Please please please give us this draw (assuming we don't host).....

[Hoover Dawg]

https://d1baseball.com/projections/field-64-projection-may-16/

I like our odds with Pilkington against USM. Sucks being paired up with UNC but I can't imagine an easier regional, even if we hosted. To get to Omaha, you have to play someone good anyway.

I have a feeling this is one of those years where we win a road regional and then luck into a super at home when another host loses.

 

[wpmusm]

Don't think Pilkington would start vs SELA? They aren't a scrub.

 

[11thEagleFan]

I think USM and State would both feel good about that draw. You guys have Pilk, but we'd throw McCarty. Would be a great matchup. Two pretty evenly matched teams, IMO.

 

[Dawgsnsaints]

Would be my preference since I live here and would attend all the games. USM is no slouch at all and it would be fun matchup.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

You'd be nervous as hell (assuming you care about baseball). In that case, MSU would have nothing to lose and the bullseye would be on you. How would the team handle those expectations?

But yes, don't take this to mean I don't think USM is a good team, they are. No disrespect intended there.

 

[MSUDC11]

USM is really, really good. They can flat out rake.

Let's win two this weekend and not have to worry about it.

 

[wpmusm]

The offense is elite. But as with most USM teams, pitching is the question mark. Starting pitching has been very good since we tweaked our rotation two weeks ago. But the bullpen is a worry of mine. Middle relief in particular has been a weakness here in the past couple weeks. And even our closer (who has been lights out until recently) has struggled a little of late.

Lot of ball still left to play. USM still needs to take care of business in San Antonio and State can still play themselves in a host spot with a series win vs LSU. And if this projection did pan out, not a guarantee USM/State play. SELA is pretty good and Wright State is a damn good #4 (took 2/3 at Clemson this year and was a regional finalist last year).

 

[wpmusm]

Not so sure the bullseye would be on USM.

I think State would be seen as the favorite by the Mississippi media, and probably by the national media as well.

 

[MSUDC11]

Also, I think we pitch Pilkington in game one regardless of if we are a 1 seed or a 2 seed. We don't have the pitching depth to try to get cute in game one. Easy way for us to end up in the loser's bracket.

 

[patdog]

It's not about winning game 1. It's about winning BOTH game 1 and game 2. That's the ONLY way to stay out of the losers bracket.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

We have about zero chance to winning a regional through the loser's bracket anyway.

 

[Xenomorph]

Mississippi media.. LOL

 

[Hoover Dawg]

Bro, theoretically we are overachieving in, once the arm injuries hit, a rebuilding a year. We aren't even supposed to be here.

 

[wpmusm]

I understand.

Like someone on our board said, State is vulnerable by #1 seed standards. But dangerous by #2 seed standards. Don't know if I want MSU here.

Of course, if State isn't our #2, it's going to be someone just as good or better. Likely Vandy, A&M, or Florida State. All teams that are beatable, but much much more talented than we are.

 

[wpmusm]

Figured one of you would get a kick out of that.

 

[11thEagleFan]

Disagree with your assessment that teams like FSU, Vandy, and aTm are "much, much, more talented" than us. Normally that would be the case, even for a "good" USM team, but guys like Wallner, Braley, Burdeaux, McCarty, and Sandlin are as good as just about anybody in the country at their respective positions. I've watched these guys a lot, and I think this team has the most raw talent of any USM team I've ever seen. If Keys can come back around, and he's shown signs that he's getting back to form, our bullpen will be fine. Our 3 man rotation is stout. Keys and Roberts are looking better. Driver is solid in relief. Wallner can come in when needed. There's not a weakness in the lineup.

In reply to another poster, State doesn't make me nervous, although I respect them as a team. That's not meant as a slight, I think State could very well beat USM. The year your team has had, especially when considering injuries, is remarkable. If the injury bug hadn't hit you so hard, I think this year would have been a monster for MSU. And Rooker may be the best player in college ball. But I'd love to see that matchup in Hattiesburg. Would be a great atmosphere with two great teams.

 

[wpmusm]

There is some solid talent on this USM team.

Wallner will probably be a 1st or 2nd round pick in 2019. McCarty could be picked up in the first 5 rounds this year. Guys like Braley, Burdeaux, Keating, and Roberts will be drafted this year.

But compared to teams like Vandy, A&M, and FSU, there isn't much of a comparison. Just looking at D1's midseason top 100 college prospects, Vandy has two guys in the top 5 and three overall in the top 100. Florida State has two in the top 75 (and that doesn't even include a freshman like Drew Mendoza). Corbin Martin from A&M will be a high draft pick in June as will Braden Shewmake in a couple years.

That's not to say we can't beat these teams, we can. Just saying that we would be at a talent disadvantage.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

There is some solid talent on this USM team.

Wallner will probably be a 1st or 2nd round pick in 2019. McCarty could be picked up in the first 5 rounds this year. Guys like Braley, Burdeaux, Keating, and Roberts will be drafted this year.

But compared to teams like Vandy, A&M, and FSU, there isn't much of a comparison. Just looking at D1's midseason top 100 college prospects, Vandy has two guys in the top 5 and three overall in the top 100. Florida State has two in the top 75 (and that doesn't even include a freshman like Drew Mendoza). Corbin Martin from A&M will be a high draft pick in June as will Braden Shewmake in a couple years.

That's not to say we can't beat these teams, we can. Just saying that we would be at a talent disadvantage.

How does MSU stack up with those teams, just out of curiosity, using those metrics?

 

[wpmusm]

State has two players on the D1 midseason top 100 college prospect list.

Rooker at #39 and Mangum at #42.