From: Cole
Well, we thought one victory for the Gamecocks at Florida this weekend would be a success. A series win that includes a Friday night thumping must have Coach Tanner ecstatic. Don't get us wrong, Florida is still the most talented team in the nation and will be right in the thick of things in Omaha. But, the most talented team is not always the best team, and the reigning National Champs showed what they are made of. Now USC must hold serve and take 2/3 at home against #2 Vanderbilt in a few weeks to take the SEC East. Other than the wins, the biggest upside of the weekend was freshman Forrest Koumas's Saturday start. The one glaring weakness for Tanner's squad thus far is the starters after Michael Roth. Add Koumas in with Steven Neff's outing versus Georgia, and there is the potential for a deep rotation.
clemmon's gut check did not go so well. NC State was 1-5 heading into the weekend and took 2/3 from the tigers. Kevin Brady's injury becomes more disruptive each weekend, and the search for a replacement continues. Dominic Leone continued to struggle and was no better than the man he replaced, David Haselden. The bright note was Scott Firth's second quality start in a row, which gives Coach Leggett 3 quality arms whenever Brady returns. Remember, clempsen was awful at the beginning of conference play last year, only to make it to the National Semifinals. It could happen again, but they better get it going soon, and an upcoming trip to 7-2 North Carolina is becoming a must win if the squad hopes to host a regional.
Braves
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
USC at Florida-Series of the Weekend
From: Elliott
The defending National Champions and current #6 ranked Fighting Gamecocks travel to #1 Florida today. This is what college baseball is all about. Caution Gamecock fans, do not let your expectations get away from you. The Gators came to Columbia and took 2 close games to claim the SEC title last year and now they get the games at home. Yes, 2010 closer Kevin Chapman is gone and he played a huge role in the Gator victories last season. However, this Gator staff is deep. LSU head man, Paul Mainieri, felt the Florida staff was the deepest he has ever seen in college baseball. There are 7-8 guys who throw 93-94. Nobody goes to Alex Box stadium and sweeps LSU, but the Gators did last weekend. Prior to the mid-week offensive explosion, the Gamecock sticks were in a slumber. There awakening gives a glimmer of hope, but a successful weekend will be winning one, yes one game. 2010 Friday starter, Alex Panteliodis, is not even in the rotation this season. On Sunday, the Gators will trot out Karsten Whitsen, who was selected 9th by San Diego and turned down over 2 million dollars to become a Gator. Whitsen brings a mid nineties fastball with a plus breaking pitch and change. The Gamecocks will not be intimidated, but this will be a gut check weekend. Win at least one!
The defending National Champions and current #6 ranked Fighting Gamecocks travel to #1 Florida today. This is what college baseball is all about. Caution Gamecock fans, do not let your expectations get away from you. The Gators came to Columbia and took 2 close games to claim the SEC title last year and now they get the games at home. Yes, 2010 closer Kevin Chapman is gone and he played a huge role in the Gator victories last season. However, this Gator staff is deep. LSU head man, Paul Mainieri, felt the Florida staff was the deepest he has ever seen in college baseball. There are 7-8 guys who throw 93-94. Nobody goes to Alex Box stadium and sweeps LSU, but the Gators did last weekend. Prior to the mid-week offensive explosion, the Gamecock sticks were in a slumber. There awakening gives a glimmer of hope, but a successful weekend will be winning one, yes one game. 2010 Friday starter, Alex Panteliodis, is not even in the rotation this season. On Sunday, the Gators will trot out Karsten Whitsen, who was selected 9th by San Diego and turned down over 2 million dollars to become a Gator. Whitsen brings a mid nineties fastball with a plus breaking pitch and change. The Gamecocks will not be intimidated, but this will be a gut check weekend. Win at least one!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
USC Football Notes
From: Benjamin
Ran into Tanner McEvoy's aunt today. She's a very nice lady who gives a lot of credit to Coach Mangus on recruiting Tanner. She notes that he is a very cerebral young man who was watching games with his father at age 2 and was given a dry erase board at age 4 because he was diagramming plays. Now that is the type of person you want as your QB, especially if he is athletic enough to win New Jersey player of the year. Guys like McEvoy and Connor Shaw should put in the time and understand Coach Spurrier's offense well enough to maximize its potential. McEvoy is scheduled to report just after Memorial Day.
