What is our biggest pitching need right now?

[thekimmer]

Not to say that pitching has been bad, it hasn't. We just don't have as nearly as much depth as we do on offense. What roles do you think we need to see some players step up for to give us more depth?

Weekend starters?
Mid-week starters?
Long Relief?
Middle relief?
Closer?

We are in pretty good shape and our offense also should be able to help us erase some mistakes.

 

[8dog]

A closer

but second is depth. Sweeney doesn’t look the part at this point. Kirk is done for the year. Bauer and Boother aren’t ready. I think Billingsley has good stuff if he can put it together.

 

[She Mate Me]

I wish we had a true ace, but I'm not sure that's the biggest need.

It sure helps when you want to win a natty though.

 

[Howiefeltersnstch]

A 4th starter

 

[patdog]

I think biggest need is bullpen depth. Need at least a couple between Foster, Sweeny, Miller & Billingsly to step up and become a reliable pitcher. I figure Stone will probably grow into the #3 starter role. We really need him to.

 

[17itdawg]

Closer and bullpen depth as others have said. I feel good about the weekend rotation of McPherson, Valincius, and Stone. The closer role seems to be Ben Davis, but may be more up in the air than fans realize. It will be interesting to see how we manage the bullpen this weekend as well as any potential save situations.

 

[She Mate Me]

It's obvious the coaches really see things they like in Billingsley. I hope he pays that off.

 

[CEO2044]

I think Duke Stone is turning into a reliable Sunday guy. We’ll know more this weekend.

We need reliable middle relievers and set up guys to develop. I still have high hopes that can happen. Miller is looking good for a freshman (his two wild pitches at Southern should have been blocked- they got swings too). Billingsley showed good stuff last night. Maddox Webb has had good outings.

Closer needs to develop too- seems it could be Davis or Gleason. They just don’t feel like true closers right now. I’d rather it be Davis and let Gleason be more of a bridge.

Losing Kirk was a blow. I can’t remember how Pitzer has done lately, but need him to step up.

 

[Willow Grove Dawg]

1. Identify a closer than can perform consistently. We have several candidates probably Ben Davis.
2. Duke Stone needs to perform as the 3rd weekend starter
3. Week day starter

 

[ETK99]

I think people need to stop worrying about the midweek starter because baseball has changed a bit with the portal and midweek is a chance for the young guys to get a lot of work to prepare them for post season duty. We definitely need a closer.

 

[patdog]

I think Duke Stone is turning into a reliable Sunday guy. We’ll know more this weekend.

We need reliable middle relievers and set up guys to develop. I still have high hopes that can happen. Miller is looking good for a freshman (his two wild pitches at Southern should have been blocked- they got swings too). Billingsley showed good stuff last night. Maddox Webb has had good outings.

Closer needs to develop too- seems it could be Davis or Gleason. They just don’t feel like true closers right now. I’d rather it be Davis and let Gleason be more of a bridge.

Losing Kirk was a blow. I can’t remember how Pitzer has done lately, but need him to step up.

I think Pitzer's been pretty good in limited work.

 

[17itdawg]

I think Pitzer's been pretty good in limited work.

Pitzer is a guy I thought we'd have seen a lot more by now. Maybe Oak has taken the non-conference schedule as a time to develop more guys that can contribute. No idea if that is his MO or not as I can't say I watched a lot of UVA baseball in February and March. We've thrown 16 guys in relief this year(the 16 includes Stone and Foster). I'm hopeful we'll see more defined roles out of the pen moving forward in league play.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

It's obvious the coaches really see things they like in Billingsley. I hope he pays that off.

I think they are pushing him to get there, and I suspect they think he can.

 

[Msuirondawgs]

Need middle relief and need another high leverage guy that is dependable

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Another vote for a closer.

You can win a lot of games with 2 above average starters, 1 above average closer, and a lot of average. We have that, I think.

 

[CEO2044]

Pitzer is a guy I thought we'd have seen a lot more by now. Maybe Oak has taken the non-conference schedule as a time to develop more guys that can contribute. No idea if that is his MO or not as I can't say I watched a lot of UVA baseball in February and March. We've thrown 16 guys in relief this year(the 16 includes Stone and Foster). I'm hopeful we'll see more defined roles out of the pen moving forward in league play.

I kinda thought he would be a consideration for the Sunday starter before the season. I’m thinking (hoping) we are going to see a lot more of him soon.

