2007 OSU Baseball Season (Official Thread)

rhgbosu · #1 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007, 09:03 PM

First, this teams biggest weakness(IMO) is middle relief and mid week starters. Dan Barkers loss really stings. Fausnaugh, Meister, and Barrera are the proven preformers. We are gonna have to have some of these new kids step up right away. We may have the best rotation in the B10, and we are gonna need a lot of innings from these guys until some folks step up.
I cant believe i am thinking this, but fausnaugh may be the best thing going in the pen. Nobody looked better at the end of the year. Sadly,
Meister never really got it going..the biggest dissapointment of '06 IMO.

second, who the heck plays on the left side of the infield? Not a whole lot of proven depth on the left side, or the right for that matter. I'm afraid Zoeller will be forced into action at short, and Tony Kennedy will play second. Again, new faces need to step up..and fast. Chris macke may be a big surprise at Third. he has played well in limited action in his career. Also, Justin Miller could move to third..arm is a question but he has all the skills with the glove to be a gooden' at 3B. Miller is without question our best defensive IF.

Strenghts...

catcher
Starting pitching
Outfield

weknesses...

infield play
mid relief
mid week pitching

Bottom line.. With our starting pitching and bats we should be able to weather the early season storm. Finding reliable IF's and pen arms has to be the top priority in pre B10 play. Fortunately, we appear to have a nice pool of newcomers and vets to sort through and find some help...I think its gonna be a nice season for buckeye baseball. Anything less than a regional bid would be a huge dissapointment.

As far as the B10 goes, i would like to reserve the right to predict an order of finish until a later date, because the league is a mess. I have no idea whats gonna happen behind tOSU and Michigan. On paper, we are clearly the teams to beat!!

I would really like to hear from yall..what did i miss?

CleveBucks · #2 (**permalink**) 02-04-2007, 03:52 AM

We need to eliminate baserunning mistakes and string some hits together, because I don't see this team hitting for much power. Being able to play station to station will be key.

rhgbosu · #3 (**permalink**) 02-04-2007, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CleveBucks

We need to eliminate baserunning mistakes and string some hits together, because I don't see this team hitting for much power. Being able to play station to station will be key.

Good point. We will have a lot of guys out there that know the drill, but i hope Todd & company have been spending plenty of time teaching the young Bucks how to handle the bat better, and be smarter on the bases. Things like that are critical to any team, but they will be extra important for the '07 bucks. Lots of new faces on the infield...

I look for young bucks like Brian Delucia, Toussant, Rupert, Kovanda, and Curran to get a lot of innings on the infield in the pre B10 season..man, i'm gonna sweating a bunch !!

I think Tony Kennedy will be a huge factor for us this year. He apperas to be our most versitile IF. Wouldnt surprise me to see him play 3 different positions along the IF.

as it is for most season, I feel blown leads by the pen, and 'boots' along the infield are gonna keep things very interesting. Its gonna be fun!!!

JCOSU86 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-04-2007, 04:54 PM

From the Official Site

Quote:

2007 Ohio State Baseball Season Outlook

Jan. 25, 2007
Ohio State head coach Bob Todd has a positive outlook for the 2007 season. Of course, so does every other coach around the country as his team heads toward its season opener, but Todd thinks his optimism has merit.
"We are entering the 2007 season with a lot of optimism," Todd, the 20th-year Buckeye head coach, said. "We have quite a few returning players and more importantly, for the first time since I have been at Ohio State, we have all four of our starting pitchers back. It is highly unusual that you have your complete starting rotation intact."

Continued.....

STR · #5 (**permalink**) 02-06-2007, 02:14 PM

This might be a good foundation to build on.

Returning offense:

Eric Fryer .368, big ten .360, 2nd highest average during scarlet and gray. Catcher

Jason Zoeller .337, big ten .354 Infield

Tony Kennedy .378, big ten .389 Infield

Justin Miller .280, big ten .351 Infield

Matt Angle .369, big ten .396 Outfield

Michael Arp .327, big ten .391, lead all hitters during scarlet and gray. Infield? Outfield

Jonathan Zizzo .240 Outfield

Jacob Howell .402, big ten .420 Outfield

STR · #6 (**permalink**) 02-06-2007, 05:27 PM

I almost forgot about J.B., he is listed under pitchers so I went right by him.

J. B. Shuck .325, big ten .319

osugrad21 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-23-2007, 09:31 AM

Dispatch

OHIO STATE BASEBALL
Despite questions, expectations high
Friday, February 23, 2007
Mark Znidar
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Being the brash, confident teens and 20-somethings that they are, Ohio State baseball players have just one question going into the season opener today in Tampa, Fla.
"Did someone remember to bring the sun block?"
The Buckeyes practiced twice outdoors leading to the game against James Madison and 2006 NCAA Division I home run champion Kellen Kulbacki in the Buckeye Classic at the New York Yankees? minor-league complex.

Cont'd...

osugrad21 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-05-2007, 06:14 AM

DDN

Luebke strikes out 11 as OSU downs Lehigh

By Dayton Daily News

Monday, March 05, 2007
Ohio State left-hander Cory Luebke celebrated his 22nd birthday with 11 strikeouts to help propel the Buckeye baseball team past Lehigh, 7-2, Sunday at the Clearwater College Invitational at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater, Fla.
Luebke, a junior who starred at Marion Local High School, allowed just two hits in seven innings to improve to 1-0 for 3-3 OSU.