Saturday scrimmage

LHP's Lucas Laster and Ross Mitchell both seniors did well in their starts today. When we need to start a lefty against a heavy left handed team, these guys will start.

Another excellent relief work done by Trevor Fitts and Vance Tatum, these guys will hold the end of the game for us. Both can strike out a hitter when needed.

RHP's (both 6-5 in height) super sophomores, Dakota Hudson and Zac Houston brought the heat today and pitched good in relief. They just need reps and experience. Hudson has a new delivery he is working on. He needs to pitch 2-3 times a week.

Hitter of the day is Jr. transfer John Holland. He was 4 for 4. He is the 2 hole hitter in my mind. OF Michael Smith is the leadoff hitter, I think. Those two, then super sophomores Gavin Collins and Reid Humphreys right behind them should produce runs in bunches and make the other team sweat. Batting order 1-4 is settled in my mind.

Let's hope they can get the game in tomorrow. Maybe they will switch the time to miss the rain.

Pitchers so far

Well, I have been real encouraged by what the pitchers have done. We have no shortage of starters. It appears senior Trevor Fitts and sophomore Vance Tatum will excel at the closing role.

Junior Preston Brown and senior Lucas Laster have been tremendous as starters. They continue to build their endurance. Sophomore Austin Sexton and freshman Jesse McCord struggled their first time out. This Sunday is big for them. So encouraging is sophomore Dakota Hudson with his new delivery. He has pitched twice in relief. Sexton, McCord and Hudson appear to be in the lead for the third weekend spot.

Two true freshman appear to be ready to contribute. Cole Gordon and
Paxton Stover have done well so far.

And we haven't even talked about steady senior Ross Mitchell!

The key is this. Starters pitch into the 6th or later innings. If we have them consistently reach this mark, we will have plenty of pitching.

Every year, a pitcher who barely pitches early in the season, seems to come on late and gives us a boost. Who will this year?

Why I am so excited for the 2015 season? And recruiting is the key.

We will look back upon the 2015 season, I predict, and really show appreciation for what John Cohen has built. He went out and recruited specific players to help this team win.

Returning infield starters: we return the starting catcher (Gavin Collins) who is all conference material, we return the starting first baseman (Wes Rea) who was the starter the past 3 years, we return the starting short stop (Seth Heck) who made only 4 errors last year and we return the starting third baseman (Matthew Britton) who found a home at third and excelled defensively for most of the 2014 season. That is 4 of the 5 infielders we have returning starters. Cohen recruited a JC player to fill the spot at second base after Bret Pirtle graduated. The JC player (John Holland) started a few games his freshman season at Florida State (College World Series participant that year), then transferred to a junior college and played two years. Holland's last year he was Player of the Year for his conference! What a pickup!

Infield backups: we return a former JC player (Cody Walker) and recruited another JC player (Josh Lovelady) to compete for the backup catchers role (believe me, the catcher needs a backup), we recruited another JC player for first base (Trent Waddell) along with a very talented freshman (Cole Gordon) to bolster that position, at second base we have another JC transfer (Matt Spruill) and ultra talented freshman (Ryan Gridley), short stop Holland can slide over or Gridley can play it, then third base we have yet another JC transfer (Luke Reynolds) who bats left and has wowed with his glove diving for balls.

We have 4 of 5 starters that returned, the 5th is a talented JC player. The backups are also mostly JC players who bring the experience factor.

The outfield is wired differently. We have 3 returnees that have started some over the past two years (Jake Vickerson, Jacob Robson and Cody Brown) then in order to get his huge bat in the lineup ultra talented (Reid Humphreys) was moved to LF from the infield. Two other very talented prospects redshirted last year (Brent Rooker and Joey Swinarski). Then we recruited a super fast recruit JC transfer (Michael Smith) that has had such an impact, he must start somewhere. These three positions is the mix and match portion of the lineup. But as of this writing, I would have to go with Humphreys in LF, Robson in CF and Smith in RF.

The OF does not have any first year college players. That experience is so important.

Pitching

The two starting pitchers that are leading the way right now are Lucas Laster and Preston Brown. Both started several games last year. Both have shown the ability to shut the other team down. We have over 15 pitchers on the staff. If we get these two starters to average 6 innings per start we will have a great year. The trickle down effect is the bullpen will be rested and the inexperienced guys will have time to develop. The biggest recruit to the pitching staff is freshman sensation (Jesse McCord) who has impressed our hitters to the point that they give him all kinds of nicknames. He is an impact pitcher. I could go into great detail about the pitchers but I will do that later.

To recap: the defense will be outstanding, the infield and outfield have tons of experience, the hitting is there. I think most people will be surprised at how good we will be.

