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Posted on 5/28/25 at 12:55 pm to WJP23
Slanker must’ve grown up dreaming of playing at Louisville
Posted on 5/28/25 at 1:06 pm to Poptart_Huran
quote:I'll try to pull out some pieces tonight (if no one does it before me) for those who don't want to read it. It's insane. Cutting weight training in half, Rooney blocking their analytics department from working with players, not using analytics at all, not practicing situational defense, leaving rotational pieces off of the SEC roster. It's wild stuff.
WILD read. Does anyone with insight into the program when Paul was here think this isn't being exaggerated or is incorrect? Because holy shite I'll be watching their program with a popcorn bucket in hand this offseaso
ETA: jesus christ i was only half way through. He ripped up and threw away entire scouting reports mid game, told players they needed to transfer, and failed to follow doctor's orders for an injured pitcher, then trashed him to the media as a bad teammate.
This post was edited on 5/28/25 at 1:10 pm
Posted on 5/28/25 at 1:35 pm to PP7 for heisman
The pitcher injury thing sounds similar to several arm injuries here, like Jake Latz. Iirc he never wanted guys to get surgery that would shut them down, so he just ended up having them kick the can down the road for a year then they would get the surgery.
I think naptime mentioned how we had state of the art training equipment given to us but the staff didn’t use it because they didn’t understand it nor did they want to understand it.
I bet Cannizzaro had success here because he was one of the few who had a brash enough personality to get his way in how he developed guys vs just being a yes man. He’s the only hitting coach we had at the end of CPM’s stint who actually made philosophy changes.
I think naptime mentioned how we had state of the art training equipment given to us but the staff didn’t use it because they didn’t understand it nor did they want to understand it.
I bet Cannizzaro had success here because he was one of the few who had a brash enough personality to get his way in how he developed guys vs just being a yes man. He’s the only hitting coach we had at the end of CPM’s stint who actually made philosophy changes.
Posted on 5/28/25 at 1:43 pm to PP7 for heisman
Here’s a ChatGPT summary:
Absolutely. Here’s a more detailed and structured elaboration of the major points from the exposé, categorized to better highlight the scope and depth of the dysfunction within the South Carolina baseball program during the 2025 season:
?
?? 1. Systemic Failures in Player Development
?? Weight Training Neglect
• Traditionally, players lifted four times per week in the fall, a crucial development period.
• Under Mainieri, weightlifting was cut to twice a week, leaving players physically underprepared.
• This decision was out of step with nearly every other major program; other coaches interviewed lifted three to five times per week.
?? Lack of Fundamental Practice
• Pitcher-fielding practice (PFP) and team bunt defense drills stopped before the season began and were not resumed.
• This directly contributed to routine defensive mistakes:
• Overthrows at first base.
• Missed cutoff throws.
• Players not covering bases properly on bunts.
• South Carolina also failed to prepare for opponent tactics (e.g., Kentucky’s small ball approach), holding only a 10-minute on-field meeting instead of any physical drills.
?? Neglect of Defensive Fundamentals
• Cuts and relays were not practiced in-season.
• Errors like failing to cut off throws, leading to extra bases, became common.
?
?? 2. Technology Underutilization
?? TrackMan Ignored
• TrackMan, a standard tool across elite programs, was rarely used during bullpen sessions.
• Offers real-time data (spin rate, pitch shape, release angle) but was under-deployed, hindering mechanical feedback and injury prevention.
?? Biometric Lab (Maven) Wasted
• Maven’s high-end 3D biomechanical tracking system was used for baseline testing only.
• Despite having equipment on par with MLB “pitching labs,” players were denied access except when pitching coach Terry Rooney was absent.
?? Analytics Silenced
• Chris Gordon, Director of Analytics (formerly at Duke and Texas), was kept away from pitchers.
• Rooney reportedly didn’t understand the data and actively blocked Gordon from helping athletes.
• Pitchers flocked to Gordon when Rooney was away, highlighting trust and respect for him.
?
?? 3. Player Performance Regression
?? Pitchers
• ERA of returning pitchers rose from 5.47 (2024) to 6.43 (2025) overall, and by 1.75 runs in SEC play.
• None of the six key returning pitchers showed meaningful improvement; some regressed sharply.
