2023 Diamond Dawgs (29-27, 11-20) / LSU pitching coach Wes Johnson is new HC

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Bats

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Catcher
Fernando Gonzalez (Jr)
Corey Collins (Jr)
Will David (Gr)

First
Parks Harber (Jr)
Cole Wagner (So)
Charlie Condon (RFr)

Second
Mason LaPlante (Gr) - grad transfer from Yale
Sebastian Murillo (Gr)

Short
Sebastian Murillo (Jr) - transfer from Long Beach State
Mason LaPlante (Gr)

Third
Will David (Gr) - grad transfer from Samford
Parks Harber (Jr)

Left
Connor Tate (Gr)
Dwight Allen (RSo)
Garret Spikes (Jr)
Justin Thomas (Fr)

Center
Ben Anderson (Gr)
Dwight Allen (RSo)
Garret Spikes (Jr)
Justin Thomas (Fr)

Right
Dwight Allen (RSo)
Garret Spikes (Jr)
Justin Thomas (Fr)

Designated Hitter
Corey Collins (Jr)
Cole Wagner (So)
Charlie Condon (RFr)
Garret Spikes (Jr)

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Arms

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Possible Starters
LHP Jaden Woods (Jr)
LHP Liam Sullivan (Jr)
LHP Luke Wagner (Jr)
RHP Nolan Crisp (Sr)
RHP Chandler Marsh (So)
RHP Coleman Willis (So)

Possible Relief
RHP Dalton Rhadans (Gr) - grad transfer from Wofford
RHP Klye Greenler (Gr) - grad transfer from Elon
RHP Pace Mercer (Sr) - transfer from ABAC
RHP Michael Polk (Sr)
RHP Will Pearson (Jr)
LHP Charlie Goldstein (RJr)
LHP Colin Caldwell (Jr)
LHP Jarvis Evans (Fr)

Thanks td24, I'm ready for some Diamond Dawgs but with low expectations for the season.

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He’s the weird McGarity hire that isn’t an abject failure but isn’t a Kirby, either. He’s just… good.

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It's strange that I'm seemingly on the other end of the spectrum than most. with Richt I still felt after 2014 heading into 2015 that he should be our coach when many were LONG over him. AFter 2015 it was obvious it was time to go but I was still on board prior to 15. With Crean I gave him far more leash than anyoen else I know. No other time in teh history of the sport has a coach had to deal wtih a transfer portal and NIL like he did after it was newly created. But again, it became apparne to everyone eventaully taht his time was up and he had to go.

So it absolutely stuns me that there are still so many people out there that are ok with stricklin being our coach, when it is so unebleivably crystal clear obvious to me that he has way outlived his usefulness. I'm sure the first response is going to be that we're not playing with the same deck as everyone due to lack of facilties, lack of support, lack of money, etc. And that's true, it's an inarguable fact. But I'm not talkign about comparing UGA to those other juggernaut programs, I'm just looking at us and us alone.

For starters he was only hired becaue he took a smaller school to omaha (once in 9 years) and had connections to the ATL area so we thought he might start locking down some of that cobb talent. His first 4 years he was a failure and never even had a .500 season in any of them. Year 5 he finally puts a good squad together that looks destined for omaha, but then gets swept at home by duke. Next year he puts together an even BETTER squad, then gets swept at home by FSU taht was pretty shitty and was more of a "feel good story" than an actual good team. Next year, in a cruel twist of fate beyond his control, probably his best team yet was canceled due to covid. Sucks, but everyone's season got canceled not just his. The next 2 seasons, these last 2, more mediocrity with a just above breakeven SEC recored and no postseason.

So to recap, in 8 full seasons played at UGA he has 0 CWS appearances and 0 Super regional appearances. He has 2 regional appearances that we hosted and lost both. Half of his tnrue here has been losing seasons. We continue to look terrible in hoover. I mean is there really any aspect of the program that's better now than under perno? What is it that is making people say "Yes, I truly believe Scott Stricklin can lead UGA Baseball to the college world series"?

