(06-09-2014 08:45 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote: I'm not so inclined to call our 2015 pitching as "elite". That assumes that Jordan comes back 100%, Jon shows a big step forward and can deliver 6+ innings of quality starts, Matt doesn't sign, and we can get significant contributions from the freshmen. We showed how thin we were pitching wise when we went into the losers bracket in the Regionals. As far as the backend of the staff stepping up I'm not sure we have given Austin and the others enough innings to be sure what they can really do.
Can they become "elite" of course, but it remains to be seen.
Tiki, I agree to a certain extent on Jordan, but from everything I'm hearing, it was a relatively "minor" TJS (meaning no replacement ligament required), and his rehab has proceeded on schedule.
IMO, I think you're selling Duplantier short. The kid has elite stuff as reflected in his low ERA and BAA, and relatively high K rate. The issue is his inconsistent command, which is a mental thing. He reminds me very much of a young Wade Townsend as a true Freshman. I think Jon can be a Friday night starter before he's done here.
McCanna and Fox both took HUGE steps this year, and should anchor our weekend rotation with or without Stephens. RHP Ricardo Salinas is a very highly regarded incoming Freshman, but I've just learned about a recent LHP JUCO signee from NJ, who the coaching staff is VERY high on and believe he will step right into the weekend rotation from the get-go. If true, that's 6 quality starters competing for 4 - 5 starting pitching slots.
As for the bullpen, aside from whomever "loses" out as starting pitchers, assuming Matty returns, you've got two proven and effective co-stoppers in Trevor Tekyl and Ditman, each with another year under their belts. In addition, you've got Evan Rutter, who has always had nasty stuff, along with McCarthy and Orewiler, each of whom got important D-I experience this year. I'm also hearing very good things about redshirt Freshman LHP (soft-tossing) McKelligott.
Consequently, though we had no depth this year due to injuries (Stephens, Rutter, Lemond and Ditman in the regionals) and Caleb Smith's inability to throw strikes, next year we should be absolutely loaded, and with most of our pitchers having D-I experience. Contrast that to this year, when heading into the season we had two all-americans in Stephens and Lemond, but very little else in proven returning talent. Yes, McCanna and Fox had both seen considerable action as true Freshman, but both were very inconsistent and had just mediocre across-the-board stats. The bullpen aside from Lemond was a gigantic question mark, as was the starting pitching beyond Jordan. And, BTW, IMO, Duplantier had a more effective Freshman season than Blake did in 2013.
