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Always fun to play this game. Here's the big picture from my standpoint. Of course this doesn't take into account people developing more than we've seen from them before or freshmen that surprise when they get to campus. Also, I will not list people like Bartnicki, Crawford, Roedig that may technically have eligibility left but have been honored on Senior Day and wouldn't seem likely to be back.
Offense:
-C - 3 people including new transfer Smith fighting for playing time
-8 spots to be filled by others:
Reid, Compton, Deleo, Campbell would seem to be daily locks in the lineup
-That leaves a bunch fighting daily for 4 spots. I would include that group as:
Romano, Jackson, Lovett, Geisler, Prince, Dempsey (transfer), Stanford, Sabathia. Other freshmen possible as well.
Pitching:
-Starters would seem to be:
Mcguire, Finateri, Carwile, possibly freshmen of Samol and Schmolke
-Back end of bullpen to be:
Finley, Brown, Hill
-Middle/long relief:
D. Smith, Siegal, Mannelly, Busse, other freshmen that are able to contribute.
As stated above, that's not going to be a preseason Omaha predicted team but could certainly show well if good development is shown from the freshmen and sophomore. And I think it could be in really good shape again by 2024.
We won't be projected to win Coastal, let alone Omaha. Miami is absolutely stacked and should be picked to win Coastal. Then jumbled will be UVa, UNC and maybe us.
Where we end up will all depend on how pitching progresses. We look to have lots of power and better D outside of catcher, and there it could be close. But pitching? I'm still amazed that we didn't have more guys make a jump last year.
I like the amount of competition we will see, but I think we have too large a class. I think it's wrong to have a player commit and then be cut before one season is up. When these guys committed 1, 2 or 3 years ago neither they or the coaches had any way to foresee what has happened. I don't see all the signed players making the 35 cut. Unfortunately, that is the way it is across college baseball for the top 40 teams. So everyone we compete with is going to have lots of competition. COVID pass year, reduced draft and transfers have totally upset the old system. IIWII.