Cuppers, Here's Your 2012 Rebel Baseball Line-up

by One Man To Beat on Feb 13, 2012 2:45 PM EST

Mike Bianco just wrapped up his pre-season press conference. Here's the line-up for 2012:

C: Will Allen

1B: Matt Snyder

2B: Alex Yarbrough

SS: Blake Newalu and Austin Anderson

3B: Preston Overbey

LF: Tanner Mathis and Zach Kirksey

CF: Austin Bousfield and Will Jamison

RF: Senquez Golson

Bianco said the OF will be somewhat of a platoon with Golson most likely not getting a start on Opening Day on Friday.

Go through the jump portal for the weekend rotation and more notes.

Weekend rotation (followed with paraphrased from Bianco):

Friday: Bobby Wahl

Bobby is kind of the total package. His FB is super electric throwing in the mid-90's but has very good command.

Saturday: RJ HIvely

Hively had a terrific fall. Best of all the pitchers. Difference is his fastball command. Made some adjustments and attacks zone.

Sunday: Mike Mayers

Mayers, his stuff resembles Wahl. Good fastball that has gone up a few MPH. 90-94. Picked up slider.

Brett Huber will close for the Rebels. Bianco said expect to see early work from the bullpen from Josh Laxer, Dylan Chavez and Sam Smith among "several others."

One of the more comforting things I heard from this press conference was that Bianco feels like this team is not that young. When you look at the roster, more than a few names should stand out. Our weekend rotation are all guys who have at least had appearances in SEC play. All is not doom and gloom.

Also, the press conference focused on the most important thing to any SEC fan: SPEED. OF Tanner Mathis said nearly every outfielder can run a 6.8 60-yard dash, which Bianco said is akin to a 4.5 40-yard dash. This move to a more athletic player was due to the change from aluminum, trampoline-esque style bats to the new, more dead, BBCOR bats.

And, of course, there was some chatter on Senquez Golson. He continues to make the transition from football to baseball. He's putting in his time like everyone else and doing a good job, according to Bianco. Don't forget, he's making the jump from high school to college in a different sport than he's been focused on the past several months, so it just is going to take time for him to grow and get better. At least that's what the coaches are preaching.

Just a few more days until the Rebels are in Fort Worth and baseball season begins. What are your thoughts before we get things started?

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Thoughts?

My thoughts are that we need something good to happen around here. We need it BAD. If we just show some improvement in situational hitting, strong defense and let our arms get some needed SEC confidence, I’ll be happy because ’13 is where I expect us to be damn good. As in, Omaha good.

This season I hope to see us get beat by more seasoned teams, not by ourselves. If we finish 2nd or a close 3rd in the West, win a couple games in the SECT, host a regional and take a very good SR team to three games on the road, I’ll be happy.

by OxpatchReb on Feb 13, 2012 3:20 PM EST reply actions

On the new EOTC blog it says Tanner Mathis in left (aided by Zach Kirksey)

Does that mean we get to play 4 OF? That will be a big help, defensively.

Hope springs eternal. Hitting will be improved, the new rotation will be better than the old, Huber will look like Mariano Rivera out there. Omaha.

Also quoted is a line on not striking out, like the idea of being to take walks and to be able to hit breaking stuff… that’s been killer to our team the past few years.

Agree more realistically with Oxpatch above on expectations. I have us being the least seasoned team in the SEC…

tripleB.tumblr.com // msbeernut.com

by Thile on Feb 13, 2012 3:57 PM EST reply actions

I don't follow other SEC teams closely but

I thought there were several SEC teams with less seasoning than us. I don’t follow them but isn’t state basically replacing all or most of their position players. We are young but with some experience mixed in.

by GeorgiaReb on Feb 13, 2012 4:34 PM EST reply actions

Yes

State is replacing 8 of its 9 position players but returning almost every bit of its pitching. The general idea is that pitching beats hitting, but I’ve never seen any stats, saber metrics or anything that shows its a definite.

If I predict it, there's an 50 percent chance it happens.

by One Man To Beat on Feb 13, 2012 4:35 PM EST up reply actions

Basically, the only team we can guarantee will have more seasoning than us will be LSU....

Lord knows those coon-asses love their paprika, garlic, & cayenne pepper. #WellSeasoned

by EtOHReb on Feb 13, 2012 4:51 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

iswydt

#cajunstereotype

by shegotaboxcuttercuzreb on Feb 13, 2012 5:21 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I meant on the mound. I think we're going to give away a couple games from the mound that we've played well enough

to win. Basically, I see us being CAPABLE of winning the West and the SECT talent wise, but I think we will run out of arms by the end of the season. Our defense should get better as the line up gelst. Our bats should get better as the season goes along as well. But I see our young arms having some confidence problems late, they’ll start having some control issues as they try to over-throw some stuff in key situations and it’ll result in a few games being given away late in the season. LSU (at home) and Vandy (on the road) being 2 of our last 3 series will be ready to pounce on mistakes by younger pitchers.

That being said, I hope our bats stay alive and are able to keep us in games when the pitching starts to give out. Should be an interesting season.

And yes, other than pitching, state will suck. But unfortunately for us and the rest of the league, really strong pitching will win you alot of 2-0 and 2-1 games.

by OxpatchReb on Feb 13, 2012 5:01 PM EST up reply actions

I'll be at opening day in Fort Worth with my dad

As should many other metroplex Rebels.
Excited about the new season. Hope springs eternal.

Nobody cares about your signature.

by RobRob9 on Feb 13, 2012 5:18 PM EST reply actions

This year I look for

Aggressive base running and more discipline at the plate.
I’m expecting a breakout year for Overbey, fewer strikeouts and more HR for Snyder, and finally being able to execute a bunt.
Newalu was very consistent last year and had a good glove.
I really like this team, but you never know with pitching.
We start out the season with some quality teams, so get it going Rebels, don’t make us wait for next year, break through now and let’s go to Omaha.

by hotstove97 on Feb 14, 2012 8:39 AM EST via mobile reply actions

I wouldn't be surprised

to see Laxer getting alot of action. I saw him last season and he was probably the most dominant pitcher in the state. He throws in the mid 90’s consistently and has a nasty curve as well. I think he’s probably the most talented young pitcher we’ve got and should provide some good depth and, hopefully down the road, some quality starts.

"A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to."-Gandalf

by Mexter Dccluster on Feb 14, 2012 2:05 PM EST reply actions

Who is expected to start mid-week for us this season?

Do we expect he’ll draw a start or two at some point?

by RebElitist on Feb 14, 2012 3:05 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

Random Mc Pitcherson.

I believe we have a full staff, of young or inexperienced or both, pitchers who will rotate through until a couple settle into the role mid season. It’s anyones guess as to whom will be filling that midweek starters role. I don’t even have names of the candidates for you. Someone more familiar with our roster would need to proved them.

by OxpatchReb on Feb 14, 2012 3:46 PM EST up reply actions