Bulldog pitching staff adjusting to new coach Justin Parker
When Justin Parker was hired over the Summer, uncertainty surrounded the Mississippi State Bulldog bullpen. Now, deep into fall baseball, it seems like they’ve got some of their swagger back.
Confidence in baseball is half the battle, especially on the mound. Last season, it was apparent to many fans watching that there was a lack thereof in that department. Through fall, though, it seems as though confidence is something that this Bulldog staff isn’t short on at the moment. Just ask outfielder Dakota Jordan.
“They’re doing pretty good,” said Jordan of the pitching staff in a recent availability. “I went through a little rough spot where I went 0-20 against out pitchers, and they let me hear it. You know, that’s what I like, though. The energy level, that intensity, I love it.”
There’s even been an uptick in velocity among some of the key returners on the staff. During his freshman year, Jurrangelo Cijntje would sit at anywhere from 94-96 from the right side on his fast ball, and touch 97 when he was really juiced. In fall, though, he’s hit 98 several times, and sits more comfortably in the upper-mid nineties. How, then are these players adding velocity across the board, then? Veteran Bulldog relief pitcher Stone Simmons says that it’s all thanks to Parker and his workouts.
“One of our biggest focuses, and this isn’t exactly analytics, but we’re just moving better,” said Simmons of the staff’s improvements under Parker. “A lot of that is in the weight room, and we’re really doing a lot of plyometric stuff. A lot of jumping, a lot of running, just making our guys better athletes.”
It sounds like Parker is trying to build the staff back up from the floor up, and with the talent that’s on said staff, it could make for a dangerous combination.
Even head coach Chris Lemonis has noticed a change in the bullpen culture.
“It’s been very engaging,” said Lemonis. “It’s a little different, which is good. We needed a little bit of a change. It’s been a tough 18 months of pitching…and that’s not just one person’s fault, but Parker’s been really good, and the relationship side with the players has been good, too. It’s a little bit different teaching now, so they’re trying to figure it out, but I’ve been really pleased.”
Despite the noticeable improvements, there are still some areas of concern. Even if MSU allowed one less run per nine than last season, they’d still only be the 12th best team in the conference in that category. In order to truly flip the script, the staff has to be miles better than it was last season.
That’s no short order, no matter who the pitching coach is. However, things look to be trending in the right direction, and for now, that’s about all that can be asked of this Bulldog baseball team.