My lineup as of today:

1  Michael Smith  RF
2  John Holland  2B
3  Gavin Collins  C
4  Reid Humphreys  LF
5  Wes Rea  1B
6  Seth Heck  SS
7  Luke Reynolds  DH
8  Matthew Britton  3B
9  Jacob Robson  CF

2015 Season: Intangibles

The middle of the field defense is outstanding. Catcher, shortstop, second baseman and center fielders are all great defenders. We have vast experience at 1B and 3B.

We have as much depth as anyone in the country. Barring major injury, this will be a major positive as the season progresses.

We have some quality pre-SEC opponents who won't drag us down RPI wise when it comes to picking regional hosts.

The toughest SEC opponents are at home. LSU, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina. That is a huge advantage.

We have quality hitters coming off the bench. When we need a big hit, we have the talent now to get it done. Pinch hitting won't be a problem this year.

Losing the first game of 2014 set the tone. We were unsettled. We lost too many non-conference games. Plus we were not settled at catcher or shortstop, two key positions. This year we are settled at those two and by what I have read, the players mean business this year.

John Cohen did a great job building the 2015 team. He recruited JC players to plug holes and build depth. He got talented freshman players to bolster the lineup. Now it is almost time to stop talking and start playing. I think the fire in the belly of the players is back. Maybe last year they thought, we just going to show up and win. I don't know.

I do know we are primed for a great year. Time to play.

What it will take to be at the top and stay there?

Good question. I get asked this on occasion. First of all, it takes elite players. We have plenty coming in August of 2015. Let's hope the MLB Draft don't kill us. The 2016 season is really big in my opinion. We lose 8 seniors off the 2015 club and I don't foresee any draft eligible player leaving (maybe John Holland if he has a great year). The 2016 may be young in spots but the talent level on it will be tremendous. Reid Humphreys, Dakota Hudson, Gavin Collins and others will be juniors. These guys will be great players in 2016. Couple this with the immense talent of the 2015 class and it is recipe for a top 5 club.

The 2016 class already has 8 commits and all of those are rated by Perfect Game as top 500 in the nation.

We just need to keep getting these elite players and keeping them.

Then in the near future, the brand new ballpark will be built and you will see our program take off like a rocket. We should get elite players knocking down our door.

The future is indeed very bright.

2015 Season: Prediction

I predicted in 2014 that we will go to a Super regional. Once you get to this level, then it depends on being hot at the right time. Pitchers and hitters being at the top of their game, like in 2013. Well, we ended up 1 game shy of a Super.

This year, I am going with the same prediction. I think we can make it to a Super. Again, I can't predict injuries or how hot a team will be. I do predict this team to improve. Of course, if there aren't any major injuries too.

Within the conference, I see our record as winning more than 17. We can win 20 non-conference games. 17-13 and 20-6 equals to 37 wins. That prediction is right now. Once the season starts, I will probably change my prediction. I have a feeling we can be better than what I'm predicting.

The development of young players is the key to each season. With this, players who have struggled or injured the season before and have them perform well is another. 

I see the infield defense as superb, the outfield as deep, starting pitchers as we have never had in Cohen's years. 

Bottom line is, I see us in the postseason for the 5th consecutive year. Can we go to Omaha? Sure, we can. It all has to come together though.

2015 Season: Left Handed Pitchers

Starting off with the man, who else? Senior redshirt Ross Mitchell, 6-1 165 from Tennessee. He has gotten us out of more jams. Even though he did well as a starter, I think they will move him back to a long reliever. A starter, who usually throws harder than Ross, falters they will bring Ross in throwing in the low 80's. This has worked numerous times in the past, why not again in 2015? We want him to duplicate the 2013 season. Another senior is Lucas Laster, 5-11 178. He was a JC transfer last year and came on late to really dominate other teams. He should be a weekend starter. He will throw in the upper 80's but with deception. He is one of those leftys that don't give up hits, hence little or no runs. Junior Trent Waddell, 6-3 210 a JC transfer might get some innings as a reliever. He has a history of getting hurt. But he is also a backup at first base. Sophomore Vance Tatum, 6-4 210 is highly competitive. He will man one of the closer roles. He has swing and miss capabilities. He is a star in the making. Sophomore JC transfer Daniel Brown, 5-10 183 came to Ms State after an All-American campaign at a Texas JC. As of this writing, he still has a chance to start some games but he will probably be a stellar reliever this year. The coaches did a great job to find him. The last two guys are true freshmen. Paxton Stover, 5-11 195 is from Tennessee. He did very well in the fall. He still is in the hunt for a starting role. Another great find by pitching coach Butch Thompson. I think this kid will have a great career here. Alabamian Andrew Mahoney, 6-2 210 did not pitch his senior year due to Tommy John surgery. He was highly rated by Perfect Game before the injury. He only pitched 3 innings in the fall. He could be a candidate for a redshirt. But in 2016, I see him as an impact pitcher.