?? Hitters
• Key returners (Ethan Petry, Blake Jackson, Kennedy Jones) declined across the board in:
• OPS
• Slugging %
• On-base %
• BB/K ratios
• Power numbers notably dropped for Petry, despite a modest batting average increase.
?? Bottom Line
• The program’s motto under Mainieri was “Develop and Win” — this season showed neither.
?
?? 4. Leadership and Culture Breakdown
?? Poor Treatment of Players
• Following losses to Kentucky and Texas A&M, players were forced to change clothes in parking lots instead of locker rooms.
• Mainieri publicly declared after one meeting that he’d replace the team via the transfer portal.
• Players interpreted this as a clear message to look elsewhere.
?? Eddie Copper Situation
• Rehabbing from UCL surgery, Copper was pushed beyond his limits against medical advice, resulting in a setback.
• Was then mischaracterized by Mainieri in the media as not wanting to compete.
• Was ostracized despite following rehab protocols and showing dedication.
?? Degrading Morale
• Player enthusiasm plummeted.
• Reports surfaced of players avoiding the stadium, and some said neither Mainieri nor Rooney cared about them personally.
• Celebrations were banned — players couldn’t enjoy extra-base hits or show emotion, quashing team spirit.
?
?? 5. Administrative Mistakes and Mishandling
?? Roster Submission Errors
• Brandon Stone, one of the team’s top bullpen arms, was left off the active roster due to a paperwork oversight — “Stone” was written once instead of specifying “Brandon” vs. “Evan.”
• A similar mistake happened the week before, with “Sweeney” spelled as “Swinney.”
?? Alienating Moments
• Mainieri threw a scouting report into the trash in front of a player (Petry) and an assistant coach during a game.
• On Senior Night, he didn’t want player families on the field — a tradition-breaking gesture.
• During an injury timeout, Mainieri spent more time socializing with LSU opponents than checking on his injured player.
?
?? 6. Toxicity and Fallout
?? Loss of Locker Room
• After the Clemson series, Mainieri routinely insulted the team in private and public.
• The environment grew so hostile that many players wanted out.
• Exit meetings were weaponized — one was canceled over a player’s father’s Facebook post.
?? Transfer Exodus Likely
• The story hints that the true measure of toxicity will be how many players leave, and who they are.
?
?? 7. Administration’s Desperate Plan
• In response to the disaster, the South Carolina administration plans to:
• Flood the baseball program with NIL funds.
• Buy a competitive roster to avoid a total collapse in 2026.
• However, it’s uncertain whether money alone can reverse the damage.
?
?? Summary Conclusion
South Carolina’s baseball program suffered not from lack of talent but gross mismanagement, technological neglect, cultural toxicity, and degrading leadership. The exposé paints a portrait of a storied program imploding from the top down under Mainieri, with little accountability and rapidly eroding trust.
Would you like a visual summary or timeline version of this?
Absolutely. Here’s a more detailed and structured elaboration of the major points from the exposé, categorized to better highlight the scope and depth of the dysfunction within the South Carolina baseball program during the 2025 season:
?
?? 1. Systemic Failures in Player Development
?? Weight Training Neglect
• Traditionally, players lifted four times per week in the fall, a crucial development period.
• Under Mainieri, weightlifting was cut to twice a week, leaving players physically underprepared.
• This decision was out of step with nearly every other major program; other coaches interviewed lifted three to five times per week.
?? Lack of Fundamental Practice
• Pitcher-fielding practice (PFP) and team bunt defense drills stopped before the season began and were not resumed.
• This directly contributed to routine defensive mistakes:
• Overthrows at first base.
• Missed cutoff throws.
• Players not covering bases properly on bunts.
• South Carolina also failed to prepare for opponent tactics (e.g., Kentucky’s small ball approach), holding only a 10-minute on-field meeting instead of any physical drills.
?? Neglect of Defensive Fundamentals
• Cuts and relays were not practiced in-season.
• Errors like failing to cut off throws, leading to extra bases, became common.
?
?? 2. Technology Underutilization
?? TrackMan Ignored
• TrackMan, a standard tool across elite programs, was rarely used during bullpen sessions.
• Offers real-time data (spin rate, pitch shape, release angle) but was under-deployed, hindering mechanical feedback and injury prevention.
?? Biometric Lab (Maven) Wasted
• Maven’s high-end 3D biomechanical tracking system was used for baseline testing only.
