Baseball Season 2025

[pancho]

Parker has several guys who have a P by their name on the roster but few of them are actual SEC Pitchers.

[Bulldogs4]

Or fall behind early, rally in the middle only to lose late. 

[Dawg83]

3 hours ago, pancho said:

Parker has several guys who have a P by their name on the roster but few of them are actual SEC Pitchers.

Definitely feel like his staff has taken a step back from last year. I realize they lost two very good front line starters off last year’s team and some other quality bullpen arms. But other than Pico, this is not an imposing pitching staff at all.

Edited March 28, 2025 by Dawg83

[Dawg83]

3 hours ago, pancho said:

Parker has several guys who have a P by their name on the roster but few of them are actual SEC Pitchers.

Definitely feel like his staff has taken a step back from last year. I realize they lost two very good front line starters. But other than Pico, this is not an imposing pitching staff at all.

[Bulldogs4]

Easiest way for State not to score?

Just put a man on third. Guaranteed to remain there until 3 outs are recorded. 
On a bright note, Simmons had a solid outing. Considering what that guy has been through, you  have to be pulling for him to have a good year.

I can’t imagine going three years without playing a game and then coming back after those injuries. 

[Dawg83]

Lemonis’s fall from grace will be something that gets talked about for a long time by State fans.

[maroontide06]

1 hour ago, Dawg83 said:

Lemonis’s fall from grace will be something that gets talked about for a long time by State fans.

I don’t want to talk about it.  I want him in the rear view mirror.

[Dawg83]

State got swept. 16-12 (1-8) now. The schedule the rest of the way does include some winnable series, but you’re talking needing to finish 12-9 or 13-8 just to make the NCAAT. Feels like it’s going to be very tough given how terrible this team’s record is against antibody with a pulse.

[David44]

Yep, it's doable, just no margin for error now. I think hosting is out the window. And that's a shame, considering

 the atmosphere you get with those at Dudy Noble. As to Lemonis, he just doesn't seem to be invested enough.

And if the coach isn't invested, hard to expect the players to be either.

 

 

[Dawg83]

I said after last season that I believed there would be a coaching change this summer and I still believe that.

Edited March 30, 2025 by Dawg83

[Bulldogs4]

Certainly give Lemonis credit for the NC in 2021 but it feels more and more that was just a happenstance that he was the coach. 
Almost wish that Henderson had been retained full time after the job he did in 2018. 
I am one that is conservative when it comes to coaching changes but this train derailed in 2022 and really has never gotten back to the track (last year withstanding). And even last year we cost ourselves hosting by losing 2-3 OOC games we had no business losing.

 

A third of the way into the conference season and we are on track for a 3-27/4-26 finish. Not exactly confidence inspiring so far. 

[pancho]

Henderson would have been the HC were it not for 1 guy........Cohen

[BrickCity]

So if there is any hope for post season, we basically need to win every series from here on out? Thoughts?

[Dawg83]

58 minutes ago, BrickCity said:

So if there is any hope for post season, we basically need to win every series from here on out? Thoughts?

You’ve gotta get to 13-17 in SEC play at a minimum to have a chance. So that would be a 12-9 finish. And there are some winnable series (UF and SC at home, at Mizzou). But also some really tough ones (at Bama and Auburn, Ole Miss at home).

 

Doesn’t feel likely at all. They’ve played 14 games against teams with a pulse and are 2-12 in them. Only wins are the midweek win against USM and the Friday game at Oklahoma. Other than that, this team does not beat other good teams.

Edited March 31, 2025 by Dawg83

[Former Coach]

A change definitely has to be made, but where do you go? Corbin, Shoshnagle, MacDonald all turned us down last time that's how we ended up with Lemonis. 

[pancho]

the result would have been different were Cohen not involved

[Dawg83]

19 minutes ago, Former Coach said:

A change definitely has to be made, but where do you go? Corbin, Shoshnagle, MacDonald all turned us down last time that's how we ended up with Lemonis. 

