NC State - ACC Weekend #1

[randerto]

Archer, Smith, Finley looked absolutely awesome yesterday. If Crawford is as effective as last Sunday (recognizing stronger NCST lineup today), we've got a really strong backend ready to go today. All the preseason hype about this team is looking true. I don't recall EVER seeing a GT baseball team this loaded with pitching - EVER. Not hard to envision a top 10 team this year with enough top-notch arms to make a serious post-season run. Perhaps my excitement is getting me too far over my skis a bit but this team could be special... Fired up about watching the sweep of a very good NCST team today!

 

[Deleted member 2897]

we've got a really strong backend ready to go today.

 

[GTNavyNuke]

Archer, Smith, Finley looked absolutely awesome yesterday. If Crawford is as effective as last Sunday (recognizing stronger NCST lineup today), we've got a really strong backend ready to go today. All the preseason hype about this team is looking true. I don't recall EVER seeing a GT baseball team this loaded with pitching - EVER. Not hard to envision a top 10 team this year with enough top-notch arms to make a serious post-season run. Perhaps my excitement is getting me too far over my skis a bit but this team could be special... Fired up about watching the sweep of a very good NCST team today!

I think you are right that we probably have the best pitching depth we've ever had by far. And we have DBo - for whom the hype is appropriate IMHO.

BUT so do other teams with COVID extra years and the reduced MLB draft. College baseball is supposed to have the highest caliber players ever because of it. Pitching depth is part of the reason unranked UCF took the weekend series from #1 (for now) Ole Miss.

Here's who we have available today (depending on who travelled and assuming Friday pitchers aren't). This is obscene depth.

Number	First Name	Last Name	Position	Perfect Game Ranking	Year
27​	Luke	Bartnicki	LHP	34 Overall, 3 LHP, Astros 29th Round	Sophomore
39​	Jake	Brace	RHP	500+ Overall, 314 RHP	Junior
35​	Dawson	Brown	RHP	500+ Overall, 520 RHP	Freshman
36​	Sam	Crawford	LHP	No data	RS Sophomore
8​	Marquis	Grissom	RHP	85 Overall, 27 RHP;	Freshman
22​	Chance	Huff	RHP	268 overall, 101 RHP	Sophomore
46​	Ben	King	RHP	500+ Overall, 619 RHP	Freshman
32​	Joseph	Mannelly	LHP	500+ Overall, 25 LHP	RS Sophomore
41​	Zachary	Maxwell	RHP	84 Overall, 28 RHP; Yankees Rd 30	Freshman
55​	John	Medich	RHP	No data	Graduate
19​	Cort	Roedig	RHP	261 Overall, 98 RHP,	Sophomore
48​	Josiah	Seigel	LHP	High Follow 432 LHP	Freshman
34​	Will	Shirah	LHP/OF	183 Overall, 21 LHP,	RS Sophomore
37​	Xander	Stephens	RHP	344 Overall, 116 RHP;	Freshman
47​	Tyler	Watson	LHP	500+ Overall, 161 LHP	Freshman
24​	Brody	Westbrooks	RHP	500+ Overall, 259 RHP	Freshman

 

[LibertyTurns]

@GTNavyNuke How did we even amass that much pitching talent? I’ve been a casual Beesball observer for a long time and I think I can count on one hand the number of times we’ve had more than 3 truly legitimate starters.

 

[FredJacket]

@GTNavyNuke How did we even amass that much pitching talent? I’ve been a casual Beesball observer for a long time and I think I can count on one hand the number of times we’ve had more than 3 truly legitimate starters.

You didn't ask me... but we finally paid for stuff. Assistant coach(es)...& facilities/technology. Particularly as it relates to pitchers, we can demonstrate they will develop while at Tech.

 

[GTNavyNuke]

@GTNavyNuke How did we even amass that much pitching talent? I’ve been a casual Beesball observer for a long time and I think I can count on one hand the number of times we’ve had more than 3 truly legitimate starters.

DBo. Look at how young they are. And. It's. Going. To. Get. Better.

Got a lot of love from D1 Aaron Fitt https://d1baseball.com/at-the-ballpark/veterans-spark-series-clinching-win-for-young-jackets/

I would like to point out the one glaring weakness in our game this year is the inability to bunt properly ......... {:troll} Ask Waddell.

Edit: People were asking about velo:
"The other young guy who shined Saturday is 2YR FR righthander Jackson Finley, who worked the final three innings for his first career save, racking up seven strikeouts — all of them on fastballs at 93-97 mph. Very physical and ultra-athletic at 6-foot-4, 222 pounds, Finley also has prodigious raw power at the plate, but he sure looked like a future star on the mound Saturday. NC State has a very mature lineup, and Finley just overpowered some very good hitters with pure heat.He struck out four straight batters in the seventh and eighth: preseason All-American Jose Torre on an elevated 94 mph heater, hitting machine Austin Murr on 95, preseason All-American Tyler McDonough on 94, and Tresh on 97. He didn’t have great feel for his 78-79 curveball at first, but it flashed some promise at times, with decent downer action to it, and I also saw a changeup or two that showed potential. He needs to refine his secondary stuff, but the way the fastball explodes out of his hand and carries through the zone is special."

 

[THWG]

I think you are right that we probably have the best pitching depth we've ever had by far. And we have DBo - for whom the hype is appropriate IMHO.

BUT so do other teams with COVID extra years and the reduced MLB draft. College baseball is supposed to have the highest caliber players ever because of it. Pitching depth is part of the reason unranked UCF took the weekend series from #1 (for now) Ole Miss.

