re: Paul Mainieri media availability - Pre-P&G WS

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I find it interesting that some of our new recruits with less fanfare than the big names are producing well. Everyone knows about Morgan and Safford now but Milligan and Hellners with hits. Edwards was supposed to be a developmental pitcher and Brady wasn't highly ranked but they had 4 scoreless innings.

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The freshmen class is really really good.

Hampton and Travinski won't see much time if they don't produce in spring practice.

Looks like we're going to start recruiting taller players finally:

Mainieri having second neck surgery

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"The positive is I’m getting taller," Mainieri said, laughing. "I might get all the way up to 5-foot-8 one of the days."

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I feel better that the starting lineup did well against Labas who I know can pitch

I'm sure with the large deficit he may have thrown certain pitchers that struggled with command and allowed a comeback on purpose

That's what fall is for, to see what new pitchers you can count on and have competition for lineup spots

When we signed Hampton my gut told me it would take a couple of years to be force for us. How do you compete with players that are baseball year round?

I did notice last year that Mainieri was really trying to get Hampton in the lineup and I heard about his work ethic and thought maybe he will compete sooner than I thought.

Now I'm thinking he might want to give some thought to where his future lies and devote himself to that.

I was a little surprised to see Edwards and Hellmers in the rotation. Money and Millas are guys that I think have weekend starter potential.

I do think this speaks to the depth of the recruiting class. Though the fall still doesn't give a ton of indication on how some pitchers may be used/relied on in the spring.

Also, especially for pitchers, development isn't linear. Something could click for a guy like Money between now and the spring and he's ready to show out. It could be next summer that he breaks through.

One thing we've done is recruit a bunch of tall pitchers. And sometimes those guys take a little longer to get their mechanics down and find their control. Just because they have longer limbs to control.

Hampton got in the lineup last year because the rest of the lineup was so bad and no one was taking hold of starting jobs
He had nothing to lose to see what Hampton could do before he had to go back to football for spring practice which started that opening SEC weekend before shutdown
We don't know what would've happened but Hampton likely would have struggled against SEC pitching to begin with and the sec staffs were loaded last year

Edwards and Floyd have been the most impressive of the freshmen pitchers. They are the ones that have shown the ability to throw more than one pitch for a strike.

When you read Edwards profile it says he was a dual sport and he was looked at as someone that had a lot of developmental potential.

Mainieri raved about Coleman recently. Then you have Milas, Money, Rice.

I'm just surprised to see Edwards jump all those highly rated prospects.

Money started and pitched 3 innings in the only scrimmage I saw this fall on October 17. His fast ball topped out at 92mph and he gave up 2 earned runs on 3 hits and 2 walks with 2 strike outs. I was not as impressed as I was expecting to be but, it was just one appearance.

Edwards has had a good fall

Money needs secondary pitches to be effective in SEC play
You will see a lot of Money in midweek games if they have those this year until he develops more

No telling what the pitching plans are for P/G World Series

He could have thrown Fontenot and the other teams gets nothing but saw they were struggling and threw some lesser pitchers - who knows without being out there.