt- It was good to see him pitch in a scrimmage. He is making progress, but he is simple not ready yet. The good news is he has four weeks to get ready. My personal prediction- which certainly could be wrong, but I'll put this out there- is that he won't be ready and we will use him as our midweek starter. Essentially this year will be a rehab year for him, and then we can use him next year. By pitching him midweek, we can limit his pitch count and put him in a situation where he can take his time and get better without hurting the team. What could happen is that one or two of the above guys doesn't work out, and then we're forced to move him to the SEC rotation. Best case scenario is that all are healthy, and all three look good, and then we have to figure out who to leave out of the weekend rotation.
Bullpen:
Closer- Hunter Renfroe- I think he is earning the job. I say earning because all that the staff needs to see is that he can perform in games. He was extremely raw as a pitcher- they would basically stick him out there on the mound and let him throw as hard as he can. He was interviewed one time and had no clue how hard he was throwing- which was 94 MPH. MSU has coached him and now he is throwing 96-97, but most importantly, he is not walking people.
Main relief pitchers:
Caleb Reed- I like Caleb, and I like him throwing submarine. I do not like him throwing both overhand and submarine. I really think Caleb will have a good year for us. Him not starting and having thrown submarine for a year should help him out.
Chad Girodo- He will start this weekend, but that's because we're playing four games. He is probably most useful out of the bullpen, and he has really good control. Definately our top left handed reliever, and someone that we can extend if a starter gets knocked out of a game.
Kendall Graveman- Very competitive pitcher who struggled at times last year, but I expect him to have a better season this year. He is also someone that we can use for a couple of innings.
Evan Mitchell- He is one of the hardest throwing guys on the team. He could be our "Nick Routt" in that he didn't pitch a whole lot in high school but he contributes a lot for us. He may get a look as a midweek starter for us as well.
Others:
Ben Bracewell- Based on how he has been throwing in scrimmages, I think he will pitch for us this year. And I think he could give us a shot in the arm late in the year, which could be valuable because Renfroe has never pitched for an entire season and we have to worry about him possibly wearing out late in the year.
Daryl Norris- One of our many dual position guys and I think he will be a very good pitcher for us, but short term, I think he is a bullpen guy. He has a good fastball and slider, but he needs to refine at least one more pitch if he wants to be a starting pitcher.
CC Watson- I do not think he will pitch much for MSU other than midweek. He had a labrum tear, and he just hasn't looked 100%. The good news is, each outing was progressively better but I'm not looking for him to be back to 100% until next year.
Taylor Stark- I've talked about him several times beause he plays so many positions. As a pitcher, he is probably going to be a relief guy for us in addition to playing multiple other positions. He throws a fastball and a slider.
CT Bradford- He definately could figure in as a left handed pitcher for us coming out of the bullpen and he may pitch a fairly good bit for us, but I expect him to be more of a CF for us than anything.
Luis Pollerena- He is a left handed pitcher that will come out of the bullpen for us next year. His father used to pitch in the Mexican League, so he has a professional background.
Micheal Dixon- Dixon is coming off of Tommy John surgery, and he is has pitched in some scrimmages. He will come out of the bullpen for us and is a one inning type of guy.
Trey Johnson- I do not expect him to play much for us next year. If he does, it will be out of the bullpen in a blowout- good or bad.
Andrew Busby- He started out as a catcher in high school, and then broke his leg on a play at the plate. Then he started pitching in JUCO, and I think he will get a long look early in the season out of the bullpen. He may be a guy that improves as he gains experience, but he needs to improve his control in the short term.
Victor Diaz- I think there is a very good possibility that he redshirts this year. He throws a fastball and a curveball, and if he stays on the team, I think he is destined for middle relief.
Ross Mitchell- His father and uncle both pitched in MLB- John for the Mets and Orioles, and Charlie for the Red Sox. His Dad also used to pitch for the Jackson Mets. He doesn't throw hard, but he is left handed and I think he is going to be a middle relief pitcher for us. I like him because I'm left handed and I've got a special place in my heart for left handed pitchers.
