re: Valek is 2-0

Stallings throwing strikes at 96, 94, 95 and then 80 is unhittable

I was somewhat skeptical after his first outing but was very favorably impressed today. he kept the hitters off balance and off the basepaths. if he keeps this up he's our sunday guy.

I think we're gonna be fine on the mound. we've really got an experienced bull pen and that may make the difference this year. we're gonna need 'em to keep us in games so maybe our hitting will score enough runs to win some games.

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if we do use one closer, I think stalling is the guy. he's got 3 pitches now and a 95+mph fast ball. he's learning to pitch and if he can locate his off speed stuff to start a batter his heater will kill them

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I agree and Gilbert may be used as a setup along with Bugg. Not a bad move his velocity and slider are SEC ready, in 1 inning spirts he's able to handle.
Newman needs to stay in that first guy out the pen role.

Do you think Gilbert's future is in the bullpen or could he have a starting role down the line?

Solid performance especially on a Sunday when the bullpen was not rested.
With that said, it's still not SEC and you were playing a team that's been on the road for the entire week.

Im gonna wait to judge stallings during the first couple sec weekends

He was good at that point last year too.

I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. If he can locate the fastball and has that slider, then he shouldn't be figured out so easily. It was the scouting that got to him last year. Not his lack of stuff. Once teams realized all he had was one pitch, that was it.

Newman won't be long relief since PM has some sort of fetish where he doesn't like to leave him in for more than an inning even when he strikes out the side on 12 pitches

Even going back to last year I don't know why Newman didn't get more closing opportunities. He's not a prototypical closer, but neither were some of the other guys he's gone with in years past. If I remember he had the lowest era at sub 1. It would definitely be preferable to have another arm or two step up to prove they could take that role so he can continue to do what he has been doing very well, but if not it seems like something that should be tried. This season it seems we are going to be in a lot of close low scoring games and we will definitely need to find more than one guy who can finish off a game and secure victory. It would also help if the defense would back them up...