By all accounts he's a total arse hole and recruits dont' like him. YTou cant' tell me there's not SOMEONE out there taht can convince some of the elite talent in state to stay home and play for UGA. The facilities and support is cokming, at a glacial pace but it's coming eventaully. When that does end up getting here I'd much rather see someone at the helm that can take advantage rather than enter year 14 of stricklin saying "this is the year men, maybe we can make it to the supers this year"

I’m pretty much where you are, just took a different route to get there. I’d like to see a shake up but I think it’ll need to be another 3 years as the expansion to Foley takes place after this season. From there, 2 years to prove the new facility can give us a boost in recruiting or we move on to someone who can make it all work

Mega booster out of Charlotte did more for this program than anyone. I think he saw clemson succeeding and had enough.

A couple of rendering of the third base side have been released:

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Although the actual designs are still ongoing, the new addition will be erected along the current third base line. It will include a new hitting area, a pitching lab, and a nutrition area. Georgia’s bullpen will move from the first base line to the third to be in construction with the rest of the facility. New coaches' offices will also be moved from Stegeman Coliseum to the new facility. “When I first took the job, we knew that improvements to Foley Field would be important, not just for recruiting, but for student-athlete development,” athletic director Josh Brooks said during Tuesday’s quarterly meeting of the UGA Athletic Association. “Right now, our pitchers are practicing their bullpen outdoors. Having an indoor pitching lab is important, not to mention the technology that goes along with it.” Other improvements are also on the way. “We’ve seen the impact facilities can have on recruiting in this league. When you look across the league in facilities the arms race has gotten pretty competitive across the board, so for Coach Stricklin and his staff to continue growing this program we felt it was important,” Brooks said. “In addition, it’s going to give us the opportunity to create some more premium seating, some more seating in general to really keep improving Foley.” Per Brooks, the first phase of the project will focus on underground utility work in and around Foley Field, specifically the third base line where most of the construction will take place. “We’re also going to look and see what we can get done in this first off-season, so maybe we can do something with the lights, maybe we can do something with the turf and we may go ahead and re-model the clubhouse,” Brooks said. “Phase 2 will begin the following offseason after next year. Once all that enabling work is done, then we can get into the second phase to finish up so it will be done for January of 2025.” Exactly what the new pitching lab, hitting area, etc, will look like, remains to be seen. Brooks said the specific designs are ongoing, a fact due primarily to rising construction costs. “The design is not quite done yet, we’re very close. It’s frustrating for us, it’s frustrating for the coaches when you keep going back, but in these times of inflation when you go back and do pricing, the prices have gone up; it’s escalating,” Brooks said. “So, when you get back those numbers you want to say OK, we can keep raising money but let’s really be efficient in what we’re doing. It’s good practice to go back to the drawing board and say OK, what’s really important? For me, my message to coaches is yeah, we want to get to fan amenities, but first and foremost, let’s focus on the student-athlete and their experiences first.”

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Rivals

FWIW D1Baseball doesn’t have us in their preseason field of 64

Our season hinges on:
1.) Health, which we have been on the bad side of the past 2 years
2.) Starting pitching improvement, which came through with Wilcox-Hancock-Locey but hasn’t been on the same level since
3.) Unknowns materializing into quality SEC players. I’ll never bet in favor of this working out the way you hope it will

So all in all, I don’t blame them for projecting us to be on the outside looking in. There’s obviously a reality in which it all comes together as you’d hope but it’s hard to bet on that happening.

Woods throws 6 straight balls to start the season before finally landing a called strike.
JSU bails him out with a popped up bunt. 1 on, 1 out
Coaxes an infield fly to Murillo at Short. 2 away, leadoff man on first
Drills the next guy in the back of the right shoulder. 2 on, 2 out
Walks em loaded. 2 out

Woods has thrown 9 balls to 5 strikes to the in of 2 BB and 1 HBP

Gets a swinging strikeout to end the threat. Rocky start

0-0

Leadoff walk on 5 pitches from Woods
Strikeout looking after getting down 3-1. 1 on, 1 away
And belted to left center.
Walks the top of the order again. 45 pitches thrown, 25 of them balls. 1 on, 1 away
Got lucky - would be HBP is called out by leaning into the pitch. 1 on, 2 away
Another 2 run jack to left.
Single up the gut. 1 on, 2 away
Another walk. 2 on, 2 out
Murillo with a nice running stab and throw, 5-3 to mercifully end the 2nd

4-0 JSU through 2