Here's who we have available today (depending on who travelled and assuming Friday pitchers aren't). This is obscene depth.

Number	First Name	Last Name	Position	Perfect Game Ranking	Year
27​	Luke	Bartnicki	LHP	34 Overall, 3 LHP, Astros 29th Round	Sophomore
39​	Jake	Brace	RHP	500+ Overall, 314 RHP	Junior
35​	Dawson	Brown	RHP	500+ Overall, 520 RHP	Freshman
36​	Sam	Crawford	LHP	No data	RS Sophomore
8​	Marquis	Grissom	RHP	85 Overall, 27 RHP;	Freshman
22​	Chance	Huff	RHP	268 overall, 101 RHP	Sophomore
46​	Ben	King	RHP	500+ Overall, 619 RHP	Freshman
32​	Joseph	Mannelly	LHP	500+ Overall, 25 LHP	RS Sophomore
41​	Zachary	Maxwell	RHP	84 Overall, 28 RHP; Yankees Rd 30	Freshman
55​	John	Medich	RHP	No data	Graduate
19​	Cort	Roedig	RHP	261 Overall, 98 RHP,	Sophomore
48​	Josiah	Seigel	LHP	High Follow 432 LHP	Freshman
34​	Will	Shirah	LHP/OF	183 Overall, 21 LHP,	RS Sophomore
37​	Xander	Stephens	RHP	344 Overall, 116 RHP;	Freshman
47​	Tyler	Watson	LHP	500+ Overall, 161 LHP	Freshman
24​	Brody	Westbrooks	RHP	500+ Overall, 259 RHP	Freshman

I know you're just including pitchers, but I heard that Grenkoski throws 95, so I'm expecting to see him on the mound at some point this year.

 

[FredJacket]

My crack research team has tried to find last time Ga Tech swept an ACC opponent on the road. These highly paid researchers have determined it was....

at Miami in 2011.

None of the 10 previous ACC series wins in current 11 series streak was a sweep (home or road). The last ACC sweep was at home in 2018 (Miami again).

So... if nothing else we're DUE for a sweep & MORE DUE for a road sweep.

 

[LibertyTurns]

My crack research team has tried to find last time Ga Tech swept an ACC opponent on the road. These highly paid researchers have determined it was....

at Miami in 2011.

None of the 10 previous ACC series wins in current 11 series streak was a sweep (home or road). The last ACC sweep was at home in 2018 (Miami again).

So... if nothing else we're DUE for a sweep & MORE DUE for a road sweep.

Boooo. You trying as hard as you can to jinx us?

 

[Deleted member 2897]

My crack research team has tried to find last time Ga Tech swept an ACC opponent on the road. These highly paid researchers have determined it was....

at Miami in 2011.

None of the 10 previous ACC series wins in current 11 series streak was a sweep (home or road). The last ACC sweep was at home in 2018 (Miami again).

So... if nothing else we're DUE for a sweep & MORE DUE for a road sweep.

Good job giving them something worthwhile to research other than crack cocaine for a change.

 

[FredJacket]

A sub-plot (lesson) in yesterday's game. Freebies kill you. No freebies limit damage to manageable levels.

NCST hit 3 solo HRs... accounted for all their runs. The 1st 2 HRs came with 2 outs. One right after Archer battled back from 3-0 count to strike out a guy.

In contrast... 3 of our 8 runs were guys who reached via BB or HBP... including both guys Waddell drove in with his HR. So...
3HRs for opponent = 3runs.
3HRs for Ga Tech = 5 runs (thanks to freebies)
... not to mention run #3 (in 6th) resulting from NCST balk & wild pitch.

 

[gtrower]

Looks like Fitt is there for the games too. Might earn us an extra spot or two in the D1B poll with him getting to see us dominate live.

 

[Deleted member 2897]

My crack research team has tried to find last time Ga Tech swept an ACC opponent on the road. These highly paid researchers have determined it was....

at Miami in 2011.

None of the 10 previous ACC series wins in current 11 series streak was a sweep (home or road). The last ACC sweep was at home in 2018 (Miami again).

So... if nothing else we're DUE for a sweep & MORE DUE for a road sweep.

27 outs away from one of 2 scenarios:
1) A sweep, on the road, against a top 10 team - Generational Series
2) A series win, on the road, against a top 10 team - launches us into the top 10 ourselves.

Either way a win win.

 

[GT Bravo]

May the bats stay hot and the pitches be strikes (for the most part)!

 

[GTNavyNuke]

Looks like Fitt is there for the games too. Might earn us an extra spot or two in the D1B poll with him getting to see us dominate live.

Likely going to see @Duke or @UNC also 1300 start. While we are good, we aren't the only team he follows. He generally writes good things about all teams but consistently ranks us high. (Watch what a person does, not what he says!)

 

[gtrower]

Up 5-1, King comes in a a tough spot in B4 bases loaded 2 outs and preseason AA Torres at the plate. Strikes him out with 3 pitches.

Still have Maxwell and Bartnicki waiting for their turns too.

 

[gtrower]

We’re certainly trying to make things interesting. B6 they have runners and 2nd/3rd nobody out. K, K, and a wild pitch from Maxwell thrown so hard that it bounces perfectly off their backstop all the way back to Holland who beats the runner to home plate by 5 feet.

Think they left the bases loaded in the 5th as well.

Still up 6-2 T7.

 

[Deleted member 2897]

8-3, another copy/paste game. 3 outs from a generational series sweep - on the road, against a top 10 team. This would be a big big BFD.

 

[THWG]

WHAT A SWEEEEPPPPP!!!! Huge one out of the gates!!

 

[gtrower]