Coach McDonnell's players overachieved. It's been abundantly clear since April that this squad didn't have the pitching to get to Omaha, and beyond that an almost certain quick out if they did. Poland is Exhibit A...when we were last in Omaha he was a part time second baseman and a spot reliever with good power stuff that was still working on getting harnessed. This year as the eventual Friday guy he would frequently be considered as a six inning max pitcher; the Saturday and Sunday people were revolving door. Prosecky spent time on the shelf at a pretty critical stage of the season that probably cost some seeding. When it was all said and done we didn't have a Justin Marks, Funkhauser, McKay, Detmer or Bobby Miller at the front end, and no Magnuson, Tony Zych, Nick or Zach Burdi or McAlvaine caliber arms on the back end. A Bryan Hoeing or Drew Harrington caliber setup man. Prosecky could reach that level, but they had to nurse him a little late in league play.
...some of CDM's out of the woodwork detractors would reflexively counter with why don't we have those arms at the front and back end like he has had historically then sprint over to Roger Williams; but this program is now competing with MLB to keep kids from getting drafted in a way it wasn't the first ten years in Dan's tenure. I vividly remember losing one pitcher to the majors in his first three years--Jake Odorizzi--and he's still pitching in the majors...now we seem to lose a minimum of three preps in every Signing Class. The Jo Adels, the Jarred Kelenic's, the Daylen Lile's as position players. I suspect we'll see preps Cam Collier, Gavin Kilen and Jacob Miller as first day draftees with a shot of that with Dickerson also.
We did see some things consistent with prior editions--a spectacular fielding Centerfielder that not only rivaled but exceeded the reputation Adam Engel still has for pulling dingers back into the yard, power hitting in a number of slots in the order and a quality catching tandem. Quality defensive work from the rightfielder. Aggressiveness on the basepaths.
All of that said...Salud Coach McDonnell, and thanks to the team for a squad that battled all year. It felt good to get the blood of the SuperRegionals pumping through the program again.
...some of CDM's out of the woodwork detractors would reflexively counter with why don't we have those arms at the front and back end like he has had historically then sprint over to Roger Williams; but this program is now competing with MLB to keep kids from getting drafted in a way it wasn't the first ten years in Dan's tenure. I vividly remember losing one pitcher to the majors in his first three years--Jake Odorizzi--and he's still pitching in the majors...now we seem to lose a minimum of three preps in every Signing Class. The Jo Adels, the Jarred Kelenic's, the Daylen Lile's as position players. I suspect we'll see preps Cam Collier, Gavin Kilen and Jacob Miller as first day draftees with a shot of that with Dickerson also.
We did see some things consistent with prior editions--a spectacular fielding Centerfielder that not only rivaled but exceeded the reputation Adam Engel still has for pulling dingers back into the yard, power hitting in a number of slots in the order and a quality catching tandem. Quality defensive work from the rightfielder. Aggressiveness on the basepaths.
All of that said...Salud Coach McDonnell, and thanks to the team for a squad that battled all year. It felt good to get the blood of the SuperRegionals pumping through the program again.
