Regarding our pitching

AlCoDog

All-Conference
Feb 27, 2008
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this from Paul on bdj:

Graveman’s performance was the sixth quality start for the Bulldogs in the early going, which is just two shy of the number of quality starts by the MSU staff last season

1st, great news for this year, but 8 quality starts all of last year. Just a reminder of how bad we really were. Amazing what throwing strikes will do for you.
 

RobbieRandolph

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Apr 17, 2008
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They changed the game. Also, we have played some crappy competition. I believe by this time last year we had been swept by SELA and were en route to take a beating in Corpus Christi at the hands of Oklahoma and UCLA
 

AlCoDog

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Feb 27, 2008
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and I wasn't really trying to compare as much as I was pointing out the 8 qs all of last year, and how beyond pathetic that was. No doubt about the competition, but we are throwing strikes instead of walking 10 batters a game, and those strikes are in the 90's. That was not the case last year, so there is obvious big improvement regardless of competition. How will that fare when we get into conference? Hard to say, but I definitelythink the bats are going to even things out.
 

cdbrist

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Jun 11, 2008
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Talk to him again and if you are not satisfied with your answer, I will seriously voluntarily remove myself from this board. I have admitted to making negative comments in the past, and havevowed to do better.
 

cdbrist

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Jun 11, 2008
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Me, my wife and my son are all MSU graduates, but some of my negative comments, have me looking like a BEAR and to be honest I hate it.. Going to do better.
 

TBonewannabe

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Mar 3, 2008
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There were several occasions that we had a chance to get out of an inning but ended up bringing in another pitcher. Those errors did a lot more than just add a run. Sometimes it had a ripple effect that might cause Ryan Collins to pitch because we have run out of pitchers.
 

Todd4State

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Mar 3, 2008
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but let's not forget that everyone else is pitching to teams using the same bats, and in a lot of cases they aren't perfroming as well as our pitchers.

I think people are seeing why I was all the time bitching about the defense. It's just so critical to a team's success, and it can really wreak havoc on a pitching staff. It didn't help that we had a ton of freshmen, but if you are a pitcher and you don't have confidence in your defense, it can cause you to try to be more fine with your pitches, which can cause the pitcher to throw more balls.

And just like someone said- then the errors can cause that freshman pitcher to be out there longer- and cause them to try to pitch out of a jam. That's causing them to throw more pitches, and consequently, it will cause them to wear out more quickly, which would get us into our bullpen.

Now, I don't think the pitching was all that stellar or fault free either- losing Routt hurt us big time- as did having Ben Bracewell and CC Watson not be at 100%. We were really counting on them last year, and it didn't work out.


But defense to me, is a lot like playing defense and rebounding in basketball. It's an effort thing- to me there is no reason why anybody shouldn't be at least average on defense in the SEC. It takes work to be good, and it's something that a player has to make themselves want to be good at.
 

chew1095

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Feb 1, 2009
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Who do you see us sending out to the mound this weekend. Iowa appears to be terrible and GA State appears to be decent. I would almost rather see Jones and Stratton pitch against GA State and maybe Mitchell, Girodo or Statz go against Iowa. Thoughts?
 

Todd4State

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Mar 3, 2008
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Both Georgia State and Iowa's ace- so I would match up with Devin and Stratton agianst their aces to cancel them out. Evan Mitchell has earned another start- I would go with him against Georgia State. I would like to see Daryl Norris start against Iowa- but that probably won't happen. They'll probably go with Girodo or Statz like you said.

Then we have to play Valley and UAB on the road. I would definately use Graveman against UAB and maybe start Routt against Valley if he is able to go, and if not go with Statz or Girodo.

Our basbeall team has six games in six days- that's kind of a lot for a college baseball team. But, it will pay off for us later.
 

Todd4State

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Mar 3, 2008
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or has a bad weekend. Just not quite enough pitching depth or dangerous power hitters yet. But we have enough where we should be comeptitive and respectable. If we keep throwing strikes and playing good defense, we will give ourselves a chance to win against anybody. Devin Jones and Chris Stratton are legit SEC pitchers and are about as good as anyone else in the SEC except for the Sonny Gray's of the world.

Vandy has one of the best pitching staffs in the country. If we go up there and win one, I would be OK with that. Not happy, but I would tolerate it. We might even get swept.

But, the key is how does the team respond if they get into that situation? Do they fight back or do they lay down?