NC State Baseball Gets Underway On Friday
by Akula Wolf on Feb 14, 2012 3:28 PM EST
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PrintIt's safe to say Elliott Avent likes the baseball team he has assembled for 2012:
"This is the best defensive team we have had in my 16 years at N.C. State," Avent said. "And it's the best team speed we've had in my 16 years."
[snip]
"I think in past years we went into the season kind of feeling it out and kind of seeing where we're going to go from there," Ciencin said. "But this team we've got a goal in mind and I think right now that's the ACC championship."
I'd imagine that the starting lineup will look something like the list below, in no particular order. Last season's stats (batting average, on-base pct., slugging pct.) are included.
Brett Williams (CF) .286/.368/.445
Chris Diaz (SS) .306/381/.407
Matt Bergquist (2B) .289/.355/.433
Andrew Ciencin (3B) .257/.325/.369
John Gianis (RF) .289/.386/.368
Tarran Senay (LF) .264/.391/.380
Danny Canela (1B/DH/C) .260/.338/.435
Brett Austin (C)
Mystery Man (DH/1B)
Maybe someone can offer some insight on which guy might be the ninth member of the lineup. I'm also assuming that Austin will start given his pedigree but I don't know anything for sure.
One of the questions is: how does the adjustment to the new bats go in year two of their implementation? Several guys on last year's club--Ciencin, Gianis, Senay, Canela--saw huge dips in production with the new bats. How they respond to that in 2012 will go a long way toward determining whether or not the offense gets better. And especially with Pratt Maynard and Harold Riggins gone, State needs some guys to step up and fill that power void.
As for the rotation, how is it going to shape up beyond Carlos Rodon? Cory Mazzoni and Rob Chamra have departed, and Chris Overman is going to stay in the bullpen. (Which could be a mistake, but we'll see.) Ethan Ogburn (4.52 ERA in 2011) and Danny Healey (6.15 ERA) are the returnees who started the most games in 2011. Josh Easley (5.96) should be in the mix as well, and he had some impressive peripherals last year (struck out 53 batters in 45.3 innings).
Grant Sasser? Vance Williams? And what of Anthony Tzamtzis, who missed all of 2011 after undergoing Tommy John surgery?
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i don't think Riggins added
all that much last year power wise-that is-homeruns. he hit 4 last year as compared to 12 the year before. the whole team had a power outage last year hitting 37 homeruns compared to 98 in 2010. the new bat really hurt Riggins and the team, but the loss of the Poulk cousins and Kyle Wilson did not help. in 2010 Wilson had 7 homers, Dallas P 11 and Drew P 14. last year both Williams and Ciencin hit more than Riggins with 6 and 5 respectively. in 2010 Ciencin hit 10.
if i remember correctly, Riggins said that pitchers pitched him inside more last year. he said that with the old bats he could hit those pitches out-not so much with the new ones.
Pitching has been my real question heading into this season
Last year, it seemed we had good enough pitching, but seriously lacked offensive pop. Almost feels like the football team during the Rivers/Williams exchange were we went from best offense/worst defense to best defense/worst offense.
As for 1B/DH. Fully expect Rodon to play 1st or DH every time he isn’t pitching. And if he is rotated from the mound, I want to seem him immediately in the DH spot. Between him and Austin, I’m expecting some pick up in our offense.
My projected batting lineup:
1. Diaz
2. Bergquist
3. Rodon
4. Canela
5. Gianis
6. Austin
7. Williams
8. Senay
9. Ciencin
That is til Diaz crumbles in the lead-off spot at the beginning of the season and Williams is moved up.
Thanks for putting this up, I’ve been dieing for the college baseball to come back around.
you really think Rodon can hit that well?
If he can hold down the three-hole, his value is immense. Here’s how I go based on last year’s production:
1.) Gianis
2.) Diaz
3.) Williams
4.) Bergquist
5.) Ciencin
6.) Canela
7.) Austin
8.) Senay
9.) Rodon
yea, Rodon would have been a much higher draft pick if not for his injury
and he still went in the 9th Rd or something. Probably would have been a pitcher, but from what I’ve read, boy can hit. I maybe add too much value for him, but I’m too excited for baseball season to not be adding too much value to everything at this point.
Defense and speed
The two most underrated factors in baseball, amirite?
by PeeDub on Feb 14, 2012 9:13 PM EST via mobile reply actions
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