morgan n' 7
02-01-2008, 01:42 AM
Tanner must run with new arms
Coaches dispute perception that pitching has not carried its weight
By SETH EMERSON
The first preseason baseball poll had USC ranked second. The next one had it 12th. The most recent one put it in the No. 3 spot.
With the Gamecocks starting practice today, this much seems certain: If their pitching is more consistent than the polls, the top-three rankings are more likely to be correct.
Coach Ray Tanner’s team begins this season with typically high expectations, but they are predicated almost entirely on hitting: If the Gamecocks do not hit well this season, with four major league prospects in the infield, it will be a huge surprise.
The question is whether the Gamecocks’ uncertain pitching staff can become a strength?
After offseason injuries knocked out several candidates for the rotation, Tanner is taking a cautious approach with his staff.
“They don’t have to throw shutouts. We’ll score some runs,” Tanner said.
“Occasionally, we’ll run into a pitcher that’ll get the best of us. But we should score our share of runs. We should take a lot of pressure off our pitching staff.”
Not that Tanner or pitching coach Mark Calvi are expecting little of their pitchers. But with no players returning to their regular roles, there is concern.
Gone from last year’s staff are the top two starters: right-hander Harris Honeycutt (8-5, 3.47 ERA) and left-hander Arik Hempy (7-3, 3.58). Also gone are the top two relievers: Jeff Jeffords (6-1, team-leading 3.12 ERA) and Wynn Pelzer (2-2, 5.22).
So what does that leave? Tanner and Calvi say they have some good pitchers, but each of them will be called on to do more this season.
Junior Mike Cisco will be asked to go from being a regular starter to the top one. Blake Cooper will be counted on to improve on his surprising freshman season. Will Atwood or Craig Thomas, or both, will be counted on to emerge as a left-handed starter.
The bullpen has more questions. Will senior Curtis Johnson step into Jeffords’ late-inning role? Will Jordan Costner be healthy enough to be the setup man? And what about the lack of lefty relievers?
Tanner would have liked to have had big right-hander Jay Brown, a former 18th-round draft pick who began last year as a starter. He also would have liked to have had the services of freshmen left-handers Brandon Miller and Steven Neff. But all three are shelved because of injuries.
“It’s time to elevate,” said Tanner.In a program with so much success the past decade, fans have had little to criticize. But some have pointed to the pitching and Calvi’s stewardship the past three seasons. Tanner has apparently heard the talk, bringing up the subject himself recently.
He pointed out that Gamecocks pitchers have had ERAs of less than 4.00 in two of the past three years, and they ranked third in the nation in strikeouts last year.
“Our pitching staff and coach Calvi have been criticized probably unfairly,” Tanner said. “If you look at the last two or three years, the numbers are pretty good. But everyone wants that 14-2, Friday-night automatic guy.
But I think (Calvi’s) done a good job with our staff. I’m certainly pleased with where they are.”
When asked if he felt unjustly criticized, Calvi thought for a second before saying no.
“Expectations around here are high, from a coaches’ standpoint, from a players’ standpoint, from a fans’ standpoint,” Calvi said. “The success that coach Tanner has had here has raised the bar. Fans expect a team that is going to go to the College World Series every year. And we as coaches think we can go to Omaha every year.”
Even with the offense expected to be potent this season, Calvi said he is not taking a no-pressure approach with his staff.
“Absolutely not, because then that becomes a crutch,” he said.
Tanner, coaching the entire team, has the benefit of taking the overall view.
“If we can pitch in the (top) three or four in the SEC and keep our ERA under 4.00, we’re going to be in the hunt,” Tanner said.
Reach Emerson at (803) 771-8676.
http://www.thestate.com/gamecocks/story/303475.html
Coaches dispute perception that pitching has not carried its weight
By SETH EMERSON
The first preseason baseball poll had USC ranked second. The next one had it 12th. The most recent one put it in the No. 3 spot.
With the Gamecocks starting practice today, this much seems certain: If their pitching is more consistent than the polls, the top-three rankings are more likely to be correct.
Coach Ray Tanner’s team begins this season with typically high expectations, but they are predicated almost entirely on hitting: If the Gamecocks do not hit well this season, with four major league prospects in the infield, it will be a huge surprise.
The question is whether the Gamecocks’ uncertain pitching staff can become a strength?
After offseason injuries knocked out several candidates for the rotation, Tanner is taking a cautious approach with his staff.
“They don’t have to throw shutouts. We’ll score some runs,” Tanner said.
“Occasionally, we’ll run into a pitcher that’ll get the best of us. But we should score our share of runs. We should take a lot of pressure off our pitching staff.”
Not that Tanner or pitching coach Mark Calvi are expecting little of their pitchers. But with no players returning to their regular roles, there is concern.
Gone from last year’s staff are the top two starters: right-hander Harris Honeycutt (8-5, 3.47 ERA) and left-hander Arik Hempy (7-3, 3.58). Also gone are the top two relievers: Jeff Jeffords (6-1, team-leading 3.12 ERA) and Wynn Pelzer (2-2, 5.22).
So what does that leave? Tanner and Calvi say they have some good pitchers, but each of them will be called on to do more this season.
Junior Mike Cisco will be asked to go from being a regular starter to the top one. Blake Cooper will be counted on to improve on his surprising freshman season. Will Atwood or Craig Thomas, or both, will be counted on to emerge as a left-handed starter.
The bullpen has more questions. Will senior Curtis Johnson step into Jeffords’ late-inning role? Will Jordan Costner be healthy enough to be the setup man? And what about the lack of lefty relievers?
Tanner would have liked to have had big right-hander Jay Brown, a former 18th-round draft pick who began last year as a starter. He also would have liked to have had the services of freshmen left-handers Brandon Miller and Steven Neff. But all three are shelved because of injuries.
“It’s time to elevate,” said Tanner.In a program with so much success the past decade, fans have had little to criticize. But some have pointed to the pitching and Calvi’s stewardship the past three seasons. Tanner has apparently heard the talk, bringing up the subject himself recently.
He pointed out that Gamecocks pitchers have had ERAs of less than 4.00 in two of the past three years, and they ranked third in the nation in strikeouts last year.
“Our pitching staff and coach Calvi have been criticized probably unfairly,” Tanner said. “If you look at the last two or three years, the numbers are pretty good. But everyone wants that 14-2, Friday-night automatic guy.
But I think (Calvi’s) done a good job with our staff. I’m certainly pleased with where they are.”
When asked if he felt unjustly criticized, Calvi thought for a second before saying no.
“Expectations around here are high, from a coaches’ standpoint, from a players’ standpoint, from a fans’ standpoint,” Calvi said. “The success that coach Tanner has had here has raised the bar. Fans expect a team that is going to go to the College World Series every year. And we as coaches think we can go to Omaha every year.”
Even with the offense expected to be potent this season, Calvi said he is not taking a no-pressure approach with his staff.
“Absolutely not, because then that becomes a crutch,” he said.
Tanner, coaching the entire team, has the benefit of taking the overall view.
“If we can pitch in the (top) three or four in the SEC and keep our ERA under 4.00, we’re going to be in the hunt,” Tanner said.
Reach Emerson at (803) 771-8676.
http://www.thestate.com/gamecocks/story/303475.html