Next Year's Lineup

[wyatt]

I know that it is early, but how does everybody see the lineup looking next year? I am assuming that Gould will go pro, and after reading today's eagle, I think that Jones goes no matter where he is drafted. Here is how I see it.
1st- Tyler Grimes- SS
2nd- Travis Bennett- LF
3rd- Will Baez- 2nd
4th- Clinton McKeever- 1st
5th- Chris O'Brien- DH
6th- Cody Lassley- C
7th- Preston Springer- 3rd
8th- Ryan Engrav, Bret Bascue, Mitch Caster, Michah Green- RF- Whoever hits will play.
9th- Kevin Hall- CF
Coy will take over at 3rd when basketball is done, and will switch spots with O'Brien in the order. Same pitching rotation.

[shoxlax]

Jones excited about turning pro with a .326 aluminum bat average? Just don't get it. Come back Jonesy, to a rare four year Shocker baseball career.

[xazshox]

MdKeever

What do you think McKeever's chances are of getting drafted this year. He redhsirted his frosh season, so this was his 4th year in baseball.

[ShockerFever]

I think McKeev can still improve his position. He could be a late round pick.


Agree with shoxlax. You need to come back and finish it out RJ.

[shock10]

I think I will wait until October for this one.

[SB Shock]

I think I will wait until October for this one.

I agree. Could be alot of changes in between now and then.

[1972Shocker]

I think I will wait until October for this one.

Yep. Too early to speculate. After the Shocker FWS we should have a little better idea.

However, I think it is safe to say that Kelley, Cooper, Lowell and Flynn will anchor the starting pitching staff.

It will be interesting to see if Charlie can hold of Brian for that 3rd weekend starter spot. Charlie struggled a little late and Brian was very solid against Oklahoma.

The two big keys for us next year are pretty obvious. Put together/develop a realiable bullpen and somehow find some offense.

A lot of question marks in both of those areas. A lot of guys trying to come back on the pitching staff off of pretty serious injuries. That may or may not work out. Cameron Maldonado certainly struggle this year coming back from an injury.

McKeever could really boost his position in the draft by coming back and having a big power year. Same with Jonesy -- espcecially if he could sustain throughout the season what he has done over the last 10 games or so this season. Of course, College Seniors have very little leverage in the draft so it may not take much for them to decide to move on.

Beyond that we simply need the younger guys to mature and improve significantly between now and next spring. Sometimes that happens and sometimes is doesn't. Only time will tell the tale on this for the Shocks.

In the meantime I am looking forward to Shocker Volleyball and Shocker Basketball and expect them to be very entertaining diversions next fall and winter.

:goshocks:

[WSUwatcher]

Look ahead

If Lassley catches again next year, that is not a good sign. Nothing personal, but he isn't a starting-caliber player. Okay defensively but not exceptional, and a nondescript hitter (OPS .743, below the team's average of .749 -- and that on the worst offensive team of Stephenson's career) without much idea of the strike zone, he's a useful backup and utility guy, but not someone you want in the starting lineup on a regular basis. The Shocks need for O'Brien to be ready to take over behind the plate and for Johnny Coy or Preston Springer to take third base.

Pitching should be outstanding. I'd be surprised if Kelley isn't back, znd although Lowell faded late, I suspect he may just have hit a freshman wall. Flynn seems to be getting better, Hoch and Fleming should be back (Muncrief maybe), and Sossamon looks like he may be a much needed ninth-inning closer. Who knows about Maldonado or Guy? McGreevy sounds like he could be the real deal as a newcomer.

Baez really won me over with his play late in the season, but he still needs to work on being a second baseman. The other question is the outfield -- good defensively, but grossly inadequate at the plate. Jones, if he's back, needs to be much more consistent and smarter at the plate. Engrav appears to have some promise. I'm skeptical about Bascue but not ready to give up on him yet; Caster probably needs to go to the bullpen (where his future surely lies) or be a backup. Travis Bennett is a very good addition, and the Shocks could really use Micah Green, and for him to be the player he's supposed to be.

Agreed that we'll know more next fall, but right now there's some significant improvement required when the Shocks are at the plate.

[shoxlax]

Don't forget about Labrie and the kid from Oklahoma as pitchers.

http://www.yankton.net/articles/2009/05/16/sports/doc4a0e4710f127b071797310.txt

[shoxlax]

What about these guys:

Banwart
Maune
Kemp
Guy?

Are they in the mix or will they be somewhere else next year?

I think both recruits Bayliff and Davidson pitch as well.

[Ed Harley]

I'd be surprised if Baez is in the 3 hole next year (.275 w/ .360 slugging%). I think somebody else will step up, maybe Bennett (.338 w/ .490 slugging%)?

FYI-Springer hit .398 this year (thru 5/2/09) with 9 hr and 50 RBI in 49 games. Stole 3 bags. In 08' he went .424, 4, 47 with 7 bags.

I'll go out on a limb and say whatever the lineup is, we will score more than 5.37 runs/game. (8.01 08'; 6.35 07'; and 6.57 06')

[tru2thaduce]

I think Jones will be back next year and will put up big numbers.Our pitching will be incredable next season with a much improved pen.I'll throw out a guess as to what we may see.
1.T Grimes SS
2.W Baez 2B
3.R Jones CF
4.Keeve 1B
5.J Coy 3B
6.T Bennett RF
7.C O'Brien C
8.R Engrav DH
9.K Hall LF
We will have more depth next season.Things are looking up!!!

[BostonWu]

What about Flynn as the closer? I think he could make a bigger contribution in the pen rather than the 4th starter.

[Ashockalypse]

I think Flynn should be used like Dreifort, as a middle reliever that can come in and stop before the big inning happens when one of our starters has an off day. Sossamon has great composure as a closer and I would put him there..

[Ta town]

flynn would give the shox a huge advantage for mid week. then come tourney time middle relief or 4th starter if needed in a regional. Cooper will be leaving after next year and you want Flynn ready to step in as a starter. I think Sossman has the makeup needed to be the closer.

Next year with 4 absolutely solid starters and what should be an improved offense im going to raise my expectations to ................................regional host, possibly a national seed :D

So for WSU that means wining majority of midweek games so that means keep flynn right there.

just my two cents.