re: Baseball 28-20 (14-10) Schedule for Week of 5/3

Mizzou has top 25 Missouri State tonight in COMO at 6:05. Game will be on SECNetworkPlus. Would be nice to get a midweek win over a solid team for a change. We seem to take the week up to gear up for the conference games on the weekend.

Really shouldn't be looking so far ahead already but was looking at it so thought I'd post it. Who we will/might lose after this year.

SENIORS
Peel 2b - The only real contributor in the field.
Munson OF
Bone C
Ivory OF
Pearson OF
Miles SP - Starts our midweek games and does ok.
Schwaab RP - A main reliever out of the pen.
James P

Peel in the field and Schwaab out of the bullpen are the only real losses as far as seniors go.

JUNIORS
Lester 3b - Doubt he's a high draft pick and comes back.
Lavy 1b - Doubt he leaves for the draft either.
Akmon OF - Doesn't play.
Fairbanks SP - I think he's thrown well enough that he could go in the draft.
McClain SP - Same as for Fairbanks. Both probably gone.
Williams RP - Done great as closer and may go in the draft as well.
Rash SP - Even though TJ doesn't use him at all, he'll probably get drafted and get the hell out of dodge.
Tribby RP - He'll be back.

The only potential loss in the field is Lester. I think he comes back though and plays 2b, sliding Benes in on the left side of the infield. The pitching staff will take a bigger hit. 2 weekend starters and the closer are probably all going to go pro. Add the midweek starter and there's going to be alot of opportunity for guys next year. I'd love to see guys like De Oca or Dabney getting midweek starts in anticipation of next year and filling those voids.

I think SEMO is supposed to make post-season play. Don't know about SLU this year.

4 college teams that should make the NCAA tourney and the Cards and Royals battling for 1st place in their divisions. Doesn't get much better.

Missouri State and Mizzou both have at large chances obviously. SEMO and SLU will only make it to the postseason if they win the auto bids from the OVC and A10 respectively.

Again, with regard to Miles what better options are out there? Montes de Oca is wild, Rash is in the doghouse and is even more erratic, and the other real option Dabney threw two wild pitches in 2/3 of an inning last night (to allow the go ahead run to score) and committed an error. John is a veteran, competes well, and is the one guy outside of our weekend three that is conditioned to be a starter right now.

No question Miles was a Saturday starter I think last year. I guess my take is that if we're going to struggle in mid-week games, I'd just as soon struggle while grooming someone to be a weekend starter for next year. Do De Oca and Rash have control issues? Absolutely. Do they have a knack for pitching around the problems the get themselves into? I think so. I also think those game situations are where they can work through those control issues and maybe groom themselves to take McClain or Fairbanks spot next year. The one thing we know is that Miles won't take one of those spots next year because he's a senior.

I respect the hell out of what Miles has done for the Tigers. I just think the other guys have more upside and I'd be willing to take on the increased risk as well because of the potential future. If De Oca was a senior, I wouldn't be trumpeting him as much.

Are you able to tell if they have one up on Fairbanks?

Got swept by simply a better baseball team in Vandy. At least gives us an idea of where we have to get to and that we're not quite there yet.

Damn. Hope all is well kilo. It's a good reminder though that it's just sports. Was a tough weekend but sounds tougher for you. Here's to a speedy recovery.

Get we'll soon, kilo! Don't let sports ruin your day. It's just a game. Hope the painkillers get you through.