Just from watching a ton of ball to start the year I have a couple of observations. I’ve see OM, LSU, GA, Arky, Vandy, and MSU several times already this year.
First pitching wise, we are top 2-3 in the SEC from depth and top level power arms. Just a lot of very good to great arms and the biggest difference between us and the other top staffs in the SEC (and Texas for that matter) is we do NOT walk people. Teams are going to have beat us by hitting the ball. We have a lot of guys that can pound the zone and can throw at least 2 pitches for a strike any time in the count. Holding runners and catcher are our biggest weakness.
Hitting wise I think we are right up there with LSU as the best and deepest in the conference. MSU, OM, Arky and Vandy all have 4-5-6 guys that can hurt you but we really have 1-12 that can rake. And we have cut down on our strikeout rate (which was our big weakness last year IMO). Our biggest problem is how to get all these great bats we have in the lineup. Who would have thought going into this year that Kyle B would have already been surpassed by 2-3 players that need to be in the lineup? Now I do think KB is going to work it out at some point but his biggest challenge going forward is getting PT ahead of these other guys.
I will say that I have not seen FL but maybe 3-4 innings this year so I don’t really have an opinion.
Also I’ll throw this in. I was NOT that impressed by Texas and hope we get to play them again this year. That will mean we both made it to Omaha more than likely. Their #1 pitcher IS very good but we actually squared up a ton of balls off him and just hit it right at people. I would be shocked if any team hits him as hard as we did this weekend. Their closer is legit but their other relievers are not that great. Again it’s March so it’s an early sample but I see us getting better as the year goes. I got a feeling CTV and staff are looking at what they have right now and are just stoked about getting into SEC play. This team has potential to win a lot of games and get back to Omaha. If we do get Blade and the other kid back, we will have the best and deepest staff in the SEC.
First pitching wise, we are top 2-3 in the SEC from depth and top level power arms. Just a lot of very good to great arms and the biggest difference between us and the other top staffs in the SEC (and Texas for that matter) is we do NOT walk people. Teams are going to have beat us by hitting the ball. We have a lot of guys that can pound the zone and can throw at least 2 pitches for a strike any time in the count. Holding runners and catcher are our biggest weakness.
Hitting wise I think we are right up there with LSU as the best and deepest in the conference. MSU, OM, Arky and Vandy all have 4-5-6 guys that can hurt you but we really have 1-12 that can rake. And we have cut down on our strikeout rate (which was our big weakness last year IMO). Our biggest problem is how to get all these great bats we have in the lineup. Who would have thought going into this year that Kyle B would have already been surpassed by 2-3 players that need to be in the lineup? Now I do think KB is going to work it out at some point but his biggest challenge going forward is getting PT ahead of these other guys.
I will say that I have not seen FL but maybe 3-4 innings this year so I don’t really have an opinion.
Also I’ll throw this in. I was NOT that impressed by Texas and hope we get to play them again this year. That will mean we both made it to Omaha more than likely. Their #1 pitcher IS very good but we actually squared up a ton of balls off him and just hit it right at people. I would be shocked if any team hits him as hard as we did this weekend. Their closer is legit but their other relievers are not that great. Again it’s March so it’s an early sample but I see us getting better as the year goes. I got a feeling CTV and staff are looking at what they have right now and are just stoked about getting into SEC play. This team has potential to win a lot of games and get back to Omaha. If we do get Blade and the other kid back, we will have the best and deepest staff in the SEC.