I think you still gotta aim high but don’t get your feelings hurt if people say no.

 

Chris Pollard and Dan Heefner would be my first two calls. Maybe you take a stab at Kirk Saarloos or Mitch Canham. All four of those guys may tell you no, but you at least make the effort.

 

I don’t know if Ostrander would make the jump to State but he’s worth a call, IMO.

 

The absolute floor should be Will Coggin or Lane Burroughs.

[sportsmaniac10]

For Ole Miss, I think you’re obviously happy with the start. But I have a huge concerns and think the top 10 ranking is way too high. We lucked up into having back to back weak opponents early in the SEC schedule. The road gets much tougher from here on out.
 

The pitching is still a crap shoot. No idea what kind of outing you’re gonna get from a lot of the staff. Against Arkansas I wasn’t worried. Arkansas will hit everyone and they have. I was just happy that we were in the series and the games were competitive. You’re a routine grounder away from winning that one most likely. However the series against Missouri was the bigger issue to me. Yes you sweep but you also gave up 22 runs in 3 games to a really horrible Missouri team. Probably one of the worst if not the worst power conference team in the country this year. Then follow that up with giving up 25 runs in 3 games against a struggling Florida team at home. In our last 7 games, we’ve given up 52 runs. We are shockingly 6-1 in those games but any batting slump and the L’s will start to pile up.

 

This weekend will likely be a better gauge for where this team is. Kentucky may be 4-5 in SEC play but their 2 series losses are Georgia and Auburn. So I expect them to be much better than their record or lack of top 25 ranking indicates. Hoping that we will start to see the pitching round into form and the bats stay hot. A series loss on the road to Kentucky doesn’t derail the season but a blowout tells you we probably aren’t finishing top half of the conference.
 

 

[Bulldogs4]

Ostrander would certainly go to State. His salary would double/triple along with the best stadium in the nation, great history. USM is a good job and they have had good success.

But can he win a National Championship there?

Doubtful.

At State, he would certainly have an opportunity to win a National Championship. 
 

It will be interesting to see what happens.

[Dawg83]

7 hours ago, Bulldogs4 said:

Ostrander would certainly go to State. His salary would double/triple along with the best stadium in the nation, great history. USM is a good job and they have had good success.

But can he win a National Championship there?

Doubtful.

At State, he would certainly have an opportunity to win a National Championship. 
 

It will be interesting to see what happens.

Something about me just feels like that’s not the move that ends up happening. Not sure why exactly but I don’t see it.

[Dawg83]

The most fun thing about State baseball this season is Jake Mangum finally making it to the Big Leagues. Got the call over the weekend and went 4 for 4 in his second game. Impossible to not like that guy.

[Bulldogs4]

Interesting that has been a needed to boost to our spirits. Hard to believe that he has not already been in the big leagues yet. 
The guy is a true old style baseball player. 

[maroontide06]

13 hours ago, Dawg83 said:

The most fun thing about State baseball this season is Jake Mangum finally making it to the Big Leagues. Got the call over the weekend and went 4 for 4 in his second game. Impossible to not like that guy.

They need to keep him there as long as possible.  He's a difference maker for sure.

[hasbeen67]

I was going to post about Mangum as well. That's the only excitement you see on social media about MSU baseball. Kind of like Dak for football. Sad when all you have to cheer about are the guys from past glory. 

 

But for both teams, the leadership from guys like that is probably something that's been missing and contributed to the lack of on-field success. Although, that in itself probably isn't all that's been needed. They had that old "will your team to win" thing. 

P.S. You can probably throw basketball in with that too. 

Edited April 1, 2025 by hasbeen67

[Bulldogs4]

Mangum was a big reason we won a NC even if he was not an actual part of the team that did win it. His drive was incredible and he predicted in 2019 that we would win a NC. Those years from 2016 to 2019 set the stage that led to 2021. 
 

While his personality is a bit different, he reminds me of Will Clark. They had that inner drive to be successful and could carry a team when needed. He is going to be uber successful with Tampa. He makes the players around him better.