• Despite having equipment on par with MLB “pitching labs,” players were denied access except when pitching coach Terry Rooney was absent.
?? Analytics Silenced
• Chris Gordon, Director of Analytics (formerly at Duke and Texas), was kept away from pitchers.
• Rooney reportedly didn’t understand the data and actively blocked Gordon from helping athletes.
• Pitchers flocked to Gordon when Rooney was away, highlighting trust and respect for him.
?
?? 3. Player Performance Regression
?? Pitchers
• ERA of returning pitchers rose from 5.47 (2024) to 6.43 (2025) overall, and by 1.75 runs in SEC play.
• None of the six key returning pitchers showed meaningful improvement; some regressed sharply.
?? Hitters
• Key returners (Ethan Petry, Blake Jackson, Kennedy Jones) declined across the board in:
• OPS
• Slugging %
• On-base %
• BB/K ratios
• Power numbers notably dropped for Petry, despite a modest batting average increase.
?? Bottom Line
• The program’s motto under Mainieri was “Develop and Win” — this season showed neither.
?
?? 4. Leadership and Culture Breakdown
?? Poor Treatment of Players
• Following losses to Kentucky and Texas A&M, players were forced to change clothes in parking lots instead of locker rooms.
• Mainieri publicly declared after one meeting that he’d replace the team via the transfer portal.
• Players interpreted this as a clear message to look elsewhere.
?? Eddie Copper Situation
• Rehabbing from UCL surgery, Copper was pushed beyond his limits against medical advice, resulting in a setback.
• Was then mischaracterized by Mainieri in the media as not wanting to compete.
• Was ostracized despite following rehab protocols and showing dedication.
?? Degrading Morale
• Player enthusiasm plummeted.
• Reports surfaced of players avoiding the stadium, and some said neither Mainieri nor Rooney cared about them personally.
• Celebrations were banned — players couldn’t enjoy extra-base hits or show emotion, quashing team spirit.
?
?? 5. Administrative Mistakes and Mishandling
?? Roster Submission Errors
• Brandon Stone, one of the team’s top bullpen arms, was left off the active roster due to a paperwork oversight — “Stone” was written once instead of specifying “Brandon” vs. “Evan.”
• A similar mistake happened the week before, with “Sweeney” spelled as “Swinney.”
?? Alienating Moments
• Mainieri threw a scouting report into the trash in front of a player (Petry) and an assistant coach during a game.
• On Senior Night, he didn’t want player families on the field — a tradition-breaking gesture.
• During an injury timeout, Mainieri spent more time socializing with LSU opponents than checking on his injured player.
?
?? 6. Toxicity and Fallout
?? Loss of Locker Room
• After the Clemson series, Mainieri routinely insulted the team in private and public.
• The environment grew so hostile that many players wanted out.
• Exit meetings were weaponized — one was canceled over a player’s father’s Facebook post.
?? Transfer Exodus Likely
• The story hints that the true measure of toxicity will be how many players leave, and who they are.
?
?? 7. Administration’s Desperate Plan
• In response to the disaster, the South Carolina administration plans to:
• Flood the baseball program with NIL funds.
• Buy a competitive roster to avoid a total collapse in 2026.
• However, it’s uncertain whether money alone can reverse the damage.
?
?? Summary Conclusion
South Carolina’s baseball program suffered not from lack of talent but gross mismanagement, technological neglect, cultural toxicity, and degrading leadership. The exposé paints a portrait of a storied program imploding from the top down under Mainieri, with little accountability and rapidly eroding trust.
Would you like a visual summary or timeline version of this?
Posted on 5/28/25 at 2:27 pm to Wichita Co Tiger
Maybe it’s what we have coming back already in the outfield. Just a thought
Posted on 5/28/25 at 2:39 pm to LSU Neil
Maybe. Or maybe he grew up dreaming of playing at Louisville.
Or here’s a crazy thought: maybe Louisville got him to enter the portal?
Or here’s a crazy thought: maybe Louisville got him to enter the portal?
Posted on 5/28/25 at 2:44 pm to Wichita Co Tiger
New Perfect Game top 500 is out. I can only see the top 40 without a sub. Someone else can add to the list.
