Next year's lineup, without adding JUCOs or incoming freshmen......

[Hoover Dawg]

Let's assume you add in marginal improvement for all our current starters, this is the type of lineup you're looking at next year:

1 - Mangum - CF - Jr. - .350 or so, needs to learn to take a walk
2 - Stovall - 2B - Jr. - .350 or higher, 1-2 bombs
3 - McNamee - LF - Jr. - potential to get around .300, with some bombs
4 - Vansau - DH - Jr. - same as McNamee, but from the left side
5 - Bragg - 3B - Jr. - .250 and above, with power
6 - Skelton - C - So. - I expect a Gridley type sophomore year, will get the big hits
7 - Alexander - SS - Jr. - just don't be terrible, need marginal improvement, a few bombs here and there
8 - Gordon - 1B - Jr. - need a JUCO to replace him so he can pitch
9 - Poole - RF - Sr. - pretty awful but similar to Alexander, surely some improvement will happen

Not really worried about pitching, should have plenty of options there, may even be looking at cutting people.

I expect to host at minimum. We have 2-3 weak links and we've also got Marshal Gilbert and Alex Pener hopefully coming to campus, there's your C and 1B. Move Skelton to 3B, then Vansau to RF, then Bragg to DH.

Good times ahead. Buy tickets.

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

I don't think Mangum or Bragg will be on Roster next year... both will get drafted... Cole Gordon won't be our first baseman... you also need to add Denver McQuary as a position player and not a pitcher... supposedly he's moving to infield in fall.

 

[gymdawg.sixpack]

I think both mangum and bragg come back

 

[ShrubDog]

May throw Brant Blaylock in the field

 

[thf24]

Mangum will be back barring a bad decision. The lack of plate discipline he showed this year should knock his draft stock back far enough to make returning the smart choice.

 

[johnson86-1]

I don't think Mangum or Bragg will be on Roster next year... both will get drafted... Cole Gordon won't be our first baseman... you also need to add Denver McQuary as a position player and not a pitcher... supposedly he's moving to infield in fall.

This would be surprising to me. Seems like we are still going to have some question marks at pitcher since we have so many people coming back from TJ (some of whom I'm guessing won't keep their spot?), and that anybody returning that is pitching in the regional would keep pitching next year.

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

This came from a very close source regarding Mcquary.

 

[DudyDog]

I still contend that Gridley comes back. Just my gut feeling.

 

[57stratdawg]

I'll be surprised if he ends up on the infield. You probably have a great source, but he's got very good stuff. He starts next year as a weekend starter, IMO.

I know they're wanting Hughes to be a starter too, but who knows where those TJ guys are next spring.

 

[bulldogcountry1]

Canny has a lot of work to do to get as many guys to come/stay as possible. That's key to winning a natty. If we keep losing guys drafted outside the top 10 rounds, we aren't going to build a truly elite program that competes for a national seed on a regular basis. He gets a lot of credit for getting those guys to come back to LSU this year, and I hope he can do the same for us.

We already manged to skip what appeared to be a sure-fire rebuilding year. I'm excited to see what kind of magic Canny can work in the offseason, using his greatest strength.

 

[8dog]

What happened at LSU is an anomoly. You cant expect juniors to return.

You build a contender by getting production from guys multiple years fr-jr

 

[HaleStater]

I don't think Mangum or Bragg will be on Roster next year... both will get drafted... Cole Gordon won't be our first baseman... you also need to add Denver McQuary as a position player and not a pitcher... supposedly he's moving to infield in fall.

Mangum should come back. He's been good in college and he'll get drafted somewhere but Teams aren't chomping at the bit to draft early a light hitting outfielder that lacks power. He needs to show a little more.

 

[patdog]

He could be an infielder on the days he's not pitching.

 

[Shamoan]

that is a rough bottom of the order....we need some bigtime contributing freshmenz.

 

[Philly Dawg]

You'd hope that Alexander, a freshman, could pull a Matthew Britton and become a much better hitter over the next three years. As junior, Poole has to get better a lot faster or someone will take his spot.

 

[8dog]

Alexander is a soph

 

[Will.sixpack]

For some reason, I don't think Gridley is a sure bet to leave after this year. Mangum won't be leaving either, he doesn't have the power to be a major league baseball player, yet at least. He would be very smart to play at least one more year of college ball. If either of those guys want to see what one more year might could do, just ask Brent Rooker. Add both of them back to your lineup and a pitching staff that isn't all hurt, we could slip into being a national seed. As usual, an optimistic State fan with lofty expectations.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

Hitting .328 with 6 bombs, he won't get type of money again. I can't see him improving that much, but maybe he can. Pirtle went from .310 to .363. I guess it all depends on where they draft him.