Request for the more knowledgable posters ....

[Pervis_Griffith]

Once the dust settles from the season, if one of the more knowledgeable posters connected to the baseball team could summarize what we should have coming back next season, that'd be great.

I know it's hard to tell how the draft will effect us completely, and there will certainly be some position changes (Nick Burdi to a starter's role perhaps??) ... but I'd love to see what those most connected to the team expect in a way-to-early-to-tell type way next year.

Thanks in advance (and thanks for all the great work this entire baseball season) ...



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[Howie Lindsey]

We don't know what the 9 guys drafted will do but we can make some assumptions.

I think Thompson, Kime, Ege will likely leave to the pros. CoCo Johnson will likely go pro.

Whiting, Lucas and Chittenden will be back in the middle infield. Gardner and Engel will likely be back.

At pitcher Louisville will likely have Funkhouser, Ruxer, Schemenauer, Ceja, Filomino in the lineup and Burdi as the closer.

It will be tough to make another NCAA run unless some hitting is discovered.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[nccardfan]

Wasserman, Rat and Helms are seniors so they are gone. Sturgeon should be back.

 

[Pervis_Griffith]

Originally posted by nccardfan:

Wasserman, Rat and Helms are seniors so they are gone. Sturgeon should be back.

Sturgeon will be a great piece to build around next year.



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[Bardman]

Originally posted by Pervis_Griffith:

Originally posted by nccardfan:

Wasserman, Rat and Helms are seniors so they are gone. Sturgeon should be back.

Sturgeon will be a great piece to build around next year.



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Chad Green is a question mark in my mind. He probably goes, but, he should probably stay. I think Engel returns - he was...not good...the last 35-40% of the season after starting off so strong. Coco - Who knows. And as mentioned - hitting is going to be an issue.

 

[baseballguy1588]

I think everyone will sign with the only question marks being Ege and Engel.

Ege - was un-hittable all year and a big part of our success. If he comes back he would probably get drafted in the top 10 rounds as many scouts know about his game and what he can do vs lefties.

Engel - if he comes back and hits .300 or even higher he could go in the top 3 rounds and would get more money.

We will need to develop some hitters but if we don't and the defense plays at a high level then it will negate the extra needed offensive production. You can't give freebies and expect to win. Maybe in the Big East or American conference but not in the ACC or NCAAs

 

[had1- 2manyCardfan]

We need to find a way to manufacture runs next year. Everyoe on the team needs to be able to bunt/hit and run. Stop swinging wild and start showing discipline at the plate. Work the count and find the right pitch. The new bats dont allow for much error so hackin away doesnt cut it. Its why I believe UNC will finish this thing even after losing in the first round.

 

[nccardfan]

IMO, Dan needs to be willing to make changes in the lineup from time to time depending on who's hot or not. It all starts with Engel, who I don't think is the prototypical leadoff guy. Yes, he does steal a lot of bases when he gets on but he usually doesn't take a lot of pitches to work the count in his favor. Our lineup was too lefty oriented. Yeah against teams that had mostly right handed pitching, we used it to our advantage but what did we face in the postseason? I also think that Chittenden, Lucas and Helms should have gotten more at bats/playing time during the season in case something did happen like Rat getting hurt. Lucas looked like he never played 2nd base in his life on that bad flip to Sutton. Most teams do have a dropoff in their lineup at the bottom but we never seemed to turn the lineup over enough. One thing I might have considered was moving Wasserman who got hot during the regionals or Gardner into the 3 hole and move Young down in the lineup so he might regain his confidence.

 

[BooneCo_Card]

had1, that is the feeling I started to get while watching yesterday's games. Wouldn't be surprised to see them and Oregon State in the finals.

 

[bobwest]

IMO....defense iffy up the middle....made the tough plays and bungled easy ones....inability to drive the ball 1 extra base hit in last 4 games...very free swinging but at bad pitches....low runs scored in last four games due to bad base running....but one Great year...

 

[earsky]

Who redshirted this season?Signed Freshman coming in?

Two things.Offensively it starts with the leadoff spot,whether Engel,Whiting or Sturgeon.I've played a lot of ball in my life,baseball and softball.It starts with the leadoff spot and carries into the rest of the lineup.Expect to see more of the same generated offense in the second half of the lineup,but with better results.

Secondly,We may have to bring in two new starters or develop two new ones.I'd expect Ruxer to be one.Starting pitching is a concern.

 

[bwhiting6]

What's up guys? Haven't posted here since Boomer's playing days but I'll weigh in.

Here's my take on what will and won't be back...

Thompson, Kime, and Young should all take the money and run. They should get slot money which will be awesome for all 3.
I would bet that Coco, Ege and Green all get offered right at or around the $100k signing bonus that teams are now allowed to offer guys taken outside of the top 10 rounds without impacting their allotted slot money. In short, all 3 should go unless they think that they can realistically move into the top 5 rounds with a solid season. In my opinion, too much risk and not enough upside for them. Entering the minor league system for a team that's financially invested in you greatly increases the amount of opportunities that one will be given. $100k is a significant investment, and I don't think those guys would be wise to return to school and risk that, should that offer come.

Maybe Engel and/or Ege return, but I bet we lose them all.

Sutton and Lucas will be juniors. Chitty will be a senior. They are probably the 3 most likely to hold down short, second and third. Chittendon is great defensively so hopefully his bat comes alive next year. Lucas has a lot of talent and could break out as a 3 hole hitter. Rosenbaum should inherit 1b. Outfield will have Cole, Mike White (who I expect to break out), and Gardner in left unless he DH. Of course, I'm assuming Engel leaves and I'm not factoring in freshman. That middle infielder out of FL that signed with Louisville was drafted in one of the top 2-3 rounds I believe. Should he decide to play college, I have to assume he's an immediate impact guy.

Burdi will not move from the closers role. His arm is worth too much money to rack up starter's innings.

Starting rotation is probably some combination of Funkhouser, Kidston (if healthy) and Ruxer. Lots of question marks with the starting staff due to injuries and the departure of Green (assumed), Thompson, and Kime. Coach Williams seems to reload rather than rebuild, so I'm not too concerned there. The pen should be strong with Filomeno, McGrath, Ceja, and Philley assuming none of them take a starters role. I bet we have a couple freshman arms coming in who will contribute too.

We may not be quite as talented on paper as the 2013 squad, but I would be surprised to see them win less than 43-44 games.