So Corey Robinson moves to DL and Kenny Davis to OL. Is this supposed to make Davis work harder? Maybe. Robinson is one of 4 schollie tackles and still couldn't make the two deep. He definitely has OL size, but needs a lot of practice. Robinson was a Coach Wolford recruit who doesn't quite fit the mold of Coach Elliott. That doesn't mean he couldn't be serviceable down the line, but this move gives a clear indication of where he currently stands in the minds of the offensive staff. There are not many successful 6'6" defensive tackles. On a scale of one to one hundred, the impact of these moves on the season.... 1.5.
Ran into Tanner McEvoy's aunt today. She's a very nice lady who gives a lot of credit to Coach Mangus on recruiting Tanner. She notes that he is a very cerebral young man who was watching games with his father at age 2 and was given a dry erase board at age 4 because he was diagramming plays. Now that is the type of person you want as your QB, especially if he is athletic enough to win New Jersey player of the year. Guys like McEvoy and Connor Shaw should put in the time and understand Coach Spurrier's offense well enough to maximize its potential. McEvoy is scheduled to report just after Memorial Day.
So Corey Robinson moves to DL and Kenny Davis to OL. Is this supposed to make Davis work harder? Maybe. Robinson is one of 4 schollie tackles and still couldn't make the two deep. He definitely has OL size, but needs a lot of practice. Robinson was a Coach Wolford recruit who doesn't quite fit the mold of Coach Elliott. That doesn't mean he couldn't be serviceable down the line, but this move gives a clear indication of where he currently stands in the minds of the offensive staff. There are not many successful 6'6" defensive tackles. On a scale of one to one hundred, the impact of these moves on the season.... 1.5.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Just what the doctor ordered
From: Austin
The schedule makers dialed up a winner for the clemmons baseball squad last weekend. After dropping and emotional rubber game versus their rivals, the tigers put a goose egg in the win column by getting swept by Virginia at Doug Kingsmore. While Virginia is a top five team, currently sitting #3 in Baseball America, a program as talented at the tigers shouldn't lose 3 at home to anyone. A 4-3 loss to PC on
Wednesday and a 7-7 record got the natives restless. Coach Leggett wasn't concerned because mighty Duke awaited and an assured 3 game sweep. The upcoming series versus NC State in Raleigh will be a strong indicator of how good this team is. clemmons mirrors their rivals to the south in many ways this year.
1) A strong Friday night starter who can beat anyone on a given night, but question marks in the starting rotation afterwards. Kevin Brady, who is on everyone's draft board, was lights out until injury struck. The UNC series is the targeted return date. If Brady can regain his form, then the rotation can be formidable. David Haselden's outings are hit or miss thus far and no one else has taken the step forward.
2) Many talented bats, but some quality hitters are silent. Jeff Schaus is tearing it up, but Will Lamb and many other big time sticks are non-existent. Both teams have to expect guys like Ritchie Schaffer and Adam Matthews to get it going sometime.
3) Indecision at the leadoff spot. clempson is best when Chris Epps is setting the pace. His lack of consistency has forced Coach Leggett to mirror Coach Tanner's musical leadoff spot. Epps playing to his strengths with the bat and on the basepaths will put pressure on opposing defenses and get his teammates better pitches.
The schedule makers dialed up a winner for the clemmons baseball squad last weekend. After dropping and emotional rubber game versus their rivals, the tigers put a goose egg in the win column by getting swept by Virginia at Doug Kingsmore. While Virginia is a top five team, currently sitting #3 in Baseball America, a program as talented at the tigers shouldn't lose 3 at home to anyone. A 4-3 loss to PC on
Wednesday and a 7-7 record got the natives restless. Coach Leggett wasn't concerned because mighty Duke awaited and an assured 3 game sweep. The upcoming series versus NC State in Raleigh will be a strong indicator of how good this team is. clemmons mirrors their rivals to the south in many ways this year.
1) A strong Friday night starter who can beat anyone on a given night, but question marks in the starting rotation afterwards. Kevin Brady, who is on everyone's draft board, was lights out until injury struck. The UNC series is the targeted return date. If Brady can regain his form, then the rotation can be formidable. David Haselden's outings are hit or miss thus far and no one else has taken the step forward.
2) Many talented bats, but some quality hitters are silent. Jeff Schaus is tearing it up, but Will Lamb and many other big time sticks are non-existent. Both teams have to expect guys like Ritchie Schaffer and Adam Matthews to get it going sometime.
3) Indecision at the leadoff spot. clempson is best when Chris Epps is setting the pace. His lack of consistency has forced Coach Leggett to mirror Coach Tanner's musical leadoff spot. Epps playing to his strengths with the bat and on the basepaths will put pressure on opposing defenses and get his teammates better pitches.
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