Baseball is a game of statistics. Half of SEC hitters bat from the left side, so you need quality LH pitchers to counteract them. I do see this group to have a huge impact. Just like any position, we need to stay healthy. 

2015 Season: Middle Infielders

Shortstop

Senior Seth Heck, 5-11 170 returns after only committing 4 errors all of last year. What you want in a shortstop...makes all the routine plays. Bats right. He is a solid hitter, not flashy but puts the ball in play. A tremendous find by the coaches. He hails from Washington state.

Second Base

Junior John Holland, 5-11 185 is the starter. He is in his first year at Ms State but played one year at Florida State before going to junior college. He has the experience you want. He also bats left and is very fast on the bases. He really is the total package. If Heck wasn't at short then Holland would start there. He will be the leadoff or 2 hole hitter. Another great job by the staff to recruit him here. Britton and Spruill can play here also. True freshman phenom Ryan Gridley, 5-9 180 is a backup to both MIF spots. He had a great fall. Really good player in all phases. Should get some playing time to get ready for 2016. Gridley is a star in the making.

This MIF could go down as one of the best we have ever had at Ms State.

2015 Season: New Impact Players

From an everyday standpoint, John Holland was a great get by the coaches. He bats left, leadoff and a great defender in the middle of the field.

Right behind him is CF Michael Smith. He is super fast. He will run down balls where ever he plays. He can pressure the defense when he runs the bases.

True freshman RHP Jesse McCord will start and pitch us in a lot of games. He has the ability to get people out. A highly rated player coming out of HS.

You can't forget about a backup catcher. This one position is a grind. JC transfer Josh Lovelady really impressed in the fall. A tough kid who blocks pitches. Had a pretty good offensive fall too.

I think Luke Reynolds will get even better by the end of the season and will have many big hits along the way.

2015 Season: Right Handed Pitchers

This group is led by the bearded wonder. Senior Trevor Fitts, 6-2 223 will hold down the closers role in 2015. Vast experience from Fitts. He is a tremendous leader also. Junior redshirt Preston Brown had a great fall. Expect him to be an SEC starter on the weekends. Let's hope he is injury free in 2015. Junior Myles Gentry, 6-0 190, a side arm reliever will come out of the pen and put any fires out. Great movement on his pitches. Redshirt sophomore Paul Young, 6-2 205 is the ace in the hole this year. He is coming off surgery from last spring. Drafted by the Indians coming out of junior college, I had hoped he would pitch last year and be dominating. I hope he starts slow to get in game shape and comes on late in May and June and give us that mid-90's heater we need out of the bullpen. I see him being a major contributor in 2016. A trio of superb true sophomores will pitch a lot in 2015. Austin Sexton, 6-2 180 from Alabama, is still in the hunt for a weekend spot. He had a nice summer and fall. Big and tall, Dakota Hudson, 6-5, 207 has tons of ability. A non-arm injury set him back in the fall. I would love for him to dominate and take the Friday night starter role. We shall see what the early spring holds for him. Another huge player is Zac Houston, 6-6 234 from Mississippi. He is slated for reliever duty in 2015. Maybe a set up role for him. He throws in the mid-90's. JC transfer sophomore Logan Elliot, 6-1 175, another side armer, will vie for relief duty. Freshmen redshirts, Jacob Billingsley, 6-1 178 and Levi Mintz, 6-3 190 are still competing for reliever roles. A trio of true freshmen, led by phenom Jesse McCord, 6-2 185 who by all accounts will be a major contributor to the staff. He may be a weekend starter as a freshman. No one can hit his pitches will regularity. Aaron Dominguez, 6-1 190 from California is set to compete for reliever duty. A very tough kid on the mound. Dual player, Cole Gordon, 6-6 240 may get a few innings in relief. He had surgery in the last few months so it might be 2016 before he will make a pitching impact.

2015 Season: Designated Hitter

Right

Reid Humphreys: when he is not playing outfield, I see him being the starter here. Once he gets experience, he will be a force.

Brent Rooker: a fantastic athlete. When Humphreys is in the OF and we need a right handed DH, I think he is the guy. Again, he just need some experience.

Joey Swinarski: he will be more of a pinch hitter than a DH this year, I think. Still has tons of potential as a hitter (not a bad throwing arm either).

Left

Luke Reynolds: he is known as a good hitter. He is yet another new player that needs experience. I expect him to really be good at the end of the season.

