[CTcard]

https://stanforddaily.com/2022/08/31/bas...into-2023/

Never too early to talk baseball

Interesting part of that article is that they interviewed Esquer, so we know that this is based upon what Esquer actually thinks at this point, or at least has the messages he wants to send publicly. 

Things that stood out to me:

1. The middle infield - returning players. 
He mentions senior Owen Cobb as a likely middle infielder, along with Tommy Troy. 

Troy is a no brainer. If it hadn't been for some lingering injuries early last season I think he might have beat out Barrera for starting second baseman. He's just had a second strong season in a row in the Cape Cod League. 

Cobb got starts at second/short to begin each of the last three seasons (4 starts 2020, 5 2021, 4 2022). However, he couldn't get his bat untracked and lost the starter's role. I had sort of forgotten about him in thinking about 2023. Hard to tell how much Esquer's comment is a real statement about likely starters versus a shout-out to a loyal senior. 

While we don't quite know what comments from Esquer that the writer might not have passed on, I note that Trevor Haskins was not mentioned. Haskins was the top backup middle infielder by the end of the season, getting a start when Carter Graham got injured in the regional and was the pinch hitter hero in the comeback in the regional final vs Texas State. 
I figured that he was second in line for a middle infield starting spot. 

2. Incoming Frosh
The only player Esquer really talks about is Jimmy Nati from Australia, noting "He's a great offensive player". I hadn't heard anything about him, so it's good to hear he is a potential standout. I have noticed a bit of an influx of quality players into NCAA baseball from Australia recently, including 2022 freshman all-american second baseman Travis Bazzana from OSU. Will be interesting if Nati corrals a starting spot. 

Malcolm Moore is the incoming player I had heard the most about, a big hitting catcher. Not mentioned in the article, but that may have been due to some kind of editor's cut. At one point the article states that "joining them [four pitchers] and Moore are ...", even though this Moore had not been previously mentioned. 

3. Outfield
Nothing is really mentioned about a candidate for the open center field spot vacated by Brock Jones. I don't have any feel for a leading candidate for that position - other than noting that there seem to be several infield candidates and Troy can play outfield (I think). 

4. Pitching
Not at all surprised by the statement that Esquer intends to return Matthews to a starting role, with Bruno and Montgomery taking over closer role. There is a problem with bringing in Montgomery as a reliever, if he has been in right field, in that we lose the DH. Might be a reason to make him more of a single inning closer than we usually see in college.  
Lots of junior arms who have pitched a lot, a frosh who was drafted, and another that Bobk was high on (Dugan if I remember correctly). 
Pretty bullish on the pitching staff for 2023. 

5. Funniest Line. 
First, our author mentions that the incoming class has pitchers, infielders, outfielders, and apparently a catcher (in the edited out section), then follows that up with, "Whether intentional or not, these players play the same positions as those in the departing 2022 MLB draft class." 
To be fair, it's true that we didn't lose first or third basemen, and nobody in the incoming class seems to be labeled for there - but still thought it was rather amusing.

[CTcard]

https://stanforddaily.com/2022/08/31/bas...into-2023/

Never too early to talk baseball

Interesting part of that article is that they interviewed Esquer, so we know that this is based upon what Esquer actually thinks at this point, or at least has the messages he wants to send publicly. 

Things that stood out to me:

1. The middle infield - returning players. 
He mentions senior Owen Cobb as a likely middle infielder, along with Tommy Troy. 

Troy is a no brainer. If it hadn't been for some lingering injuries early last season I think he might have beat out Barrera for starting second baseman. He's just had a second strong season in a row in the Cape Cod League. 

Cobb got starts at second/short to begin each of the last three seasons (4 starts 2020, 5 2021, 4 2022). However, he couldn't get his bat untracked and lost the starter's role. I had sort of forgotten about him in thinking about 2023. Hard to tell how much Esquer's comment is a real statement about likely starters versus a shout-out to a loyal senior. 

While we don't quite know what comments from Esquer that the writer might not have passed on, I note that Trevor Haskins was not mentioned. Haskins was the top backup middle infielder by the end of the season, getting a start when Carter Graham got injured in the regional and was the pinch hitter hero in the comeback in the regional final vs Texas State. 
I figured that he was second in line for a middle infield starting spot. 

2. Incoming Frosh
The only player Esquer really talks about is Jimmy Nati from Australia, noting "He's a great offensive player". I hadn't heard anything about him, so it's good to hear he is a potential standout. I have noticed a bit of an influx of quality players into NCAA baseball from Australia recently, including 2022 freshman all-american second baseman Travis Bazzana from OSU. Will be interesting if Nati corrals a starting spot. 

Malcolm Moore is the incoming player I had heard the most about, a big hitting catcher. Not mentioned in the article, but that may have been due to some kind of editor's cut. At one point the article states that "joining them [four pitchers] and Moore are ...", even though this Moore had not been previously mentioned. 

3. Outfield
Nothing is really mentioned about a candidate for the open center field spot vacated by Brock Jones. I don't have any feel for a leading candidate for that position - other than noting that there seem to be several infield candidates and Troy can play outfield (I think). 

4. Pitching
Not at all surprised by the statement that Esquer intends to return Matthews to a starting role, with Bruno and Montgomery taking over closer role. There is a problem with bringing in Montgomery as a reliever, if he has been in right field, in that we lose the DH. Might be a reason to make him more of a single inning closer than we usually see in college.  
Lots of junior arms who have pitched a lot, a frosh who was drafted, and another that Bobk was high on (Dugan if I remember correctly). 
Pretty bullish on the pitching staff for 2023. 

5. Funniest Line. 
First, our author mentions that the incoming class has pitchers, infielders, outfielders, and apparently a catcher (in the edited out section), then follows that up with, "Whether intentional or not, these players play the same positions as those in the departing 2022 MLB draft class." 
To be fair, it's true that we didn't lose first or third basemen, and nobody in the incoming class seems to be labeled for there - but still thought it was rather amusing.