Shocks @ Louisiana Tech Feb 18, 19, 20

[WuDrWu]

Just flipping through the D1 Baseball website (expensive subscription but worth it to me) to see where they have some Bulldogs rated.

Guessing Friday's matchup will be a battle between top 40 starters. Jonathan Kincher 6'3" 240 redshirt junior who was 8-3 last year, 3.05 ERA (2.94 career ERA) OB% .219 23/85 BB/SO (almost 4:1 career) and ranked #14 by D1Baseball will likely go for La Tech while the Shocks probably counter with Jace Kaminska 6'2" 235 sophomore who was 8-1 last year 2.32 ERA OB% .225 19/51 BB/SO and ranked #38 starter by D1Baseball.

Relief pitchers include

#49 Kyle Crigger last year 4-2 3.24 ERA 9BB 29SO .248

Shocks counter with senior transfer Connor Holden at #67.

The Bulldogs also have Steele Netterville as the #48 outfielder, Cole McDaniel as the #61 outfielder & Phillip Matulia as the #78 OF (solid outfield). No Shockers are listed on their top 150.

Taylor Young is listed as the 11th best SS.

The Shocks have Jack Sigrist at #28 at 2nd base. Ross Cadena is #48 at catcher. Garrett Kocis checks in as the #16 1st baseman.

[WuDrWu]

Looks like Rustin will get some weather tomorrow, but Friday and Saturday look perfect and Sunday nearly perfect. Shouldn't have any problem getting 3 games in, even if a ton of rain Thursday would muck up Friday, playing 2 on Saturday should be no issue.

[Shockm]

Doc, a couple of questions here fo4 this weekend.

So Doc, for Pitchers, Jace Kaminska will start Game 1. We play LaTech Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Who do you think will start Saturday, and Sunday. Additionally, Wedge operates early season Pitchers on a pitch count. So if our starting pitchers go 5-6 innings, do you have any predictions on 3 pitchers who follow up in the 5th or 6th innings in Games 1,2, and 3?

[shocks02]

WSU game notes are out. Probably starters are Kaminska on Friday, Tolle on Saturday, and Will Stevens on Sunday.

You can watch all of this weekends games through CUSA TV. $7 for a 24-hour pass or $11 for a monthly pass.

[WuDrWu]

Tolle!!!!

[Kung Wu]

Tolle!!!!

Tollaaaay-olay-olay-olay OLAAAAY OOOoolayyyy

Like that?

[WuDrWu]

Toll EE

[WuDrWu]

Doc, a couple of questions here fo4 this weekend.

So Doc, for Pitchers, Jace Kaminska will start Game 1. We play LaTech Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Who do you think will start Saturday, and Sunday. Additionally, Wedge operates early season Pitchers on a pitch count. So if our starting pitchers go 5-6 innings, do you have any predictions on 3 pitchers who follow up in the 5th or 6th innings in Games 1,2, and 3?

As announced, Kaminska, Tolle, Stevens. We will have our hands full with their lineup so I expect the 'pen will be exercised this weekend.

I don't know, each situation probably presents a unique need. Since next week is a 5 starter week, I assume we won't burn potential deeper starters unless we have to.....that might eliminate a guy like Boyer who I think will get a chance to start.

I would guess long relief probably would be a guy like Foster Gifford. Started some in the summer. Isn't going to blow 95 heaters by you but can battle a few innings. Maybe Austin Wallace, transfer from Texas kind of in the same mold.

Stumpy and LJ have to figure in somewhere I think. Both are talented and have success in their background. I'm hoping one of the 2 freshmen, Miner and Howry, get a chance in long relief at some point because I'm hoping one of them gets to start next year. Miner especially has some upside in my eyes.

All are available to get to Conner Holden. 2 or more appearances this weekend and things have gone very, very well. If he doesn't break a sweat until loading up the bus to come home, then not so good.

[Kung Wu]

Toll EE

Doesn't have the same ring to it.

[Kung Wu]

Tolleeeee toolllleeeee oxen freeeeeeee

[WuDrWu]

I'll take a stab at lineups tomorrow. Reminder that we played against a lot of these guys in 2020 before the season was cancelled. Shocks won all 3 at the Eck.


(Forgot LA Tech is starting a lefty tomorrow, so I am editing Tolle out, replaced by Rodden and moving Cadena's RH bat up the lineup)

WSU

2B Sigrist
CF Stroh
C Cadena
1B Kocis
3B Casserilla
LF Ingram
DH Rodden
RF Cornblum
SS Stewart

P Jace Kaminska



La Tech

SS Taylor Young (5th year senior Preseason All American led off against WSU in 2020 too)
CF Philip Matulia (4th year Junior DH'd vs WSU in 2020 RF is his position so I'm just guessing here who is filling in where)
LF Steele Netterville (5th year senior played vs WSU in 2020)
RF Cole McConnell (3rd year sophomore played LF vs WSU in 2020)
DH Ben Brantley (3rd year Sophomore could play 1B as well as that's where he played against WSU in 2020)
1B Walker Birchfield (4th year Jr Transfer from Tulane. Had a couple of hits vs WSU for Tulane last season)
C Jorge Corona (3rd year sophomore played against WSU in 2020)
3B Wade Elliott (Jr transfer. PURE guess. I can't find anyone that played 3rd. Maybe Steele's brother Slade or another freshman at 3rd, like us)
2B Jeffery Ince (True Fr fall transfer from Mississippi State where he was a top 150 recruit in the fall)

P Jonathan Fincher (LHP 4th year Junior appeared in relief against WSU in 2020 Preseason All America)



I forgot they were here in the Covid shortened season of 2020. Most of their players competed somewhere that weekend. They were good then and better now. I suspect they'll have a bit of a chip about that weekend. I sure would and I expect our guys would were we swept out of town.

[WuDrWu]

Just 24 hours from now we'll either be discussing how we're a threat to win it all or that baseball is just as shitty as basketball only worse because baseball hasn't been to Omaha (or even the tourney) in a decade compared to basketball (based on basketball thread responses).


Remember, I kid because I care.

[ShockerFever]

The only thing that would be a big blow and something that would really chap my ass is if we got swept. I know La Tech is good but please just don’t start it off getting broomed. Please.

I hope that was a reasonable request.

[ABC]

I had a dream last night that WSU lost to LSU in the CWS Championship.

[SB Shock]

Game is on Conference USA TV