Let’s Talk: This Baseball Team Needs an Intervention

Mississippi State just took another loss on the 2018 season, and no, it was not against LSU but rather Nichols State. This was a very uneventful game for the Bulldogs outside of the eighth inning, where the bulldogs put a few walks and hits together to bring in four runs which were the only runs in the contest for state.

It has become very clear to all Bulldog fans that this team has consistency issues both at the plate and on the mound, primarily the bullpen. Currently 13-13 on the season and 1-5 in the Conference, it is safe to say that unless there is a major change in this team’s performance a post season run is out of the question. It is looking more like a losing season could be more likely.

This is hard to grasp from a team that was expected to be one of the best teams in the SEC in 2018 even after losing three players to the draft last year. From a fans perspective, this year seems more like a rebuilding year rather than a run for the post season. The Diamond Dogs brought back six players from last season to include center fielder Jake Mangum, second baseman Hunter Stoval and short stop Luke Alexander.

The current coaching staff is looking to fill the vacant slots with true freshman players that have shown unbelievable potential but lack the experience of playing at this level, and it has shown on more than one occasion. There is a true learning curve coming out of high school and playing in division one baseball in the South Eastern Conference. It has been surprising that players like Hunter Vansau and Elijah MacNamee have had to fight for playing time when they played key roles at the plate for the Bulldogs last season.

Jake Mangum, one of the best hitters I have ever seen, had an extraordinary freshman year at the plate but also learned that it did not take long for the scouting reports to change what pitches he was getting.

It is understandable this team lost their coach early in the season and lost key players from last year’s roster. That does not change the fact that this team has too much talent to have this kind of start to a season. The bottom line is this team needs an intervention, a wakeup call. As a team they just look way to comfortable to be setting at 13-13 and the easy portion of the season is over, it is time for the uphill climb, the grind. It is time for seniors to show leadership and motivation to pull this team out of the slump they are currently stuck in.

HAIL STATE!