Names of interest for LSU
#4 Kade Anderson
#22 Quentin Young (2025 signee)
#34 Jaden Fauske (2025 signee)
Names of interest for LSU
#4 Kade Anderson
#22 Quentin Young (2025 signee)
#34 Jaden Fauske (2025 signee)
Posted on 5/28/25 at 2:51 pm to skullhawk
Give me Moss and Ebel and I'm happy. Sime is a ++ guy in the future but he'll need some command work.
Posted on 5/28/25 at 2:56 pm to skullhawk
Baseball America updated their list and expanded it to 500 today as well.
Anderson is at 6, up from 12.
Ebel at 38, down from 35.
Eyanson at 39, up from 71.
McKenzie at 45, down from 41 (debuted at 106).
Young at 55, down from 54.
Dickinson at 57, down from 55.
Fauske at 65, down from 48.
Serna at 77, up from 78.
Shores at 84, down from 64.
Sime at 85, up from 98.
Patrick at 93, down from 88.
Moss at 95, up from 100 (debuted at 9).
Hamilton at 165, down from 148.
Paz at 170, down from 131 (debuted at 14).
Ricken at 193, down from 170.
Jones at 201, down from 192.
Ruckert at 226, down from 200.
Mayers at 299, down from 273.
Clauss at 313, down from 283.
Ware at 333, up from 371.
Cowan at 338, down from 313.
Braun at 352, up from 377.
Hodge at 382, down from 353.
Theophilus debuts at 478.
Anderson is at 6, up from 12.
Ebel at 38, down from 35.
Eyanson at 39, up from 71.
McKenzie at 45, down from 41 (debuted at 106).
Young at 55, down from 54.
Dickinson at 57, down from 55.
Fauske at 65, down from 48.
Serna at 77, up from 78.
Shores at 84, down from 64.
Sime at 85, up from 98.
Patrick at 93, down from 88.
Moss at 95, up from 100 (debuted at 9).
Hamilton at 165, down from 148.
Paz at 170, down from 131 (debuted at 14).
Ricken at 193, down from 170.
Jones at 201, down from 192.
Ruckert at 226, down from 200.
Mayers at 299, down from 273.
Clauss at 313, down from 283.
Ware at 333, up from 371.
Cowan at 338, down from 313.
Braun at 352, up from 377.
Hodge at 382, down from 353.
Theophilus debuts at 478.
Posted on 5/28/25 at 3:00 pm to Poptart_Huran
quote:
did ya'll come across this 247sports article on South Carolina being a shitshow?
This is pretty major F ups that easily could have been avoided:
quote:
-- On April 12, South Carolina was up 12-2 going to the bottom of the sixth inning against Texas A&M and had what seemed to be a well-stocked bullpen, especially for a series finale. The Gamecocks, however, proceeded to give up 13 runs over the final four innings, including a pair of grand slams in the ninth inning to lose that game 15-12.
One of the best arms on the team, Brandon Stone, didn't throw a pitch that weekend. Mainieri said after blowing the 12-run lead that there were "better guys to use."
Maybe that's true (remember, we're not evaluating in-game coaching decisions in this piece), but as it turns out, he couldn't use Stone even if he wanted to. Mainieri inadvertently left Stone off of the active roster for the weekend so he was ineligible to pitch.
When South Carolina turns in its active roster at the start of a series, only last names are listed. The architect of the sheet doesn't write down numbers or first names to go with the last name. "Stone" was only written down one time, and Evan Stone had already played. Maybe it was Evan who was forgotten but regardless, Mainieri turned in a roster that had two players who were needed to play.
-- And the Stone situation came immediately on the heels of another lineup snafu. Chris Lemonis, the Mississippi State head coach at the time, called into question South Carolina's active roster the week before the Texas A&M series. The Bulldogs were given a lineup card that just said "Swinney" as the last name. Of course, the Gamecocks don't have a "Swinney," but do have a Brendan Sweeney. That spelling was a common mistake for Mainieri throughout the season.
Posted on 5/28/25 at 3:01 pm to ProjectP2294
Great stuff, Project
This one is interesting. At one time, it looked like this kid wasn't sniffing campus, and now I'd be surprised if he went pro. Hopefully, we have another Curiel on our hands.
quote:
Moss at 95, up from 100 (debuted at 9).
This one is interesting. At one time, it looked like this kid wasn't sniffing campus, and now I'd be surprised if he went pro. Hopefully, we have another Curiel on our hands.
