Signs of Improvement

[Roustabout]

I've spent some time over the last two weeks pondering the question that gets posed at times here in the baseball forum, "After three years of the Serrano Era, are we really any better?"

I think for those that follow the team regularly, the easy answer is yes. But for many folks who just see the results or the record or the fact that we didn't make a regional, the answer may not be as clear cut.

I've put together a few things, if I posted it all in one post few would take the time to digest it all, so I figured I'd do a little at time, hopefully it will spark some discussion as we head to the off season, summer ball, recruiting etc...These are the pitchers that pitched in the given season and may not reflect every pitcher that was on the roster.

*Andrew Lee did not pitch his freshman year due to injury.

The Rebuild

Everyone knows the importance of pitching in this league, you really need 4 solid starters, at least 3 with some reliable relief and a great closer.

The first set of stats/chart shows the pitchers CDS inherited from Raleigh, which of those (IN RED) made it to year 1 of CDS, which carried over to year two, who was new(IN BLACK), etc...

Pretty telling huh?

When CDS goes into his second season, he carries only four pitchers with experience into the season. It certainly looks like a total rebuild and to be fair, it looks like we missed on some guys in terms of recruiting.

Whether one looks at the ERA or the fact that we lose only Williams and Saberhagen in the coming season...the pitching is in the best shape it has been in in sometime.

Look at the improvement overall with the individual pitchers the last two years for other positive signs...Imagine if KS improves to the same degree as Andy Cox for instance.

Obviously, we need to shore up what we have and bring in a couple of others, but we've moved from the bottom of the SEC to solidly the middle of the SEC in terms of pitching, and the pieces are there to take the next step IMO.

EDIT: I just caught that I had Peterson in red, he shouldn't be, he's a new juco like Lenstrohm...apologies.

Didnt one of the best pitchers transfer and have a great year at another school? Haven't heard CDS answer for this one.

 

[Backwards K]

If you are going to show up only to complain about a coach, at least have enough facts to fully explain what you are whining about.

 

[vol66]

Didnt one of the best pitchers transfer and have a great year at another school? Haven't heard CDS answer for this one.

I guess you are talking about Conner Stevens who transferred to Duke. He had to sit out last year due to the transfer policy.

This season he made 20 appearances, 1 start...1-0, with a 3.34 ERA, 35 IP...

I don't know if that's great...compares to Lenstrohm on this year's squad. Steven's numbers are a tad better.

Jared Allen ended up having a good career at MTSU, not as a pitcher though. Zajac is there too, injured this season I believe.

Flax is at La Salle, Vanderplas is at UMBC, Quillen and Esparza had good years at C.C.'s...

 

[firestorm]

I think he's more talking along the lines of Morgado, Gomes, Lockwood, Hernandez, Crnkovich, Wiltz, Everett, Davis, Simunic, Forsythe, Polk, Liles, Brown, etc. Those are some very good ballplayers right there. Should have been a lot better than we were. I guess it came down to the attempt at a metaphor with all of us "burning our ships" in a trash can. It was probably more accurate metaphor for a dumpster fire, but oh well.

Cody Stubbs is likely who you are thinking of.

Not it's Polk a great hitter.