Cole Gordon: big power hitter. When he turns on a pitch, it will be hit hard. But he is a true freshman and needs experience. I see him as a pinch hitter also from the left side.

2015 Season: Outfielders

Center

This should be a two headed monster. Both players are in there 3rd year of college baseball. Sophomore redshirt Jacob Robson, 5-10 175 from Canada. He started slow in 2014 then got hurt and was redshirted. He played well in the summer league and continued that surge in the fall. Bats left. He really put the ball in play and pressured the defense, on the base paths too during fall scrimmages. Junior Michael Smith, 5-10 170 comes from a JC in Tennessee. He is really fast. He bats right. Did not make an error in the OF during his JC career and stole over 20 bases each year. Both these guys are real fast. I can see a platoon situation here.

Corner

These two positions will a mix and match situation. Who bats left or right? Who will bat DH when not in the OF? Sophomore phenom Reid Humphreys, 6-2 210 played his first OF duty in the fall and did well. Coaches have to find a spot for him to bat. So for a lot of the games he will be playing in left. He bats right and will hit in the middle of the lineup, probably at clean up. Sophomore redshirt Cody Brown, 5-10 185 will probably play more in right. He is a gamer. He bats left. Senior Jake Vickerson, 5-9 184 is another one to put in either spot. John Cohen redshirted two freshmen last year that will have an offensive impact this year. Super athlete Brent Rooker, 6-4 210 can really run and hit. He bats right and I see him as a DH also. The youngest of the bunch is Floridian Joey Swinarski, 6-2 190. He skipped his senior year in HS last year, so in essence he is a true freshman. He came on late in the fall offensively. He will only get better.

We have 7 OF's and three bat left and 4 bat right. You will see platoon situations among them including the DH spot. This now has become a bright spot and a deep position.

2015 Season: Catcher

The starter is sophomore phenom Gavin Collins, 6-0 200. He was thrown to the fire because we were searching for a catcher last year and by the end of the season he was good. He garnered All-SEC freshman honors. He is a middle of the order hitter who can throw out runners. He is from California. He should be even better this year. Junior Josh Lovelady, 6-0 190 backs him up. He is a JC transfer from Alabama. He is a very tough kid who swings a good bat. He really came on in the fall. Senior Cody Walker, 5-10 204 continues to battle for the back up role. He was a JC transfer last year.

2015 Season: Corner Infielders

First Base

I am going to start with a 5 year senior and a captain and a leader. Wes Rea, 6-5 270 has been the starting first baseman going on 4 years. He had shoulder surgery is true freshman campaign and was redshirted. Really from the start of last year, he struggled at the plate offensively. Pitchers would throw inside on him, still had some big hits in spots. We all cheered for him in the SEC tournament. He worked hard over the summer and fall to correct this. By all indications, he has greatly improved. He should start every 2015 game. Behind him are 2 newcomers to the program. Jr college transfer, Trent Waddell, 6-3 210 is battling true freshman Cole Gordon, 6-6 240 for the back up role. Both bat from the left side and both can pitch, Waddell is a lefty while Gordon is a righty. Waddell is a grinder and a tough kid. Gordon has a huge frame and has a lot of potential as a two way player. Both should get playing time at both positions in order to get ready for expanded 2016 duties.

Third Base

Senior Matthew Britton, 6-1 195 while injured most of the fall should be the favorite to man the hot corner. He has vast experience over the 2 newcomers. Britton also bats left. He has struggled to find a consistent offensive stroke in the preceding years. He found a home at 3B last year and made dazzling play after play. He has the strongest arm on the infield too. If he could make strides offensively, he would surely be drafted in June. Again, like 1B, there are two brand new newcomers behind Britton but they are both JC transfers who bring college experience to the team. Junior Matt Spruill,6-1 190 hails from Virgina but played JC ball in Texas. His older brother pitches in the Major Leagues. Sophomore Luke Reynolds, 6-2 180 is from Mississippi. Spruill bats right while Reynolds bats left. Reynolds really impressed the coaches with his dirt bag play at third and strong throwing arm. He came to State as a good hitter. I do foresee both these guys getting playing time at other infield positions too. Reynolds because he bats left has a real good chance to be the left handed DH. Reynolds when he gets some experience might turn out to be a really good player.

Getting there-January 12th

The holidays are behind us and now we focus on the upcoming baseball season. Collegiate Baseball has released their preseason poll and we start the year 20th. Perfect Game will release college related articles over the next several weeks and I will glean anything from those and post.

Other than that, no really big news since the end of fall practice. I know the players have worked hard in the weight room, etc. Practice will start at the end of January.