I have a little different take. I don't think the upperclassmen are thinking about the draft as much as they are looking over their shoulders at the talented freshman, especially Humphries and Beard. They are pressing and the numbers are dropping. If they don't get drafted, do they come back knowing they will probably play even less. Its different now with the portal. FR used to wait their turn but now with the portal its easy enough to find somewhere to play right away.
I'm not saying the FR are running away, its the draft eligible juniors and seniors that are not highly rank that might considered the transfer portal if they know the FR will continue to get the playing time as sophomores.
I get that too. Thing is, if they don’t produce now they will sit. If they don’t produce now they will find it hard to find a landing spot for a transfer.
Knap a shining example of the guy that got a "rest" and responded like I would expect him to. He's played pretty well since...
Schedule doesn't get any easier. Both BC and WF are highly ranked teams and then throw a ranked UK team in the middle. We will quickly see what this team is made of. Go Cards!
I think the struggles actually started before league play did. I don't think they're as bad as they're playing now,but not as lofty as we all hoped. They could turn it around but there are a bunch of guys that have to get themselves untracked. Most have been successful already in ACC play.
Because we always load up on mostly northern teams just needing to play games, I normally try to wait until we get to ACC play before making an Omaha prediction. For me, it is always about the pitching, which is very suspect. Hawks is a two pitch guy, who tends to get rocked 3rd time through the lineup. Farone was a JUCO player of the year, but ACC demands another level of pitching. Liggett is doing well but I think if we switch him to Friday, which is typically your ace starting, he might not fare as well. Its really the bullpen that is suspect to me. Kuenhner probably is our best choice as closer but when you win all those early season games by several runs, your closer doesn't get into those high pressure games. These pitchers don't have to be perfect unless our offense is not clicking, which is happening now. If we can get the bats going, I see us in the field. Not sure about hosting though. Hopefully, Im wrong! Go Cards! Lets take 2 of 3 from BC. That's a start.
I get why Mac is staying with Humphrey for now. He led the team in hitting against ACC last season. I think he'll get the benefit of the doubt for a couple more weeks 🤔
I will play along. So lets say we do move Tate to a starter. Who is our closer? Who has the stuff and mentality? I don't believe you can do a bullpen by committee every game. Biven is a FR and hasn't exactly been lights out except for non conference teams.
I guess whichever guy gets moved out of the weekend rotation. Ok,I've got you as running cold on it. That's fine 🙂
I'm sorry, no disrespect but are you just saying that because they are on the roster and they haven't had a chance?
I agree. Forbes is young and shows promise. None of those other guys deserve the title "closer".
I tend to agree that is pitching related. I'm certainly not advocating anything about Roger because of what he has done with our past pitchers but I wonder with the new technology along with just the different thinking of spin rates that Roger may have a tough time communicating how it relates to his philosophy. I can't see him as a guy who is going to change how he coaches. I could definitely be totally wrong.
Totally get where you are coming from but we're not the only team that does it but every team before the season starts develops a weekend rotation and a midweek potential starter or starters. Starting pitchers have to have a routine, what days are bullpens, what days are conditioning, what days are rest days. All of that is set on a schedule. Yeah, its a little easier say switching a Friday guy to Saturday and you think hey its no big deal but it means an extra day of rest and your body has to adjust. Typically when you make a change it means missing a start or pitching sooner than you wanted. That's not what Roger or Mac wants because if it disrupts the pitchers well... Now if there's an injury, that's a different story. Starters need a regular routine and even relievers like to know that day if they are in the rotation. So that's why sometimes you can't just put the next guy in. For example, lets say Weigman does a bullpen on Wed so he can pitch on Friday. Well, he doesn't get in the game on Friday and then we don't need him until Sunday. He hasn't pitch with any substance for 4 days. Bottom line, that's why Dan tries to stick with the routine because it is easier if the pitchers make adjustments and get back on track rather than having to make changes.
30 pitches is about the max a guy can pitch in one game and come back and throw the next. Also depends if the guy is a hard thrower or soft guy. Don't discount the number of pitches they throw in the bullpen just warming up. Plus with a college staff of pitchers, you shouldn't have to pitch a guy two days in a row.