Posted on 5/28/25 at 3:03 pm to Poptart_Huran
I can see the part about Mainieri's downplaying Trackman and the analytics stuff being true. Also, he told his first team at LSU that a lot of them weren't talented enough for LSU (which wasn't entirely wrong).
The stuff about Rooney is pretty damning. Wow.
The stuff about Rooney is pretty damning. Wow.
Posted on 5/28/25 at 3:07 pm to PP7 for heisman
quote:
WILD read
quote:
I'll try to pull out some pieces tonight (if no one does it before me) for those who don't want to read it
quote:
Strength and conditioning coach Billy Anderson, who started with the baseball program in the late 1990s, had his time with the players cut drastically. Anderson has typically had the team in the weight room four times a week in the Fall but Mainieri made the decision to cut that back, and the players only lifted twice a week.
quote:
they quit doing PFPs (pitcher-fielding practice) prior to the start of the season. Multiple contacts said PFPs - to also include full-team bunt defense - were not done since January.... Mainieri was asked how they would handle practice to get ready for a Kentucky team that loved to bunt, steal and use creative plays on the bases and if they'd do some extra work to prepare. Mainieri said, "If I'm doing my job correctly we will." Multiple sources indicated they didn't do any actual work prior to that series, but only had a pitchers' meeting standing on the field.. Along those same lines, the position players have not practiced cuts and relays since before the start of the season.
quote:
It is on very rare occasion that South Carolina uses TrackMan in its bullpens... Players are often looking for "pitching labs" for their college baseball experience. South Carolina has one, but it's collecting dust
quote:
One of the best arms on the team, Brandon Stone, didn't throw a pitch that weekend. Mainieri said after blowing the 12-run lead that there were "better guys to use"...Mainieri inadvertently left Stone off of the active roster for the weekend so he was ineligible to pitch.
quote:
Following the final game of the series, Mainieri was so displeased with the players he didn't allow them to go to the locker room to shower and change before they traveled home... the players were made to change in the outfield parking lot before boarding the bus
quote:
Mainieri expressed to the players how bad they were and they were going to go get a whole bunch of new players from the transfer portal in the offseason. While stopping short of telling individual players that they needed to leave, he was telling the team in not so many more words that they needed to start making other arrangements for next season.
quote:
In his rehab and recovery process, Copper was scheduled to throw a 15-pitch bullpen in January. Instead, Copper was pushed to ignore the rehab schedule and throw more, and ended up throwing 50 pitches in that session. Because of that bullpen, Copper suffered an oblique strain that set him back in his recovery... Mainieri denigrated Copper publicly saying to the media, "You want guys that want the ball and go out there and obviously he didn't. … (Copper has) been out of sight, out of mind, just doing it with the guys that we have that really want to be out there."
quote:
But in the midst of the game against North Carolina, Mainieri ripped the scouting report out of Ethan Petry's hands in the dugout and showed him up in front of his teammates. Mainieri threw that scouting report, which was Monte Lee's to use as reference, into the trash can.
Posted on 5/28/25 at 3:18 pm to ProjectP2294
IDK if this is anything to monitor because he isn't in the portal, but Josh Jordan has followed Southern outfielder Cardell Thibodeaux, who hit 18 homers this year and won the SWAC newcomer of the year award
This post was edited on 5/28/25 at 3:18 pm
Posted on 5/28/25 at 3:32 pm to lsufan0582
quote:
IDK if this is anything to monitor because he isn't in the portal, but Josh Jordan has followed Southern outfielder Cardell Thibodeaux, who hit 18 homers this year and won the SWAC newcomer of the year award
Dude hit .439 with 13 2B, 5 3B and 18 HR and played LF/CF (LH bat). He couldnt even get playing time in his previous year at ULM, talk about someone who came out of nowhere.
Definitely a lot of stats vs. bad teams but .438 is insanely good no matter the level of D1 competition
This post was edited on 5/28/25 at 3:33 pm
Posted on 5/28/25 at 3:59 pm to ProjectP2294
What’s up with Paz? Didn’t he get injured ? Is that why he dropped so much ?
Posted on 5/28/25 at 4:28 pm to Wichita Co Tiger
quote:
What’s up with Paz? Didn’t he get injured ? Is that why he dropped so much ?
He had TJ
Posted on 5/28/25 at 4:43 pm to ProjectP2294
Posted on 5/28/25 at 4:46 pm to TigerCub
This is the best time of year.
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