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Totally agree, we are just an unknown right now...
Posted on: January 19, 2017 at 09:38:11 CT
bluetiger_ MU
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primarily because of the young, unproven pitching staff. But also due to losing 3 of the best hitters in Mizzou history.
Offensively some of the freshmen have to step up; I'm thinking Kessinger and Burnside here, hopefully others too. And our best returning hitters need to come through and take it up a notch too: Sanchez, Rathburn, Pierce, and Nash. Someone needs to replace the runs lost with Fagan, Crane and Gadbois graduating.
But in the end this season will be defined by what kind of pitching we get. And with that being largely an unknown, the range of how good or bad this team could be is much larger than in any previous season since Chelsea Thomas was here. In the last 6 seasons I could say confidently that we would finish somewhere between 10 and 16, maybe a little higher if everything fell into place, and host a home regional.
That is still possible this year, depending on the pitching. But we almost have to draw an inside straight. Conrad has to be very good, and healthy, from day 1, and keep us in games against elite teams. Madi Norman has to be effective, after barely pitching competitively for nearly 2 years. And Baumgartner need to step up to another level. If all those things happen we can still be a top 20 type team. If not though, if it turns into a pitching by committee situation, and lots of 8-6, 10-8 games, I could see this team losing 20-25 games and being tough #2 seed on the road when the NCAA tourney rolls around.
I think after the first 15 games of the season, and right before we open the new stadium with Oregon coming to town, we will know a lot more about how the season will play out. By that time we will have played teams like James Madison, Arizona State, Washington, Texas, and Notre Dame. And we will know how this young, untested pitching staff responds.
Offensively some of the freshmen have to step up; I'm thinking Kessinger and Burnside here, hopefully others too. And our best returning hitters need to come through and take it up a notch too: Sanchez, Rathburn, Pierce, and Nash. Someone needs to replace the runs lost with Fagan, Crane and Gadbois graduating.
But in the end this season will be defined by what kind of pitching we get. And with that being largely an unknown, the range of how good or bad this team could be is much larger than in any previous season since Chelsea Thomas was here. In the last 6 seasons I could say confidently that we would finish somewhere between 10 and 16, maybe a little higher if everything fell into place, and host a home regional.
That is still possible this year, depending on the pitching. But we almost have to draw an inside straight. Conrad has to be very good, and healthy, from day 1, and keep us in games against elite teams. Madi Norman has to be effective, after barely pitching competitively for nearly 2 years. And Baumgartner need to step up to another level. If all those things happen we can still be a top 20 type team. If not though, if it turns into a pitching by committee situation, and lots of 8-6, 10-8 games, I could see this team losing 20-25 games and being tough #2 seed on the road when the NCAA tourney rolls around.
I think after the first 15 games of the season, and right before we open the new stadium with Oregon coming to town, we will know a lot more about how the season will play out. By that time we will have played teams like James Madison, Arizona State, Washington, Texas, and Notre Dame. And we will know how this young, untested pitching staff responds.
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Totally agree, we are just an unknown right now... - bluetiger_ MU - 1/19 09:38:11