Thoughts on upcoming season

[CockyChrisCox]

Obviously, the strength of the team will be the infield with Smoak, Crisp, Havens, and Darnell. I think Havens pieces it together with his bat as he did really well in summer leagues this past year. I think the only potential flaw with the infield will be Phil Disher at C because he's definitely not a sharp defensive player. Much like Kline, he will struggle throwing out baserunners. I think that if it becomes a repeating problem, Endors will finally get his look at C, because he was very successful in pinch hitting situations.

The outfield looks to be a little young, as freshmen are projected to start at CF and LF. Another guy not projected to start that you need to look out for is Jose Rodriguez. He'll be a beast. Harley Lail is the only experienced outfielder returning, hopefully his bat will continue to come along.

Pitching wise, I think we'll struggle. Sorry, we haven't been very strong pitching wise in a couple of years- and i'm just banking on it continuing again. We lost two very strong pitchers in Hempy and Honeycutt, and Jay Brown is unproven and Will Atwood has struggled at times. The top returning P is Mike Cisco, who struggled at times as well last year (remember the vandy game?)

Overall, I think we'll reach the post season again with a strong nonconference record and an average SEC record, as has been the case the last few seasons. I think we have the potential to win a regional, but I think we fall short of Omaha in the supers yet again.

Here is my projected starting lineup:
C- Phil Disher
1B- Justin Smoak
2B- Andrew Crisp
SS- Reese Havens
3B- James Darnell
LF- Justin Hopper/Jose Rodriguez (Fr)
CF- Whit Merrifield (Fr)
RF- Harley Lail

Projected rotation:
Mike Cisco
Will Atwood
Blake Cooper

4, 5, 6
Jay Brown, Craig Thomas, Parker Bangs

We better make it to the series this year because next season will be a massive overhaul as we'll more than likely have to replace our entire infield.

[mattcock9]

Good points, but I think we will be stronger this year than last. No one in America will be able to field an infield with the power the Gamecocks will have. I predict the infield starters alone to have 80+ home runs and think our pitching staff will come around although mostly untested. Blake Cooper has proven he can hang with the big dogs and I am sure someone will step up to fill the remaining starting spots.
As for Disher, I will agree that he is not as sharp of a defensive catcher as Kline, however, his arm is much better than Kline. He is not as agile behind the plate, but can absolutely burn it down to second. If he struggles, I feel Endors can step in a produce as a young catcher. Tanner has stated he thinks this team is special and I am anxious to see the yardcocks take to the Sarge for the second farewell tour.

[big cock fan]

hopefully some of these pitchers can step it up, these kids our young and can really improve greatly from year to year.

[willy]

hopefully some of these pitchers can step it up, these kids our young and can really improve greatly from year to year.



They will step up and get it done. We are going to be much better and win a natl. championship. We are on a mission, GO YARDCOCKS.

[spartcock77]

I think the big thing with the pitching this year is that we will have more depth, but i think a key will be to solidify the closer position in the bullpen because we did not have that until the end of the year last year with jeffords and hopefully someone can step up and we can avoid blowing leads late in the game like we seemed to do too often last year. Maybe it will be Costner or Wideburg

[gacock]

Good insight, but there are a few players you may have overlooked, in key positions in the outfield. Most notably, the two in left field, Jonathon Ratledge and Justin Hopper. Ratledge hit the ball very hard in the Garnet and Black Weekend Series, and hit the game winning HR for the Garnet in game 3.

Hopper led the team in the Fall with hits and can really motor when on base. He looks comfortable in the outfield (defensively). He has a good arm from the outfield too (pitched in H.S.), something we have needed in that position. I heard his name mentioned as possibly pitching some this year.

I can see Rodriquez getting some time in the OF, as an occasional DH/PH if Disher isn't DH'ing. He may have a tough time breaking in as a starter in the outfield because of the talents of Lail, Merrifield (great [pitcher's] arm) in CF and Ratledge and Hopper in LF.

Winter ball will help in judging the three players mentioned; carry-over from Fall is crucial for all three. But these three are the ones to watch as the season unfolds.

We will see come February 1st.

Go Gamecocks!!!

gacock