It definitely feels that way, and I’m fine with that approach.

 

[She Mate Me]

As an aside. It sure would be nice if they could get Bauer to a point where he can come in and be crafty enough to give us a quality inning or two in weekend series.

Hate to have a guy with that much talent contributing nothing all season.

 

[PhredPhantom]

We need:
Will Bednar
Ethan Small
Jonathan Holder
Landon Sims
Jeff Brantley
but I think they’re all out of eligibility

Since they’re not coming back, I hope Justin Parker and Oak can find/develop similarly-talented replacements. It ain’t easy but it’s been done before. I think this coaching staff stands the best chance at it as we’ve had in years. I’m expecting good things.

 

[theoriginalSALTYdog]

It's a closer from what you have listed above but overall the bigger issuer IMO is simply the consistency. Some of these guys look good one outing and like **** the next. Some of that is just growing pains for these freshman but we're giving up a lot runs late and some of that has been on Davis but we're seeing it in the midweek games too and that's a bit concerning.

 

[johnson86-1]

I think people need to stop worrying about the midweek starter because baseball has changed a bit with the portal and midweek is a chance for the young guys to get a lot of work to prepare them for post season duty. We definitely need a closer.

I don't understand the midweek starter concern. I get that if you lose in a regional, you're going to need a 4th starter. But that doesn't seem like a pressing concern? I get midweek losses can hurt your seeding, but so does blowing leads on the weekends. Seems like we are going to score enough runs (I think/hope) that if we have a lock down closer for the last inning or two, we should be able to do well.

 

[Ranchdawg]

A closer

but second is depth. Sweeney doesn’t look the part at this point. Kirk is done for the year. Bauer and Boother aren’t ready. I think Billingsley has good stuff if he can put it together.

This is what I was going to post.

 

[patdog]

As an aside. It sure would be nice if they could get Bauer to a point where he can come in and be crafty enough to give us a quality inning or two in weekend series.

Hate to have a guy with that much talent contributing nothing all season.

I think Baur is a next year guy at best. 3 outings, 2 innings pitched, 6 hits, 4 walks, 2 wild pitches & 5 earned runs. Ouch. He’s got a LOT of work to do. And it doesn’t need to be in live games.

 

[17itdawg]

We need:
Will Bednar
Ethan Small
Jonathan Holder
Landon Sims
Jeff Brantley
but I think they’re all out of eligibility

Since they’re not coming back, I hope Justin Parker and Oak can find/develop similarly-talented replacements. It ain’t easy but it’s been done before. I think this coaching staff stands the best chance at it as we’ve had in years. I’m expecting good things.

These days you never know they could all be eligible again!

 

[onewoof]

Time and situational confidence. Several dudes will make a name for themselves soon. A few knocks but they'll smash just give them time.

 

[champdawg.sixpack]

Our weekend rotation is solid. However, we need mid relief guy who can shut them down for 3/4 innings.

 

[Mts68]

Need a middle reliever with some girados

 

[MSUDC11-2.0]

I think Ben Davis is going to be fine out of the pen but my trust in just about anyone else is somewhat shaky at the moment.

We threw pretty much all our top pen arms against Tulane, who is not a very good offense, and a lot our guys got hit around pretty good.

I feel pretty good about our starting rotation right now but we are still lacking proven options to hand the ball off to in the 6th or 7th innings of close games.

 

[CEO2044]

I think Ben Davis is going to be fine out of the pen but my trust in just about anyone else is somewhat shaky at the moment.

We threw pretty much all our top pen arms against Tulane, who is not a very good offense, and a lot our guys got hit around pretty good.

I feel pretty good about our starting rotation right now but we are still lacking proven options to hand the ball off to in the 6th or 7th innings of close games.

I like Gleason. I’m curious to see more of Pitzer. I think he should help a lot.

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

I think Baur is a next year guy at best. 3 outings, 2 innings pitched, 6 hits, 4 walks, 2 wild pitches & 5 earned runs. Ouch. He’s got a LOT of work to do. And it doesn’t need to be in live games.

I agree that Bauer is not ready. I just don't understand why he is not being fast tracked to be ready. I am not at practice everyday and maybe his psyche can't handle it, but he is the only guy with nasty stuff. I mean you could have thrown him a few innings in the 26-0 game.

I also agree we do not have a closer at this time. As I said we don't have a pitcher with a nasty pitch. There have been some great closers with basically one really good pitch.